Alexander Leckie, 11th. of that Ilk Laird

SIR ALEXANDER LECKIE OF THAT ILK

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

14 March 1617: Signature of the lands of Easter Leckie granted to Alexander Leckie. National Records of Scotland, Register of Signatures, boxed series, reference SIG1/96/3

                   2

14 March 1617: Charter by which James VI, King of Scots, confirms that he has made a new grant to Alexandro Leckye, now of that Ilk, and Grissilidi Murray his future spouse, of one half of the barony of Leckye, called Wester Leckie, extending to a ten pound land of old extent, together with Easter Leckye, in the Stewartry of Menteith and sheriffdom of Stirling, which lands he incorporates into the free barony of Leckye. Alexandro and Grissilidi are to hold in conject fee and liferent. The barony is to pass to their male heirs, whom failing to Alexandro's male heirs. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A.D. 1609-1620, charter number 1615 on pp. 583-84

                   3

4 May 1631 - 31 December 1632: Agreement between John, Earl of Mar, on the one part, and Alexander Leckie of that ilk, Adam Cunynghame [Cunningham] of Boquhane [Boquhan] and Robert Stewarte [Stewart] of Culbeg, on the other part, the Earl ratifying the letters of tack by umquhil Adam, commendator of Cambuskinnethe [Cambuskenneth], of the lands of Leckie, Culbeg and Culmore, they relieving him of the proportional payment of the stipend of the minister of Gargunnock. Rental of Gargunnock. Bonds to the Earl by Leckie, Cunynghame, Stewart and Alison Seytoun [Seaton], relict of James Forrester, fiar of Culmoir, to pay their shares of the said minister's stipend. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Erskine Family, Earls of Mar and Kellie, reference GD124/9/53

                   4

3 March 1642: Crown Charter of Resignation in favour of Robert Gourlay in Patrickstoun of Leckie, in liferent, and Robert Gourlay, younger, his son, heritably, of the lands called Offerance of Leckie, known as the Shyrgartan, in the stewartry of Monteith and sheriffdom of Stirling; on procuratory of resignation dated 5 Feb. 1642 by Alexander Leckie of that ilk. National Records of Scotland, Earls of Glencairn, reference GD39/5/107

Some Notes on the History of the Leckie Estate

The lands of Leckie were Crown Property until the reign of Robert the Bruce. The oldest title deeds are dated between 1352 and 1359, during which period the lands of Wester Leckie (probably west of the Leckie Burn) were transferred from the Crown to Malcolm de Leky, who was a descendant of the Earls of Lennox. Easter Leckie passed through a number of hands, and was not transferred to the Leckies of Leckie until 1617, when both Easter and Wester Leckie came into the possession of Alexander Leckie. By that time it is thought that Old Leckie House (Leckie Castle) had been built on Wester Leckie.

Up to this time the history of the Leckie family had been a turbulent one. The Laird of Leckie was one of those responsible for the safety of the infant Queen Mary, lodged in Stirling Castle in 1545, and he lost his life at the battle of Pinkiecleugh in 1547.There were constant feuds with the Grahames of Monteith, culminating in the battle of Ballochleam on the hills behind Leckie and on the march with Boquhan. In 1601 the Laird’s son was murdered by the Laird of Dundrod, probably in collusion with the Laird of Calderwood, thereby starting yet another family feud.

The murdered man’s grandson, Alexander Leckie, inherited Wester Leckie while still a minor. By 1617 he was of marriageable age and the combined estate of Easter and Wester Leckie was registered in the joint names of himself and his wife, who was Grizzel Murray of Polmaise. He died about 1643, while his son, John, was still minor and John Leckie inherited the property in 1643. He was apparently a strong Presbyterian, and took an active part in the Civil War. In 1661 he had married Jean (or Janet) Buchanan, daughter of Sir George Buchanan of Buchanan, by whom he had a son, John, who was baptised in Gargunnock church on 27th November, 1666. Only two years later, in 1668, financial difficulties resulted in the estate being taken over by David Moir of Craigarnhall, Sheriff Clerk of Stirling, probably in settlement of a loan or mortgage. This was the end of the line of Leckies of Leckie. Most of the family seem to have emigrated to America, Canada and Australia from which their descendants occasionally appear to visit Leckie.

Genealogy

1. The Lairds of Leckie
2. Notes from the History of Leckie Estate, The Lairds of Leckie", Stirling Sentinel , published 1906

Biographical Summary

Alexander Leckie, inherited Wester Leckie while still a minor. In 1617 he was of marriageable age and the combined estate of Easter and Wester Leckie was registered in the joint names of himself and his wife who was Grizzel Murray of Polmaise. He died about 1643, when his son, John, was still a minor and John Leckie inherited the property in 1648.

Alexander Leckie, 11th of Leckie; b 1599; d 1643; m 1623, Gargunnock, Stirlingshire, SCOT, Grizel/Grisall Murray (bc 1607). Grizel was the daughter of Sir John Murray of Touchadam and Poimase. The lands of Leckie were reunited (Wester Leckie and Easter Leckie) by royal chapter dated 14 MAR 1617 to Alexander Leckey and his future spouse Grizzel Murray. A charter dated 9 JUL 1632, by the Laird to John Cowane, Dean of Guild, Stirling for Leckie was issued. The Laird of Leckie had regained the lands of Leckie as shown by another charter dated 5 MAR 1642. He likely received the lands of Dunrod as settlement for the death of his father by Alexander Lindsay of Dunron.