There was heavy rain at 4 a.m + there were pools on the road when we started. James Freer died this morning at 9.301. Rose at 5.30 + as it looked wet motored to Ettrick P.O. [Post Office] to see Miss Brunton2. Baptie was going off for part of his holidays so I wanted to get back early. Went up in 57 minutes + came back in less. Called at Oakwood for Lilly’s child3. I wasn’t long back till D. [David Graham] was sent for to Ettrick Shaws. After he came back [I] assisted him at 10.30 to remove tonsils from child Davidson, Deloraine. Cycled to Yair + Fairnilea. Helen [Muir] + I dined at Elmpark + returned with a bottle of Port + one of whisky + 2 jars of pickles + a box of Turkish Delight. It was Mrs Mackintosh’s 60th birthday4.
1 James Freer, butcher, aged 24, died 4 June 1919 at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Selkirk, usual residence 4 Anderson Road, Selkirk, of “General Septicaemia 16 days”, certified by Dr J S Muir M.B.; he was the son of Adam Freer, tailor, and Isabella Freer née Hogg
2 Jane Brunton was the postmistress at Ramsaycleuch, Ettrick [Source: Valuation Roll, 1919]
3 See diary entry for 2 June 1919
4 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), Born Agnes Watson, daughter of daughter of Sir John Watson, 1st Baronet and Agnes Watson née Simpson; she married 1stly, Ebenezer Erskine Harper and 2ndly Andrew Macandrew Mackintosh (d.1917); she was therefore widowed for the second time by 1919
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]
