4 December 1922 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

There was a little sunshine in the forenoon but it clouded over. Damp + mild. Was called out before breakfast to Tom Murray, Rosemount.¹ He died in the forenoon of Fibre Sarcoma of liver. Dav.² did laparotomy on him about three weeks ago.³ I motored to Woll Rigg. Took one of the stitches out of Dewar’s hand.⁴ Mousey⁵ cycled to Melrose to tell Mrs Kennedy⁶ about a servant. Nancy⁷ called to say there was measles at Louisa’s School + she is to be quarantined.⁸ Letter from Jean rather sad.⁹

¹ Thomas Murray (1866-1922), woollen pattern weaver, of 3 Tower Terrace, Selkirk, died December 1922, at 26 Hillside Terrace, Selkirk, the home of John Murray, cycle engineer; Thomas was the son of John Murray, millwright, later engineer, and Barbara Murray nee Inglis, married 1865, Selkirk. aged 56, of Fibro Sarcoma of liver 2 months as certified by John S Muir [1922 Statutory registers Deaths 778/ 88]. In 1911 he was head of household at 3 Tower Terrace, Selkirk with his mother aet 70 and sisters Lizzie 40 and Maggie 30.

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

³ See diary entry for 6 November 1922.

⁴ William Dewar, manager, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house known as Wollrig, Ashkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/355, Selkirk County, page 355 of 611].

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁶ Assume Mary Balfour Kennedy née Alison (1889-1978), wife of William Nicol Watson Kennedy, medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire circa 1921 but by June 1921 recorded in a similar role in Croydon, Surrey (1921 Census taken 19 June 1921).

⁷ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and wife of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior.

⁸ Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), daughter of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir.

⁹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, widowed in late 1921.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]