John Welsh of Ayr

John Welsh
John Welsh by Joseph Swan
Personal details
Born
John Welsh (also spelled Welch)[1]

c. 1570[1]
Dunscore
Died2 April 1622
London
BuriedSt Botolph, Bishopsgate
NationalityScottish
DenominationPresbyterian

John Welsh (c. 1570–1622) was a Scottish Presbyterian leader. He was born in Dumfriesshire and attended the University of Edinburgh to obtain his MA in 1588. He became a minister in Selkirk and married Elizabeth Knox, a daughter of John and Margaret Knox, before leaving Selkirk.[2] Welsh later ministered at Kirkcudbright and Ayr, the latter of which was where he spent five years. His preaching resulted in his imprisonment by the order of King James VI of Scotland. The lawyer Thomas Hamilton wrote to James VI about Welsh, John Forbes, and others; the case was important because many Scottish subjects of James were devoted to the ministers.[3] In 1606 Welsh was exiled to France, where he continued to preach.[4] John Welsh of Ayr was the father of Josias Welsh and the grandfather of John Welsh of Irongray.

  1. ^ a b Scott 1920.
  2. ^ Henderson 1899.
  3. ^ Melros Papers, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1837), pp. 10-12.
  4. ^ MacDonald.