Christian Graham, Marchioness of Montrose

LADY CHRISTIAN LESLIE (aka CHRISTIAN LESLEY)

The Scots Peerage VIII: pp. 301-02

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

9 June 1681: Articles of marriage between James, Marquess of Montrose, and Lady Christian Lesley, then his spouse, and John, Duke of Rothes, her father, whereby the Marquess is obliged to infeft Lady Christian in a free annuity of 9000 merks yearly out of lands and barony of Mugdock, Dundaffmuir and Fintry and in the lodging in Glasgow for her dwelling house in satisfaction of all her terce except half of the insight plenishing which the Marquess dispones to her; the Marquess obliges him to resign the whole Marquisdom of Montrose in favour of the male heirs of the said marriage, which failing to his other male heirs and assignees; if there are no male heirs of the marriage and other male heirs succeed, he obliges him to provide the daughters of the marriage as follows: to one daughter, 60 000 merks; if there be two daughters, 50 000 merks to the eldest and 30 000 merks to the younger; if there be three or more, 40 000 merks to the eldest and 60 000 merks to be divided amongst the rest as their father see fit, payable upon their attaining the age of 16. The Duke of Rothes obliges him to pay the Marquess 50 000 merks in name of tocher, one half payable at Martinmas 1681 and the other half at Whitsunday thereafter, with penalty for each terms failure, accepted in place of all claim Lady Christian might have at her father's decease without prejudice to her of any claim to benefit of the tailzie made by the Duke of his lands and estate, and the Marquess obliges him to cause his wife to ratify the articles of marriage and contract to be extended thereupon; dated at Holyroodhouse. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose (Montrose Muniments), reference GD220/1/E/4/4/1

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23 November 1699: Correspondence of James, 1st Duke of Montrose: Christian Leslie, marchioness of Montrose, recipient's mother. Kinross. Reproaches Montrose for his request to travel further; feels that travel is corrupting his religious and political views. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose (Montrose Muniments), reference GD220/5/7

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19-27 June 1704: Correspondence of James, 1st Duke of Montrose: Christian Leslie, dowager marchioness of Montrose, recipient's mother. Kinross. Health of recipient's wife, and of Rothes; supply of wine; religious exhortations. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose (Montrose Muniments), reference GD220/5/78

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28 March-6 April 1710: Correspondence of James, 1st Duke of Montrose: Christian Leslie, dowager marchioness of Montrose, recipient's mother. Edinburgh. Family affairs, including birth of Montrose's son, James. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Graham Family, Dukes of Montrose (Montrose Muniments), reference GD220/5/238