John Welsh of Ayr

Welsh was born in Dumfriesshire and, after a wayward youth, attended the University of Edinburgh and obtained his MA in 1588. He became a minister in Selkirk, and prior to 1596 and leaving Selkirk, married Elizabeth, a daughter of John Knox.[1]

Welsh later ministered at Kirkcudbright and at Ayr, where he spent five years and with which his name was later associated.

His preaching resulted in his imprisonment by order of King James VI of Scotland. The lawyer Thomas Hamilton wrote to James VI about John Forbes, Welsh, and others. The case was important because many Scottish subjects of James were devoted to the ministers. Hamilton praised the conduct of the Earl of Dunbar.[2]

In 1606 he was exiled to France, where he continued his activities.[3]

John Welsh and his wife Elizabeth Knox had four sons and two daughters.[3] Their son Josias Welsh was minister at Templepatrick, and father of the Covenanter leader John Welsh of Irongray. The Welsh family has been of interest to genealogists tracing the descendants of John Knox.[4][5]

• Church of Scotland
• Rev John Munro of Tain

• Works by John Welsh of Ayr at Post-Reformation Digital Library

• Biographical sketch
• The Original Secession Magazine, J. Maclaren 1866, page 562.
• Works by John Welsh of Ayr at Post-Reformation Digital Library
• Works by John Welch at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about John Welsh of Ayr at Internet Archive