The stones of William Welsh.

William Welsh of Kirkpatrick and another Dumfries man, William  (also known as John) Grier or Grierson, were captured at the battle of Rullion Green in November 1666. It was decided that some of the prisoners should be sent back to their home towns there to be executed  as a salutory lesson to any other would be rebels. They were hung on 2 January 1667.

welsh-1.jpg (49110 bytes)

 

welsh-2.jpg (30977 bytes)

 

passenger-text.jpg (28804 bytes)

 The inscription tells us that Welsh`s head was cut off and put on view above the town gates - The Bridge Port.. It begins with a favourite inscription " Stay Passenger " meaning passer by ..

STAY, PASSENGER, AND READ
HERE INTERR`D DOTH LY
A WITNESS GAINST POOR
SCOTLANDS PERJURY,
WHOSE HEAD ONCE FIX`D UP
ON THE BRIDGE PORT STOOD
PROCLAIMING VENGEANCE
FOR HIS GUILTLESS BLOOD

Back to Old Mortality stones.

Home Scottish Reformation The Covenanters Ulster Scots English Reformation Reformation in Europe General Topics & Glossary Bibliography Contact