Archibald WELCH,
Prominent Physician.

James Welch, the earliest known ancestor of Dr. Archibald Welch, was a resident of Malden, Massachusetts, and was a soldier in King Philip's War in 1676. He went to Mount Hope, Rhode Island, later settled in Swansea, Massachusetts, Rehoboth, Massachusetts, Bristol, Rhode Island, and Plainfield and Voluntown, Connecticut, his death occurring in the latter named place. His son, Thomas Welch, was born March 1, 1695, and died August 14, 1781. He removed from Bristol, Rhode Island, to Plainfield, Connecticut, and later near Windham Village, Connecticut. His son, the Rev. Daniel Welch, was born in Windham, Connecticut, March 20, 1726, and died April 29, 1782. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1749, and was ordained pastor of the church in North Mansfield, June 29, 1752, remaining there until his death. His son, the Rev. Moses Cook Welch, D. D., was born in Windham, Connecticut, February 14, 1754, and died April 21, 1824. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1772, was a teacher for a number of years, then studied theology, and he succeeded his father as pastor of the church at North Mansfield, being ordained June 2, 1784, and he continued in the ministry until his death. Dr. Welch married (first) Chloe Evans, (second) Clarissa Ashley, (third) a daughter of the Rev. Noadiah Russell, (fourth) Mrs. Mary Leech, who survived him. He was the father of Dr. Archibald Welch, of this review.
Dr. Archibald Welch, son of Rev. Dr. Moses Cook Welch, was born at
Mansfield, Connecticut, March 13, 1794. He attended the public schools, and then began the study of medicine and took two courses of lectures in medicine at Yale College, and was licensed to practice in September, 1816. For sixteen years he practiced successfully in his native town, then removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, in December, 1832, and practiced another period of sixteen years. From 1848 to the time of his death he was a prominent physician of Hartford. For ten years he was in charge of the medical department of the Connecticut State prison. In 1836 he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine out of course from Yale College.
Dr. Welch was prominent in public life as well as in his profession. He served his district in the General Assembly; was secretary, vice-president and president in succession of the State Medical Society. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him; amiable, correct and skillful as a physician; hospitable by nature and entertaining many friends at his fireside and table; lively, witty and entertaining in speech, he was an admirable companion on every occasion. He was generous with his wealth and freely helped those in need. He had many friends in all walks of life. Though he held strongly to his opinions, and was a man of quick temper and earnestness, he was able to control himself and win to his views many of his townsmen whenever a controversy arose in which he had an interest. His sense of justice was keen, his kindness and mercy, truthfulness and honor, prominent characteristics. His demeanor was, with all modest, frank, unaffected. He was simple and natural in his conduct under all conditions, and made no pretensions. From the very beginning of his practice he resolved never to accept a drink of intoxicating liquor while calling upon patients and he was the first man in Wethersfield to proclaim himself from principle a total abstainer. He was a leader in the temperance movement, and at his instigation the first temperance lecture was delivered there. His interest in the temperance question never flagged, and he earnestly supported the premise that the keeping and sale of liquor was a nuisance to Society and should be suppressed as other nuisances recognized in law. On all public questions he was well informed, and formidable antagonist to meet in discussion or debate. He was a Whig in politics. In 1841 he joined the Congregational church at Wethersfield, and in his own family he maintained the time honored daily family worship of the Puritans. Though he was not given to talking of his religious experience, he lived upright and consistent Christian life. He was killed in the disaster at Norwalk 1853, when the train on which he was riding went through the drawbridge. Other prominent physicians were also victims of this accident, returning from a meeting of the American Medical Association in New York.
He married, March 16, 1818, Cynthia Hyde, of Tolland county, daughter of Daniel and Mary Hyde, descendant William Hyde, an early settler of Norwich, Connecticut.