Descendants of David Lesslie

Researched by Elaine Rathmann

 

Generation No. 1

 

1. DAVID1 LESSLIE was born Abt. 1705 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. He married AGNES SPENCE April 15, 1728 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

 

Children of DAVID LESSLIE and AGNES SPENCE are:

2. i. EDWARD2 LESSLIE, b. Abt. April 1731, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

ii. GEORGE LESSLIE, b. March 10, 1728/29, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

iii. CHRISTIAN LESSLIE, b. Abt. March 1729/30.

iv. AGNES LESSLIE, b. Abt. July 1732, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

v. LAUCHLIN LESSLIE, b. Abt. September 1735, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

vi. DAVID LESSLIE, b. Abt. 1737, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

 

Generation No. 2

 

2. EDWARD2 LESSLIE (DAVID1) was born Abt. April 1731 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. He married ANN HOGG May 13, 1760 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

 

Children of EDWARD LESSLIE and ANN HOGG are:

3. i. EDWARD3 LESSLIE, b. May 1765, Dundee, Angus, Scotland; d. September 16, 1828, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.

ii. WILLIAM LESSLIE, b. Abt. February 1761, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

iii. JANET LESSLIE, b. December 16, 1763.

iv. ANN LESSLIE, b. May 05, 1868.

 

Generation No. 3

 

3. EDWARD3 LESSLIE (EDWARD2, DAVID1) was born May 1765 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, and died September 16, 1828 in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. He married GRACE WATSON August 13, 1798 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. She was born 1776 in Dundee, Scotland, and died 1856 in Dundas, Ontario, Canada.

Notes for EDWARD LESSLIE:

Scottish Book Trade Index (SBTI)

LESSLIE, Edward bookseller and printers ink maker Dundee

Dundee 1792-1809

83 Murray-gate 1818-20

'A leader of the advanced radicals...he narrowly escaped prosecution for sedition' In section Booksellers & Stationers Pigot 1820; 'He ultimately went to the United States and died there about 1830'.

NLS Impr Ind; Millar; Dundee 1818; Pigot 1820

 

Notes for GRACE WATSON:

I have also seen her name written "Grizel".

 

Children of EDWARD LESSLIE and GRACE WATSON are:

i. EDWARD4 LESSLIE, b. September 08, 1799, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

Notes for EDWARD LESSLIE:

Oldest brother. Seems to have engaged in farming rather than the family's other business enterprises.

ii. JOHN LESSLIE, b. March 05, 1801, Dundee, Angus, Scotland; d. December 15, 1882, Dundas, Ontario, Canada; m. ISABEL BAXTER, July 01, 1822, Dundas, Ontario, Canada; d. January 12, 1873.

Notes for JOHN LESSLIE:

(p. 61, The Lives and Times of the Patriots, Edwin C. Guillet,

University of Toronto Press, 1968.)

"After a short sojourn in Europe Mackenzie returned to Dundee, where he

received further schooling; but in 1820 he set sail for Quebec. After being

employed for a few weeks on the Lachine Canal, he proceeded to York and then

to Dundas, in both of which he was associated in business with John Lesslie.

He remained for fifteen months in Dundas, during which, on July 1, 1822, he

married Isabel Baxter. The partnership with Lesslie having been dissolved,

Mackenzie removed to Queenston, where on May 18, 1824, he commenced the

publication of the Colonial Advocate."

Ibid

Editor and proprietor of the 'Toronto Examiner' from 1844 to 1854

 

iii. JAMES LESSLIE, b. November 22, 1802, Davenport, Scott Co, IA; d. April 19, 1885, Eglinton, Ontario, CN; m. JACOBINA MOIR; b. January 19, 1807, Aberdeen, Scotland; d. May 11, 1895, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.

Notes for JAMES LESSLIE:

According to the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. XI (1881-1890) Toronto: 1982: James had one adopted daughter, name unknown. He was the third eldest son.

Taken from "Hort-Pro On-Line Magazine", Early December 2000, "The Gardener" by Wes Porter:

"James Lesslie, an early city printer and contemporary of the fiery (William Lyons) Mackenzie, also planted fruit trees at a house called the Willows in the Oriole Parkway and Eglinton area. These trees are believed to be the inspiration for the name of Orchardview Blvd. Lesslie, incidentally, also kept peacocks roaming his grounds, as unusual as the spelling of his name."

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Virtual American Biographies

James Lesslie

1885. He came to Canada in 1820, and established himself in the book and stationery business in Kingston. He LESSLIE, James, Canadian journalist, born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1802; died in Eglinton, Ont., 19 April, removed to York several years later, and-when that town became the city of Toronto was chosen a member of the first city council. In 1836 he took an active part in establishing the House of industry, and at the same time strongly opposed the ascendency of the Church of England in public affairs. Mr. Lesslie was appointed president of the Bank of the people, which afterward was merged in the Bank of Montreal. At the beginning of the insurrection of 1837 he and his brother William were arrested by the authorities simply because they were known as advocates of civil and religious liberty; but after an examination by the commissioners of treason they were released. The disabilities that were imposed on the friends of constitutional reform after the rebellion led to the formation of the Mississippi emigration society, and Mr. Lesslie was chosen as one of a delegation to select a site for a Canadian colony. Davenport, Iowa, then a small village, was chosen; but, owing to the conciliatory course that was pursued by Lord Durham, the new governor-general, the scheme proved abortive. In 1844 Mr. Lesslie purchased the "Examiner" newspaper in Toronto, and conducted it editorially until 1854, when he sold it to George Brown, of the "Globe." While an editor he ably opposed the claims of the state church, and contributed in no slight degree to its abolition. In 1855 he retired from business, and two years later went to Eglinton, where he remained till his death.

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM

~~~~~~*~~~~~~

"Many other Reformers in and about Toronto were immediately jailed, and in

many instances their property was confiscated or plundered. The shop of

James and William Lesslie was seized and placed under the guard of the

militia. When the soldiers left two weeks later it was found that much had

been stolen and all the family preserves used or removed; while the owners

were meanwhile languishing in jail without any charge having been laid

against them." (p. 61, The Lives and Times of the Patriots, Edwin C. Guillet,

University of Toronto Press, 1968.)

 

 

iv. WILLIAM LESSLIE, b. April 23, 1804, Dundee, Angus, Scotland; d. April 17, 1843, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.

v. GRACE LESSLIE, b. September 01, 1805, Dundee, Angus, Scotland; d. August 17, 1886, Dundas, Ontario, Canada; m. JOHN PATTERSON, July 18, 1831, Dundas, Ontario, Canada; b. April 19, 1805, Blantyre, Scotland; d. June 16, 1856.

4. vi. ANN LESSLIE, b. September 28, 1806, Dundee, Angus, Scotland; d. Abt. 1870, Dundas, Ontario, Canada.

vii. MARY LESSLIE, b. Abt. October 1807.

5. viii. JOSEPH LESSLIE, b. Abt. January 20, 1809, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

6. ix. CHARLES LESSLIE, b. June 17, 1811, Dundee, Scotland; d. February 02, 1884, Davenport, Iowa.

x. HELEN LESSLIE, b. March 06, 1815.

7. xi. LYDIA LESSLIE, b. August 02, 1819.

 

Generation No. 4

 

4. ANN4 LESSLIE (EDWARD3, EDWARD2, DAVID1) was born September 28, 1806 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, and died Abt. 1870 in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. She married ROBERT HOLT Abt. 1830. He was born Abt. 1810.

 

Children of ANN LESSLIE and ROBERT HOLT are:

i. GRACE5 HOLT, b. Abt. 1832.

ii. HELEN REBECCA HOLT, b. Abt. 1835; m. JAMES F. LESSLIE.

 

5. JOSEPH4 LESSLIE (EDWARD3, EDWARD2, DAVID1) was born Abt. January 20, 1809 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland. He married SARAH ELIZABETH GRAHAM June 15, 1843 in Woodhouse, Talbot District, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was born Abt. 1815.

 

Children of JOSEPH LESSLIE and SARAH GRAHAM are:

8. i. WILLIAM5 LESSLIE, b. Abt. 1845.

ii. UNKNOWN LESSLIE.

iii. MARY LESSLIE, b. Abt. 1860; m. THOMAS DICK BELL, June 19, 1883, Toronto, Canada.

 

6. CHARLES4 LESSLIE (EDWARD3, EDWARD2, DAVID1) was born June 17, 1811 in Dundee, Scotland, and died February 02, 1884 in Davenport, Iowa. He married ORIANA SANFORD September 17, 1845 in Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa, daughter of BEZALEEL SANFORD and ORRA WORTHINGTON. She was born December 13, 1819 in New York City, NY, and died January 17, 1867 in Davenport, Iowa.

Notes for CHARLES LESSLIE:

CHRONOLOGY OF SCOTT COUNTY

"From History of Scott County, Iowa 1882 Chicago: Interstate Publishing Co."

1839. - City charter granted the town of Davenport. Davenport had its first physician in the person of Dr. A. C. Donaldson. First drug-store, by Charles Leslie. First wagon-maker, Seth F. Whiting. First school by Rev. Mr. Hummer. Catholic school, by Rev. J. A. M. Palamorgue. First paint shop by Riddle & Morton.

In 1842 the Christian Church was incorporated by act of Legislature under the style of the Church of Christ, meeting in Davenport. John Owens, Richard S. Craig and Charles Lesslie were appointed Trustees under the act.

 

From "History of Scott County, Iowa 1882 Chicago: Interstate Publishing Co"

Charles Lesslie, son of Edward and Grace (Watson) Lesslie, was born June 17, 1811, at Dundee, Scotland, of which place his parents were also natives. His father, a stationer and druggist, emigrated with his family to Canada about 1822 (some member of it had preceded him), and settled in the town of Dundas, Wentworth Co., where he engaged in general merchandising, having branch stores under the management of the elder sons at York (now Toronto) and Kingston, carrying on an extensive business. The Canadian rebellion of 1837 and the political turbulence which succeeded it gave rise to a general desire for immigration; and his elder brother, James, having in 1838 visited the Territory of Iowa as one of the commissioners of the Canadian Emigration Society, and selected the village of Davenport as a promising site for a colony. Mr. Chas. Lesslie the following year moved to that place, where he has since resided, and at once established himself as a merchant, in which business he was successful, and from which he retired in 1857. He was married in June, 1845, to Orina W. Sanford, the daughter of a Davenport merchant, a true-hearted and refined Christian woman. They had six children, one living, Charlie C. He became a citizen of the United States the same year. In 1848 he was elected township school inspector, and represented his ward as alderman that year, a position which he again filled in 1850. Was immediately nominated for mayor about this time, but declined to act. Though not a politician, he took an active part in the temperance reform of that period, and was an officer for the first temperance society organized in Iowa, and was also a firm friend of the anti-slavery cause. He was one of the charter members of the Davenport Board of Trade, and its first president; and in 1857 - '58 was treasurer of the Hawkeye Insurance Company. In 1860 he was elected a director of the State Bank of Iowa, and retained a position upon the board for several years after that institution was re-organized as the Davenport National Bank. Soon after his arrival in Davenport, he united with the Disciples of Christ, and has been an active member of that denomination, serving that church for many years in the capacity of elder, trustee and chorister, and has also taken part in the management of the missionary and State work of that body.

Lesslie family monument in Oakdale Cemetery, Scott Co., Davenport, IA.

According to an article titled "James Lesslie--A Printer of Upper Canada" in the "York Pioneer and Historical Society" magazine, Charles suffered with "palsy" for the last 20 years of his life and his son Charles Clinton resided with and cared for him.

Notes for ORIANA SANFORD:

See notes on Marie Antoinette.

 

Children of CHARLES LESSLIE and ORIANA SANFORD are:

i. ANNA WORTHINGTON5 LESSLIE, b. August 30, 1846, Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa; d. August 08, 1847, Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa.

ii. CHARLES CLINTON LESSLIE, b. August 14, 1857, Davenport, Iowa; d. December 28, 1896, Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Ia.

Notes for CHARLES CLINTON LESSLIE:

From the History of Davenport, 1882

THE DAVENPORT HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI SOCIETY

was organized in 1872, the first meeting for that purpose being held in the old High School building, corner of Maine and Sixth streets. James De Armond was elected president of the society for one year, the number of graduates at that time being about 50. The first reunion and banquet of the society was held at the "Newcomb House" on Thursday evening, June 26, 1873. It was one of the most successful and pleasant gatherings ever assembled in this city. There appeared to be, and was evident to all, a feeling of great cordiality among all who were present, and such a unity of thought and a degree of genuine pleasure at the reunion of persons who had been old schoolmates in years gone by, and who now are among the most respected residents of this and other cities, that the occasion could not but be an agreeable one. The society has since that time maintained its annual reunions and festivals except in 1881, and now numbers some 350 members. The following is a list of the presidents of the society from 1872 to the present time. List of presidents D. H. S. A.: 1872, James M. Dearmond; 1873, Frank S. Balch; 1874, Wm. M. Middleton, M. D.; 1875, Edwin G. Sawyer; 1876, Jacob J. Nagle; 1877, James M. Dearmond; 1878, Charles C. Leslie; 1879, Charles Davison; 1880, Alfred D. Churchill; 1881, John M. Dearmond.

 

 

iii. MARY HELEN LESSLIE, b. May 04, 1854, Davenport, Iowa; d. October 02, 1854, Davenport, Iowa.

iv. HELEN WORTHINGTON LESSLIE, b. September 10, 1857, Davenport, Iowa; d. March 05, 1859, Davenport, Iowa.

v. ANNETTE SANDERS LESSLIE, b. July 28, 1861, Davenport, Iowa; d. July 28, 1861, Davenport, Iowa.

vi. LIZZIE SANFORD LESSLIE, b. July 28, 1861, Davenport, Iowa; d. August 21, 1861, Davenport, Iowa.

 

7. LYDIA4 LESSLIE (EDWARD3, EDWARD2, DAVID1) was born August 02, 1819. She married JOHN M. THORNTON February 17, 1844 in Dundas, Ontario, Canada. He was born Abt. 1818.

 

Child of LYDIA LESSLIE and JOHN THORNTON is:

i. JESSIE5 THORNTON, b. Abt. 1850.

 

Generation No. 5

 

8. WILLIAM5 LESSLIE (JOSEPH4, EDWARD3, EDWARD2, DAVID1) was born Abt. 1845.

 

Child of WILLIAM LESSLIE is:

9. i. UNKNOWN6 LESSLIE, b. Abt. 1870.

 

Generation No. 6

 

9. UNKNOWN6 LESSLIE (WILLIAM5, JOSEPH4, EDWARD3, EDWARD2, DAVID1) was born Abt. 1870.

 

Children of UNKNOWN LESSLIE are:

i. JOHN B.7 LESSLIE, b. Abt. 1890.

ii. WILLIAM LESSLIE, b. Abt. 1895.