Norman (Leslie) Leslie Vth of Leslie (abt. 1246 - bef. 1317)

Born about 1246 in Lesslyn, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1317 before about age 71 in Scotland

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Norman (Leslie) Leslie Vth of Leslie was an ancestor of a signer of the Declaration of Arbroath. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

Norman (Leslie) Leslie Vth of Leslie is a member of Clan Leslie.

His seal is provided;^[1] On a bend, three buckles. Seal on the Homage Rolls of 1296; Normanni de Lecelin, Militis. He held the lands of Leslie in the Garioch, to the Earl of Mar. He was the last constable of the Royal castle at Inverurie as it ceased in that role around 1280 and is certainly not noted as such during Edward I's tour of Scotland in 1296 where he stops at Rothes, in Moray, and Kildrummie castle.

Historical records of the family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868-9 Vol.1 by Colonel Leslie KH of Balquhain 1869:

Sir Norman de Leslie, Dominus de Leslie, or Dominus Ejusdem, succeeded Norino as the fifth possessor of the lands of Leslie. It appears that he was the first of the family who was distinguished by the sur-name of Leslie; for while his predecessors had only been known either by their patronymics or by the offices which they held, such as that of Constable of Inverurie, he is styled in all public documents " Norman de Lesley, dominus de Lesley," or " dominus ejusdem." ^[2]p.15^[3]

The Laurus Lesleana states that Sir Norman de Leslie received from King Alexander III. the gift of the forest of Leslie in the king's forest, 4th December 1282. Douglas states that he also got Fytekill, now called Leslie in Fife, from the same king.

It is recorded in the "Ragman's Roll" that King Edward I. of England arrived at Aberdeen on Saturday, 14th July 1296, and that on the morrow, the 15th, there swore fealty to him at that place-Sir Norman de Lesselyn, Chevalier, Sir Alexander Lamberton, and others; and that on Monday the 16th, and following days, Sir Gilbert de la Haye, Sir. Hugh de la Haye, Sir William Innes, and on the 19th, Henry, Bishop of Aberdeen, performed the like homage to the English king.

Sir Norman de Leslie was one of those summoned by King Edward to attend the parliament held at Berwick, 24th August 1296.

King Edward appointed Sir Norman de Leslie sheriff of Aberdeen in 1305.

Sir Norman de Leslie sat in the parliament which was held by King Robert Bruce at Cambuskenneth, 6th December 1314, and signed the decree of forfeiture issued by that parliament against all those who refused to return to their allegiance after the battle of Bannockbum.

The Laurus Lesleana does not mention the name of the wife of Sir Norman de Leslie. In Douglas's Peerage, however, it is stated that he married Elizabeth Leith, heiress of Edengarioch, in Aberdeenshire; while Shaw, in his History of Moray, on the other hand, says that "at the end of the reign of Alexander III. (about 1280) Norman Lesley, son of Lesley in the Garioch, married the daughter and heiress, it is said, of Watson of Rothes." Whichever of these accounts be correct, it is at all events certain that Sir Norman de Leslie had a son:

Andrew Leslie, his successor.

Besides this son, however, the Laurus Lesleana states that Sir Norman had another - Walter, Earl of Ross; but, as will be shown hereafter, in treating of that Earl, this statement is inconsistent with correct chronology.

In Douglas's Peerage, it is stated that Sir Norman had also two daughters. This statement appears to be correct, although the Laurus Lesleana describes these ladies as daughters of Sir Norman's son Andrew.

Sir Norman de Leslie is a contracting party to the marriage-agreement of his son Sir Andrew de Leslie with Mary Abernethy, in 1313.

Sir Norman de Leslie died before 1320 as it is his son, Sir Andrew de Leslie, Dominus Ejusdem, that appears in the list of the greater barons of Scotland who signed the Declaration of Arbroath.

Research Notes

Unknown wife:

The name of Sir Norman Leslie's wife is unknown. Douglas's Peerage names her as Elizabeth Leith, the heiress of Edengarioch, and Shaw's History of Moray identifies her as "the daughter and heiress of Watson of Rothes." Both the Scots Peerage and The Historical Records of the Family of Leslie maintain that her identity cannot be proven.^[4][5] Elizabeth Leith has therefore been detached as Norman's wife. Stevens-17832 23:52, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Scottish Armorial Seals; W. Rae Macdonald, No. 1609
2. ↑ Historical records of the family of Leslie from ... v.1. Leslie, Charles Joseph, 1785-1870.
3. ↑ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044072011869;view=1up;seq=43
4. ↑ Paul, Sir James Balfour. The Scots Peerage. Edinburgh: D. Douglas (1904), vol. 7, p. 268.
5. ↑ Leslie, Charles Joseph. Historical Records of the family of Leslie from 1067 to 1868/9. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas (1869), vol. 1, p. 16.

• Paul, James Balfour, Sir, 1846-1931 : The Scots Peerage : Founded On Wood's Ed. Of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage Of Scotland; Containing An Historical And Genealogical Account Of The Nobility Of That Kingdom : Free Download, Borrow, And Streaming : Internet Archive". 2021. Internet Archive. Leslie, Earl of Rothes, Vol VII, pps 264-311

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p68707.htm#i687068