Dense fog in morning : fine though hazy day + dense fog at night. N.E. calm. Saw the few cases on my list (including Brown Mrs Cannon Street + Curror Street [word deleted]1 + Shawpark2 walking + finished by 12.30. Got some clerical work done in the afternoon. Golf Club Bazaar today + tomorrow – most unfortunate dates as Monday is the Spring holiday. Had to go to Whitmuirhall Toll in evening to see Mrs Black3 who has Shingles. She gave me a dozen eggs. Helen4 busy at the Bazaar. David5 looked in + waited for Norah6 who was at the Bazaar. We had a glass of port.
1 It is not clear what Dr Muir means in this section.
2 Shawpark, Selkirk was the home of John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer and acquaintance of Dr Muir who was present when Boylan had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.
3 Jessie Black née Cochrane, wife of John Black (about 1859-), gamekeeper, inhabitant occupier not rated at Whitmuirhall Old Tollhouse, Selkirk. They had married, 1888, Selkirk, and lived at Whitmuir Toll with their daughters Agnes and Kate [1921 Census].
4 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
5 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s co-partner.
6 Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham, see footnote x.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Charming day. Very small list but ‘Phone message for Mrs Dees, Faldonside.1 Cycled there + then went to Newstead + Leaderfoot to Earlston + by old road to Birkenside.2 Took my tea at the summit + then went from Birkenside to Legerwood, Boon + joined the old Lauder road near Blainslie + came down to Leaderfoot.3 It was like a summer day. The run was 38.8 + I felt very fit. I was interested to see a Lauder Kelso milestone on the old road. Helen4 busy for Bazaar tomorrow.
1 Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948), wife of Robert Irwin Dees. They had moved from Newcastle to Faldonside after the First World War.
3 Legerwood, NT587,432, Boon, NT572,455, and Blainslie, NT547,437. The old road runs entirely on the west side of the Leader Water running south through Clackmae, NT560,393.
4 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Raining this morning, the first time since Monday 12th. It faired in afternoon. Very close. Motored to Henderland, Sundhope, Newarkburn, Dunsdale, Hospital + Shawpark. Got back at 1. Message to Harry Scott, Tower Street.1 Dry cupped him for lumbago. Motored to Kirklea at 6.30 + went with the Ogilvies2 to a concert in Ashkirk Hall where I recited ”Tam + the Leechs”3, “The Pill + the Bottle”4… [section of text deleted].
1 This is possibly Henry Hughes ‘Harry’ Scott (1890-), clerk at a woollen factory, son of Robert Scott, woollen weaver, and Janet Scott née Hughes, recorded at Tower Street in the 1911 Census with his family. Harry married Mary Bell Turnbull in 1911 at Selkirk, had two children, Janet Hownam Scott (1911-) and Robert Dickson Scott (1913-), both born at Tower Street. Harry was recorded, a costing clerk at Gardiner’s tweed manufacturers, living with his own family at Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk in the 1921 Census (though his father Robert appears to be recorded at Tower Street in the 1923 Valuation Roll so it is perfectly feasible that Harry was there for some reason in 1923).
2 William Henry ‘W H’ or ‘Will’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets, and Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Scott Anderson (1879-1965), daughter of Thomas ‘T’ Scott Anderson of Ettrick Shaws.
3 Tam and the Leeches from ‘The Auld Doctor, and Other Poems and Songs in Scots’ by David Rorie (1867-1946), D.S.O., M.D.C.M, D.P.H., doctor, folklorist and poet (“Faith there’s a hantle queer complaints | To cheenge puir sinners into saints | An’ mony divers ways o’ deein’ | That doctors hae a chance o’ seein’ | The Babylonian scartit bricks | To tell his doots o’ Death’s dark tricks.” etc.
4 The Pill and The Bottle were two poems by Dr John F Fergus (1865-1943), published in ‘Fancies of a Physician, Medical and Otherwise, in Scots and English, Brown Son & Ferguson, Glasgow, 1938.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Marvellously warm day + without much sunshine. The therms [sic] at my window went up to 90 + at 6 p.m. was 60. I cycled to Shawpark (Boylan1 a shade better) + Faldonside. Mrs Dees2 back from London but I didn’t see her. Went up to High Faldonside + called for Jessie Boyd3 who came back a week ago.4 Called for Mrs Graham at the Lodge5 who should have been confined by now. After lunch cycled to Bank, Henhouse + Moat. Have applied for 200 Com. Preference shares in Esparto Paper Mills Ltd.6 Nice long letter from Dora7 who arrived safely at Tanta8. Ordered the Scotsman to be sent to her. Helen9 busy making caramel walnuts for Golf Bazaar.
1 Shawpark, Selkirk was the home of John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer and acquaintance of Dr Muir who was present when Boylan had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.
2 Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948), wife of Robert Irwin Dees. They had moved from Newcastle to Faldonside after the First World War.
3 Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener. Born 1867 at Chatton, Glendale, Northumberland, her family comprised William Brack Boyd (1831-1918) and Elizabeth Boyd née Wilson, married 1 July 1862 at Morebattle and children Adam Brack Boyd (1870-1911) of Otterburn and Buchtrig [estranged from the family], James Wilson Brack Boyd (1870-1916), who died in Belgium, and Jessie herself. In the 1921 Census Jessie was recorded at Upper Faldonside, Galashiels with her niece Dawn Gordon Belle Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Milne (1894-1980) and two servants Jean Lothian and Catherine Duff.
4 It is not known where Jessie had been but as noted above she was in Selkirkshire two years previously.
5 Mrs Graham is not yet identified.
6 Esparto Paper Mills Ltd (1922-1924) was one of a series of businesses involved in paper making at Carrongrove, Stirlingshire.
7 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter was en route to Port Said (بورسعيد , Egypt) with Isabella Donald on S.S. Oxfordshire, official number 131454 en route Liverpool – Marseilles – Port Said – Colombo – Rangoon, departing Liverpool 2 March 1923 [source: UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, Liverpool, 2 March 1923].
8 Assume Tanta (طنطا or Ṭanṭa, Egypt), a city on the Nile Delta between Alexandria and Cairo.
9 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Warmer today : some white frost in morning. Flashy [?] sunshine but duller in afternoon. Wind to the S. of S.E. Cycled to Eildon Hills + saw the hounds1 which met at Eildon Hall.2 They got a fox in the Whin Cover3 on East hill but did nothing with it. A fox went over the top of West hill but was followed by only 1 hound. Spoke to a nice looking girl who saw the fox. She turned out to be a Dane + she asked me if the riders carried guns! It was delightful on the top but the Cheviots were invisible. Came back by Eastfield4 + Shawpark. It is 0.45 [miles] from St Boswells Road to Eastfield Cottage + it is a mile further to Bowden Toll5 via Midlem than going direct.6
1 The Duke of Buccleuch Hunt was based at St Boswells at this time.
2 Eildon Hall, east of the Eildon Hills, grid reference NGR NT562,324.
3 The location is unidentified but, though assigned a capital C by Dr Muir, it may simply refer to some general Whin (common gorse or furze, Ulex europaeus) cover in the area.
4 Eastfield, NT541,289.
5 By Bowden Toll the Editor assumes that Dr Muir means Bowden Stand Dam Toll Post, grid reference NGR NT551,297 where one might reasonably assume he turned northwards to reach the Eildon Hills.
6 The Editor assumes that this is simply Dr Muir recording and comparing distances taken off his velometer (Dr Muir may have had more than one such device because their operation was based on wheel rotations and this would have required a different device for each wheel size).
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Weathercock round to S. + then S.W. + in the afternoon there was strongish wind which raised the dust. It was milder but duller. Walked to Brydon, Library1, Wallace, Ashybank2 + Shawpark3 + went to morning service service after which I cycled to Ettrickhaugh Road + Cannon Street. Wrote Dora.4 Sent Jean5 Dora’s last letter. Had to run out to Shawpark again in evening as Boylan had one of his heart attacks. Helen6 + I supped at Wellwood.7
1 John Brydon (about 1867-), joiner, lived at the Free Library Buildings, Selkirk with his wife Mary Brydon née Grieve (about 1875-) and daughter Mary Davidson Brydon (1907-) [1921 Census].
2 Wallace at Ashybank is so far unidentified.
3 Shawpark, Selkirk was the home of John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer and acquaintance of Dr Muir who was present when Boylan had a heart attack on xx March 1923.
4 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter was en route to Port Said (بورسعيد , Egypt) with Isabella Donald on S.S. Oxfordshire, official number 131454 en route Liverpool – Marseilles – Port Said – Colombo – Rangoon, departing Liverpool 2 March 1923 [source: UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, Liverpool, 2 March 1923].
5 Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter.
6 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
7 Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and her family.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Weather the same fine hazy [illegible] Wind round to N.W. Saw 3 cases + then cycled with Nancy1 to Blawearie to see the hounds which met at Harden.2 Came on them at Borthwickbrae + followed to Roberton. They found at Borthwickshiels but there was no scent. They came slowly back to Borthwickbrae where we left them. I left Nancy at Ashkirk + went up by the Manse + Woll Rigg.3 Jack was out on “Plus Four”.4 After tea walked down to Mill Street + took John Bell the gut I got from Allan in Glasgow.5 It is not really gut but some silk material. Got Div. of 6/8 in the £ of Napier’s account6 of which I got 3. 6. 0. + M + G. 4. 12. 6.7
1 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
2 Blawearie, grid reference NGR NT441,166 (very close to Esdaile Law and at 322 metres the high point on the road between Ashkirk and Roberton), Harden, NT449,148, Borthwickbrae, NT412,135, Roberton, NT429,143 and Borthwickshiels, NT436,155.
3 Dr Muir has headed up to the Cross Borders Drove Road past the Manse, grid reference NGR NT465,219, and headed on past Woll Rigg, NT455,226. Nancy has presumably gone straight ahead to the Ashkirk road end.
4 The Editor takes this to be a reference to John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Dr Muir’s son-in-law being out on his motorbike, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 August 1922.
5 John Bell, warper, was a tenant of a house at Mill Street, Selkirk but the rest of this sentence is obscure.
6 Dr Muir had previously completed an affidavit in front of David Carnegie Alexander (1856-1928), solicitor in connection with Lord Napier’s Sequestration, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 29 January 1923.
7 In pre-decimal currency six shillings and eight pence (6s 8d) was exactly one third of a pound (£1). Dr Muir and the Muir & Graham medical co-partnery therefore had debts with Lord Napier of £9 18 shillings and £13 17 shillings and 6 pence respectively.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Another fine day but not so clear. Plenty sunshine + the chill slight E. wind. Delightfully dry for out door movement. A nice letter from Dora dated March 13th. They were nearing Port Said. She spent a nice day in Marseilles.1 Dav.2 had an appendicitis case at 10.30 (boy Neil from Fairnilee3) + Mrs McMillan4 was up with a case of piles which D. was going to operate. I cycled to Henhouse5, Moat6, Midlem (Mrs Dalgleish, a Neil7), Eastfield8 + (via Bowden Moor) Faldonside9, Gib. + Lum.10 + Wallace, Ashybank.11 Was not home till about 4.30. Dr Lamb, brother of Peter, called.12 Helen13 + Nancy14 cycled to Ettrick Shaws.15
1 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, travelled to Port Said (بورسعيد , Egypt) with Isabella Donald on S.S. Oxfordshire, official number 131454 en route Liverpool – Marseilles – Port Said – Colombo – Rangoon, departing Liverpool 2 March 1923 [source: UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960, Liverpool, 2 March 1923].
2 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
3 James Neil, ploughman, was at a farm cottage at Fairnilee, Caddonfoot with his wife Sybil Neil née Nicholson and children Agnes, Margaret, Alexander, Annie and Thomas Nicholson but it is impossible to know which of the boys was the patient here [1921 Census and Thomas Neil’s birth record.
4 McMillan is unidentified.
5 Henhouse is beyond the south end of Haining Loch, Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT469,271.
6 Dr Muir had visited Moat a number of times in 1923, it is at grid reference NT458,268, near Howden, S.S.W. of Selkirk.
7 Mrs Dalgleish is as yet unidentified.
8 Eastfield, Selkirk, NT540,289.
9 Faldonside, Galashiels where Dr Muir had been attending Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948) and her housemaid. Edith was the wife of Robert Irwin Dees and they had moved from Newcastle to Faldonside after the First World War.
10 Gibson & Lumgair Ltd., woollen textile manufacturer, at St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk.
11 Wallace at Ashybank is so far unidentified.
12 Dr Lamb is unidentified as is his brother Peter Lamb who consulted Dr Muir for an “enormous Hernia” at Viewfield 2 March 1922 when Dr Muir noted that he was “a connection of the Blaikies of Comiston”.
13 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
14 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
15 Ettrick Shaws was until 1923 the home of Joan Scott Anderson née Shaw (about 1857-1936), widow of Thomas ‘Tom’ or ‘T’ Scott Anderson (1852-1919), medical practitioner and landed proprietor, of Ettrick Shaws, Kirkhope which he had built in 1891 on 30 acres purchased from the Duke of Buccleuch. Joan was the daughter of Thomas Shaw sometime of Wooriwyrite, Australia and Catherine Shaw née McLaughlin. [Sources include: Historic Environment Scotland LB49226]
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Dull misty morning but it gradually cleared up + after midday was splendidly clear + bright. Wind slight N.E. After seeing Mrs Cleghorn, Backrow1 I cycled to Faldonside – Mrs Dees2 having ‘Phoned about the kitchenmaid3 – + then went on via Leaderfoot to Craig House4 + went up the hill by the quarry + along to [blank space]. The hounds met at Mellerstain but I saw nothing of them. It was delightful on the hill + I sat a good while revelling in the view. Came back by Bemersyde Moss + Mertoun Bridge. Went to concert by the musical association in Victoria Hall.
1 Janet Cleghorn née Lawrie (about 1857-), wife of James Cleghorn, general joiner, living at 27 Back Row, Selkirk [1921 Census].
2 Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson (1872-1948), wife of Robert Irwin Dees. They had moved from Newcastle to Faldonside after the First World War.
3 A maid at Faldonside had got her fingers crushed a week before Dr Muir first saw her [see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 20 March 1923].
4 Craig House is unidentified.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
No sunshine + mist on the hills all day. Very little wind E. cold. Cycled in the town + Shawpark and then out to Whitmuir to vaccinate Adan Neil’s baby.1 Neil + Black2 are being kept on at Whitmuirhall3 but Willie Cochrane4 has got his leave. Attended meeting of Hospital Commttee at which the question of payment of officials for Gala cases came up, + was carried by 5 to 2. Addressed labels for parcels of clothing being sent to Glasgow for Eastern refugees.5 Helen6 + Nancy7 cycled to Galashiels to call for Mrs Douglas Brown.8
1 Jane Elliot Scott Neil, later Parsonage (1923-2013), daughter of Adam Grey Neil, forester and joiner, and Christina Neil née Scott who had married 4 April 1919 at Oxnam., The family was at Whitmuir, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/333, Selkirk County, page 333 of 611 and 1921 Census].
2 John Black (about 1859-), gamekeeper, inhabitant occupier not rated at Whitmuirhall Old Tollhouse, Selkirk [1921 Valuation, VR011700009-/333, Selkirk County, page 333 of 611]; he married, 1888, Selkirk, Jessie Black née Cochrane and they lived at Whitmuir Toll with their daughters Agnes and Kate [1921 Census].
3 It seems that change was afoot at Whitmuirhall, Selkirk after the death in 1922 of Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), merchant (stuff dealer), aged 76, buried Ashkirk Parish Churchyard [death 1922, 778/ 43, Selkirk].
4 William Cochrane (about 1873-), gardener, was at Whitmuir Hall gardener cottage [sic] with his wife Janet Austin Cochrane née Mair (1883-1960) and daughter Janet Austin Cochrane (1918-) [1921 Census].
5 The Editor assumes that this refers to the 1921–1923 famine in Ukraine where international relief organisations operated into the summer of 1923 (refugees from the Turkish-Greek conflict of 1919-1923 mostly sought protection within that area).
6 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
7 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
8 Margaret Meikle ‘Peggy’ Brown née Donald (1885-1960), a nurse of 2 Melville Street, Edinburgh who had married James Douglas Brown, Lieutenant K.O.S.B., attached R.A.F. and at that time “currently with the British Expeditionary Force” (Statutory registers marriage 17 September 1918 at Ashwood, Galashiels, 775/ 50).
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 