Clan Leask Genealogy

Pre-History (7,000 BC to 600 BC)

Posted on 27 November 2011 by macleask | Leave a comment

• 7000 BC Man first appears in Scotland. ((7000 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 7000 BC Mesolithic Age: hunter-gatherers on the island of Rum ((7000 BC-Scotland, The Story of a Nation, ©Magnus Magnusson, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000,page 693.))

• 5500 BC Britain becomes an Island. ((5500 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 4000 BC Communities first began to settle in one place and gradually adopted farming. By 4000 BC knowledge of farming as well as domestic animals and crops had reached much of Scotland. ((4000 BC-In Search of Scotland, Gordon Menzies, Polygon at Edinburg, 2001,page 6.))

• 3800 BC About 3800 BC Knap of Howar is built on the Island of Papa Westray. ((3800 BC-A Timeline of Early Orcadian History, www.orkneyjar.com/history/timeline.htm, 6/18/01.)) This site is the earliest house site so far identified in Orkney. Because of a lack of timber, the house was built of flagstone with midden. The house consists of an individual farmstead of two adjoining buildings. Both are long and have founded ends. The inhabitants were farmers and fisherman who kept animals, occupying the site for about 900 years. The buildings stand on a layer of pre-existing midden, perhaps indications that Knap of Howar is built on top of, or near an earlier settlement. This is the only Unston Ware Settlement discovered in Orkney. ((3800 BC-Orkney, A Historical Guide, © Caroline Wickham Jones,1998, pages 19-22,39-40. The Islands of Orkney, Liv Kjorsvik Schei, 2000,pages 87-88.)) The largest of the Maeshowe type tombs, (Disses of Holm) is located on Papa Westray (south). Its central chamber is 20 meters long. There is also a Stalled Cairn on the opposite end of the Island (north). Both date to the third millennium BC. ((3800 BC-Orkney, A Historical Guide, © Caroline Wickham Jones,1998,pages 62-63. The Islands of Orkney, Liv Kjorsvik Schei, 2000,pages 87-88.))

• 3500 BC Neolithic Age ((3500 BC-Scotland, The Story of a Nation, ©Magnus Magnusson, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000, page 693.))

• 3200 BC Skara Brae is occupied in Orkney. ((3200 BC-A Timeline of Early Orcadian History, www.orkneyjar.com/history/timeline.htm, 6/18/01.)) This site is one of at least five Neolithic villages located on Orkney. Skara Brae, located on Mainland at the south end of the Bay of Skaill. It is currently the best known. It consists of at least ten houses, in varying states of preservation. With the exception of one building, they are all joined together by a winding covered passage and its offshoots. Like Knap of Howar these buildings too are built of flagstone and midden. Some of the units were built at different times. Earlier houses are roughly circular. The later houses are similar in shape but have larger beds that are no longer recessed in the wall. Instead the beds are projected out toward the central hearth. Skara Brae is a sophisticated settlement site with clear evidence that it was carefully planned. It is likely that this site was occupied by 50-100 people. ((3200 BC-Orkney, A Historical Guide, © Caroline Wickham Jones,1998, pages 22-25, 37.))

• 3000 BC Earliest Chambered tombs built. ((3000 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 3000 BC Chambered Tombs of Maes Howe (Orkney) ((3000 BC-Scotland, The Story of a Nation, ©Magnus Magnusson, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000, page 693.))

• 2800 BC Maes Howe (Maeshowe) is constructed. In Orkney ((2800 BC-A Timeline of Early Orcadian History, www.orkneyjar.com/history/timeline.htm, 6/18/01.)) Surrounded by a ditch and a low bank, Maeshowe appears as a massive grassy mound, covering an earth and stone barrow built over a stone chamber. It may have taken as much as 100,000 hours to complete this large, complex site. Originally it may have been a tomb, perhaps for a high-ranking family. Inscribed on the southwest upright slab within the chamber is a series of triangles and diamond shapes, along with various lines. Carved carefully with the point of a stone tool, they are characteristic of other examples of Neolithic art, and may be over 4,000 years old. Norse graffiti on the walls, inside the chamber mention the removal of a great treasure from the tomb. This is puzzling because the Neolithic builders of this site did not use metal. There is evidence that the bank surrounding the site was rebuilt in the ninth century. Perhaps, Maes Howe was a burial site used by a Norse Chieftain. ((2800 BC-Orkney, A Historical Guide, © Caroline Wickham Jones,1998, pages 44-46.))

• 2500 BC First stone circles appear. ((2500 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 2650 BC Beginning of the Beaker period ((2650 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 2600 BC First Copper objects ((2600 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 2200 BC Skara Brae is abandoned. ((2200 BC-A Timeline of Early Orcadian History, www.orkneyjar.com/history/timeline.htm, 6/18/01))

• 2000 BC Bronze workings appear marking the beginning of the Bronze Age ((2000 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 2000 BC Chambered communal tombs go out of fashion, Cist burials are common. ((2000 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.))

• 1100 BC A marked deterioration in the Scottish climate begins. ((1100 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.)) By about 1000 BC the British Isles were becoming wetter and cooler. In Scotland the change was exacerbated by massive volcanic activity on Iceland, which raised a dense blanket of dust over the surrounding sea and landmasses. The sun was blotted out for long periods leading to a drop in atmospheric pressure and further heavy rainfall. ((1100 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 62,))

• 700 BC Bronze Age ends. ((700 BC-Ancient Scotland, Stewart Ross 1991, Barnes & Noble, 1998, page 181.)) Iron is introduced rather gradually, perhaps from 700 BC. It was not widespread until several centuries later. ((700 BC-In Search of Scotland, Gordon Menzies, Polygon at Edinburg, 2001, pages 20-21.))

• 700 BC Broch towers emerged. They can be traced in Orkney from around 700 BC. ((700 BC-In Search of Scotland, Gordon Menzies, Polygon at Edinburg, 2001, page 21.))

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Posted in Related Events

Known & Documented Historical Evidence of Clan Leask

Posted on 23 October 2011 by macleask | 3 Comments

Family tradition has it that a Leask was on the second crusade 1101-1144, hence the reason for the crescent being adopted as a crest on the Coat-of-Arms. There are no known records extant. ((Source: Sir Brian Chalmers Leask of Aglath Leask’s Genealogical Guide to Some Australian Families and their Antecedents and Genealogies, compiled an edited by Brian Chalmers Leask, Kt. T., 1979, page 333.))
The Ragman Roll, de Ragements was compiled at the request of a legate of Scotland. He compelled all clergy to give a true account of their benefices, that they might be taxed at Rome accordingly. Subsequently, these lists were used by Edward I to create the four great roles of parchment recording the acts of fealty and homage done by the 2000 leading families of Scots to Edward I of England in 1296. ((Source: www.bartleby.com/81/14017.html and www.rampartscotland.com/ragman/blragman_index.html))
One of the earliest references to Leask or a related spelling appeared in 1296 in a document recording the name of a William de Laskereske, which confirmed William’s recognition of Edward I (on pain of forfeiture of his lands). The name is actually listed as Lafkerefk, William de (del counte de fyf). ((Source: www.clan-leask.co.uk/leaskhis.html#origins and www.rampartscotland.com/ragman/blragman_index.html. However, the booklet: The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask published in 1980 states on page 2,3 that the name Leask is missing from the ragman role.)) Note: The 2000 names contained in the 1296 verson of the ragman role are listed alphabetically on the web site www.rampantscotland.com/ragman/blragman as they are listed in book published by the Bannatyne Club inEdinburghin 1834. The website explains that at that time “s” was written as “f,” that “counte meant county, and that “fyf” meant Fife.
David II, son of Robert the Bruce, granted a Charter of Confirmation for the lands of Leskgoroune (or Leskgaronne) to William Lesk, dated 1341-1346. ((Source: Carta confirmationis to William Lesk of the lands of Leskgoroune. RMS v1, Appendix 2, No 1086, page 585, as reported by John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth on July 7, 2001 in The Leasks of that ilk and their Cadets, an unpublished paper, and The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, published in 1980, page 2. Editors Note: I could not find the charter of confirmation in this volume. I did find it listed on page 585, #1087 as part of the Index & Remains of the Lost Charter Rolls in Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum (AD 1306-1424) )) Note: This William Leask is believed to be the first known Clan Chief of the Leasks in Slains Parish, Aberdeenshire.
The first wife of Willelmus de Lask of Laskgaronne, Aberdeenshire was Alicia de Rath, having no apparent issue. His second wife was Marcota (Marion) de St Michael. (Believed to be a descendant of Sir John de St. Michael) She had three children Thomas, Peter and William. ((Source: Leask’s Genealogical Guide to Some Australian Families and their Antecedents and Genealogies compiled and Edited by Brian Chalmers Leask, Kt. T., 1979, page 333.))
Willelmi de Lask, the elder, lord of that ilk (believed to be the same William Lesk who was the first clan chief, or his son) “…bequeathed a pound of wax yearly to the altar of the Holy Rood in the church of St. Mary of Ellon, …and from his land of Logy, near Ellon, a stone of wax yearly, for lights to be burned on all Sabbath and feast days for ever on the tomb of himself and his wives Alice de Rath, and Mariot de St. Michael …and 12 silver pennies yearly from aforesaid land…for preparation of aforesaid wax…” The contract was witnessed by Alexander, Bishop of Aberdeen at Logy, 1380. The records continue “The ancient lords of Lask (or Leask), in Slains must have had some attachment towards the Church in Ellon. When the Session Records open, more than 200 years after this time “William of Lask (Laysk) of that ilk and his tenants ware found as regular attendants in Ellon at the Reformed Church.” ((Sources: The Leasks by madam Leask of Leask published in 1980, page 2,3.; and the Clan Leask Society Website )) Note: The deed is printed in Registrum Episcopatus Aberdonensis, volume 1, edited by Cosmo Innes, Published as Volume 13 of the Spalding Club, 1845. (Reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001 and in notes prepared by JWS Leask in 1924.
The Chapel of Leask located on the land of Leask, dates back to the earliest of times. The present ruins are believed to have been constructed in the 12th Century. It was dedicated to St. Adomnan and is exactly the same size, and stands in the same position, as the old chapel in Forvie, which is four miles away. Tradition says the chapel stands on the ruins of an ancient chapel, a Columbian Oratory, thought to have been built in the sixth or seventh Century. The font was octagonal in shape, and in good condition when it was removed to the manse garden, Slains. ((Source: The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 15))
Toma de Lask domino eiusdem (Thomas Leask, lord of that Ilk) appears as a witness to a charter dated October 9, 1388, at Aberdeen, by Johannes de bona Villa dominus de Balhelvy (John Boneville, Lord of Balhelvy Boneville) to Johanni Fraser domino de Forglen (John Fraser, Lord of Forglen) of his two towns of Ardhendrachtis (now Ardendracht), in the parish of Cruden, and the earldom of Buchan, co Aberdeen.m Other witnesses include Thomas Hay-constable of Scotland, Alexander Fraser-Sheriff of Aberdeen, John Keith-Lord of Inverugie, and Andrew Turing-Lord of Foveran. n Thomas is believed to be the 2nd Clan Chief ((Sources: Found in the Place-Names of Aberdeenshire, page 156 and The place names of West Aberdeenshire by James Macdonald, page 33. Source also reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001 and Alexander Leask MS, page 4.)) Note: The deed is printed in Collections for A History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, Spalding Club, 1843, at page 379 to 380. Reportedly that transcription comes from the original deed in the Charter Room at Slains. Reportedly it can also be found in the Registrar of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Toma de Lask domino eisudem (Thomas Leask of that ilk-2nd Chief) appears as a witness to a charter, dated at Forglen, co Aberdeen, January 8, 1388/89, by Johannes de Boneville (John Boneville), son and heir of the late John Boneville of Balhelvy Boneville, to John Fraser, lord of Forglen, of the lands of Balhelvy, Boneville, Colynstoun, Ardendrachtys, Blaretoun, Many and Achlochery, co Aberdeen. ((Source: The charter of confirmation in favour of said John Fraser dated at Linlithgow, co Linlithgow, June 4, 1400 is printed in Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff at page 289 to 290. Also reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001 and Alexander Leask MS, page 4.))
Thomas de Lask (2nd Chief) appears as Thomam de Lask in a precept of sasine, dated March 18, 1389/90 by William de Camera (Chalmers or Chambers), lord of Fyndon (now Findon), to Thomas Kynidy of the lands of Athquhorthy (now Auchorthies, Parish of Inverurie, co Aberdeen) in which he is designated baillie of Fyndon. ((Source: The deed is printed in Collections for A History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff at page 272 to 273. The original is reported to be in the archives of Marischal College, Aberdeen. Also reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001 and in Alexander Leask MS, page 5.))
Thomas de Lask or Laysk, second Clan Chief, was baillie of the barony of Fyndon, 1390. ((Source: Surnames of Scotland, George F. Black, which cites, CAB page 272.))
As Thomas de Lask dominus eiusdem (Thomas Leask, lord of that ilk) had a charter, dated May 10, 1390, from Henry Brogan (de Brogane), lord of Achlowne (now Auchloun, parish of Foveran, co Aberdeen r), to Thomas granting him half Henry Brogan’s lands of Achlowne Moness (now Minnies, parish of Foveran s), Balnakeddill (Balnakettle, parish of Udny, co Aberdeen t), and Touyhafe (Tillyeve) in the barony of King Edward, co Aberdeen. u Thomas Leask (2nd Chief) was granted a confirmation, dated at Aberdeen, co Aberdeen October 21, 1391, by James Lindsay, lord of Buchan, of the above mentioned charter to him of Auchloun by Henry Brogan. v ((Sources: (r) The Place-Names of Aberdeenshire, by William M. Alexander, 1952; at page 10. (s) The Blackhalls of that ilk and Barra, by Alexander Morison, 1905 at page 14. (t) The Place-Names of Aberdeenshire, by William M. Alexander, 1952; at page 16. (u) ))
In the Alexander Leask MS, at page 5, the source is given as being from the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. Also found in the Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown 1214 to 1681, published by the Scotish Record Society (as its volume 36), It is likely that the original deed is held by the Fleming family, for it is appears in précis as No 843, at page 100 to 101. (v) A Charter of Confirmation by James Lindsay, Lord of Buchan, of the above written Charter granted to Thomas of Lask; sealed and dated at Aberdeen, October 21, 1391. (Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, No 845, page 101.)The other half of the Brogan lands were granted by charter, dated May 10, 1390, by said Henry Brogan, to his father John Fothes (de Fothes) w, who was granted a charter of confirmation by James Lindsay, lord of Buchan, dated October 21, 1391. ((Sources are reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001 and in Alexander Leask MS, page 5.) ))
The other half of the Brogan lands were granted by charter, dated May 10, 1390, by said Henry Brogan, to his father John Fothes (de Fothes) w, who was granted a charter of confirmation by James Lindsay, lord of Buchan, dated October 21, 1391.x ((Sources: (w) Alexander Leask MS, page 5 cites the source as being from the Register of the Privy Council. The original deed is likely held by the Fleming family, and a précis is printed in the Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown as No 844 at page 101. (x) Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, No 846, page 101. Sources reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001.))
By a charter, dated August 20, 1392, Thomas Lask and John Fothes, son of Alan Fothes, granted the whole of the former Brogan lands to David Fleming, son of Malcolm Fleming, lord of Biggar, co Lanark. ((Source: Alexander Leask MS, page 5 cites the source as being from the Register of the Privy Council, which in turn is sourced from the original deed in the Cumbernauld Chest dated August 20, 1392.))
On August 28, 1392, as Thomas de Lask, he is a witness to the consent by Alicia Brogan, wife of Henry Brogan, of the instrument of renunciation of Christian Brogan, sister of Henry Brogan, and to the renunciation of Alicia’s own right of terce in the lands of Auchloun. ((Source: Charter Chest of the Earldom of Wigtown, No 849, page 101 as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001.))
In Kirkwall (Kirkwaw), Orkney on April 23, 1391 Thomas de Laysak (Lask), a knight (believed to be the second Leask clan chief), among others, witnessed a charter that transfers lands in Auchdale and Newberg to David Sinclair from Henry St. Clair, who became Earl of Orkney in 1379 when King Haakon VI granted the Orcadian Earldom to William Sinclair’s son Henry Sinclair (St. Clair). ((Source: The document can be found on the website http://clansinclairus.org/clan_yo_ricardo.htm. The charter of the confirmation by Robert III, King of Scotland, confirming this grant is printed in RMS v1, No 824, page 320, as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001 and Alexander Leask MS, page 5.)) Note: In an email conversation Nevin Sinclair said he believes the reason so many people signed the 1391 document is that the gathering was to plan Prince Henry’s trip to America. Some claim Thomas joined Prince Henry on his voyage to the new world with about 300 of Prince Henry’s men in 12 ships. Nevin Sinclair claims he believes Thomas transferred from Aberdeen to Orkney to accompany Prince Henry to the new world. Sir Brian Chalmers Leask said he believes both Prince Henry and Sir Thomas de Lask were Knights Templar and they were both were on a crusade.
Humphrey Leask, the 3rd Clan Chief, oldest son of Thomas, who as Wmfra Lask was a member of an assize, held October 5, 1436, “of the gentillys of the cuntre in ane testificatione of the lard of Ardendracht bailye of the barony of Slanis that the lands of Brogan pertenit in property to the Earl of Erroll. ((Source: Collections for a history of the shires of Aberdeen and Banff, page 393-394))
Humphrey Leask (as Umfray Lask of yat ilk) is witness to a charter of confirmation dated November 13, 1440, by James III, King of Scotland, in favour of John Bannerman, burgess of Aberdeen, of the lands of Croffis, otherwise Cruives, previously held by the latter’s nephew, John Bannerman of Alesike. ((Sources: Alexander Leask MS, page 9, where the source is cited as Cartularium Ecclesiae S Nicholai Aberdonesnsis, volume 1, page 10 and 11 and volume 2, page 28 as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
According to Brian Chalmers Leask Thomas de Lask’s second son-James de Cragy in Orkney, also known as Jamis of Leask, married Prince Henry’s daughter Margaret St. Clair in 1446. Jamis was also known as Lord Huip or Lord Hupe. ae He settled in Orkney. ((Source: Clan Leask website, http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/leask2.html and information provided by Brian Chalmers Leask of Australia))
According to Clan Hay history, William de La Hay, the 5th High Constable became the first Earl of Erroll (1452). ((Source: www.clanhay.net/HISTORY/hays.johnMackay.html))
In 1456 Ulfrid or Wilfred Lask of that Ilk, signed a ‘Band of Manrent’ to William Earl of Erroll and resigned the lands of Leask and Auchlethin in favor of his son Thomas Lask. In this deed Thomas is designated ‘armiger’ to his superior, Sir William Hay. ((Source: The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 4))
By a deed at the churchyard in Slains, November 4, 1456, Ulfredus Lask de eodem (Humphry Leask of that ilk) personally resigns his lands of Lask (Leask) and Achlethen (Auchlethen, parish of Cruden) in the barony of Slains into the hands of his superior, Sir William Hay, 1st Earl of Erroll, Constable of Scotland, for new infeftment in favor of his son and heir, Thomas Leask, the fourth Chief. ((Source: The deed is printed in Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff at Page 395. The original deed is in the Charter room at Slains as reported in Alexander Leask MS, page 7, and The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001.))
By a deed dated at Slains, co Aberdeen, March 22, 1460/61, Umfra Laysk of that ilk, with the consent of his eldest son and heir, Thomas Leask, disposes (sells) the land called Brinthous, lying in the town (toun) of Tawarty (now Tarty), co Aberdeen, to said Sir William Hay, 1st Earl of Erroll. ((Source: This deed is printed in the Register of the Privy Council; and in Council of Scotland; and in Collections for a History of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, at page 364. There is a copy in the Charter room at Slains.))
Thoma Lesk de eodem (Thomas Leask of that ilk), is witness, with his second son Johanne Lesk filio dicti Thome (John Leask), and others, to the precept of sasine, dated July 14, 1483, granted by Thomas Erskine, lord of the barony of Kellie, in favor of Alexander Menzies, burgess of Aberdeen, and of his wife Elizabeth Leslie, of the lands of Laskguyeon, in said barony of Kellie, co Aberdeen, on the resignation of John Menzies. ((Source: Reported to be the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland. The charter itself, dated July 4, 1483, is printed, without the precept of sasine, in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at pages 147 to 148 as reported in Alexander Leask MS, page 8, and The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
Willielmo Laisk de eodem (William of that Ilk) is designated baillie (ballivo meo) of Gilbert Hay of Carmuk (Son of Sir Gilbert Hay of Dronlaw ak), in a precept of sasine in favor of Walter Hay, son of Gilbert Hay of Caramuk, of his lands of Caramuk and Ardgeicht, in the parish of Ellon, co of Aberdeen, dated at Ellon August 4, 1484. al William is the fifth Clan Chief. ((Sources: (ak) Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at pages 147 to 148. Source reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001) (al) The source is reported to be the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. The precept is printed in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at pages 27 to 28 where it states it has been abridged from the original which is held in the charter room at Ellon. Sources reported in Alexander Leask MS, page 7, and The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
Wilyame off Laysk (William of Leask) is a witness to a letter of manrent granted by Alexander Fraser of Fillorht (Philorth, parish of Fraserburgh, co Aberdeen) to William Hay, Earl of Erroll, dated at the Chanonry of Ross, January 14, 1488/89. ((Sources: Alexander Leask MS, page 8, cites the source as the Spalding Club publications as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001).))
Willelmo Lesk de eodem (William Leask) was witness to the precept of sasine, dated October 9, 1498, granted by William Hay, Earl of Erroll, in favor of his son, John Hay, of half the lands of Brogane Lesk, in the barony of Slains, co Aberdeen, on the resignation of Agnes Brogan and her son, Thomas Alexander. ((Sources: Alexander Leask MS, page 9 cites the source as the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. The precept is printed in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at page 149 where a footnote gives the details of the precept of sasine. Sources as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
As Willelmo Laysk de eodem, he is witness to a contract dated February 22, 1498/99, between Johannem Chaumer de Auchcorvy (John Chaumer of Auchcorvy) and Dauid Knox de Auchcorvy (David Knox of Auchcorvy) regarding a marriage between their children. ((Source: The contract is printed in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 4, pages 65 to 66, where it states it has been abridged form the notary’s protocol in the Register of Sasines for the burgh of Aberdeen, volume 1 as reported in Alexander Leask MS, page 7, and The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
“Witnessing me, Jhon Cheyne of Esselmont, till be bundyn and oblist, and to be be becumyn men and servand to my lord Erroll for all the days of my lyf, myne allegeans accebtit allenarly to our Soverane Lord and Kyng. Dated at the Chappel of Lasque, 9 September, 1499. Befor thir witnesses, Wilyam Hay of Ardendracht, Mastir Alexander Cabell, Parson of Banchory, and Gylbert Hay.” ((Sources: The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 15))
“By 1500 the Earls of Erroll residing in Old Slains Castle, were now a mighty power in the district, and from most of the barons around they held ‘Bands of Manrent,’ so common in Scottish history, and which came to be a source of great trouble to the crown.” ((Sources: The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 4))
A Thomas of Laysk (perhaps another son of William the 5th Chief) had an action in the Court of Session in Newburg, parish of Foveran co Aberdeen, on April 16, 1504 against Alexander Bannerman in Knaven for relief of rent of the third part of the lands of Knaven. Said Thomas Leask undertook to warrend kape and defend Alexander Bannerman in Knaven skaithless and free of maile of the third part of Knavene taken up by him frae the said Alexander insofar as law wile. ((Sources: Alexander Leask MS, page 9, reports the source to be the Session Court Record as reported to be The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001).))
As Willelmo Leisk de eodem, William Leask, 5th of Leask, appears in an instrument of sasine, dated in August 1504, granted by William Hay, Earl of Erroll, Constable of Scotland, with consent of his son, Sir William Hay of Capeth, in favour of another son, John Hay, of the lands of Craigiecroft with its mill, and the multures from said earl’s lands of Leysk, Mekil, Artrawchy, and Auchlethen in the barony of Slains, co Aberdeen. Alexander Leask, oldest son of William, appears in the document as Alexander Leisk de eodem, baillie (balivus) of William Hay, Earl of Erroll. ((Source: Alexander Leask MS, page 9 reports the source to be the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. The precept is printed in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at page 150, where it states it has been abridged from a copy in the charter room at Slains.))
William Laysk, (second son of Wlliam Leask the fifth Clan Chief) is admitted a burgess of Aberdeen, co of Aberdeen, in 1505/06. ((Source: Alexander Leask MS, page 9, reports the source to be New Spalding Club Miscellany, volume 1, page 43, as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001).))
Richard Leask, (the grandson of Jamis, son of Thomas) was the progenitor of the Leasks of Shetland. ((Source: Clan Leask Website, www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/leask2.html))
Richard Leask, grandson of Jamis of Lask, son of William Leask is appointed Exor (executor) to Sir David Sinclair in 1506. ((Source: Leask’s Genealogical Guide to Some Australian Families and their Antecedents and Genealogies, compiled and edited by Brian Chalmers Leask, Kt. T., 1979, page 333.))
Andrew Gray brought an action against Thomas Leisk in Newburgh on November 29, 1507 for having a violent occupation. ((Source: Alexander Leask MS, page 10. The source is reportd to be the Session Court Record as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001.))
As Willelmum Laysk de eodem, William Leask is a member of an inquest, held at the court of Alexander Bannerman of Waterton, sheriff-depute of Aberdeen, at Aberdeen on February 17, 1509/10, to inquire into the lands pertaining to William Johnston on the death of his father, Alexander Johnstone of Johnstone. ((Source: Reportedly the inquest is printed in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at pages 420 to 422, where it states the original is held in Libri Curiae Viceomitatus de Aberdeen, Volume 1 as reported in Alexander Leask MS, page 10, and The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
On September 9, 1513 the Leask Clan Chief (William Lask and his son (Alexander Lask) were killed at Flodden Field with their feudal superior William Hay, Earl of Errol and King James IV. ay The Earl of Errol fought on King James IV left with the Earls of Crawford and Montrose, between the borders division led by the Earls of Huntly and Home on the extreme left and King James IV who fought in the center. ((Sources: (ay) www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/leask2.html and the Clan Leask Website (az) Scotland, The Story of a Nation, by Magnus Magnusson, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2000, pages 287 to 294.))
Alexander Lask’s younger brother, William Lask, Burgess of Aberdeen, became the 6th Leask Clan Chief as a result of the death of William Lask and his son, Alexander at Flodden. ((Source: www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/leask2.html and Clan Leask Website))
William Leask, 7th of Leask, on February 26, 1514/1515, as Willame Lesk, Burgess of Abirdene, grants a letter of manrent in favour of William Hay, Earl of Errol. ((Source It is reported that an abridged form of the document appears in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at page 147, in a footnote. The source given as Miscellany of the Spalding Club, volume 2, page 155 as reported in Alexander Leask, page 10, and The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
A precept of sasine dated April 18, 1521 is granted by William Hay, Earl of Errol, in favor of his son, William Hay, brother and nearest heir of the late John Hay of ‘Neddir Leisk cum molendino’ (Neither Leask with its mill), in the barony of Slains, co Aberdeen. ((Source: Alexander Leask reports the source to be the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. The deed is printed in Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at page 155, where it states it has been abridged from a copy in the charter room at Slains as reported in The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
William Leask appears in a cognition, dated 1551 regarding the marches between the lands of Nether Ardlethin, belonging to Alexander Chalmers of Balnacraig, Arthur Forbes, and Alexander Hay, portioners thereof, and the Ald mil of Essilmonth, belonging to Thomas Cheyne, fiar of Esselmont, parish of Ellon, co Aberdeen. ((Sources: The source is reported to be the Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, volume 3, at pages 20 to 21 where it states it has been abridged from the original which is held in the charter room at Slains as reported in Alexander Leask MS, page 10, and The Leasks of that Ilk and their Cadets: John Lawrence Cairns-Smith-Barth dated 7 July 2001))
In 1574 William Lesk of that Ilk signed an oath of allegiance to King James VI on September 2, 1574, as one of the “Barons of the North and others.” ((Source:The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 5))
In 1594 the Earl of Errol joined in the Earl of Huntley’s rebellion against the King, King James VI resulting in the destruction of Slains Castle. He latter was pardoned. ((Source:The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 5))
In 1595, at Linlithgow Palace for good service of the said Wil L. [sic] younger, the said lands he (the king) gave to him again after the outcasting of the said Franc.” (Earl of Errol) preserving the Leask lands. ((Source:The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 5))
In 1596 Walter Leisk of that ilk, with a legitimate son James, is named in the ecclesiastical records as having studied at Marischal College in Aberdeen. ((Source:The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 5))
In Orkney, the Uthel Book of 1601records parcels of land on the Island of Papa Westray, Orkney. There were 16 parcels in all, not owned by the Church or the Earl of Orkney. Most of these 16 parcels were owned by the Leask’s and Howieson’s. It is assumed by Sir Brian Chalmers Leask of Aglath that the Lask Family that owned these parcels were members of the de Lask family of Aberdeenshire. However the Uthel Book was written much later than Brian Chalmers Leask Assumed. ((Source: Leask’s Genealogical Guide to Some Australian Families and their Antecedents and Genealogies, compiled and edited by Brian Chalmers Leask, Kt. T., 1979, page 332.))
The Leask’s lost their remaining lands in Aberdeen as a result of investing borrowed money in the ill-fated Darien Scheme in June 1698 that was secured by their land. ((Source: The Leasks by Madam Leask of Leask, page 5))

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Posted in Documentary History

Haldane Burgess Leask

Posted on 27 October 2010 by annknope | 1 Comment

Born June 24, 1912

At home: 554 Gladwin Avenue, Detroit, MI.

Family moved to West Orange, New Jersey, in 1919, across from the Jones’ Mother House.

Burg was 7 years old.

Moved to East Orange and lived at several addresses:

Birchard Avenue, Linley Street, and Springdale Avenue.

Then moved to Bridgeport, CT, East Main & Beardsley Park Terrace, near Jack Heckerd’s.

Burg went to Warren Harding High School.

Moved to Dixon Street (off Park Avenue), then to Ellis Street near the Post Office on the Post Road in Fairfield, CT.

After high school, at the age of 21, Burg went with his Mother back to Detroit to open up the Gladwin Avenue home and sold it for his Father.

While there in Michigan, Burg entered the University of Michigan in 1933.

His family moved to Riverside Drive in Fairfield, CT, and then to Rolland Road, also in Fairfield.

His family then moved to Colony Street off Meadow Brook Road, and then Burg’s Dad built the home on Smedley Road where they remained until they died.

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Posted in John M Leask, II

The Family Tree

Posted on 27 October 2010 by annknope | Leave a comment

Poem cited by Laura Manchester Leask as she worked on the Manchester and Leask Family Trees in the 1980’s:

I think that I shall never see

The finish of a family tree

As it forever seems to grow

From roots that started very low;

‘Way back in ancient history times,

In foreign lands and distant climes.

From them grew trunk and branching limb,

That dated back to time so dim,

One seldom knows exactly when

The parents met and married then.

Nor when the Twigs began to grow

With odd named children, row on row.

‘Though a verse like this is made by me,

And the end’s in sight as you can see;

‘Tis not the same with family trees

That grow and grow through centuries.

By Mr. Willis G. Corbett
707 South West Westwood Drive
Portland, OR 97201
February 1960

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Posted in Family Trees

NOTES FROM MOM, LAURA ELIZABETH MANCHESTER LEASK

Posted on 14 October 2010 by annknope | Leave a comment

NOTES FROM MOM, LAURA ELIZABETH MANCHESTER LEASK

Things That Bare Repeating

Written down by Laura Elizabeth Manchester Leask in the 1980’s and Edited in 2010 by her daughter,Ann Burgess Leask Knope

The Family Tree

I think that I shall never see

The finish of a family tree

As it forever seems to grow

From roots that started very low;

‘Way back in ancient history times,

In foreign lands and distant climes.

From them grew trunk and branching limb,

That dated back to time so dim,

One seldom knows exactly when

The parents met and married then.

Nor when the Twigs began to grow

With odd named children, row on row.

‘Though a verse like this is made by me,

And the end’s in sight as you can see;

‘Tis not the same with family trees

That grow and grow through centuries.

By Mr. Willis G. Corbett

707 South West Westwood Drive

Portland, OR 97201

February 1960

LEASK – BURGESS FAMILIES

Haldane Burgess Leask

Born June 24, 1912

At home: 554 Gladwin Avenue, Detroit, MI.

Family moved to West Orange, New Jersey, in 1919, across from the Jones’ Mother House.

Burg was 7 years old.

Moved to East Orange and lived at several addresses:

Birchard Avenue, Linley Street, and Springdale Avenue.

Then moved to Bridgeport, CT, East Main & Beardsley Park Terrace, near Jack Heckerd’s.

Burg went to Warren Harding High School.

Moved to Dixon Street (off Park Avenue), then to Ellis Street near the Post Office on the Post Road in Fairfield, CT.

After high school, at the age of 21, Burg went with his Mother back to Detroit to open up the Gladwin Avenue home and sold it for his Father.

While there in Michigan, Burg entered the University of Michigan in 1933.

His family moved to Riverside Drive in Fairfield, CT, and then to Rolland Road, also in Fairfield.

His family then moved to Colony Street off Meadow Brook Road, and then Burg’s Dad build the home on Smedley Road where they remained until they died.

Laura Elizabeth Manchester Leask

Born on Vinewood Avenue in Detroit, MI, September 14, 1914.

Family moved to Birmingham, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit when Laura was 4 years old to 221 Woodward Avenue.

The house burned down when Laura was in the 4^th grade.

The family moved to a small house on Lincoln Avenue in Birmingham while the Woodward Avenue home was being rebuilt and remodeled after the fire.They moved back to 221 Woodward Avenue and lived there until Laura was in the 6^th grade.

When Laura was in 7^th grade hard times hit and they lost the house on Woodward and moved to a brick house on Oakland Avenue.

Ruzzy & Helen went to Junior College in Bay City.Then they moved to Ann Arbor, MI where Laura attended the 8^th grade at Tappan Junior High, and then Laura went to Ann Arbor High School.

In Ann Arbor they lived on Forest Avenue, Division Street, Prospect Street, and on the corner of Oxford & High Street.

They finally settled at 1619 Pontiac Road.Laura and Burg held their wedding there on November 1, 1941.

While Burg’s family remained in Fairfield, CT, Burg remained behind in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and worked at the Blodget Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids.At the time Bob Church was sick.

At the age of 29, Burg felt it was safe to marry and start a family in 1941 because he was not drafted and did not expect to be.Mac (John McPherson Leask) was born in October of 1942 while Laura was at Smedley Road in Fairfield, staying with Burg’s parents.The War had heated up and Burg was drafted into the army quite unexpectedly in 1942.

He went to Fort Devons.Then off to Camp Pickett in VA for 8 weeks, and then to Fort Benjamin in Harrison, IN, for 6 months.From Indiana he went to Fort Mead, MD.

Mac was born October 21, 1942 at St Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, CT under the care of Dr. Kemp, a general practitioner.

Laura and Mac followed Burg when he was in the army as much as they could.They lived in Valley Forge, PA, Macomb, IL, while Burg was at Camp Ellis, Muskogee, OK, and Cisco, TX.Then Burg was shipped overseas and Laura and Mac returned to Ann Arbor and stayed there until Burg came home.

Walter (Walter MacGregor Leask) was born while Mac & Laura were in Ann Arbor, December 14, 1944 at St Joseph’s Hospital in Ann Arbor under the care of an OB-GYN specialist.

After the war, Burg, Laura and the boys moved to Smedley Road in Fairfield, and Laura gave birth to Charles (Charles Burgess Leask) on May 16, 1947 at Bridgeport Hospital.

When Charles was 2 weeks old the family moved to Wormwood Road.

They fell on hard times and moved back to Smedley Road in Fairfield, CT.Ann (Ann Burgess Leask) was born at that time on December 12, 1950.And then William (William Manchester Leask) was born July 30, 1952, also while the family lived at Smedley Road.

The Leask family name can be traced to the Buchan branch of Clan Cumyns of Scotland, then to the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Isles where 25% of the people in 1804 and 1954 had the same nine family names, one of which was Leask.

Other names found in the Leask family tree are: Movat, Southerland, McPherson, Goudie, Jamieson, Flause, and Smith.

The Burgess family name is found in Aberdeen, Scotland, the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Isles.

Other names found in the Burgess family tree: Aitken, Jamieson, Arcus, Williamson, Laurenson, and Smith.

SHETLAND DIALECT

Aevir – Giant

Affrug – backwash of waves

Almark – straying sheep

Anyoch – enough

Ayre – beach between waters

Baas – hidden shoals or rocks

Baed – dwelt

Baess – cattle

Bedral – bedridden person

Benon – on top

Birzed – compressed

Bow, of meal – boll, 140 lbs.

Bow, in general – buox

Brether – brothers

Broor – enjoy

Bruck – broken pieces

Clack – inshore fishing grounds

Coft – bought

Craigs – fishing seat on rocks by th shore

Dad – thud

Daek – stone wall

Dee – objective case of Du

Dip Dee a Start – sit down a little while

Doel and When – woe and lamentation

Dowed – faded and soured

Drysook – drought

Du – you, familiar form

Elbucks – elbows

Fagareek – cigarette

Fornenst – opposite

Fowerereen – four-oared boat

Gawpenfus – handfuls

Gio – narrow rent in cliffs

Gluff – sudden fright

Grointed – grunted

Haaf – deep sea fishing ground

Hank – skein

Hardi – Tide bore in Blue Mull Sound

Heth! – Faith!

Hoided – Hip

Hurl – wheel barrow

Homlit – without horns

In biggit – self-centered

It fairlies me – it will be a ferly or strange thing to me

Juppies – Jersies

Kishie – straw basket

Leashed – lashed

Leidfully – diligently

Linn – to rest for a short time

Looderhorn – Horn used in foggy weather by fishermen

Lornshune – shoes

Lume – calm or oily patch

Maa – sea gull

Moorikov – blinding snow storm

Narked – nagged

Peenkled – peered and blinked

Peerie – small

Pluffed – emitted short puffs

Purling – groping with fingers

Raab – demolish

Raabit – demolished

Raaze – to grate the surface from

Riving O’ the rim – Daybreak

Rivlins – heelless shoes of skin

Roog – heap

Rooked – smoked

Sained – blessed

Sang – in phrase, be me sang! – by my blood

Says – wash-tubs

Scurm – shell

Shakes (no great) – of no great account

Shot – after room of small boat

Sixern – boat of six ors

Spanged – jumped

Steuch – thick cloud of dust, etc

Streen – the streen – yesterday evening

Swap – hasty movement

Trivil – grope

Trows – trolls

True du me! – Believe you me!

Ulie kig – keg in which fish livers were kept

Undumious – tremendous

Vill – strong pull on the oars

Wap – throw

Whilly – small boat

Whitrit – weasel

Yoag – cockle

HALDANE BURGESS LEASK’S ANCESTORS AND RELATIVES:

Maggie Jamieson – niece to Burg’s Father (John McPherson Leask, Sr.) – and daughter of Margaret Leak Colvin – was Burg’s cousin.She corresponded frequently with through the years with her American cousins, writing letters.

Maggie had a son, John, and a daughter, Margaret Johnston, and a grandson, Colin Johnston, who fathered Peter John Johnston, who was 21 ½ months old on August 3, 1984.

Burg’s Father, John McPherson Leask, Sr. left information about his Grandfather, George Leask, as follows:

George Leask had 2 wives.

The first was Elizabeth Moat, Mother of James, Laurence and Margaret LeaskShe died in childbirth.She was the daughter of “Lord Cullister.”

The second wife was Agnes Sutherland.She gave birth to George Leask, Jr.

Their were 4 McPherson girls.

Three of the McPherson girls married the three Leask brothers.

George Leask, Jr. (Half brother to James and Laurence) married Elizabeth McPherson.

George and Elizabeth had one son who died very young.They cared for two nieces (named Goudie).John McPherson, George’s brother, also had two wives, Helen Goudie and Christina Jamieson. George died in 1916 in Detroit, MI.George and Elizabeth were good friends to John McPherson Leask, Sr. & Ann Jane Burgess Leask, Burg’s parents, while they lived in Detroit, MI, where John and Ann were married on August 2, 1898.Ann came from the Shetland Isles to marry Burg’s Father.

James Leask married Sarah McPherson.

They had 5 children, George, Elizabeth, John, James & Sarah.Elizabeth married George Smith, a wool merchant.

Laurence Leask married Catherine McPherson.

They are Burg’s Grand Parents, the parents of John McPherson Leask, Sr. who married Ann Jane Burgess.Laurence and Catherine (known as Kitty) had 4 girls and 2 boys.Three of their daughters never married.Ellen (Helen) Leask, became the family baker and was drawn by John.Katherine (Kate) Leask was a great letter writer and loved children and lambs. Mary Jane Leask was the family bookkeeper and was very shy.Elizabeth (Maggie) Leask Colvin’s husband died at sea in 1916.They had two children, Ina & Maggie.John married Ann, Burg’s Mother.And Laurence, Jr. married Isabella Ingram in 1897.Laurence Jr. and Isabella gave birth to a daughter, Isabella (known as Bella).Burg visited them in Edinburgh during WWII, spending the weekend.They were impressed at how much Burg was like his dad.

A fourth sister, Christina McPherson, never married.

George, James, and Laurence Leasks’ sister Margaret Leask married Thomas Flause who died in death valley in 1909.They had a son, Jack Flause who lived in California.

The 4 sisters had 2 brothers, John McPherson, who ended up in Vancouver, Canada, and James McPherson who went to California.

George Leask was Burg’s paternal Grandfather.He is the George Leask that married Elizabeth Moat, and then Agnes Sutherland.George and Elizabeth Moat were the parents ofLaurence Leask, Sr.who fathered John McPherson Leask by Catherine McPherson Leask.John McPherson Leask, Sr is the Father of Haldane Burgess Leask and his siblings by Ann Jane Burgess Leask.

Catherine McPherson Leask’s Father was John McPherson.He was married toHelen Goudie and then Christine Jamieson.Catherine’s half brothers were John McPherson, Jr. and James McPherson.John Jr married a girl by the name of Mary.They had no children and lived in Canada.James and his wife [name tbd] had two sons and lived in California.Their son, John, died in the Building of the Golden Gate Bridge.Their 2^nd son was a Lieutenant in World War II, and was then a dentist in San Francisco.

George Leask & Elizabeth Moat Leask were the parents of Laurence Leask, Sr. who married Catherine McPherson and had John McPherson Leask, Sr who married Ann Jane Burgess Leask and were the parents of Haldane Burgess Leask.John McPherson Leask, Sr was born in Shetland as was Ann Jane Burgess.John came to the United States via New York in 1893, but not thru Ellis Island.He arrived in New York and took a train to Canada to stay with his uncle, John McPherson and his wife Mary who were childless.Ann Jane Burgess left Shetland to come to the United States and marry John.She came in thru Canada and then she and John went to Detroit to be married.

Burg’s maternal Great Grand Father was Thomas Aitken who was married to Ann Margaret Jamieson.They gave birth to twins, Ann Margaret Aitken & Elizabeth Aitken.

Charles Burgess married Ann Margaret Aitken; they were Haldane Burgess Leask’s maternal grand parents. They had 3 daughters: Ann Jane Burgess, Margaret, and May.

Ann Jane Burgess became Haldane Burgess Leask’s Mother.

Margaret Burgess married Thomas Williamson and lived in Ferwick, Shetland.

May Burgess married a Mr. Laurenson and lived in Ferwick, Shetland.

Charles and Ann Margaret also had a son, George Burgess who was a Gordon Highlander in the 1^st World War.He died in as German prison camp as the War was drawing to a close.

Charles Burgess later married Janice Williamson.They had one child together, Charles Burgess, Jr. who died at age 16 from a heart condition complicated by infection.

Poem written by Burg’s Grand Mother, Ann Margaret Aitken:

Courage, Still Endures

Hope whispers, Courage, Forward go,

March in the line of perfect truth;

Heed not the thought that whispers, No;

Guard well thy footsteps in thy youth.

Break every spell that would obsess

Thy conscious thought of what is right;

Thy soul in perfect peace possess

With knowledge that each wrong needs light.

Thy light of wisdom, thee to guide,

Keep thee from doing what is wrong;

Pierce, purge thy soul till it abide

Beneath the star of wisdom, strong.

Strong in strength that blossoms out

Into a manhood, noble, pure;

Full of right purpose, without doubt.

March forward, Courage, still endure.

By A.M.A (Ann Margaret Aitken)

Original with Edna Hutchinson along with other family papers

Memories of John McPherson Leask, Sr. and Ann Jane Burgess Leask, the parents of Haldane Burgess Leask:

John McPherson Leask, Sr., Burg’s Father, was born November 4, 1871, in the Shetland Isles and came to North America as a very young man.He arrived in Canada via New York by train in about 1889.He did not go thru Ellis Island.

He would quit a job and move on when he could make 25 cents more somewhere else.

He stoked boilers, caught hot rivets in a pail on construction jobs, and went into the grocery business.

He was foreman at a foundry that made street car wheels where they amused themselves at lunch by weight lifting using the wheels and doing hand over hand rope climbing.

John went to work for Park Davis in Detroit, MI, and became a foreman in the benzine house.He had a firey temper as a young man and was therefore nicknamed “Benzine Jack.”While foreman in the benzine house he developed a practical method for manufacturing chloratone on a large scale.

This was a push button process.Chloratone is a preservative used in multiple dose vials for keeping medication sterile and was still widely used as of the the 1980’s, and is still used as of 2010.

Since John was not a college graduate (his formal education consisted of only 3 years of schooling at this point), the management, at first, scoffed at his process for making Chloratone, so he went out to the Park Davis dump and found enough materials to make a small working model to demonstrate the process.On seeing the success of this experiment, the entire side of a 2 story building was removed to install the final working machinery.

John received an award of gold dollars for developing this process.

When Burg attended Pharmacy School at the University of Michigan in 1933, he toured Park Davis and the machinery was still in use.By the 1980’s a new building for the process had been constructed.

CP Beckwith and Dr. King at Park Davis encouraged John to study chemistry and provided John with some books.He was then transferred to the analytical laboratory at Park Davis where he worked until he ran into a situation requiring mandatory retirement after working 20 or more years.

Having a large family, he moved everyone to West Orange, NJ, where he went to work for Calco Chem Co for about 5 years.

He then went to work for McKesson Robbins in New York.The name “New York Quinine” enters into the place he worked.

Robbins told John that if he told anyone that he was not a college graduate they would have to fire him.His education was by himself through I.C.S., and international correspondence school.John built a chemical lab o the 3^rd floor of 72 Wheeler Street in West Orange in order to pursue his studies thru ICS.

John worked in New York until McKesson Robbins moved to Connecticut after being purchased by the “Girard Company,” a manufacturer of shoe polish.Girard Company was owned an operated by Coster and the Dietrichs of “Musica Brothers” fame (notoriety perhaps?).John maintained that he was always treated well and with much fairness by them.

John retired from McKesson Robbins with a pension at the age of 75 after World War II.

Though Dr. Omahandra had the title of head of the department, John was the actual head of the research lab at McKesson Robbins.

John’s Scottish ways were strongly encouraged in his children.Burg and his brother John delivered newspapers in New Jersey for 3 ½ years.They were given fifty cents a week from the proceeds, the rest went into a $500 endowment that was most useful to Burg when he pursued his education to be a Pharmacist.

As a young man John had a temper and was a very strict disciplinarian as a father but he was fair in his judgments.His children respected him, and to Burg, his father was God himself.

John Jr & Burg told Laura, Burg’s wife, that their father never went to sleep at night without getting on his knees and saying his prayers.To know him was to love him.He was most loyal to his wife and family.He was a Presbyterian, but did not attend church after he left Detroit. He also taught his children to respect women, and this is something that Burg taught his sons.

John died on October 11, 1955, in Fairfield, CT.

John’s wife, Ann Burgess Leask was born August 23, 1874, and was a practical nurse in the Shetland Isles before her marriage to John.She went out on cases when needed, and continued to do so when she came to the United States.She also helped to register German Nationals in Detroit at the time of the 1^st World War.She was also active in the Red Cross.She was a strict Baptist.

Ann came to Detroit, MI, to marry John.The wedding was on August 2, 1898.

They had eight children together; all were born in Detroit, MI, at home on Gladwin Avenue.The family left for West Orange, NJ, in 1918, after World War I.Burge was six years old at the time.

Ann died in 1956 in Fairfield, CT.

THE CHILDREN OF JOHN MCPHERSON LEASK, SR. AND ANN JANE BURGESS LEASK

The firstborn was Catherine Leask, born in 1899.Catherine died of diphtheria in December of 1901.It is said that thenurse who came to the house to deliver their second born, Anne, brought the diphtheria into the house from her last case.

Second born was Anne Burgess Leask (Hutchinson).She was born December 20, 1901.Catherine died shortly there after.Anne married Mike Hutchinson in 1919.They had two children, John Hutchinson and Edna Hutchinson.They stated in Detroit for a while and then moved to New Jersey.Mike was in construction work and fell and broke both his legs.He later went in to the grocery business as a manager in a store in New Jersey.John married Susan and they had a son, Wesley.Edna married Lloyd Merrit and they had four daughters.Michael Hutchinson died in Florida in 1970, soon after Anne and Michael’s 50^th wedding anniversary.Anne married again to Vernon Drake on June 26, 1983.Vernon was married to Anne’s sister Helen.Anne and Vernon married after Helen died.

Next came Elizabeth Marjorie Leask on June 25, 1903, know as Betty.She married Tom Jones on September 24, 1924.They had a daughter, Barbara, who married Bob McGrory and had two daughters.Tom was an investment banker.Betty and Tom divorced.Betty married again on December 9, 1961, Oswald Rooman Love, who died in 1980.He was very good to Betty.

Fourth born is Elinor Sarah Leask on May 13, 1905.She married William F Millar.They had one child, a son, Robert Millar.Robert is married to Betty Pfingston.They have four children, Michael, Bonnie, Robin, and Robert, Jr.Elinor lives in Ft Lauderdale and as of this writing is 104 years old!

A fifth daughter came along in 1907, Edna Lillian Leask.Edna died as a teenager from an infection on her lip.Edna was an outstanding young lady.She won a prize for her artwork.Her death was a very bad experience for her Mother, Ann.John and Ann believed in Christian Science and prayed fervently for Edna to recover, but to no avail.

Next came daughter number six, but also their first born son!Helen Jean Leask and John McPherson Leask, Jr. were born on November 26, 1909, twins!Helen married Vernon Drake.They had two children, Vernon, Jr. and Glenda.Vernon Jr. had two daughters.Glenda married a minister, Chas Feiler, and they had a son and a daughter.Helen died of Parkinson disease in November of 1982.Vernon married Helen’s sister Anne in 1983.

John McPherson Leask, Jr., Helen’s fraternal twin, was also born on November 26, 1909.He was a banker in a trust department and then became a CPA in Fairfield, CT and married Margaret Harris.John and Peggy had 3 children, Margaret Ann (known as Peggy Ann), David Leask, and Mary Lou.Margaret Ann married David Olney and they had four children, three boys and a girl.David married twice due to a divorce.He had a daughter and a son by his first wife, and two boys and a girl by his second wife.MaryLou married Robert Carlson.They have two sons, Robert and Jeremy.MaryLou is an artist and art teacher in Redding, CT.Robert is being cared for in a facility in Southington for Alzheimer’s disease.

Finally, along came Haldane Burgess Leask on June 24, 1912, which completed John and Ann Burgess Leask’s family while they were still in Detroit.Burg went to University of Michigan and became a Pharmacist.He married Laura Elizabeth Manchester on November 1, 1941.They had 5 children between 1942 and 1952, 4 boys and girl.,John, Walter, Charles, William, and Ann.

LAURA ELIZABETH MANCHESTER LEASK’S ANCESTORS AND RELATIVES:

Laura’s ancestors first came to America in 1638. Thomas Manchester, born in Yorkshire in 1618, worked his way to Connecticut in 1638 by signing as a bond servant. With Ezekiel Rogers, a non-conformist minister, Thomas helped found New Haven, CT, in October 1638 and his first winter was spent with Richard Perry, and ancestor of Commodore Perry, who gained fame on Lake Erie in the war of 1812. In 1643, Thomas married Margaret Wood of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

The Manchester line in the New World in Laura’s ancestry is as follows:

1^st Generation Thomas Manchester 1618 – 1691 arrived in New England in 1638

2^nd Generation John Manchester tbd – 1708

3^rd Generation John Manchester tbd – 1766

4^th Generation Isaac Manchester 1717 – 1780

5^th Generation Isaac Manchester 1762 – 1851

6^th Generation Benjamin Manchester 1785 – 1857

7^th Generation Isaac Manchester 1816 – 1886

8^th Generation Hugh A. Manchester 1837 – 1919

9^th Generation William Charles Manchester 1873 – 1943

10^th Generation Laura Elizabeth Manchester 1914 – 1998

Laura’s paternal grand parents were Hugh A. Manchester, born March 5, 1837, and Susan Rose Anna Squier, born September 27, 1837.

Hugh and Susan had seven children.

Mary Ellen Manchester, born June 20, 1861, who died at age 19 of typhoid fever, September 22, 1880.

Laura Electa Manchester Tanner, born December 5, 1862. She married Prior Tanner (5/22/1861 – 7/31/1928) of Canfield, OH on June 23, 1891. They had 2 children. Laura Electa died February 1, 1928.

Fanny Cora Manchester Bowman, born July 8, 1865. Fanny married Comfort Ellis Bowman. They had one son, Hugh Manchester Bowman. The date of Fanny’s death is tbd.

Isaac Asher Manchester, born July 22, 1867. He married Stella Stuart, the great grand daughter of James and Ann Wilson Stuart. They had no children, but raised Jesse, an orphan from West Virginia. Date of death tbd.

William Charles Manchester, born December 25, 1873. William graduated from Northeastern Ohio Normal School with and AB, and University of Michigan Law School with and LLB in 1896. He practiced Law in Detroit and after the crash of 1929 in Ann Arbor, MI. William married Margaret MacGregor on December 27, 1898 and lived in Detroit. They moved to Birmingham, MI, in 1919. Margaret and the children live in Bay City for one year after the 1929 crash, and then the family moved to Ann Arbor to be with William. William and Margaret are Laura Elizabeth Manchester Leask’s parents and had seven children together. William died in May of 1943.

Curtis Asa Manchester, born November 6, 1876. Curtis married Leona Eckis (3/25/1905 – dd tbd). They had four children, Hugh Wallace, Curtis Alexander, William Leroy, and Florence Rosanna.

Leroy Alexander Manchester, born May 6, 1883. Leroy married Josephine Schaff. They had three daughters, Rosanna, Josephine, and Marianne.

Laura’s maternal grand parents were Duncan Gregor MacGregor and Martha MacDonald. Duncan and Martha met at a Christmas party in Algonac, MI. Martha was a librarian. They had five children from their marriage.

Robert Mac Gregor, birthdate tbd. Robert married Caroline, the daughter of a commander at West Point. They had two children, Margaret, who married Brink Pricheta, a graduate of West Point, and had 3 girls, Peggy, Polly, and Pat; and Robert and Caroline’s 2^nd child, Duncan McGregor who also graduated from West Point. Robert attended West Point and changed the spelling of his last name to McGregor. He was a Colonel in the army and died in the Philipines of appendicitis at the age of 35.

Helen MacGregor, born October 29, 1858. Helen taught school in Bay City, Michigan for over 50 years, and was principal of Fremont, a grade school. Helen never married and died in 1947. A middle school in Bay City was built and named MacGregor Junior High School, named after Helen and her sister Mary who also was a teacher. Dd tbd.

Mary MacGregor, birthdate tbd. Also taught school in Bay City, Michigan for over 50 years, and never married. She was principal at Garfield School. Helen and Mary were actively involved in the lives of their nieces and nephews and were favored aunts in the family. Dd tbd.

Margaret Katherine MacGregor, born January 30, 1874. Margaret was Laura’s mother. She graduated from the University of Literature School in 1896. She and William Charles Manchester married and had 7 children. Laura was the youngest. Margaret died in January of 1945.

Walter MacGregor, birthdate tbd. He was an engineer, graduated from the University of Michigan. Walter married Marian Knapp. They had 5 children, Elizabeth (died young, drowned in 1914), Katherine (Muir), Dorthea (Lindsey), Marian Kay (Fake), and a son, Robert. The children of Margaret and her brother Walter spent summers together in Bay City, Michigan. The cousins have many fond memories of the family get-togethers. DD tbd.

William Charles Manchester and Margaret Katherine MacGregor, Laura’s parents, had seven children.

Their firstborn was Hugh Alexander Manchester, born on October 23, 1899. At age 18, Hughdied in the battle of Swasson, while leading a squad against a German machine gun nest. A corporal in the 26^th infantry, 1^st Division during the 1^st World War, Hugh entered the army at the age of 17 and served on active duty in France for 18 months before his death on July 19, 1918. His best friend, Don Rankin, was killed on the same day in a different battle nearby.

Mary Katherine Manchester was born on August 31, 1901. She married Cady Hall. They had a son William Cady Hall. Mary and Cady divorced. Mary lacked a few credits at University of Michigan and did not quite graduate. She worked as a Buyer in Detroit, MI, and then went in to Real Estate. Mary succumbed to cancer in the 1950’s, dd tbd.

William Charles Manchester, Jr. was the 3^rd born to William and Margaret on December 31, 1902. He married five times. First to Louse Taylor, they had one son. Then to Mary Carolina, then to Anna. His fourth wife was Georgia. The had 3 children together, Thomas, Stephen, and Georgia (Gigi). His fifth wife was Anne and they were married for 25 years. William, Jr. died in 1983 in Belefonte, PA., dd tbd.

Helen Margaret Manchester came along on June 3, 1907. She graduated from Northeastern Michigan at Ippsilante. She married Alexander Krezel. They met at a bomber plant where Helen worked during World War II. They had 3 children, Alexander Anthony Krezel, Jr. who graduated from Law School at the University of Michigan, married, had 1 son, and moved to Texas; Angus Krezel who married and has 3 children. They live in Australia where Angus teaches special education; and Martha Krezel, married to Carl John Ostertay. They moved to New Mexico. Carl passed away in 2009. Helen’s dd tbd.

Born 5^th on October 25, 1909 was Susan Rosannah Manchester (Rozzy). She married Thomas Kruger, a refugee from Germany. He worked for GM as an overseas operator and they live in Venezuela, Mexico City, Etc. They had 4 children, Julie (Graduate of Mt Holyoke, married Bob Bachus, lived in London, Italy, Brazil, 2 children), Thomas (Grad of U of M and Harvard Law, married Joy, 3 children), Peter Stefan (grad of U of M Med School, 2 children, and Konrad Rudolf (Chip, grad of Trinity and MA from Tufts, Banker in NY, married Ann Krunne of Cincinnati).

Frances Jane Manchester, the 6^th born, came on February, 1, 1912. She graduated from U of M majoring in Play Production. Frances married Thorn Pendleton, and industrialist of Warren, OH. She met him while she was working for the Cleveland Play House in OH. They had 3 children, Austin (grad of Yale Drama School, Actor, Director, Drama Teacher, married Katina, 1 daughter, Audrey; Alexander (grad of Williams College, MA, married, 2 daughters; and Margaret (grad of ??, married Warren Flint, lived in Lincoln, MA, 2 children, Sarah Abigail and Thomas Manchester.

Finally, Laura Elizabeth Manchester, born September 14, 1914. Laura graduated from U of M with an AB in 1936 on the 40^th reunion of her Father’s graduation class. William and Margaret Manchester, Laura’s parents had no idea it would take so long to raise a family when they first started out. They said they “might not have started our family if we had known!” They laughed as they said it, we hope!!!

MEMORIES OF LAURA ELIZABETH MANCHESTER LEASK ABOUT HER FAMILY:

William Manchester and Margaret MacGregor became acquainted at University of Michigan and were married at Bay city, Michigan, Margaret’s hometown, on December 27, 1898. Before marriage, Margaret taught high school Math and Latin. She did not like teaching. Some of her male students were bigger than she was.

When William and Margaret married they lived in Detroit, Michigan, where “Charley” as William was known, practiced Law. They lived on Vinewood Avenue. Charley and Margaret had seven children, 5 girls and 2 boys, plus one child that did not live.

When their 2^nd born, Mary, was born she was a very small preemie baby. Since they had no incubators at home in those days, the new baby, Mary, was kept in the oven for a brief period of time until she was strong enough to be treated as normal baby. All of the children were born at home which was the custom of the day.

“Charley”, Laura’s father, did very well as a young Attorney in Detroit. He was a Corporation Lawyer and was Attorney for the Brewer’s Association of the State of Michigan.

Until the 1^st World War when the availability of inexpensive help changed, the Manchesters had a cook and laundress who lived in. “Madge”, as Laura’s Mother was called, said that they used to be able to hire Swedish and/or German girls who were just off the boat from Europe at very reasonable rates, $7 per week. There was often a problem with language. One of the cooks who could not speak English would recognize certain canned items by the picture on the can. When the labels were taken off cans by one of the children, it caused much confusion on what vegetable might be served for dinner.

In spite of the language problem these girls worked out very well and were a great help to Madge during the years her children were small. Madge said that a girl willing to work around that many children was a good person. The children were fed and in bed before the dinner hour. Thus the adults had a leisurely, well served dinner after the children were in bed.

William Charles Manchester, Charley, also dabbled in politics. He always enjoyed politics and took active interest in various political campaigns. Laura votes in every election because of his influence. Charles Manchester was a member of the Michigan Legislature which rewrote the Constitution for the state of Michigan when it was revised for the second time in the history of Michigan. This Constitution went into effect January 1, 1909. It has since been revised again in the 1950’s. Charles was a staunch Republican and was a friend of Senator Vandenburg, also a Republican. Senator Vandenburg served Michigan in Washington, DC, for many years.

While the family lived in Detroit they were members of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church where Charley was a Deacon. Many years later, when Susan Rosannah, Laura’s sister, was living in Detroit with her husband Tom Kruger, the Krugers became active members of this same church when Herbert Hudnut was Minister. (Herbert Hudnut was married to the sister of Laura’s Aunt Josephine Manchester the wife of LeRoy Manchester. Herbert Hudnut was a nephew of Richard Hudnut, the organizer and founder of Hudnut cosmetics and perfumes.)

The summer of 1914 just before Laura was born (9/14/1914) was probably the worst summer that Madge ever spent. The family spent the summer at the St Claire River with Madge’s brother Walter MacGregor and his wife Marian Knapp MacGregor. Marian was pregnant with Dorothea (the 3^rd of five children that Walter and Marian had together) and Margaret was pregnant with Laura (the youngest of Madge’s 7 children). This being 1914, there was no news except on weekends when their husbands arrived for the weekend. There were no phones and no radios in those days at St Claire River. World War I started that summer and Aunt Marian’s oldest daughter, Betty, was 4 years old. Betty fell off the dock and drowned. All in all a very discouraging summer and Madge never again spent her summers at the cottage at St Claire River. The memories were too unpleasant.

The Manchester family moved to Birmingham, MI, when Laura was 4 years old, in 1918. Laura’s oldest brother, Hugh Alexander Manchester, had joined the army when the USA entered into World War I. He was in the First Division, Company L, which was sent to France for training. Hugh and His best friend, Don Rankin both signed up and were in the First Division together. They both died in the battle of Swasson in July of 1918 just a short distance from each other. Don Rankin’s father was a Captain and was able to get the details. Hugh died while leading a squad against a German machine gun nest. He was a Corporal in the 26^th infantry. He enlisted at the age of 17 and served in France for 18 months before his death. Hugh’s name is listed on a monument to the First Division which is in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. Hugh is buried in an American Cemetery in France.

One of Laura’s earliest memories is when she was 4 or 5 years old, living in Birmingham, MI. Two men in Army uniform came to call on Laura’s mother, Margaret, probably about Hugh. Laura was sent out on the front porch while they talked to Laura’s Mother. Mother refused to join the “Gold Star Mothers” because she said she did not want to “capitalize on Hugh’s death.” She did not discuss it, but she never cared to go to any of the war movies. She always made a birthday cake on Hugh’s birthday, October 23^rd, and decorated it with silk American flags instead of with candles.

Laura was told that before Hugh left for the war he boarded up the fence so Laura could not escape as was her habit, but Laura always managed to run away anyway. While still in Detroit Laura would escape thru the fence. The police would always round her up and buy her an ice cream cone before bringing her back home in the “Black Maria.” Laura enjoyed it immensely. When visited Bay City, the police were not as nice so Laura gave up her habit of running away.

The home in Birmingham was at 221 Woodward Avenue. Birmingham was a suburb of Detroit. The town had wooden sidewalks at the time that the family moved there after World War I. Woodward Avenue was the main road thru the town. It was an import connector between Detroit and Pontiac, MI. The house was halfway up the hill and In the winter, the large canvas trucks delivering supplied for the automobile industry had a hard time getting up the icy hill. They would use chains on the tires and the chains would slap under the wheels to finally get to the top of the hill.

The neighbors to one side were the Fergusons, and the Shermans on the other side. Father had law offices in Detroit and there was a street named after him there. Manchester Street was next to the old Ford Motor Company building which faced Woodward Avenue.

As a young Attorney in Detroit, Charles was attending convention meetings held in Detroit and was in a car full of young Attorneys when it was hit by an interurban street car at a crossing. All except for Charles died either immediately or within a year of the collision. Charles was laid up for a year or so, but survived. He never really cared to drive a car but he finally did years later when the family lived in Ann Arbor. While we were in Birmingham he had a big 7 passenger Buick, but he had a driver for it, Pat McQuarter, and Pat used to use the car at night to take out his girl, Violet Ray. Because of the serious accident, Charles was much interested in doing away with Rail Road Crossings in Michigan. He worked toward making “grade crossings” safer.

When Laura was in the about the 3^rd grade at Hill School in Birmingham, their home on Woodward Avenue burned. The upper floors were badly gutted. No one was injured but the family had to move out while the house on Woodward was renovated after the fire. They rented a very small house on Lincoln Avenue in Birmingham for one year. It was hard on Mother, but she never let the younger children know.

With the help of the insurance money, Father was able to renovate the home. He had considerable remodeling done as well. When he was done there was a 30’ living room, a 20’ dining room, and a large formal hall with a wide handsome staircase with white posts and a mahogany colored handrail. It was a friendly home with frequent guests at dinner because Mother was always ready to set an extra place or more at the table. She did have one rule, though, for the children. They had to ask her privately about their friends staying for diner or for an overnight stay so she could say ‘no’ if it was inconvenient. She usually said ‘yes.’

Woodward Avenue became a very busy street with heavy traffic so Father sold the house and bought another home on Oakland Avenue in Birmingham. Laura was happy with the move because the new home was across the street from her best friend, Ruth Stanford. Ruth and Laura would now be in the same school (Adams School), and they could ride their bikes to school. They were in the sixth grade and would spent manly overnights at each other’s home. They spent most of those overnights at Laura’s home because Ruth was an only child and she loved being around Laura’s big family.

Ruth’s mother was an art teacher at Bloomfield Hills school. It was a private school (Cranbrook) in Bloomfield Hills which was on the outskirts of Birmingham. Ruth and Laura used to attend Saturday morning classes taught by Mrs. Stanford. It was an opportunity to work in many different mediums and was completely enjoyable.

When the family moved to Oakland Avenue, the children had fun with the bell on the floor under the dining table. Its intended purpose was to call the maid into the dining room, but since there was no maid, the children used it on each other. There was a swinging door between the pantry and the dining room which became a problem when parties on opposite sides of the door tried to use it at the same time. This confusion with the swing door is probably why they went out of vogue.

There was a large screened in sleeping porch in the house on Oakland Avenue. Rosy, Laura and Ruth used to sleep on it during the summer and in the winter. In the winter they would wrap up in woolen blankets and crawl under even more blankets. Some mornings they would wake up with their hair frozen to the pillows! Michigan winter nights were cold.

During summer visits to Bay City, Uncle Walter Manchester and Aunt Marion would bring their children to visit with Manchesters. There would be big parties with thirty or more people, swimming every day and many picnics. Some of their friends were the Wilcox’s (Peggy dated Jimmy Wilcox and had great fun riding around in his Ford.), the Carpenters, and the McCleans, also Fan Merrill.

The depression of 1929 hit Birmingham very hard. The Manchester family was not spared. When people could not afford the pay their bills, the first bills not paid were usually the ones to Attorneys. The Manchesters lost their home on Oakland Avenue. The furniture was put into storage, and Madge and the four daughters still at home, Helen, Rosy, Frances, and Laura went to Bay City to stay Madge’s two sisters, Aunt Helen and Aunt Mary for a year.

Father stayed at a Hotel in Detroit and used to come up to Bay City on some weekends and holidays. He did not have a car at that time so he would take the train which was not easy. The Christmas we spent there at Aunt Helen’s and Aunt Mary’s was a really “Blue” time. Aunt Helen and Aunt Mary were very good to the girls and they felt at home there because they spent summers there throughout their childhood. But they were not used to the big Christmas celebrations we had always had an of course Mother and Father were probably quite broke.

Mary Manchester, our sister, was working in Detroit at Himelhocks, a woman’s specialty store, and she came up on the train on Christmas Eve and brought Christmas with her.

In Bay City during that year Laura was in Junior High; Frances was in Senior High; and Ruzzy and Helen were in Junior College. We all did very well because being nieces of the two Miss MacGregors, both school principals, we were expected to be good students and we were. We had many friends at school. Laura was special friends with Betty Loveland and Bernice MacDougall. The three of them giggled a lot – normal for 7^th graders.

Father and Mother decided that with four daughters to educate they should move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, so they could attend the University of Michigan when read for college. Father made plans to move his law offices to Ann Arbor. Ruzzy (Rosey), Frances, Laura and Mother went to Ann Arbor in early fall, just before school term, and lived in a rooming house while they found a place to rent. Laura remembered, “We ate breakfast and lunches at the rooming house and I can remember our real amazement and amusement when we discovered ‘sliced bread’ at the grocery store. It was new and different and we thought the height of laziness! We found it convenient to use in our rented room so got it as a novelty and have been using ever since!”

Mother rented a house on Forest Avenue and the rest of the family, Helen and Father, joined us. Father and Alfred Rice opened Law offices in Ann Arbor. Father’s daughters took turns working as secretaries for them in their spare time. Ruzzy worked most steadily in this job – the rest of the girls only helped occasionally.

The house on Forest Avenue was and English Tudor, dark and gloomy, and expensive to rent. The family moved to a less expensive house on Prospect Street. Laura attended Tappan Junior High for 8^th grade and loved it and the people in her class. Frances attended Ann Arbor High School where she was quite a leader and was in numerous school plays. Ruzzy attended the University of Michigan and was active on the Michigan Daily Newspaper at the college. Helen went to Normal School in Ypsilanti where she joined a sorority and became close friends with Agnes Hope. Kay MacGregor, a cousin, lived with the family while going to Art School at University of Michigan. Doddy, her sister, also came to live with the family during her Junior year and then returned to her “beloved” Smith College where she graduated. She later told Laura that she realized that the professors she had at Michigan were of higher caliber than the professors at Smith, except for her favorite, Mary Ellen Chase, who taught at Smith. Laura graduated while the family lived on Prospect Street. And then attended University of Michigan.

From Prospect Avenue, Father rented a fancy home on the corner of Hill Street and Oxford Drive – a huge place with 7 or more fireplaces and many oak trees in the yard. It was a beautiful home but expensive to rent and keep up. Mary and Cady Hall were married while we lived there – a nice setting for a wedding. The oak leaves demanded much raking in the fall.

Father and Al Rice had a serious automobile accident. Father had a concussion and was unconscious for a long time – a day or so – he was in the hospital for a while and then in bed at home. While Laura was visiting Roe Manchester in Youngstown, Ohio for 5 weeks during the summer, Helen, Ruzzy and Mother went house hunting for a less expensive rent. They did insist that the house have a fireplace.

The family moved to 1619 Pontiac Road about five miles from campus. That is where the family lived for many years. Laura finished college while on Pontiac Road and was married there as was Ruzzy and Frances. Mother and Father purchased the house after a few years. It was owned by a dentist and he sold it to them. The dentist who had rented the house to them used to come over to listen to the radio show “Information Please.” He was impressed with Mother’s general knowledge and ability to be on top the answers to the questions.

In 1930, Father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He died 12 years later in 1943. He continued to practice law but was ill much of the time. Father was very fond and close to his grandson, Bill Hall, the son of our sister, Mary, and Cady Hall. Bill lived a block or so down Pontiac Road with his parents. Billy called him “Pop” and Bill’s friends called Father “Mr. Pop.” Father died in May of 1943, and Mother died in January of 1945. After their deaths Helen went to Kansas and married Alex Krezel, and lived where Alex was stationed in the Army. They met at the Ford Motor plant where they both worked.

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Hills of Leask by Ray Leask

Posted on 6 September 2010 by jayleask | Leave a comment

The Hills of Leask, also known as the Land of Leask, as seen by Ray Leask. Once on the site hover over the navigation item “Hills of Leask” to see the rest of his fantastic gallery!

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Family Tree: John McPherson Leask II, “Mac”

Posted on 6 September 2010 by jayleask | 2 Comments

I am John M. Leask II, known as Mac-born 10/21/42 in Bridgeport, CT. I am the father of John M. Leask, III known as Jay-born 7/25/80 in Norwalk, CT; he is married to Antares Elizabeth Russell. Jay’s mother is Phoebe Kamelakis Leask-born 10/24/43 in Schenectady, New York. Phoebe, of Greek extraction, married me on August 19, 1979. She has three children by her first marriage. Though I have not adopted them, they are every bit as much my children in spirit as is Jay. These children are Peter Rizos, Andrew Rizos and Joanna Rizos Bogardus. John Rizos is their natural father. Joanna, who is married to David Bogardus has three children: Christopher James, Rose and Aaron David. Andrew, who is married to Jennifer Gibson has one child: Athena Kriti. Peter is married to Deirdre Director.

I have three Brothers and a sister. They are Walter MacGregor Leask-born in Michigan on 12/14/44, Charles Burgess Leask-born in Bridgeport, Ct-born on 5/17/47, Ann Burgess Leask Knope-born in Bridgeport, CT on 12/12/50 and William Manchester Leask-born in Bridgeport, CT on 7/30/52 in Bridgeport, CT.

Charles Burgess Leask and his ex-wife Paulette Lashenka have a son James McPherson Leask. Charles died October 10, 1999 in Bridgeport Hospital. Ann Burgess Leask Knope and her Husband William Joseph Knope, III (born 3/22/50) were married 1/16/71. Ann and William have a son Daniel Benjamin Knope born 3/11/74. Walter married Patricia Hermann Hiltz. Pat had a daughter by her first husband, Merideth Hiltz.

The father of John M. Leask, II was Haldane Burgess Leask-born 6/24/12 in Detroit, Michigan. Haldane’s wife was Laura Elizabeth Manchester Leask-born 9/14/14 in Michigan.

The father of Haldane Burgess Leask was John McPherson Leask, Sr.-born 11/4/1871 in Rumpa, Shetland. Rumpa was also known by the name of the beach on which it is located: Channerwick Beach. The wife of John M. Leask, Sr, was Ann Jane Burgess of Shetland, born 8/23/1874 in Shetland. She grew up in Lerwick. On May 11, 1893 John M. Leask, Sr., sailed from Scotland to New York on a boat called the Cutty Rome. The boat arrived in the US May 22, 1893. He then took a train to Ontario, Canada to visit his uncle George Leask in Ontario, Canada. He stayed until 1894, when he moved to Detroit, Michigan. Ann joined him and they were married on August 2, 1898. They had 8 Children in the US, all born in Detroit, Michigan, Catherine Leask born 1899, Anne Burgess Leask born 12/20/01, Elizabeth Marjorie Leask born 6/25/03, Elinor Sarah Leask born 5/13/05, Edna Lillian Leask born 1907, Helen Jean Leask born 11/26/09, John McPherson Leask, Jr., born 11/26/09 and Haldane Burgess Leask born 6/24/12. The oldest child of John M. Leask Sr., and Ann Burgess Leask was Catherine Leask who was born in 1899 and died in 1901 of diphtheria.

Ann Burgess Leask, the second child of John M. Leask, Sr., and Ann Burgess Leask, was born 12/20/1901. She Married Michael (Mike) Hutchinson in 1919. They lived in New York until they retired and moved to Florida. They had two children: John and Edna. John Hutchinson married Susan and they had one son Wesley. Edna married Loyd Merrit and they had four daughters. Mike died in 1970 soon after his 50th wedding anniversary. Anne Burgess Leask Hutchinson then married her widowed brother in law, Vernon Drake on June 26, 1983.

Elizabeth Marjorie Leask, the third child of John M. Leask, Sr., and Ann Burgess Leask, was born 6/25/1903. She married Tom Jones (born 7/12/1900) on 9/20/24. They had one child, Barbara. Elizabeth and Tom divorced each other. Tom died in the 1970’s. 12/9/61 Elizabeth married Oswald Rodman Love (born 11/17/92). Oswald died in 1980. Elizabeth and Tom’s daughter Barbara married Bob McGory and had two daughters.

Elinor Sarah Leask, the fourth child of John M. Leask, Sr., and Ann Burgess Leask, was born 5/13/05. She married William F.(Bill) Millar (born 3/9/04) They had one son, Robert (Bob) Millar. Bill died 4/15/75. Bill and Elinor’s son Bob married Betty (Sam) Pfingston. Bob and Betty had four children: Michael, Bonnie, Robin and Robert, Jr..

Edna Lillian Leask, the fifth child of John M. Leask, Sr., and Ann Burgess Leask, was born in 1907. Her lip became infected and she died in 1923.

John M. Leask, Jr., the seventh child of John M. Leask, Sr., and Ann Burgess Leask was born 11/26/1909. He married Margaret Harris. He was a very successful CPA in Fairfield, Connecticut. John M. Leask, Jr., and Margaret Harris had three Children: Margaret Ann (Peggy), David and Mary Lou.

Haldane Burgess Leask, the father of John M. Leask II, and Grandfather of John M. Leask III was born 6/24/1912. His family was presented earlier.

Helen Jean Leask, the sixth child of John M. Leask, Sr., and Ann Burgess Leask, was born 11/26/1909. She married Vernon Drake. They had two children: Vernon Jr. and Glenda. Helen died in November of 1982 of Parkinson’s disease. Vernon then married his sister in law Anne after Michel Hutchinson died.

The father of Ann Jane Burgess, wife of John M. Leask, Sr., was Charles Burgess. The first wife of Charles Burgess was Ann Margaret Aiken. Charles and Ann had three children: Ann Jane Burgess, Margaret Burgess and May Burgess. Ann Jane Burgess became the Wife of John M. Leask, Sr., Margaret Burgess married Thomas Williamson in the Shetland. Margaret Burgess and Thomas Williamson had five Children: Thomas, John, Charles, Bertha and Janet. Two of the sons Thomas and John moved to America. Bertha moved to New Zealand. Janet moved to Scotland or England. Charles stayed in the Shetland. May Burgess married William Grant in the Shetland. May Burgess and William Grant had four children. The first two were girls. Their third child was a girl named Peggy and the fourth was a boy named Charles. The second wife of Charles was Janice Williamson. Charles and Janice had two sons George and Charles. George-born in 1895, was a Gordon Highlander who died in a German prison camp in 1918. Charles died at 16 from a knee infection.

The Father of John M. Leask, Sr. was Laurence (#112213†) Leask born 12/27/1839 who died 2/9/1912†. (Laurence born in Sandwick in 1837?†) Laurence married Catherine (#112212†) McPherson born 12/21/1841 (1840a) in Brough, Dunrossness†. Laurence and Catherine McPherson Leask had 4 girls, 3 of whom never married. Laurence and Catherine also had 2 sons. Their children were Helen (Ellen) Leask born 10/23/1865, Elizabeth (Maggie) Colvin- born 8/6/1867 (mother of: Ina Covin born 1907 and Maggie Covin born 1904.), Laurence Leask-born in 1869 who married Isabella Ingram in 1897, and my grandfather John M. Leask, Sr., Katherine (Kate) Leask born 3/8/1881 and Mary Jane Leask born 2/13/1885. Helen, Katherine and Mary Jane never married. Elizabeth (Maggie) Covin’s husband Gavin Covin died at sea in about 1916. Her daughter, known to us as Maggie Jamison kept contact with the family here in the US. Laurence and Isabella lived in Lieth. They had one daughter, Isabella known as Bella.

Laurence (#112213†) Leask-born 1837-Sandwick†, the father of John M. Leask, Sr., had 3 siblings: a brother: James (#73685†) Leask-born 1835†; a sister Margaret (#112220†) Leask-born 1839 in Sandwick†, and another brother George (#112222†) Leask-born 1850 in Sandwick†. The three brothers George, James and Laurence married three Sisters, the daughters of John (#112206†) McPherson. George married Elizabeth McPherson, James married Sarah (#73686†) McPherson, and Laurence married Catherine McPherson-born December 11, 1840 born Brough, Dunrossness.. The brother of John M. Leask, Sr-George Leask and his wife Elizabeth took care of two nieces named Goudie. They lived in Detroit Michigan near John M. Leask, Sr. Margaret Leask married Thomas Flause who died in Death Valley (US) in 1909. They had one son who lived in California. James (#73685†) Leask and Sarah (#73686†) McPherson had five children according to my mother’s records: George (#73687†) Leask-born12/19/1865†, Elizabeth (#45657†) Leask-born 2/29/1870†, John Leask, James (#73688†) and Sarah (#27326†) Leask. Elizabeth (#45657†) Leask married George (#67116†) Smith, a wool merchant. In the records of the Shetland Family Historical Society James Leask had only four Children. John Leask is not recorded as a child of James (#73865†) Leask and Sarah (#73686†) McPherson in these records. Sarah (#73686†) McPherson was the daughter of John McPherson and Hellen Goudie†.

Laurence (#112213†) Leask’s father, grandfather of John M. Leask, Sr., was George Leask (#112219†) born 1810 in Ireland, Bigton†. George died 2/25/1880 in Sandwick†. George’s first wife was Elizabeth Johnson Mouat (#89421†) born October 13, 1813†. Elizabeth was mother of George’s children James (#73685†) Leask-born 1835, Laurence (#112213†) Leask and Margaret (#112220†) Leask. Elizabeth died in childbirth (before 1850†) when Laurence was still young. Elizabeth’s father was Laurence Mouat (#28488) and her mother was Elizabeth Colvin (#89416)†. The Mouat family ceased having anything to do with Lawrence or his brother and sister after Elizabeth Johnson Mouat’s death. Lawrence’s father then married Agnes Sutherland (about 1849†). Agnes and George had a son George Leask-born 1850† who was a sailor who died in Detroit in 1916. Laurence’s father George died July 25, 1880, his death was recorded in Sandwick; According to oral family history Laurence Mouat was the ‘Lord of Cullister.’†

Laurence Mouat was reputed in family history to be the Laird or Lord of Cullistar. He was a significant land owner but no evidence has been found he was a Lord or Laird.

John (#112206†) McPherson, father-in-law of Laurence (#112213†) Leask, father of Laurences wife Catherine (#112212†) McPherson married Helen (#112207†) Goudie. His second wife was Christine Jamieson. John McPherson had two sons: John and James. John McPherson’s son John moved the US and then settled in Vancouver Canada. He was married but had no children. John McPherson’s son James went to California. James’ son John died while working on the Golden Gate Bridge. James’ son James was a successful dentist who lived in San Francisco. Catherine’s mother was Helen (#112207) Goudie†.

George Leask (#112219), grandfather of John M. Leask, Sr., father or Laurence Leask (#1122213), had four siblings. His oldest brother was William Leask (#121129)-born October 6, 1794 in Ireland, Bigton, Dunrossness. His sister Agnes Leask (#121130) was born about 1801. His brother James Leask (#71612) was born in 1809. His brother Thomas Leask (#121131) was born January 11, 1813 in Ireland, Bigton, Dunrosssness. George’s father was James Leask (#121127) born in Sandwick in 1767. George’s mother was Martha Aitken (#121128) born before 1774. James Leask and Martha Aitken were married in February of 1794. George (#121219) was born 1810 in Ireland, Bigton, Shetland. He died 7/25/1880 Sandwick, Shetland.†

James Leask (#121127), great grandfather of John M. Leask, Sr., had five siblings. His oldest sibling was Margaret Leask (#74543). James Leask (#121127) was born second, in 1767 in Sandwick. Next born was Thomas Leask (#121132) born 1769, Sandwick. A forth sibling (? Leask) was born in Sandwick 1774. A fifth sibling, Katherine Leask (#121134) was born in Sandwick 1777. His sixth sibling was David Leask (#121135) born in Sandwick 1781. James (#121127) Leask’s father was John (#121125) Leask, born in 1741. James (#121127) Leask’s mother was Marjory (#121126) Black, born before 1743. John (#121125) Leask and Marjory (#121126) Black were married June 4, 1762. John (#121135) was great-great grandfather of John M. Leask, Sr.†

Clan Leask Genealogy

Known & Documented Historical Evidence of Clan Leask

Haldane Burgess Leask

The Family Tree

NOTES FROM MOM, LAURA ELIZABETH MANCHESTER LEASK

Hills of Leask by Ray Leask

Family Tree: John McPherson Leask II, “Mac”

Tommy Goudie, Shetland Historical Society

Spellings of Leask

Join in the Research

Meta

Clan Leask USA

CLAN LEASK AROUND THE NET