14 August 1923 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

I had an awful night of Colicky dyspepsia + felt pretty seedy all day. Fortunately I had almost nothing to do. I banked some money. Called for Mrs Wilson¹, at least I met her on my way + walked up to the house with her, + then I cycled down to Faldonside + called for Jessie Boyd.² Ailie³ + Emma⁴ were there. Took very little breakfast + lunch. Called for Mrs Farquharson.⁵ Got letters from Helen⁶, Jean⁷ + Gerty⁸, the latter offering a visit on 27th : Baptie⁹ went for his holiday. Nice warm day.

¹ Mrs Wilson might just be Violet Ballantyne née Wilson of Eastfield, Bowden, whom Dr Muir had seen the evening before.

² Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), daughter of William Brack Boyd (1831-1918) and Elizabeth ‘Jessie’ Boyd née Wilson, married 1 July 1862 at Morebattle. Jessie was later of Faldonside, a plantswoman and gardener. Born 1867, baptised 20 Oct 1867 at Chatton, Glendale, Northumberland, died 21 May 1961, aged 93, at Selkirk, Selkirkshire.

³ Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson or Boyd-Wilson, later Milne (1890-1955), born Alie Brack Boyd-Wilson, Sep Quarter 1890, Blean, Kent, 2a 809; sometimes officially recorded as Alice but correctly recorded on the 1911 Census when she, her mother Mary Ethel and sister Dawn were at Elwyn Road, Exmouth, Devon; changed her name to Ailie Brack Boyd Wilson Milne, 25 June 1920 [London Gazette, 30 November 1920]; died March Quarter 1955, aged 64, Hendon 5e 628.

⁴ Emma Mary Brack Boyd (1865-1949), Jessie Brack Boyd’s sister.

⁵ Mrs Farquharson is so far unidentified.

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁷ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter.

⁸ Probably Margaret Douglas ‘Gerty’ Ord Gillan, née Mackenzie (1891-1973), daughter of Montague Allan Ord Mackenzie and Frances Gordon ‘Fanny’ Ord Mackenzie Rennie, but it is unwise to ignore the possibility that it is Gertrude Isabella ‘Gerty’ Craig Brown (1873-1965), Red Cross VAD with over 1000 hours’ service, 1914-about 1919 [‘Selkirkshire V.A.D.s.’, the Southern Reporter, 6 April 1922]; daughter of Thomas Craig Brown and sister of Clive.

⁹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]