The Irvings of IIoddom. 177 



which indicates tliat the title had been in familiar use for a con- 

 siderable time, and it was certamly used down to the middle of 

 the 17th century, or over 200 years. The clan appears to have 

 had all the land in the ancient parishes of IIoddom, Luce, Eccle- 

 fechan, and Trailtrow, with a part of St. Mungo. In the various 

 changes that took place in the following centuries the Dukes of 

 IIoddom seem to have lost a large portion of their patrimony, but 

 kept hold of Knockhill and Whitehill, which latter place they 

 have held through all the stress and strife of five or six. centuries. 

 Tradition says that the name of Knockhill was given to the place 

 by the first Irving who settled there in remembrance of the old 

 home in Cunningham. Be this as it may, there have been 

 Irvings in Hoddom for centuries, and they were known as Dukes 

 of Hoddom from the early part of the loth century to the middle 

 of the 17th. 



From the Solway to Milk Water they were often called 

 upon to defend their lauds and heritage, and took an active part 

 in all the wars. There were Irvings at Knockhill, Irvnigs at 

 Trailtrow, Irvings at Ku-kconnel, Luce, Turnschaw, Cleughheads, 

 "Warmanbie, Blacketlees, Hurkildail, Annan, and Stapleton, with- 

 out taking into account the range of towers that extended on 

 both sides of the Kirtle from the Lochmaben Staines at the mouth 

 of Kirtle Water to Birrenswark. 



The Irvings at Trailtrow kept up the bonfires on Trailtrow 

 before the Tower of Eepentauce was built, and had a farm 

 adjoining, called Ward Park, for doing so. In 1541 Habby of 

 Trailtrow had two sons, John and Dick. That was before the 

 Tower w^as built. 



The Laird of Knockhill was recognised as the head of the 

 clans in Hoddom, and was known as the Due. This meant 

 leader, or "chieftain," as we find in a marginal note of the revised 

 version of the Bible as the explanation of the title '' Dues of 

 Edom." 



In a charter by Robert de Brus of fishings at Blaaswatwood 

 (in Gretna) Eobert de Hodelm was a witness, circa 1190, but it 

 does not say whether he was a Knight or a Priest. On Bleau's 

 map, 1060, " The Duke of Hoddom" is indicated as including a 

 considerable stretch of land from the river up to Barr Hill and 

 Knockhill. He is also called "Duke of Hoddom" on Moll's 

 map, 1725. In "Acta Dominorum Concilii, 6th November, 1490," 



