62 IRONGRAY IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. 
Mr Guthrie, and Robert Ferguson of Hallhill for the relief of 
the poor of Irongray. This will is dated May 15, 1748. I 
strongly suspect this William Welsh was a son of old John 
Welsh, the Covenanting minister of Irongray, for it» was at 
Chelsea the heroic field preacher ended his days in peace. 
Tue Poor’s Horm. 
One benefaction still brings in £5 a year for the relief of the: 
poor. Behind the church of Irongray is a meadow known as the 
Poor’s Holm—formerly the Kirk Holm. This was purchased 
in 1712 by Mr Guthrie from Alex. Alves, W.S., of Baltersan, 
in Holywood. The money that bought it was 500 merks left by 
Jean Biggar in Barbuie to Mr Guthrie and Mr John Hepburne, 
minister in Urr, for behoof of the poor of Irongray. The 
annual rents of this sum were to be disposed by the said ministers, 
and the longest liver of the two during their lives. Guthrie long 
out-lived Hepburn, and in 1751 transferred the Poor’s Holm to: 
the session. It is no longer managed by the session, but has. 
passed into the custody of the Parish Council. 
COLLECTIONS—BapD Brass. 
From time to time there is bitter wail over the quantity of 
bad money in the poor’s box. In November, 1748, there is “a 
considerable bulk of unpassable brass which will do little 
service.’? At one collection no less than one shilling and a 
penny stg. bad brass was found. At Mr Guthrie’s death the 
boxmaster found “ ten shillings of brass which the elders thought 
might pass, and two English pounds save one ounce of bad brass, 
which was laid by in the box.’? The money taken thus, fines for 
irregular marriages, etc., and the interest on the bonds, were 
mainly devoted to the relief of the poor. It was distributed 
twice or thrice a year, apparently at no fixed date. The sums. — 
given vary from five to one shilling. The beadle was paid at the 
distribution of the poor’s funds; his pay varied from Is 6d to 
2s 6d. But he had other perquisites; for instance, a fee for 
the use of the mortcloth. In May, 1747, the session ceased to 
reckon their distribution of poor’s funds in £ Scots, and adopted 
£ sterling. It certainly takes somewhat from the appearance of 
the accounts, but I trust the poor had none the less money for 
that reason. 
