Duncow, a village, a burn, and a barony of Kirkmahoe parish, Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire. The village, on the burn's left bank, 5 miles N by W of Dumfries, took its name from a round hill or 'dun' adjacent to it, and retained down to 1804 a large stone marking the site of the cottage in which James V. is said to have passed the night preceding his visit to Amisfield. It now has a post office under Dumfries, a public school, and a parochial library. The burn, rising within the S border of Closeburn parish, runs 8 miles south-by-eastward through Kirkmahoe parish, and falls into the Nith 3 miles N by W of Dumfries. The barony, mainly consisting of the burn's basin, belonged to the Comyns, the ancient competitors for the Scottish crown. Forfeited by them, along with the neighbouring barony of Dalswinton, and given to the Boyds, at the accession of Robert Bruce, it afterwards passed to the Maxwells, Earls of Nithsdale, and about 1796 was sold in sections to various purchasers.—Ord. Sur., sh. 9, 1863.
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