My 76th birthday + I am feeling as fit as ever! I came up the “Stey Brae”1 in the afternoon like a hare!! Letters from Jean3, Mary4, Guy5 + Barbara5: a box of Shortbread from the Patons6: stockings + chocs from Mrs Mack7 who, kind lady, appeared at night with a bottle of Champagne, sandwiches + biscuits. Jack + Nancy8 also turned up + they drank my health. I have much + far more than I deserve to be thankful for. Tom Roberts9 was buried today but I couldn’t go. I saw a town list of 16 walking + then motored to Bridge Street (lunacy case, Peacock10) + out to Henhouse. S.E. [wind].
1 Stey Brae, named “Sta Brae” on historic Ordnance Survey 25 inch sheets, runs from The Valley (formerly Backsides), initially alongside the wall of the site of the old West United Presbyterian Church and Baptist Chapel (Canmore ID 231637, grid reference NGR NT468,285), and on downhill to Mill Street
2 Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter
3 Assume Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister
4 Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother
5 Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest grandchild
6 Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census], living at Galashiels since May 1918
7 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk
8 John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, Dr Muir’s son-in-law, Nancy
9 Thomas James Scougal ‘Tom’ Roberts (about 1850-1921), son of George Roberts (c.1798-1877), tweed manufacturer, and Agnes Scott Roberts née Fowler; sometime of Byethorn, Selkirk and Drygrange, Melrose, he died 3 February 1921 at Edinburgh and the Scotland, National Probate Index (Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories) notes that Roberts left estate valued at £253,246
10 It is not clear which individual might be referred to but George Peacock, weaver, was Tenant Occupier of a house and garden at 1a Bridge Street, Selkirk [1913 Valuation Roll, VR011700008-/538, Selkirk County, page 538 of 617]; George, his wife Margaret Symington and their five children were also at Bridge Street on the 1911 Census [marriage, 1881, 793/ 28, Kelso and 1911 Census, 778/11/ 9, page 9 of 21]
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 