Fonds consists of correspondence concerning business, politics, family and personal matters, n.d., 1776-1906; estate papers, 1803-1868; government records, n.d., 1843-1852; subject files, n.d., 1827-1861.
The fonds also contains maps of the Leslie family lands, 1854; Ile Bourdon, 1938; and Seigneuries de Bourchemin and Ramesay, 1857.
Leslie, James, 1786-1873 (family) : James Leslie was born at Kair, Kincardine, Scotland on 4 September 1786. He received his education at Marischal College and the University of Aberdeen prior to emigrating to Canada in 1804. Eleven years later, Leslie married Julia, the daughter of Patrick Langan, seigneur of Bourchemin and Ramesay.
In 1809 James Leslie established James Leslie and Company - later Leslie, Starnes and Company - in Montreal, however, he was not limited to that specialized wholesale trade in foodstuffs. He contributed to the formation of the Bank of Montreal and was a director of that institution from 1817 to 1829. In addition, through his connection with the Langan family, he was seigneur of Bourchemin, Ramesay and Lake Matapédia.
After 1824, Leslie divided his time between business and politics. He was an M.L.A. for Montreal East, 1824-1838, and Verchères, 1841-1848; President of the Executive Council, 1848, and Provincial Secretary, 1848-1851; a Legislative Councillor, 1848-1867; and a Senator, 1867-1873. During this time, much of the running of the seigneuries was done by James Leslies' son, Patrick, who remained in Montreal and maintained a regular correspondence with his father on family and business matters. James Leslie died at Montreal, Que., on 6 December 1873.
