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The Castle Ghost
Comlongon Castle History
The events which led up to her death began when her father Sir Simon Carruthers Baron of Mouswald Castle, some four miles from here was persuaded to leave his estate to his two daughters Marion and Janet since he had no son. The powerful Douglas family of Drumlanrig had designs on the estate and Sir James Douglas obtained consent to marry Marion and thus get her part of it. However another local baron Lord Maxwell of nearby Caerlaverock Castle also wanted the estate and after Sir Simons death took and occupied Mouswald Castle hoping to thwart the Douglas claim. They however contested his right to occupy the Castle stating that they had prior rights by way of a marriage contract.
The case was settled by privy council in 1563 when Marion was ordered into the wardenship of Borthwick Castle and told not to try to return home until the marriage was settled. However, she did escape and sought sanctuary in Comlongon Castle owned by her uncle, Sir William Murray and shortly after gave over her half of her dowry to him thinking this would persuade James Douglas not to enforce the wedding contract. However, he was not to be dissuaded and instead sued through the courts for his "just inheritance" i.e. Marions estate and he won the case. Marion was then ordered to surrender herself to James. Possibly distressed to the point of madness after such a long battle to avoid marriage she threw herself from the battlements or so it was said?. However, long after her death rumours started which suggested that some of Douglas's men gained access to her chamber and tossed her from the battlements. Thus James Douglas was able to obtain her half of the Mouswald estate without having to marry her. Because suicide was suspected at the time poor Marion was not given a proper christian burial and so it is believed that she haunts the castle forever looking for a proper resting place.