Leighton Family History & Genealogy

Elizabeth (Sewell) Leighton of Kensington, Greater London County, England United Kingdom was born in 1782 in London, and died at age 54 years old on March 15, 1837 in Kensington.

Mary Ann (Leighton) Ardlie of VIC Australia was born on December 5, 1803 in Chelsea, Greater London County, England United Kingdom to David Leighton and Elizabeth (Sewell) Leighton. She married John Martin Ardlie, and had children John Henry Ardlie, Mary Ann (Ardlie) Briggs, Elizabeth (Ardlie) Parker, William Ardlie, and Maria Lucretia (Ardlie) Powling. Mary Ardlie died at age 66 years old on September 28, 1870 in VIC Australia.

Margaret Leighton Biography, Life, Interesting Facts English actress Margaret Leighton was born on February 26, 1922, in Barnt Green, near Birmingham, Worcestershire, United Kingdom. Her father was a British businessman. She had a strong desire to become an actress since her childhood days even before she could fathom the true implications of becoming an actress. However, she was fully confident of earning her livelihood by pursuing acting as a full-time profession. At the age of 15, she auditioned for Sir Barry Jackson at the Birmingham Repertory Theater. She left the school and abandoned her studies for the purpose. Jackson saw her potential and employed her as a stage manager. He also helped her by giving her a small role in the stage play ‘Laugh with Me’ (1938). Thereby, the play marked her professional debut on stage as ‘Dorothy’. AS A STAGE ACTOR Margaret left Birmingham Repertory Theater in January 1941. Thereafter, she joined the Basil C. Langton's Traveling Repertory Company for a brief period. She returned to Birmingham Repertory in 1942. Upon her return, she engrossed herself fully in preparation for the plays written by the likes of Chekov, Shakespeare, and Shaw. The rehearsals of the plays were conducted during the day time while it was performed on stage at nights. According to her own admission, she was so involved with the entire proceedings for two years that her days were restricted only between the theater and the two streets she had to pass through to reach there. FRUITFUL ASSOCIATION WITH OLD VIC COMPANY She received critical applause for her skillful and distinctive acting during the late 1940s and also in the 1950s after her several appearances on both Broadway and London stages. Her entry to the Old Vic Company at the New Theatre was the reason behind her success. In August 1944, she made her London debut for and on behalf of the Old Vic Company. She played the role of the daughter of the troll king in ‘Peer Gynt’ in her maiden appearance for the company. She made her Broadway debut at New York City stage in 1946. The Americans immensely praised her role of Lady Percy in the play Henry IV, Part I (1946). The stalwarts of the Old Vic Company Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier made their presence felt through their direction and appearance in the lead roles of the play. Margaret enthralled both the Broadway and London audiences with her several stage appearances over a long period of time. Among her most impressive performances on London, stages include the likes of ‘The Cocktail Party’ (1950), where she portrayed the role of Celia Coplestone. She appeared as Orinthia in a revival of ‘The Applecart’ in 1953. Her performance in ‘Separate Tables’ (1956) and in ‘The Night of the Iguana’ (1962) earned her two Tony Awards for Best Actress in a play. Both the plays were staged at Broadway. She earned nominations for a Tony Award four times during her stage career. She won the award twice out of these four nominations. FILM CAREER Though primarily a theatre actress, she made her name count in more than 20 film appearances. The six best films of her career are 'The Winslow Boy' (1948), 'The Astonished Heart' (1949), 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' (1948), 'The Sound and the Fury' (1959), 'The Go-Between' (1971) and 'The Madwoman of Chaillot' (1969). She won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and earned a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film ‘The Go-between’. She also earned the nomination for a BAFTA Award for Best British Actress for her performance in the film Carrington V. C. CAREER AS A TELEVISION ACTRESS Besides her stellar performances both in films and in theatre, she also excelled in television as well. She won an Emmy Award for her performance as Gertrude in the 1970 television drama ‘Hamlet'. In 1966 her performance as Chris Becker in four episodes of Dr. Kildare also earned her a nomination for an Emmy Award for outstanding single performance by an actress in a leading role. PERSONAL LIFE Margaret married her first husband Max Reinhardt in 1947. He was best known for his unique collection of photographs and letters from celebrated playwright and novelist George Bernard Shaw. They divorced in 1955. In 1957, she married actor Laurence Harvey. They also eventually divorced in 1961. In 1964, she tied the nuptial knot with her co-star of 'Lady Caroline Lamb' (1972) Michael Wilding. Her third and final marriage turned out to be a long lasting affair broken only due to her eventual death in 1976. She breathed her last on January 13, 1976, after suffering from the complications of multiple sclerosis. Margaret had no children.

Ellen Gertrude (Buell) Leighton of TX was born circa 1945. She married James M. Leighton on December 21, 1991 in Denton County, TX. She would also marry James Melbry Leighton, and they were married until Ellen's death in 2023.

Wayne S Leighton of Bethlehem, Grafton County, NH was born on October 30, 1937, and died at age 63 years old on August 5, 2001.

Frannie Leighton was born to Mary L Tomah and Fred Tomah, and has siblings Richard M Tomah, Fredrick Tomah, Joyce Tomah, Donald Tomah, John Tomah, David Tomah, Joan Dana, Charlene Tyrell, Beverly Jillson, and Tony Lacoote. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Frannie Leighton.

Margaret (Hannigan) Leighton was born on November 13, 1933 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States. She was married to Benjamin Francis Leighton Jr. on July 20, 1957 in Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County, and they were together until Benjamin's death on May 26, 2017 in Quakertown, Bucks County. Margaret Leighton has children Joanne Marie Leighton, Paul William Leighton, Margaret Mary Tracz, Patricia Anne Bashaar, Christine Natalie Green, Beth Anne Shields, and Amy Lynn Schwartz. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Margaret (Hannigan) Leighton.

Patricia Anne (Leighton) Bashaar was born on February 21, 1966 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States to Benjamin Francis Leighton Jr. and Margaret (Hannigan) Leighton, and has siblings Joanne Marie Leighton, Paul William Leighton, Margaret Mary Tracz, Christine Natalie Green, Beth Anne Shields, and Amy Lynn Schwartz. Patricia Bashaar married Matthew Richard Bashaar in 1991 in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, and has children Christopher Richard Bashaar, Rebecca Jordan Bashaar, Alexandra Lindsay Bashaar, Ryan Matthew Bashaar, and Gregory James Bashaar. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Patricia Anne Bashaar.

Rosemary D (Schroll) Leighton of Hazelwood, Saint Louis County, MO was born on October 17, 1925, and died at age 70 years old on December 3, 1995 in Hazelwood, St. Louis County. Rosemary Leighton was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Section 1-I Site 1205 2900 Sheridan Road, in St. Louis.

James Melbry Leighton of Denton County, TX was born circa December 1942 in New Hampshire United States. James Leighton was married to Ellen Gertrude Buell on December 21, 1991 in Denton County, TX. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember James M. Leighton.

Lavinia (Leighton) Getson of Melbourne Australia. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lavinia Leighton Tweedie.

Margaret Mary (Leighton) Tracz was born on March 21, 1963 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States to Benjamin Francis Leighton Jr. and Margaret (Hannigan) Leighton, and has siblings Joanne Marie Leighton, Paul William Leighton, Patricia Anne Bashaar, Christine Natalie Green, Beth Anne Shields, and Amy Lynn Schwartz. Margaret Tracz married Michael Albert Tracz in 1996 in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, and has children Michael Albert Tracz Jr. and Julia Margaret Tracz. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Margaret Mary Tracz.

Stephanie Marie (McGinley) Leighton was born on November 22, 1967 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States. Stephanie Leighton was married to Paul William Leighton in 1995 in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, and has children Christian Gregory Leighton and Catherine Ann Leighton. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Stephanie Marie Leighton.

Thomas Jr Leighton Jr. was born in 1642 at Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, United States. Thomas Jr Leighton was married to Elizabeth Nutter, and died at age 34 years old on October 31, 1677 in Dover, New Hampshire US. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Thomas Jr Leighton, Jr..

Christine Natalie (Leighton) Green was born on February 21, 1966 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States to Benjamin Francis Leighton Jr. and Margaret (Hannigan) Leighton, and has siblings Joanne Marie Leighton, Paul William Leighton, Margaret Mary Tracz, Patricia Anne Bashaar, Beth Anne Shields, and Amy Lynn Schwartz. She married Timothy Michael Green in 1985 in Willow Grove, Montgomery County, and they were married until Timothy's death circa 1995 in Sellersville, Bucks County. Christine Green has children Andrew Gian Green, Timothy Michael Green Jr., and Katelyn Emily Green. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Christine Natalie Green.

Lawrence F. Leighton was born on April 7, 1904 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts United States. Lawrence Leighton was married to Lucille Ruth Harris, and died at age 93 years old on June 3, 1997 in Norwood, Norfolk County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lawrence Frederick Leighton.

Amy Lynn (Leighton) Schwartz was born on September 21, 1972 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States to Benjamin Francis Leighton Jr. and Margaret (Hannigan) Leighton, and has siblings Joanne Marie Leighton, Paul William Leighton, Margaret Mary Tracz, Patricia Anne Bashaar, Christine Natalie Green, and Beth Anne Shields. Amy Schwartz married Kenneth Mark Schwartz in 1998 in Quakertown, Bucks County, and has children Jacob Daniel Schwartz, Emma Rose Schwartz, and Noah David Schwartz. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Amy Lynn Schwartz.

Beth Anne (Leighton) Shields was born on August 29, 1967 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania United States to Benjamin Francis Leighton Jr. and Margaret (Hannigan) Leighton, and has siblings Joanne Marie Leighton, Paul William Leighton, Margaret Mary Tracz, Patricia Anne Bashaar, Christine Natalie Green, and Amy Lynn Schwartz. Beth Shields married Michael Francis Shields in 1992 in Quakertown, Bucks County, and has children Michael Francis Shields Jr., John Joseph Shields, and Megan Hannah Shields. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Beth Anne Shields.

David Leighton of Maidstone, Kent County, England United Kingdom was born on November 27, 1770 in Stracathro, Angus Council County, Scotland. He was married to Elizabeth (Sewell) Leighton, and had a child Mary Ann (Leighton) Ardlie. David Leighton died at age 40 years old circa 1810.

Ephraim F. Leighton was a soldier in the United States Civil War. His unit, The 1st Regt. Minn. Volunteers fought in several key battles. The first battle of Bull Run and Gettysburg among them. His unit was a major reason the Union won at Gettysburg.