The Honourable Mrs Charlotte Leslie-Melville
(1801-1879)
6 February 1861

Volume 2, page 193, sitting number 2062.

Born in or about 1801 at Wilford in Nottinghamshire, Charlotte Smith was the youngest of the seven daughters of Samuel Smith, the Member of the Parliament for the pocket borough of Wendover until its abolition under the Great Reform Act of 1832.

On 19 October 1825 she married the Honourable Alexander Leslie-Melville, fifth son of Alexander Leslie-Melville, 9th Earl of Leven. Their marriage produced nine children.

The couple appear on the 1861 census living at Branston Hall in Lincolnshire. Also present on the night of the census were six of their children, two infant granddaughters, a governess and eleven servants. The Honourable Alexander Leslie-Melville gave ‘Banker (Peer’s Son)’ as his profession.

The Honourable Mrs Charlotte Leslie-Melville died, aged 78, on 26 April 1879 at Branston Hall. She left effects valued at £2000. When her husband died three years later his estate was valued at £194,057.