116 TRANSACTIONS. 
their then still surviving liferentallers and tacksmen under unexpired 
leases, &c.—we find the family of Welsh, within the Deanery of 
Nith, 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 Herbert Velshe, chaplain there,” both about the presump- 
tive era of the birth of the Reformer, which is given as in the year 
1568 ; a “John Veishe, vicar of Dunscoir ;’ a Dean Robert Velsch, 
Vicar of Tynron,” with “Sir Galbert Welch,” his brother, as well 
as others, all in possession of charges in Dumfriesshire. In the 
course of the seisin, dated the 21st 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 guondam 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 ~ 
Collistoun,” 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 hereditary possession of many John Welshes of Collistoun, 
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 Stroquhan. 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. :— 
22nd 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 Andrew Makkynnay, following upon the 
Precept granted by the said Commendator to him. There were present, 
when the above seisin was granted, Cuthbert 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, 
