Catharine Leslie[1] was born the eldest daughter of Alexander Leslie, Lord Balgonie about 1640. She was the sister of Alexander Leslie, 2nd of Leven and woudl be the beneficiary of the Leven estates on the failure of his line.
She is stated to have been married shortly after 16 Jan 1655 when she was 15[2]. It is not clear where she may have been born and it may have been Sweden as her father was in the service of Sweden at the time.
She married George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville, the union of which would produce the union of the Melville's and Leslie's in a son, David, that will assume the name, title and lands of the Leslie's of Leven and become David Leslie, 3rd Earl of Leven.
By the marriage contract Lord Melville was bound to secure his future spouse in liferent of his lands in Raith and others named, and also to resign his whole lands of Monimail and Raith for new infeftment to himself and her in conjunct fee[3], thus illustrating the power that the Leslies held at that date.
She died on 2 April 1713, and was buried beside her husband in the church of Monimail alongside the house that he had built; Melville House.[4] The old parish church of Monimail became disused in 1796, and all that remains is a fragment of the eastern end, repaired and practically rebuilt as a burial enclosure. The aisle of the Melville family, now used as a burial vault, projects from the N wall of the church and is still entire. It is later than 1690, but contains a good recumbent stone dated 1594.
The couple had 12 children born to them. For details see the Profile of her husband.
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