WELTON, Richard, English non-juring bishop, born in England about 1675 ; died in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1726. He was rector of St. Mary's, White-chapel, London, and in 1722 was consecrated to the episcopate by Dr. Ralph Taylor, one of the non-juring bishops. A short time afterward he assisted Dr. Taylor in consecrating Reverend John Talbot, then on a visit to England, who for many years had urged the establishment of episcopacy in the North American colonies. In 1723 the vestry of Christ church, Philadelphia, which was without a rector, prayed the bishop of London to send them "such a gentleman as may be a credit to our communion, an ornament to the profession, and a true propagator of the gospel." Six months having passed without an appointment being made, on 27 July, 1724, they invited Dr. Welton, who had at-rived in town a month before, to take charge of the church. He entered at once upon his duties, served with great acceptance for two years, when he was commanded to return to England. Receiving a testimonial of his conduct from the churchwardens, he sailed for Lisbon in January, 1726, where he died in the autumn, refusing to commune with the English clergy. It is said that among his effects was found "an episcopal seal which he had made use of in Pensilvania," where " he assumed and exercised privily and by stealth the character and functions of a bishop." Dr. Francis L. Hawks asserts, in his " Ecclesiastical Contributions," that "there is direct evidence from the letters of some of the missionaries theft both he and Dr. Talbot administered confirmation and wore the robes of a bishop." It was believed in the provinces that Dr. Welton also ordained clergymen, and these secret acts occasioned his recall.