William (Leslie) Leslie Third Earl of Rothes (abt. 1462 - 1513)

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1513 at about age 51 in Battle of Flodden, nr.Branxton, Northumberland, England

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Biography

William (Leslie) Leslie Third Earl of Rothes was killed in Action during the War of the League of Cambrai at the Battle of Flodden Field.

William (Leslie) Leslie Third Earl of Rothes is a member of Clan Leslie.

William was the third son of Andrew Leslie and Elizabeth Sinclari.^[1]

Soon after his father's death, on 3 Jun 1490, as brother-german to the Earl of Rothes, he signed a bond of man-rent to his brother-in-law, William, Earl of Erroll, Hereditary Constable of Scotland. On 7th August 1511 he, described as "brother to the Earl of Rothes" had a Crown charter^[2] of the lands of Easter Fithie in Forfarshire (a parcel of the barony of Ballinbreich, which he held from the Earl for his life), while in the King's hands. During the few months after his succession was called "brother and heir of the Earl of Rothes" but was never formally invested as same. From 31st March 1513 he was arranging with the Crown for the restoration of the family property, and on 29th June had a Writ of Privy Seal, and on 14th July a charter of the rents and profits from Ballinbreich. It is possible he married twice but the details are unclear. He was killed at Flodden.^[3]

He succeeded his elder brother George as Earl in 1513. As George had tried to sell the family lands without royal permission William was trying to recover his rights, especially over the Barony centred on Ballinbreich Castle. However, he was killed at the battle of Flodden.

He married Margaret Balfour, ^[4] They had issue:

1. George, 4th Earl of Rothes
2. John, of Parkhill who was captured at the battle of Solway Moss
3. James, Parson of Rothes.

Researh Notes

The earliest record is that of a bond of manrent on 3 Jun 1490 and assuming he was of full age, one can place his birth prior to 3 Jun 1469. His parents are estimated to have married after 1454. With a range of dates spanning 1455 to 1469, one can safely say that William was born circa 1462 +/- 7 years.

Sources

1. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. "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", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1910, Vol. VII, Archive.org, p. 277
2. ↑ Genealogical Collections made by Walter MacFarlane 1750-51 edited by James Toshach Clark, Keeper of the Advocates' Library, vol.ii, SHS, Edinburgh, 1900, p.452
3. ↑ The Complete Peerage by G.E.Cockayne, edited by Geoffrey H. White, FSA., FRHist.S., vol.xi, London, 1949, p.190 and notes.
4. ↑ Paul, James Balfour. "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", Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1910, Vol. VII, Archive.org, p. 279

See also:

• Wikipedia: William Leslie, 3rd Earl of Rothes

• Wikidata: Item Q7618846, en:Wikipedia

• The Peerage: William Leslie, 3rd Earl of Rothes

• Cracroft;'s Peerage