By Ron Sharpe
Professor Robert Ethol Welsh, MA, DD 1857-1935
Robert Welsh was born on 20 March 1857 at Braehead Farm, in New Cumnock, Scotland He was the fifth son, and the youngest of the seven children born to Robert Welsh and Mary Kennedy of " Hall of Auchincross" Farm.
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| Theodosia Anderson Marshall |
Robert's birthplace was a cold, wet and remote area of Ayrshire, and Hall of Auchincross, Braehead, and Dalricket Mill were farms that were situated close to one another in a glen where the fledgling River Nith started its journey through the southern part of Scotland and entered the Solway Firth just south of Dumfries. Dalricket Mill was an important element in the Kennedy family, as it was the farm that had raised Robert's mother as well as his uncles and aunts. At the time of Robert's birth the farm was occupied by his grandmother Mary Young Kennedy, and his unmarried uncle James Kennedy.
Little is known about Robert's early life, but we know that he was surrounded by a very close knit religious family.
The nearby countryside had also been the site of violent and bloody religious persecution in the 17th century. The covenanters were a group of simple people who refused to follow the King's instructions on religious matters. Many were hunted down and arrested in the hills and glens surrounding Dalricket Mill for holding illegal religious services. The captured rebels were then taken to Edinburgh for trial. The trial verdicts were mostly foregone conclusions and many of the covenanters were hanged in the infamous Grassmarket area of that city. Others hid in the hills for many months, but were eventually
discovered by the King's soldiers and shot where they stood, for refusing to recognise the King as the head of the church.
Covenanters' graves had been discovered in the hills close by and the stories of these heroic, proud and defiant people would have been told around the fires of many of the farmhouses on winter nights.
Robert's uncle, the Rev. Alexander Kennedy had been the first Presbyterian missionary to take the religious message to Trinidad and the West Indies in 1835.
Robert was a six-year-old when he met his Uncle Alex for the first time in 1863, and no doubt he would have been enthralled with his uncle, who, with all his tales of faraway places, strange people and even stranger customs would have appeared as a hero to this young boy. All of these things, coupled to a regular churchgoing ethic would have had a huge effect on Robert’s decision to devote his life to the word of God, in fact he was described as being,” faithful in his attendance at the West Church, Cumnock. And it's documented that regardless of weather, all members of Robert's immediate family walked the seven miles or so, to attend the church in Old Cumnock every Sunday.
Robert's father had died from a bout of fever, on 28 January 1868, and this would prove to have a huge effect on him. His entire life had revolved around the area for the last eleven years. He had been educated at the local country school of Dalleagles, and had been surrounded by family and friends in all that time.
As was the custom in farming communities of those times, the eldest son usually followed his father, and took over the running of the farm, and George was no different. While there would have been efforts to get the daughters married off to eligible farmer’s sons, the younger sons would receive an education, and this seems to have been the case with the young Robert. By the time of the 1871 census, in April of that year, the document reveals that the fourteen-year-old Robert was still living at "Hall of Auchincross" with his widowed mother, and his elder sister Isabel. Robert's elder brother George and his wife were living at Wellhill Tile works which was just over the hill from the family farm. He is recorded as being a farmer of 28 acres. George would have been living in a house within the tileworks and it seems likely that he was running the day to day affairs of both farms.
Sometime around the summer of 1871, George gave up his small farm and moved into “Hall of Auchincross”. Meanwhile, Robert, his sister Isabel and his mother moved into Cumnock where they stayed with his eldest brother James on the Auchinleck Road. While resident in Cumnock, and for a short time, Robert was a pupil of the Free Church School in Ayr Road. After that he went on to attend Ayr Academy, where he was, once again, described as a distinguished pupil who excelled in mathematics.
It seems unlikely that he travelled the 32 mile round trip on a daily basis, and he may have lodged somewhere in Ayr. In the "History of Ayr Academy" by the renowned Ayrshire historian John Strawhorn, he mentions that some scholars lodged in Ayr, and that both the rector and the mathematics master took in boarders. Education fees were payable, and these ranged from £2 to £2/12/6d per quarter, so when accommodation was added, Robert's education wouldn't have come cheap. After leaving Ayr Academy he was accepted for, and entered Glasgow University. Once again he had to find lodgings and he joined his elder brother Alexander, (later a missionary in South Africa) and his cousin James Kennedy Scott (later a parish minister in Fraserburgh) who were studying theology. It's believed that they all lodged together at Mrs. Thompson's boarding house at 21 Willowbank St., Glasgow.
In 1877 at the age of 20 Robert graduated Master of Arts. It was at this point, that we see Robert listed as Robert Ethol Welsh, for the first time.
In September of 1876, Robert was already writing to the Foreign Mission Board in Edinburgh about his intention to become a Missionary. The transcript below is thought to have been Robert’s earliest correspondence with the Mission Board.
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26th September 1876 National Library Ref # 7655
Dear Mr Welsh
I congratulate you on your proposal to enter yourself on the Barker Bursary.
All that you need to do at this preliminary stage is to give in your name to the Rev Dr Jeffrey, The Clerk of Presbytery; and to send me a Medical Certificate, that your constitution is judged to be one which is able to stand a tropical climate. Should you have occasion to test it. This preliminary step ought always to be taken in order to alleviate any unpleasant obstruction at a later stage. It would suffice for you to show your Medical Certificate along with this note before seeing Dr Jeffrey, but I shall be glad to send a separate note to Dr Jeffrey mentioning the Certificate on or before Monday next.
I am Yours Very Truly
Hamilton M Mansfell
The ink has faded in places on these old letters and question marks or brackets are inserted where the words are illegible.
National Library Ref # 7656 387
9th April 1877
My Dear Sir
I welcome cordially your letter of inquiry, and I hope you will never hesitate to put any question I can answer, and be more communicative and confiding than some students intending to be missionaries seem inclined to be rather hesitant to state to me.
If you find that your (...........) (...........) to facilitate and accelerate your course with a view to Foreign Missionary work. I think it an error to lay down either a full or partial medical education, as a citation? For Missionary work. I know that many (...........) indeed very few can with advantage, take in the literary, theological or medical lore simultaneously. It is like putting enormous luggage into a small bag, both spoiling the luggage and perhaps bursting the bag into the bargain. I could (........) to work on the results. Besides one need only a limited supply of Medical Missionaries, we need more on Jamaica. We need only one at the moment at any station, in India, China, Japan or Calabar, and we have never sought for one for (.????.) or Spain. Much depends on the ? Whether medical (.....) need be attempted.
Kindly think over these things and let me know your views and wishes. I shall be very glad to hear from you and the (........) confidentially you treat mine, this more usefully for your great (..........) and mine and the Mission Board.
I am very truly yours
Hamilton M Mansfell
TO Mr Robert Welsh
c/o Mrs Thomson
21 Willowbank Street
GLASGOW
This would seem to be the first letter where Robert is making serious enquiries to the Mission Board. In this letter it looks as though he may have wanted to study medicine as well as divinity, however the Mission Secretary seems to advise against this. The letter was written in early April just before Robert graduated from Glasgow University.
Robert applied for and was awarded an Archer Bursary for the two years 1878 and 1879. He next applied for a third year, which would see him studying theology, at the Halls of the United Presbyterian Church, in Edinburgh.
In his final year of Divinity Studies, Robert was also learning a Chinese language with a view to serving in the Far East, The Mission (Eastern Branch) was mainly active in the Moukden area of Manchuria.
Robert travelled through to Edinburgh in the autumn of 1879 to undergo the necessary medical check up for mission work. He was on friendly terms with the Foreign Mission Secretary who advised him that there would be time enough in the spring of the following year to reach a settlement of service. Meanwhile the Secretary hoped to see Robert "at my home, sometime during the winter".
After the completion of his studies in early 1880, Robert at the age of 23 was living at 19 Marchmont Crescent in Edinburgh. He married an 18-year-old by the name of Theodosia (Theo)Anderson Marshall on the 10th of April 1880 in her home town of Lochee near Dundee. It's possible they may have met at Edinburgh, as she would have been too young to be at Glasgow University. Robert's cousin James K. Scott, who he had passed through university with, was by now an ordained minister, and although he didn't perform the marriage he was the best man. It was on the 20th of April 1880 that Robert achieved his goal and after all his efforts was finally ordained as a minister of the United Presbyterian Church. We know Robert preached very little in Scotland, however his first sermon was preached in the village church in Ochiltree, Ayrshire. It must have been very soon after this that they both took leave of their families and set out for the Far East, and Japan, it would prove to be very different from their homeland.
THE FOLLOWING SECTION IS COMPILED FROM LETTERS WRITTEN BETWEEN ROBERT E WELSH AND THE MISSION BOARD IN EDINBURGH, 1880 and 1881
Robert and Theo reached Japan in August 1880. He was now the Rev Robert E Welsh. But Robert's first letter back was full of complaints. The Mission Members, he said, did not know their job. As a background to this, it appears that the board had been slow to discipline a Miss Gamble who it seems created much disharmony at her school in Japan. The other Missionaries mainly passed on the troubles to Robert, and Robert, perhaps in the foolishness of youth, jumped in at the deep end and supported them, this support however, was going to portray Robert as the antagonist as far as his Scottish masters were concerned.
Edinburgh replied to Robert that "gossip appeared to be the reverse side of truth" and it was a little unfortunate that his first communication should have been finding fault with the Board and its Secretary. In future they would expect to hear of Robert's work and the proofs of the Master's presence within him.
Robert's next letter, October 1880, was worse, as far as the Mission board was concerned. Robert stated that both Mrs Welsh and he were in ill health and wished to return to Scotland. Whatever it was medical wise, the problem must have been there before they left Scotland. The Board replied "why did you not think of consulting us before taking the step you have done? Pray that he who knows the way may find a sphere in which you will be spared to do much earnest and successful work for him, to whom you have ennobled your life. I will do what I can for your welfare".
The Mission Secretary carefully avoided giving outright permission for the Welshes to return, but anyway they were on their way, and living at Theo's parents' home, in Dundee by March 1881. The sojourn in Japan had been only a few months duration.
They had returned on their own volition, the Foreign Mission secretary reminded them, and so Robert had forfeited any claim to salary as from the date of his return. He was also told he had received the Archer Bursary for three years and a condition of that had been that the applicant wished to serve in the Foreign Mission field. Robert took the Secretary to task for showing his last letter to the Board, but it was pointed out to him, that he had not written in a private capacity.
The summer of 1882 found him preaching at Harrogate and living there at 5 Royal Crescent, he would spend five years there during which time a new church was built.
In August 1886 Robert was for the last time in touch with the Foreign Mission Secretary, “was there any possibility of a vacancy as a missionary in the Far East?” The answer was, no vacancy, the excuse made was limited cash resources, expansion in other countries etc. However it may have been the fact that the mission secretary felt he was just too loose a cannon, and that trouble of some sort just followed wherever he went.
The following year of 1887 found Robert living in Willesden Green, North London. He was by now the minister of St. George's, Brondesbury. It must have suited him, as he was to remain there for the next 17 years, during which time he oversaw the building of another new church. It is reported at the time that "he entered into the full stride of his ministry" and that it was one of the most important in the presbytery of London North.
At some point around 1890 Robert would have returned home to New Cumnock, for the funeral of his mother.
In 1892 Robert and Theo felt the need of a holiday and took a passage for South Africa, in order to visit Robert's brother Alexander, who was running a mission school out there. They stayed for three months, and on the return voyage, Robert met Olive Schreiner who was a popular authoress of the time. He decided to write an article about her and on his return to Britain he had it accepted for publication in "The Young Woman" a periodical of high standing and good repute in those days. The article attracted so much interest and attention that it led to Robert's inclusion in "Who's Who".
The success of the article spurred Robert on, and he started to write other pieces. This lead to him becoming a successful, and respected author of religious books. His first book was published in 1895 and “In Relief of Doubt” sold over 100,000 copies on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s thought he wrote around ten books, most of which have been housed in important libraries around the world. All of these books and other examples of Roberts literary work, are still available in the "Scottish Library" in Edinburgh.
Although no actual date is known, Robert and Theo became parents when they adopted a daughter. We can assume that this took place after their South African journey. The child was born on the 5th of January 1893 in the county of Middlesex, and may have been an unwanted child from Robert's own parish. The couple named their little girl Olive Theodosia Welsh. Given that Robert's admiration for Olive Schreiner was well known, it’s very possible that she was named after Miss Schreiner, and Mrs. Welsh.
During those years at Brondsbury he served for some months as the literary superintendent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and on two occasions was asked to take the position permanently, but he declined. His literary activities continued however and he helped to compile the Hymnal "Church Praise" for the Presbyterian Church of England.
Sometime after 1903 Robert felt that a change might be beneficial and he relinquished his charge at Brondsbury and accepted a call to Hove near Brighton. As I have mentioned earlier Robert's cousin, Isabel Baird had married, and settled in Hove with her family, and being surrounded by his "ain folk" would have been a comfort to him. However his stay at Hove was to be brief, for the British and Foreign Bible Society, were once again in contact with him. This time their offer was one Robert felt he couldn't refuse. In 1905 he left on his own for Canada, Theo and their adopted daughter Olive would follow in 1906. Robert had been invited to become the first General Secretary of the Society for all Canada. Robert arrived in Canada at some point in 1905, and he was soon travelling all over the country "from coast to coast familiarizing himself with the problems and conditions of Canadian life". At the time it would seem he was based in Toronto, as he was a member of the Toronto Presbyterian Church. In 1906, at the age of 49, Robert received the degree of D.D. from the "Knox College". He was now Doctor Welsh.
By 1907 he was living in Montreal at 419 Metcalf Avenue, Westmont, and had been invited by the Presbyterian Church of Canada to accept the chair of Apologetics and Church History in its Montreal college. He felt he was well enough equipped for the Apologetics end of the task, but he wasn't so sure about the history side of things. However he accepted the position, and it's recorded that he "laboured day and night, even to the peril of his health, to ensure his history work should not fall below his own fastidious standards of excellence". It was in October of 1907 that the now, Professor, Robert Ethol Welsh M.A. D.D. took up his position at The Presbyterian Theological College, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. In a report to the board of management in 1908, he was said to have proved himself to be a most valuable addition to the staff, both as to competence of scholarship, and to teaching ability. There is no doubt that if spared he will render most excellent service to the college and to the church. In 1910 a staff photograph was taken, and Robert is described as being small in stature, with a small tidy beard, and a magnificent moustache. His studying of Church History must have stood him in good stead, and when the co-operative scheme embracing all the theological colleges in Montreal came into being, he was assigned to the teaching of History and Philosophy of Religion. This was a position he was to hold for a number of years. Shortly after this his interest in the family tree must have developed and he started the long and laborious task of seeking out his "kin" in all the corners of the globe.
The actual time scale of Robert's family research is unknown, but it would seem to have been completed by November 1912. It is contained in a concise booklet containing 452 names, from over 70 separate families’, who are spread all over the world. From, Scotland to New Zealand, India to Paraguay, among many others. In the introductory note to the booklet, Robert gives us an insight into just why his interest in "the family" came to the fore.
It would seem he had been contacted by a writer who had written a short life story of his uncle, the Rev Alexander Kennedy, of Canada. The writer expressed an interest in Alexander's parental family, the initial reason for this is unknown. However this must have stimulated Robert's curiosity, and he set out on the monumental task. He mentions "increase of families since some of the returns were dispatched" this seems to suggest that at least a year was spent on the project, but it was probably a lot longer than that. With the help of another one of his cousins, Mary Scott of Edinburgh, he sent out letters to all the heads of the relevant families. On the strength of the answers he received, the booklet was compiled, produced, and dispatched back to the families. Robert met all the costs incurred.
During his years of service in Canada, we have no evidence that he ever acted in a ministerial capacity, but we know he shared in the compilation of the Canadian Presbyterian "Book of Praise" and was convener of the committee that prepared the "Book of Common Order" for the Presbyterian Church of Canada.
Very little else is known about Robert's career until 1925, when Church union came into being. He had joined the United Church of Canada in that year. Following Church union he acted as principal of the college, a position he later withdrew from to become Dean of Graduate Studies. He was assigned the task of drawing up the form of service for the great Act of Union, in Toronto on 10 June 1925. After this he once again assisted in the creation of the "Hymnary" of the United Church of Canada. By the time 1930 dawned Robert had decided to retire, he was now 73 years of age, and in the course of one week in April he had completed fifty years in the ministry, celebrated his golden wedding, and retired from active work. Robert longed to spend his final days back home in his beloved Ayrshire, so by the Autumn of 1930 Robert and Theo had said farewell to all their friends and colleagues and sailed away from the country that had been their home for 25 years. Scotland, and home was just over the horizon, and she was pulling them back to their "ain folk".
They returned to Ayr where Robert had been educated, and took up residence at 22 Wellington Square. Robert's nephew had his home and a law practice next door at number 21, and also owned number 22. They were home in time for Christmas, and Robert had plans to write at least another two books, but the new year of 1931, was not to prove a happy one, as Robert's wife, Theo, his partner of over fifty years, died on the 7th of November, at the age of 69.
He must have found this a difficult cross to bear, we know he continued to write, but none of his efforts seem to have been published. He was involved with various charitable organizations, and it would appear he entered the pulpit of some local churches again, on more than one occasion, in fact his last sermon was preached at Ochiltree, in Ayrshire, around 1934. During the service he divulged that he had preached his very first sermon there as a young man.
Reverend, Professor, Robert Ethol Welsh,M.A. D.D. passed away early on the morning of Sunday 1st September 1935, at 22 Wellington Square, Ayr, Scotland. The cause of death was given as cerebral thrombosis.
That morning the Rev R.T. Cameron at the close of his sermon in the Sandgate Church, Ayr, spoke to his congregation saying that he could not forbear a brief reference to Robert. he said "Dr. Welsh was a student to the end, always planning fresh literary ventures, and working up to the limits of his strength and sometimes beyond them, to complete tasks that he had laid upon himself. Many of them would long remember those beautiful and fragrant discourses which from time to time he preached from that pulpit in his own, quietly impressive way. Now he was gone from their sight, but his memory would long abide. To his adopted daughter in New York, and to his kinsfolk at home they sent their warmest sympathy".
At a meeting of the Ayr Presbytery on the 4th of September 1935 the Moderator, the Rev. D. G. Milne, referred to the loss sustained by the Presbytery and the church generally, by the death of Professor Welsh. Though not an active member of the Presbytery, he was certainly a great power in the religious world, on both sides of the Atlantic. He had made his impress on theological thought, not only in our own country, but beyond the seas. They appreciated the services he had rendered to the church at large; they regretted his loss, and sympathized with those he had left behind.
Details of Will,
Welsh Robert E. TES: SC6/46/63 INV SC6/44/117
Reverend Professor Robert Ethol Welsh, sometime of the Presbyterian College, Montreal, formerly residing at The Manse, Walm Lane,Willesden Green,London. and thereafter at 419 Metcalf Avenue, Westmont, Montreal, Quebec,Canada. Latterly of 22 Wellington Square, Ayr. Died 1st September 1935, at Ayr Testate. Confirmation at Ayr, 29th January 1936, to Robert Welsh Solicitor, 21 Wellington Square, Ayr. and Doctor James Kennedy Welsh, 5 Mayfield Gardens, Edinburgh. Executors of Will dated 25th June 1908, recorded with other writs at Ayr 16th January 1936.
VALUE OF ESTATE: £619.5.1.
COMMENTS
Robert was certainly a very religious man, and he was probably looked up to and admired in many social circles. But it appears that he had an extremely high opinion of himself. In all of the research I’ve completed over many years, I have never came across any reference to his humble agricultural origins. He was a prolific letter writer to many of the broadsheets while a resident of both Harrogate and London. The subject matter seemed to vary from what he saw as a local injustice, to the state of the pavements. He did return from Canada to Scotland on at least two known occasions. Once in June 1913, when he preached the Sunday service at The West Church in Ayr Road, and August of 1924 when he stayed with his nephew Robert Welsh in Ayr. On his return to Canada after a month’s holiday, he was required to complete a Canadian entry document. When the document asked “Can you read?” his reply was “I can write too!” Next question, “What language” English and others.
Another point worth noting is that Robert's middle name of "Ethol" is not on his birth certificate, in fact the only reference to "Ethol" I have uncovered is the name of a cottage in Cumnock, that his brother was residing in for some time. It may have been just vanity on Robert's part that he felt a middle name would give him a little more standing in his position. There is nothing to make us think that "Ethol" is an old family name that has been passed down through the years. On his death certificate he is referred to as Robert Ethol Welsh, formerly Robert Welsh.
Robert Welsh led a deeply religious life, and although in his early days as a missionary in Japan he seems to have been a little impatient, not to mention foolish, he nevertheless continued to dedicate his life to the work of God.
As a member of the Kennedy family he is without doubt one of its most successful sons, although not one of its richest. However, to the ever expanding clan of Kennedy descendants, Robert's greatest achievement must be the initial family history research he carried out in the early 20th century. There can be no doubt that without the efforts of Robert Welsh and his cousin Mary Scott, a considerable amount of our knowledge, relating to our family history, would have been lost to us. I don't suppose he could ever have imagined that his efforts would still be generating interest in the 21st century, and that the descendants of James Kennedy and Mary Young are slowly, but surely, getting in contact with one another again. I feel sure he would be very proud of that.
" We have proved we have hearts in a cause, we are noble still,
I have felt with my native land, I am one with my kind."
Written by: Ron Sharpe, Rosehearty, Scotland. January 2001. Modified April 2025
Letters written between Robert and the Mission Board
Researched and written by: George Sanderson, Penicuik, Scotland. 1997.
Contributions: Scottish Records Office, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Carnegie Library, Ayr, Scotland.
McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Ayr Advertiser Archives, Ayr, Scotland.
Ayrshire Post Archives, Ayr, Scotland.
Cumnock Chronicle Archives, Cumnock, Scotland.
Baird Institute and local history centre, Cumnock, Scotland.
The Original Family Tree. By Robert E. Welsh.
Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland,
