Robert le Leche, Laird of Ardmaleish, Bute, Surgeon, Physician

le Leche (l'Leche) is a very old Anglo-Norman name.

Pronounced as Leckie/Leky in the old Scots phonic method of spelling. The name for a doctor in Scotland at this time was " the leech/leche ".

This is the start of the 'Bute tree'. The family who spent many generations in Kilmavanan on Bute.

Robert was a Medical Practitioner of that time.

"There is a tradition imported into the Bute family history upon the authority of the late Lord Bannatyne (1742-1833), who is merely said to have heard it from Stewart of Kilwhinleck, that the mother of the first of the family of Bute was named Leitch, and was the daughter of the laird of Ardmalish, (Ardmaleish) in Bute"

Source: CALENDAR OF CORONERS ROLLS OF THE CITY OF LONDON A.D. 1300 1378

ROLL C. 91

... "people, whose names they know not, nor do they suspect anyone of the death except the said Nicholas le Walsh. Being asked what became of the said Nicholas le Valsh, the jurors say that he was taken by some persons unknown to the house of Robert le Leche upon Cornhue to be medically treated, the said Robert not knowing of the felony, and that he fled from there, but where he went or who received him the jurors know not. "

Robert is mentioned in the "Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire", during the reign of King Edward I, 1272 - 1307.

Robert le Leche, 1307. Writs of Parliament. [1] The Isle of Bute in the Olden Time [ Cornell University Library] by JAMES KING HEWISON, M.A. F.S.A.(Scot), Minister of Rothesay, Bute

The original of Leche's manor, was by a grant made by John de Burgh, of part of the lands and rents of the great manor, to Baldwyn son of John de Cankewelle, in 1274, with 52 acres of land, within the hedge of Causton Park, the said Baldwin being to have all royalties in his part or manor, paying yearly to the said John and his heirs a bearded arrow; and from that time, the lord of this manor always had an iron bearded arrow carried before him or his steward, whenever a court was held; at this time there is a mace carried at every court, having a bearded arrow at top, in token of the tenure, and to shew that it holds of the chief manor by it, and so is consequently held of that, as of the dutchy of Lancaster, in free-soccage.

t came afterwards to Robert Leeche, and after his death in 1399, William Leeche of Newton by Castleacre held that manor, with lands in Cawston and Olton of this manor, and Katerine wife of John Wisbitch, (fn. 22) was his sister and heir; in 1405 William Leeche held it, and John was son and heir 8 years old. In 1460 Agnes Bacon, late wife of William Leche, and Nicholas son and heir of John Cannon, and Alice his wife, daughter and heiress of the said William and Agnes, sold it to John Heydon.

In 1521, Sir Roger Townsend was lord of Leeches manor in Cawston, and let the manor-house in Cawston, warren of conies, faldage and manor for 20 marks, and the 2d of October, in the 2d of Edward VI. he and his son Thomas (fn. 23) sold the whole manor of Leeche's to Sir James Bulleyn, Knt. and so it became joined to, and hath continued with the great manor ever since.[1]

[1] British history online