34 Transactéous. 
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 Sundayweil 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 8. 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 relative 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 steading. 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 doorway, 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 hundred 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 Qolliston no trace now remains. The Welshes of 
Craigenputtock, of whom the last representative was Jane 
