16 October 1923 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

Fine morning : wet afternoon N. + S.W. Calm : glass rising : saw some 3 or 4 cases walking : Wrote letter to Barbara Peddie¹ in answer to her enquiry as to the most suitable place for portrait of her Grandfather Thomas Anderson.² Dined at Shawpark³ with Mrs Mack⁴ + Mrs Simpson⁵ + after dinner had to go down to Ettrick Mill Cottages to see Robert Ballantyne.⁶ Harrietson [sic] Murray⁷ to have his ear syringed. Took Pollok⁸ back his book ‘How to be Useful & Happy from 60-90’.⁹

¹ Barbara Smith Peddie (about 1848-1946), daughter of Clara Elizabeth Sibbald Peddie née Anderson (about 1822-1903) and granddaughter of Thomas Anderson (about 1787-1850), surgeon, and Margaret Anderson née Scott. In 1921 she was recorded living at Blair Atholl with her sister Margaret Scott Peddie (about 1845-1924). Margaret died in 1924 in Lincolnshire (but was still recorded as of “Ard Coille, Blair Atholl) and at some time thereafter Barbara appears to have moved to Sussex. It is conceivable that this move is what prompted thoughts as to the final destination of her grandfather’s portrait. Incidentally Barbara was an artist herself and on 31 May 1917 Dr Muir had noted “Tom Anderson gave me a nice painting of Ferniehirst Castle by Barbara Peddie & a Steeple Chase picture.”

² The Editor has been able to identify neither the picture, nor its ultimate destination.

³ Shawpark, Selkirk, home of John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), a retired civil engineer.

⁴ Dr Muir’s generous friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁵ Margaret ‘Maggie’ Simpson née Watson (1857-1939), sister of Mrs Agnes Mackintosh née Watson.

⁶ Robert Ballantyne cannot readily be identified.

⁷ Assume Harry James Murray (1910-), son of John Murray and Helen Murray née Edwards, living at 17 Goslaw Green, Selkirk, in 1921.

⁸ John Pollok (1858-1938), sometime Town Clerk, Procurator Fiscal, and Clerk to the Property & Income Tax Commissioners.

⁹ Smith, Arthur Lapthorn, ‘How to be useful and happy from sixty to ninety’, London, 1922.

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