According to the Historical Records of the Family of Leslie, Vol 3 by Colonel K. H. Leslie published in 1869, Walter Leslie grandson of Alexander Leslie of Kininvie went to Denmark in the mid-1500s. In listing the children of Alexander, the book says:
“Walter, who went to Denmark, and married there; and many persons of considerable note in that country were descended from him, as appears by letters written from thence in 1739”. (p. 348)
Several months ago the Foundation received a query from Camilla Luise Dahl, an archivist in Denmark, asking about sources of information concerning Walter’s descendants. She I found a possible link when researching another family line (Spormand), so it would be more correct something like another family tie showed up in the research of another family line which did not use the family name Lesler, but documents showed that this family line used a shield with a blue diagonal band and what appeared to be three buckles. Camilla reached out to the Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation for assistance with her query.
The only lead we had was David Pederson Leslie (Lesler) born in 1619/20. See https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/history/ssne/item.php?id=680 from the database entry. So, Camilla had a few hints and she began her research.
Camilla is an extremely thorough researcher. As a result of her months-long work she wrote a book of family history of the Lesler (Leslie) family and those who are related. While the book does not conclusively link the Leslies she found in Denmark to Scotland, there is rather compelling evidence of the connection to Walter Leslie of Kininvie.
The Leslie diaspora story is fascinating. We have information about Leslies going to Europe, but the previous information was about military men going in the early 1600s, such as the Walter Leslie who became Count of the Holy Roman Empire. But the information of Leslies going to Denmark was intriguing. Research has revealed that George Leslie, the 4th Earl of Rothes, served as a Scottish ambassador to Denmark in 1550. Another Leslie in Denmark was Alexander, 1st Earl of Leven who commanded Scottish troops in Denmark and was stationed in Stralsund in the 1620s.
The book, “The Lesler Family on Bornholm and its Scottish Ancestry” is now currently in pdf form and will soon be added to the Foundation’s archive database.
Congratulations to Camillia Luise Dahl and her brother Pierre Dahl for their work on this contribution to documenting Leslie history. The Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Camilla and Pierre as research associates and convenors for the Leslie Global Diaspora Foundation. They will be great asset to the Foundation as we document Leslies in Scandinavia.
Queries about Leslies in Europe may be sent to: info@LeslieGDF.org
One response to “Walter Leslie in Denmark”
The Leslie family truly has worldwide roots!