<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000760386 <NAME> WELLESLEY LEASE INCOME LTD PARTNERSHIP III-D FDS 3/31/97 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 150,683 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 99,591 <ALLOWANCES> 27,877 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 224,347 <PP&E> 5,998,909 <DEPRECIATION> 3,875,359 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,347,897 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 140,877 <BONDS> 708,376 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,988,039 <OTHER-SE> (7,489,395) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,347,897 <SALES> 385,147 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 419,060 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 31,498 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 285,709 <LOSS-PROVISION> (25,539) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,976 <INCOME-PRETAX> 111,416 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 111,416 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 111,416 <EPS-PRIMARY> 5.19 <EPS-DILUTED> 0