Notes:

Christopher's will was probated by a Christopher on the 23 day of Mar. 1830. He did not appear to have a wife or children. He divided his estate between a friend: Elizabeth Leslie, wife of John Hart Leslie, their daughter Elizabeth, and his brother, Nathaniel's children: Nathaniel Forte, Caroline Leslie Forte, Anna Christopher Forte, and Amelia Nathan Forte. His witnesses were S. Forte, Jr. and Saml. Forte King. His brother, Nathaniel executed the will. (F-458)

Notes:

The origins of this family in England might be Clifton, Bristol, Gloucester, England. I theorize this because Christopher's great-grandson, Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Arabella Millard, returned to live in Clifton along with multiple siblings. It was known as Clifstone in the Doomsday Book which needs checked for Forte ancestors. The surname has been suggested to have been Fortesque or Fortibus previous to their departure to Barbados for political necessities.

Christopher, (b.1712) did have a son named Christopher. This Christopher's birthday or christening have not been able to be located. He was the 3rd son of Christopher. (F-194, F-205) Notice that the names Christopher and Samuel are in all 7 generations in Barbados if this line is the correct one. In fact, it supports the truth of this lineage.

Both Christopher and Elizabeth died in a hurricane in Barbados in 1780. At least 79 persons died in that hurricane. However, he is not amongst the listing of burials in that year. (F-604)

An article in the Advocate Magazine dated Jan. 21, 1979 in Barbados implies that the Forte family was one related branch that was in Barbados from early times. It mentions several plantation houses that the Forte Family owned. The Forte Family owned Haynes Hill Plantation, St. John's Parish in 1700 on which a tomb still exists inscribed "Within this wall are interred the remains of Samuel Forte 1711 and his wife Ursula 1700 and many members of the Forte family." (When Jim and I visited the Haynes Hill House in 1990, we saw the tomb, and learned that the house now standing had been built in 1831 after the original house the Forte's had lived in was destroyed in a hurricane.) The "Fort" family is listed as possessing land in the area of Haynes Hill House on maps in 1729 and 1794. The Forte family (A Mr. T. or J. Forte) purchased the Bennett mansion about 1831 (possibly due to the hurricane??) in St. Thomas Parish.

This early Forte family was also highly involved in the government. Lt. Col. Samuel Forte was a representative in St. John's Parish House of Assembly from 1715-1719, 1721 and 1723-1727. (This is probably Samuel Forte Jr., son of the original Samuel Forte, Sr. who is buried on Haynes Hill). From 1787 to 1803, Dr. Samuel Forte of St. Thomas represented St. Thomas in the House of Assembly. His brother Nathaniel represented it from 1831 to 1836, as Speaker of the Assembly. Two William Forte's represented it between those times. (F-193)

Christopher married Elizabeth WEEKES on 27 Oct 1764 in , St. Phillip Parish, , Barbados. Elizabeth (daughter of President Ralph WEEKES) was born about 1744; died in 1780. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Burke's Landed Gentry gives her father as Ralph Weekes. That means he was probably the grandson of the Rev. Ralph Weekes who had sons Ralph, Nathaniel, John, Thomas, and Roger listed in his will in St. Philips Parish, dated 6 Aug 1700. (F-160) At least one of these Weeke's was of Quaker persuasion. A Ralph Weekes is buried in a Quaker burial Ground in St. Phillips Parish on Robert Taylor's Plantation. (F-161)

Notes:

This Christopher Forte is the son of Samuel Forte, Jr. as verified in the 1715 Census of St. Johns Parish in Barbados. All of Samuel Jr.'s children had been born by 1715 except for son Enoch. We know 4 of Christopher's children for sure, to be Samuel, William, Christopher and Ann from Christopher's brother, Samuel (III)'s will. (F-458)

Christopher married Thomasin LESLIE after 1732. Thomasin (daughter of Colonel William LESLIE and Thomasine FORTE) was born in 1711 in , St. Johns Parish, , Barbados; died in 1759. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was President of the Council of the Island of Barbados. (C-548) His title is listed as President of the Island of Barbados in Claude James Forte's Ancestry. He is listed as the father of Elizabeth Weekes in Burkes Colonial Gentry. Ralph is probably the Ralph who was age 5 in the 1715 Barbados census and the son of Doctor and Esquire Ralph and Madam Jane Weekes. His family and ancestry are listed here connected to Elizabeth Weekes. (F-309,310) Additional evidence that this is the correct line, is that Samuel Forte deeded land to this Ralph Weekes in Vol. 30, p.140, and p. 179.

Notes:

As a Lt. Col., Samuell Forte was a representative to the House of Assembly for St. Johns Parish from the years 1712,1715-1719, 1721 and 1723-27. He was elected in the place of John Rouse Aug. 19, 1712. (F-193, F-748) As well as Lieutenant Colonel he had also been Justice of the Peace of the St. John's Regiment of the Militia.

He was married twice. He and his wife Ann Forte are listed with their children in the 1715 Census Records of St. John's Parish, in Barbados. (F-159) They had two more children, Enoch and Tomazine after this census. The following Barbados Deeds give detail about Samuel Forte Jr., his eldest daughter Elizabeth and his father Samuel Forte, Sr. and mother-in-law, Elizabeth Forte. V. 30, p. 138: Samuel Forte (Sr.) of St. Johns deeds to granddaughter Elizabeth Forte, Daughter of Samuel Forte Jr. of St. Johns Parish, with love and affection, 1 negro woman, Catriante, and 1 negro boy, Johnny. V. 30, pg. 139-140: 28 December 1714, Elizabeth Forte, Sr. gave Elizabeth Forte Jr. 1 negro girl, Martillah and 15 pounds sterling. V. 30, p. 139 a deed made 15 July 1717 between Col. Samuel Forte of St. Johns and Mrs. Elizabeth Forte of same gave Elizabeth 20 pounds sterling and 1 negro girl named Bella. V. 30, p. 138: 6 July 1720, Samuel Forte, Son of the within named Sam. Forte and father of Elizabeth Forte gave d. Elizabeth 1 woman slave, Catherine, Johnny and 1 girl, Jonny. V. 30, p. 140: 13 Aug. 1720, Ralph Weekes, guardian of Enoch Gritton (Under age 21) (because of marriage of Enoch G. & Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Samuel Forte), was pd. 1500 pounds in the parish of St. Phillips. V. 30, p. 179: 9 Sept. 1720, Samuel Forte of St. Johns deeded to Ralph Weekes of St. Phillips 10 acres in St. George bordering land of Col. William Lesly, Benjamin Battign, Richard Sutton DeSouth Carolina. for 200 pounds of Goods paid by Ralph Weeks. V. 30, p. 149: 14 Sept. 1720, Samuel Forte, St. Johns, deeded to William Lesly, St. Johns, 10 acres in St. George bound by Benjamin Batlyn, Mrs. Elis. Burks and said Forte. (F-254)

His sons are in or conspicuously not in the following records: Son Samuel--Left a will probated in 1745. He did not mention a wife or children. He did mention his brother Christopher's children: Samuel, William, Christopher, and Elizabeth and his brother Richard, brother Rich, brother-in-law, Samuel Leslie and nephew James Eastmand. (This means that two of his sisters were married to a Samuel Leslie and an Eastmand.) (F-194c) Son Richard-- No will has been located for him. No sign of children or a wife are in the church records for Barbados. Son Christopher--No will has been located for him. His children are mentioned in his brother Samuel Forte's will as Samuel, (William), Christopher and (Elizabeth). His children and wife are not mentioned in Barbados church records. Son Thomas--No information has been located about this son and his possible offspring. Son Enoch-- Was a Doctor in St. Philips Parish, Barbados. He did not declare any sons in his will. Children were Jane, Elizabeth, Mary Austin, and Rebecca all under age 21, when he died in 1771/2.

Samuel married Ann ESTWICKE before 1703. Ann (daughter of Richard ESTWICK and Joan WALKER) was born before 8 Apr 1680 in St. Johns Parish, , Barbados; died in 1720. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her birthdate is listed as 1681 in some 2nd hand sources, but she was named in her father's will dated Apr 8, 1680 so the latest she could have been born was 1680.

Notes:

All the members of the Leslie family of Barbados were from the Leslie's of Kincraigie, Scotland according to Claude Henry Forte in the early 1900s. (F-604) According to Nigel Forte, parents of William are John Leslie and his second wife. John is listed in the 1679 Barbados Census records. Captain John Leslie lived in Barbados, St. Johns parish in 1679/80 owning 55 negroes, 4 bought servants and 60 acres of land. Several Estwickes served under him. Probably this John Leslie is the John that helped take the census for St. John's Parish in 1679. He is also the probable father of John Leslie who was baptized Oct. 3, 1678 in St. John's Parish. (F-397)

On May 12, 1703, a John and William Leslie witnessed a deed for William Marshall and Martha Mills, widow of St. Joseph Parish. (F-309) John could be a parent or brother to our William. He is named as the brother-in-law to William Collymore in William's 1705 will.

On July 2nd 1726, William Leslie, of St. Johns Parish received slaves from Enoch Grettan, Samuel Forte, & Jane his wife (formally called Jane Gretton-sister of Enoch Gretton and Enoch Forte), son of Samuel Forte and Jane his wife. v. 36, p.83 (F-309-310) William was a member of the Council of the Island of Barbados. (F-458) He held the title of the Honorable William Leslie. (F-462) He was Colonel of the Militia and a descendant of the Leslies of Scotland. (F-462)

Colonel married Thomasine FORTE in 1693. Thomasine (daughter of Dr. Samuel FORTE, Esquire and Mary CULPEPPER, *) was born in 1680 in of St John's Parish, Barbados; died in 1753 in , , Barbados. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomasine Forte is named in a Augustin Dry's will at about age 12. Her father is listed as a friend and some of her siblings are listed as Executor's for this married man's will in 1692. He was married to a Margaret Franck.

Notes:

In the 1715 St. Philip's parish census for Barbados, Ralph is listed as a Doctor and Esquire, age 35, with wife Madam Jane, 37, Madam Mary Austin, widow, 56, Ralph Weeks, age 5, Nathaniel Weekes, 3, Edward Weekes, age 10 months and Thomas Weekes, age 2 months. (F-250) This same Ralph, Jr. is listed in the Barbados Deed records. On Sept. 17th, 1705, Ralph Weekes, Island Doctor in Physics of the other part was deeded land from Archibald White and wife Rebecca in St. Phillips Parish, v. 23, p. 465. (F-309) Then he sold 3 acres to his "loving brother Roger" in St. Phillips in v. 28, p. 513. (F-309) This seems to be the related line as Samuel Forte then deeded land to Ralph Weekes in V. 30, p. 140 and p. 179. Ralph was deeded land over a dozen times in Barbados Deeds. (F-310)

Ralph married Madam Jane GRETTON on 2 Oct 1707 in Christ Church, Barbados. Madam (daughter of GRETTON and Madam Mary AUSTIN) was born about 1678 in Barbados, British West Indies; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]