Family/Spouse: John LESLIE. John (son of William LESLEY and Ann) was born after 1631; died after 1696 in Of St. John's Parish, Barbados. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Family/Spouse: Frances UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Esq. married Ursula FORTE on 1 Jan 1733 in St. Johns Parish, , Barbados. Ursula (daughter of Samuel FORTE, Jr. and Ann ESTWICKE) was born in 1709; died in 1783. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomasin married Christopher FORTE after 1732. Christopher (son of Samuel FORTE, Jr. and Ann ESTWICKE) was born in 1712; died on 26 Jul 1753. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Samuel was a Colonel of the militia and member of the House of Assembly for St. Thomas Parish. Although having two wives, he died without issue. He is buried in the family vault in St. Thomas Church. (F-458,462)

Colonel married Elizabeth LESLIE in 1763. Elizabeth (daughter of Hon. Henry LESLIE and Margaret UNKNOWN) was born in 1736; died in 1772. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth SAUNDERS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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:

There are many Fortes living in Demerara, South Africa that descend from this William Forte. He apparently emigrated to South Africa during his life time. (F-461)

Family/Spouse: Margaret LESLIE. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She might have married a Stink.

Family/Spouse: Unknown ESTWICK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]