It has been decided to post occasional extracts from Dr Muir’s diaries for other years; the following is from 1913, the current focus for transcription in addition to 1921.
Continuous fall of fine snow. Much calmer: N.E. by E. [wind]. Fresh. There are quite 6 or 7 in[ches] of undrifted snow. Took the Mocar1 in case of drifts but there were none up Yarrow. Walked down to Ross2, Viewfield Park + Wellwood where Baptie3 picked me up + I went via Heath..ly to Yarrowford to see Jas. Hewie4 + back by Buccleuch Road to Bridgelands where I saw Geo. + Hilda5. Was in house after two. Sent away Factory + P.O. Reports6 + arranged accounts. Wrote Croom7 about Dora8. Wrote L + B9 re Robert Blyth10 + Mrs Sprot regretting inability to attend Coo’s wedding11 on Feb 3rd. Nancy12 came to supper.
1 The Mo-Car Syndicate, which became the Arrol-Johnston Car Company Ltd. from 1905, was a joint venture between George Johnston, locomotive engineer, Sir William Arrol MP, engineer and others (and later William Beardmore) and produced a ‘dogcart’ with transverse seats back-to-back; it may have been the Mo-car’s larger wheels in particular that appealed to Dr Muir for this snowy journey
2 Sinclair Ross (about 1870-1948), Caithness born solicitor, was long-time proprietor at Glenlora, Viewfield Park, Selkirk [Valuation Rolls]
3 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir
4 James Hewie, retired sub-postmaster, and his wife Jane ‘Jeanie’ Gray were Tenant Occupiers of a house at Yarrowford, Yarrow, 1921 Valuation Roll
5 George Frederick Eck Rodger (1873-1956) and Hilda Rodger née Seebohm (1874-1961), married December Quarter 1903, Bucklow, Cheshire, Registration District 8a 298; he was sometime proprietor of Bridgelands, Selkirk but more probably visiting at this date
6 The Editor assumes this refers to Dr Muir’s roles as Medical Officer for Selkirk Burgh and Prison
7 Assume John Halliday Croom (1847-1923), FRSE PRCPE PRCSE, Scottish surgeon and medical author, who in 1905 succeeded Sir Alexander Russell Simpson to the Edinburgh University chair of midwifery; the originator of clinical teaching in the Maternity Hospital he also ran a private general and gynaecological practice [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb133-mmm/mmm/21/3 and Wikipedia]
8 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter
9 It is not immediately clear to whom Dr Muir would have been writing in relation to the death of Robert Blyth, see footnote 10
10 Robert Blyth, basket maker, had died 29 December 1912, aged 46, at the Combination Poorhouse, Galashiels; his death was certified by Henry Drummond Robb (1883-1970), M.D. who was Dr Muir’s locum around this time
11 Gertrude Gladys Violet Sprot (1888-1966), born Riddell, Lilliesleaf, daughter of Lieutenant-General John Sprot and Charlotte Gertrude Sprot née Cole, married Edward Arthur Wienholt (d.1927) March Quarter 1913 at St George Hanover Square 1a 878
12 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 