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

The Barometer rose very slowly + reached 28.5. There was more wind today + a good deal of rain in the afternoon but only a little earlier. I was called out at breakfast to see a child Emond in Tower Street¹ who had been knocked down by a car but had only a bruised knee. Cycled to Curror Street + then to Haining Henhouse (John junior²) + on through Riddell to Miss Fraser, Sprot Homes.³ Found messages to Sandy Ingles⁴ (pleurodynia) + Miss Hutchison, Fastheugh⁵ (possibly senile gangrene). How the trees have grown in Black Andro since I was there last.⁶ Letters from Barbara⁷ + Mary.⁸

¹ This child is unidentified.

² John Laidlaw junior (1904-), bank clerk, son of John Laidlaw, sawmiller, and Agnes Laidlaw née Taylor. The entire family was recorded at Henhouse, Haining, Selkirk in the 1921 Census.

³ The Editor cannot find any evidence of a Miss Fraser at the Sprot Homes, Lilliesleaf.

⁴ Either Alexander Ingles (about 1849-), retired postman, recorded at Forest Road, Selkirk or Alexander Charles Scott Ingles (1866-), recorded at Easter Kershope, Yarrow, a cashier and bookkeeper for D.C. & C. Alexander, solicitors [both 1921 Census].

⁵ Assume Elizabeth Hutchison (about 1832-), sister of Thomas Hutchison (about 1848-), estate manager, recorded at Hangingshaw Cottage, 1921 Census, which must mean the inconsistency sits with the Census, because Dr Muir and the 1920s Valuation Rolls are consistent in linking Thomas Hutchison with Fastheugh. The property is at the west end of Black Andrew woods on the south side of the Yarrow Water, see Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.NW, published 1900.

⁶ Dr Muir must mean that it was a while since he travelled deep into the woods because he must have passed them frequently heading up to Yarrow.

⁷ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), daughter of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir. Aged 21 she had left on 4 October 1923 for what turned out to be a new life in New Zealand.

⁸ Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister, widow of James Wallace (d.1922), and living at Scotstoune, Haslemere, Surrey.

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