Edward was born in the Raploch area of Stirling, Scotland. His parents were Edward Welsh and Mary Welsh (that was her maiden surname) who married in Stirling in 1851. He had two older half-sisters, Catherine and Bridget (mother Mary Moran, likely died Ireland around 1850) and two full older sisters (Mary 1852-1853, and Margaret (1857-1907). Edward became blind in his teens and was assisted to attend a school for the blind in Liverpool run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. There he learned Braille and basket weaving. Returning to Stirling he opened a basket weaving business which then expanded into a grocery business in Broad Street which he owned outright. He married Catherine Hogan and had three children, Mary (my grandmother), Margaret (who had three children) and Edward John (no marriage or descendants).
Edward ended up owning a number of residential properties around Stirling which he rented out. He also bought and lived in a large house at Upper Bridge Street, Stirling, opposite the new St Mary's Catholic Church. He became a burgher of Stirling and was well known and respected in the town. He died 12 September 1942 and was buried in the Valley Cemetery in Stirling (along with his mother, sister and niece, wife, daughter Mary and son Edward).
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 11th May 1860 | |
| Date of Death | 12th Sep 1942 | |
