リーデス家

TH

Edward Leedes(c.1638 - 1703), of North Milford Hall, near Tadcaster, bred Betty Leedes (foaled 1705), the dam of Flying Childers and Bartlett's Childers. Betty Leedes passed into the North Yorkshire stud of Leonard Childers who bred from her her famous sons. Leonard Childers married Ursula Wyvill, another example of the extensive links through marriage of the early northern developers of the thoroughbred. Bartlett's Childers, unsuccessful as a racehorse because of weak blood vessels, stood at the stud of John Bartlett (1707-1769) of Nutwith Coate, near Masham, North Yorkshire, which borders Yorkshire's West Riding. John Bartlett had ties to the Yorkshire Conyers, Wyvill, and Hutton families through blood and marriage.

The Leedes Arabianwas imported in the latter quarter of the 18th century and stood at the Leedes famous North Milford stud, where he got Leedes, later owned by Queen Anne's consort, Prince George of Denmark. Leedes became a stallion at the Hampton Court royal stud, his descendants through his daughters included the famous American foundation mare, Selima. The Leedes Arabian also sired some daughters with a lasting influence on the breed.

Leedes was a staunchly royalist family who had suffered in the Civil War when North Milford Hall was bombarded by passing Parliamentary troops. Mary, a daughter of Robert Leedes, married Edward Rookes, who took the Leedes name, in 1740; Edward Rookes Leedes was a prominent Yorkshire racing man and horse breeder, who stood the famous racehorse (Bolton or Old) Starling (1727) at North Milford after his racing career was over. He also bred Tartar (1743), the sire of Herod. Edward Rookes Leedes, who was an investor in a variety of enterprises, later ruined himself through gambling debts.