TRANSACTIONS. 123 
The charter upon which this seisin follows was granted in 
their favour by the superior of the lands, Alexander Glencorss, 
and was dated the 14th of May, 1545. Among many other local 
witnesses mention is made of a certain “Schir John Dunbar, 
chaplain ”—at Glencairn, as we think—who seems, according to 
the date and surrounding circumstances, to have been identical 
with the known and ascertained “‘Schir John Dunbar, rector of 
Castlemilk,” in Annandale, who is mentioned in the “ Latter Will 
and Testament” of Maister Gavin Dunbar of Mochrum, in Gallo- 
way, Clerk Register, Preceptor of King James the Fifth, 
Chancellor of Scotland, and one of the most notable Bishops of 
Glasgow, where he was entombed in 1547. They two had most 
probably been of one and the same kindred in common, although 
the positive degree of relationship appears not here or elsewhere. 
Another curious entry, belonging to this early period, records 
that on the “ 5th of August, 1536, Thomas Welsh, son and aire of 
David Welsh, called ‘ David of the Mill,” was made a Freeman 
burgess of Drumfries.” As probably among the first of the 
Reformation “ vicars of Dunscoyr” was a Schir John Welsche, 
or Velsche, who figures in certain transactions touching the 
vicarage lands of his charge of Dunscoyr, in concert with John 
Welsh of Collustoun, on one occasion recording a protest against 
the alieniation of the lands, as they were his for the term of his 
lifetime. He is also mentioned in the testament of Dean Robert 
Welsh, vicar of Tynron, in 1568, wherein he figures as one of the 
executors as well as a legatee to the extent of some £20. Of the 
degree of positive relationship, if any there were, no mention is 
made in the testament itself. The testament of John Welsh 
of Collistoun, the Reformer’s father, as reproduced in Young’s 
excellent “‘ Life of Rev. John Welsh,” and from the Commissariot 
records of Edinburgh, is dated “ At Collieston, the first day of 
August, 1600,” or, that is to say, some days prior to his decease 
on the 5th day of the same month of August. By it we learn 
that Marion Grier, his wife, survived him, that he had a brother- 
german, Cuthbert Welsh, and sisters, Kait and Isabell Welshes. 
The said John Welsh and Marion Grier, his spouse, had at the time 
of his decease issue as follows;: 
Ist. David Welsh of Collistoun, his eldest son and successor. 
2d. John Welsh of Air, the Reformer, his second son, and who married 
Elizabeth Knox, third daughter of John Knox’s second marriage with 
Dame Margaret Stewart, daughter of Andrew Lord Stewart of 
Uchiltrie (a very famous marriage in its own day). 
