LEITH, William of Ruthrieston, and of Barnes, Provost of Aberdeen ^{2 3}

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  General Notes:

"The surname of Leith is of great antiquity in Scotland. According to Douglas, the Leiths had considerable possessions in lands in the county of Midlothian in early times. The barony of Restalrig and several others in the territory of Leith are said to have belonged to them. From this last place it is believed they assumed the surname. At what time they settled in the north cannot be precisely said. The immediate ancestor of his family was William Leith of Barnes. He was a very accomplished gentleman, and a Burgess of Aberdeen, which he represented in Parliament. He was for some time Deputy-Chamberlain and Steward of the Household of Queen Joan. He is first mentioned in a grant to the Altar of St. Lawrence and St. Ninian, in the church of St. Nicholas, Aberdeen. He is one of the witnesses, and is designated 'William Leythe, burgess of Aberdeen.' The date is 1342."

from Thanage of Fermartyn ¹

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Burgess, 1342, of Aberdeen. ¹

2. Provost, 1351-1355, of Aberdeen. ²

3. Provost, 1372, of Aberdeen. ²

4. Provost, 1373, of Aberdeen. ²

William married Christiane, daughter of Donald Earl of Mar, Regent of Scotland and Isabel STEWART.¹ (Christiane was born about 1335.)

  Marriage Notes:

"According to Douglas' Baronage, he married a daughter of the 12th Earl of Mar. Her Christian name Christiane is given in the notice of their commemoration day - 'Nonis Augusti obitus Willelmi de Lethe et Christiane suee sponse commemoracio qui obiit 1380.' They had issue at least two sons."

from Thanage of Fermaartyn ¹