​Our Story

The history of our family begins in Hempstead County, Arkansas with "Grandpa Leslie" & his children. One of Grandpa Leslies's grandchildren--our unofficial family historian--provides some background on the history of our family. This article was slightly edited for relevancy.

 

Background - by Reuben "R.L." Leslie, Jr.

 

Leslie is one of Scotland's oldest families, tracing its origins to Bartholomew, Hungarian-born chamberlain to Queen Margaret who, according to legend, married Beatrix, sister of King Malcolm III, was knighted, and acquired Leslie lands in Aberdeenshire and elsewhere in 1070. Leslie nobles, generals and officials were for many years regarded as a major power behind the Scottish throne. Leslie castles and great houses in Scotland and Ireland still bear the name, and all are associated with descendants of Bartholomew. Like most American Leslies, I have not yet traced my lineage all the way back to Bartholomew, but through the Clan Leslie Society and its generous members, Leslies around the world are learning our family's rich history, getting to know one another, and piecing together clues about common ancestors.

 

One of the most generous Leslies, David Leslie, an architect from Aberdeen, and his wife Leslie bought the ruined stone castle at Leslie by Insch in Aberdeenshire in 1985. After years of restoration, they invited Leslies from around the world to join them in celebrating the Leslie Clan's 925th anniversary together at a three-day gathering at the castle in June 1995. More than 350 members of Clan Leslie and "septs" or allied families of Lang, Moore, Carney, and Abernethy attended. By far Canadadians were the most numerous, with U.S. Leslies next, then the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Norway, and Chile. David and Leslie Leslie planned and hosted the event and created a wonderful feeling of reunion among many people who had never met previously. Another generous Leslie, Clan Chieftain Ian, the 21st Earl of Rothes, who lives in Salsbury, opened festivities. A Texan, Rosalie Leslie Loreto, inspired the organization of a special tour for Leslies throughout Scotland before and after the gathering and provided background that helped tour participants understand the significance of many sites in Leslie history. Alexander Leslie Klieforth, founder of the American Clan Leslie Society, was unable to attend the gathering, but his recently published book consolidating many years of research delighted all who discovered it at the gathering. The gathering left everyone who attended with wonderful memories, new friends, and a keener sense of the intertwining of but lesser importance of national compared to family history and ties. The American Clan Leslie Society that year became simply the Clan Leslie Society, reflecting its international membership. Clan Leslie Society gathers biennially at a different Scottish Games event, most recently in and near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, in September 2000.

 

I am a descendant of the American Leslie branch founded by George Leslie, settler in South Carolina before the American Revolution. The tombstone in Beersheba Presbyterian Church cemetery in York County, SC, of this earliest Leslie ancestor and his wife, Mary, has the name spelled Lassley. This George Lassley or Leslie is described in Alexander Leslie Klieforth's (1993) book [Grip Fast: The Leslies in History] as well as Barrett's (1990) on pp. 9-23. George's son Samuel is described in Barrett (1990) [The Leslie Line: Ancestors of Five Leslie Brothers] on pp. 25-33.  My descent from George Leslie or Lassley, whom I believe to be the first American immigrant in my Leslie line, is as follows:

 

1. George Leslie, b. 1734 or 1735, (Co. Antrim, Ireland?), d. 1775, York Dist., S.C.

2. Samuel Leslie, b. ca. 1767 York Dist. S.C., d. 1837 Phillips Co. Ark.

3. Samuel Leslie, b. 1808 (York Co. or Spartanburg Co.) S.C., d. 1856 Hempstead Co., Ark.

4. George C. Leslie, b. ca. 1851 Hempstead Co., Ark., d. 1894 (Ark.?)

5. William Samuel Leslie, b. 1884 Hempstead Co., Ark., d. 1964 in Ark.

6. Reuben Lloyd Leslie, Sr., b. 1924 Hempstead Co., Ark., d. 2000 in Ark.

7. Reuben Lloyd Leslie, Jr., b. 1950 Nashville, Howard Co., Ark.

 

After over a half-century of meeting every year, the descendants of my grandparents, W.S. Leslie and Margaret Gertrude Ramage Leslie, & their eight children now meet semi-annually on Thanksgiving Day in Nashville, Howard County, Arkansas, near the original homeplace of the family in Hempstead County, Arkansas. We are scattered throughout the country, but usually more than 100 reunite to pray, visit, eat, sing and play together every other year. Teachers, Missionary Baptist preachers, musicians and educators are predominant occupations in this group of Leslies, and community service, church work and music are important activities for almost everyone in all branches.

 

(From Leslie Family Resources - http://www.reubenleslie.com/leslie.htm)