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

I was called out at 12.30 to attend an illigit. primip. in Curror Street = Jemima Story.¹ She was better at 1.45 + I got back to bed at 3. It was a pitch dark night + raining. I didn’t breakfast till after 9. It rained all forenoon with a S.W. gale but faired after + was fine. Motored to Rockville² +c, Halliday’s Park + Faldonside. Jessie Boyd³ better. In afternoon paid Jas. Johnston⁴ for making my new suit = £3. 12. 0. Letter from Helen + P.C. [postcard] of Arundel Castle.⁵ Agnes Farquharson⁶ gave me a present of a book she once translated from the Dutch + Pollok⁷ lent me.

¹ Joan Scott Storie, born 21 August 1923 at 30 Curror Street, Selkirk, the daughter of Jemima Storie, woollen darner.

² Robert Currie, junior (about 1847-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer, the fourth of five generations at Selkirk with the given name Robert. Son of Robert Currie, hosiery manufacturer, and Mary Little; he married Mary Murray at Selkirk 18 December 1868 and lived at Rockville, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk.

³ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener, daughter of William Brack Boyd (1831-1918) and Elizabeth ‘Jessie’ Boyd née Wilson, married 1 July 1862 at Morebattle.

⁴ James Johnston(e) is so far unidentified.

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, appears to have extended her holiday in the south of England well into August and has presumably had a run to Arundel in the South Downs.

⁶ Even though two additional facts are known, that she was called Agnes and had translated a book from the Dutch, Mrs Farquharson remains unidentified (and bearing in mind Dr Muir’s tendency to call women he knew before they married by their maiden names, she may not even be Mrs Farquharson).

⁷ Based on the sense of familiarity in Dr Muir’s reference, the best guess is that this is John Pollok (1858-1938), Selkirk’s Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.

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