34 Transactious. 



Welsh of Irongray, John Blackadder of Troqueer, John Dickson 

 of Rutherglen, and Samuel Arnot of Tongland, and it cannot be 

 doubted that the laird of Sundaywell acted as an elder. 



The house of Sundaywell, as he built it, is still standing — a 

 square tower with very thick walls. The arched doorway has 

 been built up. Over the present doorway is a square stone with 

 the initials I. K. and S. W. carved at the top, and at the foot 

 the date 1651. Between is a shield, bearing three lozenges over 

 a St. Andrew's Cross. The initials are those of James Kirko, 

 who built the tower, and of his wife, a I'elative of John Welsh, 

 minister of Irongray. 



The tower of Bogrie was taken down in 1860, and its stones 

 used to make repairs on the farm steaditig. It was larger and 

 stronger than that at Sundaywell. Three stones in the walls of the 

 existing dwelling-house bear interesting testimony to its history. 

 Over an arched dooi'way, similar to that at Sundaywell, is a stone 

 with elaborate armorial bearings carved on it. It shows a shield 

 with three boars' heads quartered with a thistle and a dagger, 

 and over it the motto, " Fear God." Above this is another 

 stone, partially defaced, but showing the date 1770. At the 

 other side of the house is a third stone with the initials I. K. 

 and I. M. — those of John Kirko and his wife — and the date 

 1660. The ancient yew-trees near the house of Bogrie are a 

 striking feature on the landscape. Within a few hundi-ed yards 

 are two ring-shaped circular mounds, described as ancient British 

 forts, as well as the site of the important Roman camp to which 

 I have alluded. 



In the "Scots Worthies" it is erroneously stated that 

 Colliston, the original home of the Welsh family, is in Irongray. 

 It is in Glenesslin of Dunscore, not far from Bogrie and Sunday- 

 well. The Welshes held a more prominent position than even the 

 Kirkhoes in the history of the Reformed Church. Dumfries and 

 Tynron, as well as Dunscore, were ministered to by clergymen 

 of that name. It was a Welsh of Colliston who became son-in- 

 law to John Knox — the same who is known as minister of 

 Ayr — and it was his grandson who became minister of Irongray, 

 and, when ejected from his charge, organised and presided at the 

 great Conventicle held in his own parish in 1678. Of the old 

 house of Colliston no trace now remains. The Welshes of 

 Craigenputtock, of whom the last i-epresentative was Jane 



