<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000760382 <NAME> WELLESLEY LEASE INCOME LIMITED PARTNERSHP III-C FDS 12/31/96 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 18,943 <SECURITIES> 27,976 <RECEIVABLES> 22,789 <ALLOWANCES> 8,377 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 61,331 <PP&E> 443,464 <DEPRECIATION> 334,414 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 170,381 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 127,550 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 11,140,685 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> (11,097,854) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 170,381 <SALES> 184,100 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 341,490 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 11,539 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 198,057 <LOSS-PROVISION> 7,563 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,165 <INCOME-PRETAX> 123,166 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 123,166 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 123,166 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 0