Lieth-Hay

As for the Leith-Hay connection, Mary Forbes, wife of General Alexander Leith-Hay, was the daughter of Thomas Forbes of Ballogie and Christian Cumine. This is based on the fact that her marriage record states that her father was Thomas, not Charles, and an inscription on a tablet (which now seems to be missing) in Kennethmont Kirk which was recorded by the indefatigable Andrew
Jervise.

The NTS and the Leith-Hay web site both say that Mary was the daughter of Charles Forbes of Ballogie. I think the error originates with Burke's Peerage, and has been copied by many others.

See attached (1) copy of the marriage record (2) transcript of the Leith-Hay memorial tablets and (3) photo of the Hay mausoleum. The inscription on the latter is transcribed at https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6282977

Yours now to do with as you think fit.

Best wishes

Anne Burgess

LEITH-HAY TABLETS

From Epitaphs and inscriptions from burial grounds and old buildings in the North East of Scotland; with historical, biographical, genealogical, and antiquarian notes, also an appendix of illustrative papers, with a Memoir of the author

By Jervise, Andrew, 1820-1878

The mausoleum or burial aisle of the Leith- Hays is upon the north side of the old kirk ; but their family monuments, as well as those of the Gordons of Wardhouse, are within

THE PARISH CHURCH,

which is situated upon the south side of the Huntly and Insch turnpike, and was erected in 1812. The tablets are of marble, and respectively inscribed as follows : —

Sacred to the memory of Lieut.-General Sir James Leith, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Military Order of the Bath ; Honorary Knight Commander of the Portuguese Order of the Tower and Sword ; Grand Cordon of the Order of Military Merit of France ; Commander of the Forces in the West Indies ; Colonel of the 4th West India Regiment ; and Captain-General and Governor of Barbadoes, &c. He was a native of this parish, born at Leith-hall, August 8th, 1763, and, after a series of distinguished services, died at Barbadoes, Oct 16th, 1816, deeply lamented.

Mary, daughter of Hay of Rannes, married Jolm Leith of Leith-hall. They were the grand-parents of the above-named General Sir James Leith, and of John and Alexander, his elder brothers, who both became heirs in succession. The General who succeeded his brother John in the family estates, also came, through his grandmother, to the estate of Rannes, and was. the first Hay or Leith-Hay of his family : —

In memory of General Alexander Hay of Rannes, who departed this life at Fetternear House, on the 10th May, 1838, in the 8(lth year of his age. Also of his daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Alexander Forbes of Blackford, who died at Leith-hall on the 21st July, 1834, and of his youngest daughter, Margaret-Jane, who died at Aberdeen, the 6th April, 1838. Beloved and lamented here, they departed in the full hope, through Christ, of a joyful resurrection hereafter, and their remains rest in the burial vault of the family, within the walls of the old church of this, their native parish.

Sacred to the memory of Sir Andrew Leith- Hay of Rannes, Knight of the Guelphic Order of Hanover, Knight of the Order of Charles III of Spain, and Knight of the Legion of Honor of France. He served with distinction through the Peninsular War, for which he received a medal and six clasps for general actions. He was a member of Lord Melbourne's Administration, and represented the Elgin Burghs in Parliament for many years. Born February 17th, 1785; died at Leith-hall, October 13th, 1862.

Sacred to the memory of Mary, daughter of Thomas Forbes, Esq. of Ballogie, and Christian Cumine, of the family of Pitullie, the wife of General Alexander Hay of Rannes, who departed this life at Leith-hall, on Thui-sday, Feb. 5th, 1824, in the 62nd year of her age. A woman of exemplary piety, who, after a life of the greatest respectability and honour, died universally esteemed and regretted.

Sacred to the memory of Mary, second daughter of General Alexander Hay of Rannes, and relict of Major Daniel Mitchell of Ashgrove, who departed this life at Aberdeen, on the 30th

Sacred to the memory of Mary Margaret, Lady Leith-Hay, of Rannes, daughter of William Clark, Esq, of Buckland, in the county of Devon, who departed this life at Leith Hall on the 28th May, 1859. She was religious, benevolent, and charitable. Also of her daughters, Mary, born the 29th September, 1823, who died in London, 20th August, 1833 ; and Harriot Luisa, born the 11th February, 1825, died at Woodend Cottage, Kincardineshire, 9th June, 1829.

In addition to the inscriptions above quoted, others record the deaths of Captain William, who died at Elgin in 1861, and Norman, who was lost on the coast of Australia in 1857, second and fourth sons respectively of Sir Andrew Leith-Hay. This branch of the Leiths claims descent from William of Barnis or Birness, in Premnay, who was provost of Aberdeen in 1350, and who had a royal gift of the lands of Edingarioch and Drumrossie, for distinguished services to his country. John Leith of Boharm, who died about 1650, bought the lands of Peilsyde (now Leith-hall), and others. His son James built the burial aisle in the old kirkyard, also a mansion-house at Leith-hall, and married a daughter of Strachan of Glenkindie (Epitaphs, i. 273, 230).