Person:David Welsh (9)

A portrait of Rev. David Welsh, D.D. (1793-1845), son of David Welsh of Earlshaugh and Tweedshaws, a sheep farmer in Dumfriesshire, painted by Sir George Harvey, was lent to Old Glasgow Exhibition 1894 by Rev. Prof. T. M. Lindsay (exhibition catalogue). Rev. David Welsh was minister of Crossmichael in 1821, St. David’s, Glasgow in 1827, and given the Chair of Divinity and Ecclesiastical History, Edinburgh University in 1842; he became moderator of the General Assembly (exhibition catalogue). David Welsh was born 11dec1793 at Braefoot, Moffat, attended school in Moffat, Dumfriesshire, studied at Edinburgh university, died suddenly at Camis Eskin, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, 24apr1845, survived by wife (sister of Provost William Hamilton) and 4 children (dic nat bio., Biographical Dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, 1855). Camis Eskan, Cardross parish, is the modern name. From “Sermons” by David Welsh (1846): When David became ill, Drumfork House, on the estate of Campbell of Colgrain near Campbell’s residence, Camis Eskan, was placed at his disposal; he was buried at Edinburgh. . The parents of David (b. and chr. 11dec1793, Moffat, Dumf.) were David Welsh and Margaret Welsh (vr, tweedie.org); the father died 23may1825 (“Sermons”). In Provost William Hamilton, brother of future Mrs. Welsh, took deepest interest and had a large share in the appointment of Dr. Welsh in the Ramshorn Kirk (St. David’s) (“Sermons”). In 1841 Rev. David Welsh (b. 1791 Scotland) was at Kirkcudbrightshire (census).

Dictionary of national. biography: Welsh, David (1793-1845), Free Church of Scotland minister and author, youngest son of David Welsh, sheep farmer, of Earlshaugh and Tweedshaws, was born at Braefoot, Moffat, on 11 December 1793. He was educated at Moffat parish school, the high school of Edinburgh, and Edinburgh University, and on 7 May 1816 was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Lochmaben. On 22 March 1821 he was ordained minister of the parish of Crossmichael in Kirkcudbrightshire, and on 6 September 1827 he was translated to St David's Church, Glasgow. He married, probably in 1830, Isabel, sister of William Hamilton, provost of Glasgow. In 1825 Welsh published a biography of Thomas Brown MD, following it with an edition of Brown's philosophical lectures in 1834. In October 1831 he was appointed professor of ecclesiastical history in the University of Edinburgh, and, on leaving Glasgow, received from the university the degree of DD. He was a painstaking lecturer. In 1834 he visited Germany and in 1844 published Elements of Church History. He wrote articles on Jesus and on the Jews for the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1841).At the meeting of the general assembly of 1842 Welsh was chosen moderator of the assembly, which adopted ‘the claim of right’, and he was one of the leaders of those who, on 18 May 1843, formed themselves into ‘the general assembly of the Free Protesting Church of Scotland’, with Dr Thomas Chalmers as its first moderator. It was Welsh who laid their protest on the table of the assembly. The Limits and Extent of the Right of Private Judgement (1843) records his opinions. He had to resign his chair, and his appointment as secretary to the Bible board, made in 1839, was cancelled. In two months he collected £21,000 for building New College at Edinburgh for the education of Free Churchmen. In 1844 he was appointed librarian of the college and professor of church history; he left his books to the library. Also in 1844 he was first editor of the North British Review, the Free Church's journal. He died suddenly at Camis Eskin on the Clyde on 24 April 1845, survived by his wife and four children.

1.   Moffat, Dumfries, Scotland (Extracted records)
   FHL Film 1067968, 1792/1794.

   Extract: Vital Records Index - British Isles - Second Edition
   Christening event for: David WELSH
   Gender: Male
   Birth Date: 11 Dec 1793
   Christening Date: 11 Dec 1793
   Recorded in: Moffat, Dumfries, Scotland
   Father: David WELSH
   Mother: Margaret WELSH
   Source: FHL Film 1067968 Dates: 1792 - 1794

   Principal in Christening Extract.