William Leslie, First Laird of Warthill

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"THE FAMILY OF LESLIE OF WARTHILL.

“The family of Leslie of Warthill is descended from the Wardis branch of the family of Leslie, Barons of Balquhain.

“William Leslie, first Laird of Warthill, born 1490, was the second son of John Leslie, second Baron of Wardis, by his third wife, Margaret Forbes of Echt, widow of Walter Stewart of Dryland. He was a prudent and clever man, and was bailie of the courts of his father John, and of his brother Alexander Leslie, Barons of Wardis, who at that period had a great inheritance. He got from his father a lease of the Kemmils of Durno for his lifetime, and to his heirs for nineteen years after his death. He got in wadsett the lands of Ryehill, which being redeemed, he took in tack, and was in possession of them till his death.

“Some years before his death, William Leslie of Warthill was struck to the ground by one Tullidaff, possessor or wadsetter of the other half of Warthill, at Laurence fair, at Old Rain, which was so resented by the Baron of Wardis and his sons, who supposed him to be killed, that they followed Tullidaff to the Kirk of Rayne, about two miles off, where they overtook him, and he, being almost surrouncded, returned back, and was slain at a place on the Moor of Rayne, where there remains at this day a small heap of stones, called Tullidaff’s Cairn.

“William Leslie married, first, a daughter of William Rowan, burgess in Aberdeen, in 1511, and by her he had son, John, who was slain at the battle of Pinkie along with his uncle, Robert Leslie, son of John Leslie, second Baron of Wardis, in 1547.

“William Leslie married, secondly, in 1518, Janet Cruickshank, heiress of Warthill, only surviving child of Joh, son of Adam Cruickshank of Tillymorgan, who in 1482 acquired the lands of Little Warthill and two ploughgates of the lands of Harlaw from Alexander Glaster of Glack. With his wife, Janet Cruickshank, William Leslie got the half of the lands of Little Warthill, and became the first Laird of Warthill of the name of Leslie. He had issue twenty-one children, of whom the following were married.

“ I. Stephen, his successor, born 1520.

“ II. Norman, who married, it is said, Isabell Gordon, daughter of William, Bishop of Aberdeen, son of the Early of Huntly.

“ III. William, who married Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of the Laird of Auchindor. He was killed by William Gordon of Gight in a Quarrel between George Troup of Begshall and William Bordon, but more by accident than design.

“ IV. Alexander, who married Isabel, daughter of George Leslie of Kincraigie.

“ V. George, who married Margaret Dunbar, widow of George Leslie of New Leslie.

“ VI. James, who married Isabella Chalmers, daughter of the Laird of Balbithan.

“ VII. Patrick.

“ VIII. Walter, who married, and had issue two sons, William and Patrick, and two daughters, Margaret and Marjory.

“ IX. Marjory, married to John Lamb of Rothie, commonly called Laird Lamb.

“ X. Margaret, married, first, to Alexander Leslie in Meikle Durno, and secondly, to Alexander Anderson of Bonniton.

“ XI. Janet, married, first, to Alexander Cruickshank, son of the Laird of Tillymorgan, and, secondly, to George Leslie, Overboat of Spey.

“ XII. Christian, married to John Leslie of Buchanston.

“ XIII. Clara, married to John Singer or Seinzour of New Rain.

“ XIV. Isabella, married to James Cruickshank, son of the Laird of Tillymorgan.

“ XV. Jane, married to David Archibald, commonly called the Laird of Lewis. She was married, secondly, to Robert Abercrombie, son of the the Laird of Birkenbog.

“ XVI. Elizabeth, married to Alexander Lyall of Middlehall, and had three sons and a daughter. At her marriage her father and mother were so strong and vigourous that they danced at a ball given on the occasion in the hall at Warthill. The family party, including the old couple, their children, and their children’s wives and husbands, amounted to thirty-four in number.

“William Leslie, first Laird of Warthill, died in 1561, upwards of seventy years of age. His widow, Janet Cruickshank, being a spirited lady, though upwards of sixty years old, and having had twenty-one children, took another husband, Michael Leslie, according to some a son of George Leslie, third Laird of New Leslie; according to others, of George Leslie, fourth Baron of Kincraigie.