William Lesley

Abt 1605 - Nov

• Name	William Lesley  [1, 2, 3]
  Birth	Abt 1605	Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Scotland   [4]
  Gender	Male
  Death	Nov	St. John's Parish, Barbados   [5]
  Person ID	I6287	Ancestrees
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2026

  
  

  Father	John Leslie,   b. Bef 1595, Of Scotland d. 1651, Of Badifurow, Scotland (Age > 56 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Marjery Strachan
  Relationship	natural
  _MARRIED	N
  Family ID	F2236	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ann   d. Bef 28 May 1692, of Barbados
  _MARRIED	N
  Children	1. Ann Leslie,   b. Aft 1629   d. 1675, of Barbados (Age < 44 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   2. Isabella Leslie,   b. Aft 1628   d. Aft 1692, of Barbados (Age > 64 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   3. Charles Leslie,   b. Aft 1626   d. 1689 (Age < 61 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   4. John Leslie,   b. Aft 1631   d. Aft 1696, Of St. John's Parish, Barbados (Age > 65 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   5. Andrew Leslie,   b. Aft 1625   d. 1674, of Barbados (Age < 47 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   6. Margery Leslie,   b. Aft 1627   d. Aft 1692, of Barbados (Age > 65 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]   7. Rebecca Leslie,   b. Aft 1630   d. 1674, , , Barbados (Age < 42 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F793	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2026

  
  

• Notes

  In Colonel Leslies' book on the Leslie Family written in 1869, he states that this William born in Scotland who became a minister. He later moved to Barbados where he was the Dean and Vicor for the Archbisop of Canterbury for the Island oados. William is listed as the minister of St. John's Parish in Barbados where he is named as a friend for Benjamin Corbett's will dated 1652. He was the Rector William Leslie in 1657 and 1658 records in St. John's Parish, Barbados performing a long list of marriages. William is listed as a "Clarke" by profession in his will dated 1674 and in the 1652 Corbett will. I am therefore assuming that "Clarke" meant minister. There is a plaque in his honor in the current day St. John's parish church that states: "In Memorium, William Leslie, first rector, 1653-1676, Grandson of fifth Laird of Kincraicie and great grandson by his grandmother of John Leslie, Eighth Baron of Balquhain." According to a 2nd hand source on the net, "sent out to Barbados by the Archbishop of Canterbury". Note that his death date suggests that the death date I have for him or the final date of his position as Rector are not in agreement and need verified. A William Leslie (of no named title) also witnessed a 1663 will for Capt. James Lindsay in an unnamed Parish transcription. William possibly had a brother or father named Robert Leslie who wrote his will in St. John's Parish, Barbados on Sep. 2, 1676 as he is in the right place and listed a son, William in his will. This Robert could be the Robert who married Mary Bedrich on Mar. 26, 1665 in St. John Parish, Barbados.

  
  

• Sources

  [S419] English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800 (www.ancestry.com). [S998] Historical Records of the Family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868-9, Vol. III (https://books.google.ca/books?id=lyENAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA335&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false, c1869.). [S874] Lesley, William, Will made Nov. 13, 1674 (RB6/9, p. 210 "English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800"). [S215] Public Member Tree (www.ancestry.com). [S933] Leslie, Ann, Will of Ann Leslie (Jan 25, 1692, RB 6/3, p. 12, "English Settlers in Barbados, 1637-1800", www.ancestry.com).