llfi TUANSACTIONS. 



their then still surviving liferentallers and tacksmen under unexpired 

 leases, &c. — we find the family of Welsh, within the Deanery of 

 Nitli, had many important cures and charges. Shortly after 

 the Protestant Reformation we accordingly find, as kinsmen and 

 contemporary churchmen, a "John Velshe, vicar of Drumfries," a 

 " Schir Herhert Velshe, chaplain there," both abont the presump- 

 tive era of the birth of the Reformer, which is given as in the year 

 1568 ; a " John Velshe, vicar of Dunscoir ;" a Dean Robert Velscli, 

 Vicar of Tynron," with " Sir Galbert AVelch," his brother, as well 

 as others, all in possession of charges in Dumfriesshire. In the 

 course of the seisin, dated the 2 1st of May, 1558, which was then 

 granted to John Macbrair, Provost of Dumfries, as son and heir of 

 his deceased father, Roger M'Brair, also quondam Provost of Dum- 

 fries, among numerous enough other items we find that of an 

 annual rent of 13s 4d Scots money, as exigible by the said Provost 

 from the tenant of the deceased " Thomas Velshe, now in the 

 hands of Schir Herbert Velsche, chaplain, and John Velsch of 

 CoUistoun," and having on the south part thereof the lands of 

 David Cunynghame and on the north those of Ninian Logan, vicar 

 of Cowen. Mention is also made of the bounding lands of 

 Archibald Velsche. By the records it appears that a house called 

 " The Weighouse," and situated hard upon the " Lochmabengait 

 Port," or Gate of the Lochmabengait, now the modern English 

 Street of Dumfries, even long before the Reformation had been in 

 the heredi'ary possession of many John Welshes of CoUistoun, 

 who had owned other burgh property. On the 23d of May, 1575, 

 one of those " John Velshes of Colingstoune," belike the father of 

 the Reformer, had sold this familiar mansion called " The 

 Weighouse " to Thomas Maxwell, son and heir of the deceased 

 Gilbert Maxwell, laird of Stroquhau. The house was at this time 

 tenanted by a certain known " David Heris of Dumfries." This 

 John Welsh we identify as the gentleman who figures in the 

 following entry, as taken from the original document itself, viz. : — 



S2iid of December, 1573. 

 " Johannes Velsche de Colustoun," acting as Baillie for the Superior of 

 the lands, the venerable Father in God, Thomas, Commendator of Sacri- 

 nemoris, grants seisin of the 10/ land of old extent of Skynfurd, in the 

 barony of Sacrinemoris, to Andiew Makkynnay, following upon the 

 Precept granted by the said Commendator to him. There were present, 

 when the above seisin was granted, C'uthbert Velsche, brother of the said 

 John Velsche (that is of Colustoun, as given above), John Grierson in 

 Skynfurd, George Young, Robert Grierson, Herbert Stett, James Young, 



