The James Wiley Leslie Family from Scotland to Tennessee  

Scotland -> Ireland -> Tennessee

A short resume of the Leslie line from Ireland to S.C. to Tennessee

Thomas Leslie was born in Carrickfergus, Country Antrim, Ireland in 1725.  We don't yet know his parents.  He came to the royal colony of S. Carolina at the age of 40, with his family and brother, John Leslie, age 38 on the Prince Henry. They won land grants in the Ninety Six District (later Abbeville, SC) .

These Scottish Irish pioneers were exposed to both the French and Indian attacks. In 1775, S.C. joined in the War for Independence. Thomas Leslie died in 1778 and was buried in the Long Cane Cemetery, for which the Leslie brothers had given the land. This cemetery has grown into a beautiful resting place for the people of Abbeville S.C.

Thomas Leslie II, son of Thomas the immigrant to South Carolina, was born in Ireland in 1760. He fought in the American Revolution and received a pension as provided by a law passed by the Congress in June of 1832.  He died Feb. 22, 1839 and was buried in McMinn Co., TN.

Thomas Leslie III, son of Thomas II, had four (4) sons who fought in the Civil War. William and James Wiley Leslie fought on the Confederate side.  Thomas IV and John (Jack) Leslie joined the Union Army.  The tension on both sides was hard to erase when the war was over and the soldiers came home. James Wiley Leslie was the only brother who was wounded.

James Wiley Leslie, son of Thomas III, married Nancy Elizabeth Lee and to this union eight (8) children were born. James Wiley bought a hundred acre farm from Dr. Joe Lowery and brother, Hugh in the Sweetwater Valley, Monroe Co., Tennessee.  This was the year of 1906, when Dr. Joe Lowery was one of the pioneer Presidents of Hiwassee College.  James Wiley and Nancy Elizabeth are buried in the family plot in the New Hope Cemetery in Monroe Co., TN.

George W. Leslie, son of James Wiley Leslie brought his young bride to the family farm in 1915. They raised their family here. George passed away in Dec. 1971. Annie Lenora kept the home fires burning for 20 years, for the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren could come home and enjoy the 5th generation Leslie family homeplace.

Raymond Lee Leslie, son of George, was born and raised there. The house was built around 1850. Cypress logs were used for the frame work. Wide poplar and pine planks were used for the ceiling, sides and floors. A porch goes almost all the way around the house. The porch was a favorite place for the family to gather. This home has never been remodeled and is still very livable today.  At Raymond's death the direct sons line of this George Leslie family ended.

The children of James Wiley and Nancy (Nannie) Elizabeth Lee were:

Additional Research