John Welch - Born (1556)
John Welch (alternative spelling Welsh) was born a little before 1570 and was a gentleman by birth, his father being Laird of Colliston, Dunscore Parish in Nithsdale, an estate rather moderate than large. He did not make a very encouraging start to life. He often ran away from school, and after he had passed through grammar school, he left his father’s house, joining the thieves on the English border who lived by robbing the two nations; Then when he was clothed only with rags, the prodigal’s misery brought him to the prodigal’s resolution, so he resolved to return to his father’s house, but did not dare do this until he could find a reconciler.