Author: rumblingclint

Dryding [sic] N.W. wind rising to a gale at night with some rain. Fair all day + roads drying. Did not get out till 11. Called cycling for Mrs Lawson, Knowepark¹ (who injured her shoulder + has been laid up in Glasgow for 8 weeks), Dandswall², Hospital, Forest Road, Firs³, Broadmeadows, Newark Mill + Heatherly. Got home at 4 rather tired having had nothing since breakfast. The girls⁴ all went to a concert given by a Ladies orchestra.⁵ Nancy + Jack⁶, Fairy + Charles⁷ + Ivey [sic] Mitchell⁸ went with them. Wrote a lot of letters both this morning + at night. I had to walk down to [word deleted] Waldie, Ettrickhaugh Road late to see the baby.⁹

¹ Cecil Lawson née Mackinley (about 1827-1922), widow of John Lawson (about 1825-1898). She was Proprietor Occupier of a house and garden ‘Knowe Park’, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk, 1903 Valuation Roll, VR007900008-/87, Selkirk Burgh, page 87 of 440.

² Members of the Roberts family were at Dandswall, Scott’s Place, Selkirk around the turn of the 19th Century and were succeeded there by the Thorburn family.

³ A baby, David Anderson Smith, had been born the day before at the Firs, Selkirk.

⁴ Assume Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), three of Dr Muir’s four daughters.

⁵ This orchestra is so far unidentified.

⁶ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and her husband John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966).

⁷ Euphemia Cranston ‘Fairy’ Roberts née Greenwood (1877-1916) and Charles Henry Roberts (1877-), tweed manufacturer.

⁸ Ivey Mitchell is so far unidentified.

⁹ A baby, Jeannie Gray Waldie, was born 10 January 1904 at Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Mild [word deleted] day with some sun in forenoon + very pleasant. Glass very low. In afternoon it blew a gale from S.S.W. + rained very heavily after 4. Met H [?] M Hendry¹ at Pollok’s office² with Sim³ + tried to arrange matters. He was very intractable at first but latterly was more reasonable.⁴ Saw town cases walking before lunch + got wires to Faldonside (Betty Clarkson⁵) + Broadmeadows (John Rutherford⁶) after lunch cycled to Faldonside, Broadmeadows. Had tea at house + saw Mrs Law. Got very wet coming down + was interrupted for Mrs Clapperton, Forest Road, who had a d.⁶ at 7.20 after which I attended Mrs Smith, The Firs, who had a s.⁷ at 8.45. Got home at 11.

¹ The Editor cannot find anyone called Hendry in Selkirkshire at the time.

² John Pollok (1858-1938), Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.

³ Robert Sim (1858-1936), tweed manufacturer, born at Stewarton, Ayrshire, living at Tweed Knowe House, Selkirk, 1901 Census and Valuation Rolls.

⁴ Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Clarkson (about 1828-1905), of private means, born Selkirk, living at The Cottages, Faldonside, Lindean, Galashiels, 1901 Census. Daughter of Robert Clarkson, gardener, and Helen Clarkson née Frater.

⁵ The Editor is not confident of the transcription of this name but in any case cannot find any possible matches in the 1901 Census or 1904-5 Valuation Roll.

⁶ Isabella Fairgrieve Clapperton, born 13 January 1904 at 23 Forest Road, Selkirk, the daughter of Robert Allan Clapperton, plasterer, and Sarah Welsh Clapperton née Linton. Her parents had married 18 January 1901 at Selkirk.

⁷ David Anderson Smith (1904-1976), born 13 January 1904 at The Firs, Selkirk, the son of Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute, and Alice Smith née Paterson (1863-1943). His parents had married 20 March 1890 at Restalrig Park, Leith.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Saw some town cases walking in forenoon + after lunch down to Clarilaw to see Marjory B.¹ who has again been very alcoholic. Was there a long time + had tea. It was quite dark when we left (Baptie² driving me with Macaulay³) + went via Bowden Moor, Darnick to Galashiels to Mrs Brydon, Abbotsford Road.⁴ It is certainly nearer than going by Lindean but owing to the darkness + not knowing the road we did not save any time.⁵

¹ Marjory Ballingall (1854-1914), daughter of George Ballingall (1881-1914), farmer. and Agnes née Brodie, all living at Clarilaw, Bowden, 1901 Census. In 1881 George was recorded as farmer “of 1,000 acres” at Clarilaw, Bowden. Marjory and her father died in 1915 and with Agnes’s death on Sunday 6 June 1915 the time of the Ballingalls in Roxburghshire came to an end (Ballingall is generally a Fife name).

² Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

³ Macaulay was one of Dr Muir’s horses, see diary entries for 11^th February 2024.

⁴ Isabella Brydon née Howie (about 1841-1904), the wife of Adam Brydon, farmer, lived at 21 Abbotsford Road, Galashiels, Selkirkshire.

⁵ After crossing Bowden Moor the party would have crossed the River Tweed after Darnick via the Melrose Bridge, then travelling into Galashiels along the road past Langlee House. This part of the route is visible on Ordnance Survey six inch Roxburghshire Sheet VII.NE, published 1899.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Was called up at 3 a.m. to see a groom at Philiphaugh + did not go back to bed. Eily¹ left this morning in a very unfriendly way. At breakfast she said she had never had such insolence as in this house + I felt impelled to say it was entirely her own fault which I am afraid did not help matters. She said goodbye to none of the girls + a very cold one to me. I regret the occurrence very much. It was a cold day with showers of sleety snow in the afternoon. I saw town cases walking in forenoon + then drove to Heatherly, Ettrickhaugh Road, Ettrick Bank, Yair, Caddonfoot, Sunderland Hall, Faldonside + Hospital. Got the sad news of the sudden death at 5 this morning of Tom Ainslie, Curling.² Was very tired at night with being up since 3 a.m. but had to go out at 9.45 to see Miss Lethem³ at Mrs Emond’s, Market Place.⁴

¹ Helen Turnbull ‘Eily’ Rodger (1844-1914), of Elmbank, Melrose, born 3 April 1844, Galashiels, died at Holylee House, Walkerburn, aged 71. She was the daughter of Peter Rodger, former town clerk of Selkirk, and Jane Rodger née Henderson, thus Dr Muir’s sister-in-law.

² Thomas Ainslie (1827-1904), farmer, widower of Agnes Simpson (d.1897), died 11 January 1904 at Curling, Bowden, Roxburghshire, aged 76, of bronchitis and heart disease certified by John S Muir M.B. +c. Thomas was born at Ancrum, the son of James Ainslie, farmer, and Isabella Ainslie née Brown.

³ Miss Lethem is so far unidentified.

⁴ Mrs Joan Emond née Duncan (about 1850-) of 10½ Market Place, Selkirk, the wife of John Emond, weaver.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Mrs W^m Waldie, Ettrickhaugh Road had a d.¹ at 12.15 a.m. + I got back to bed at 1.30 having been working since 6 yesterday morning. It was a heavy S.W. gale + rain during the night + today the river was in full flood. I lay in bed till 9.30. Opened an abscess in Walter Linton’s arm² + drove to Heatherly, Curror Street + Whitmuirhall whence I walked to Curling.³ Very cold wind + a few flakes of snow. Drove down to see Mrs Waldie after dinner. Went to evening service.

¹ Jeannie Gray Waldie, born 10 January 1904 at Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk, daughter of William Waldie, cashier in a woollen factory, and Maggie Gray Waldie née Gibson. The parents had married 30 December 1902 at Selkirk.

² Five individuals named Walter Linton are recorded in the 1901 Census for Selkirkshire and four in Selkirk alone.

³ Dr Muir must almost certainly have walked part of the way from Whitmuirhall, Selkirk to Curling, Bowden, on “the road to Jerusalem” as referred to in oral testimony from Walter Elliot and Mrs Wilma Gunn. Jerusalem Height (not labelled on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger Series) is above the 270m Contour Line at the covert known (and shown on 1:50,000 Landranger) as Sprot’s Bonnet. The whole area concerned may the seen on Ordnance Survey six inch Roxburghshire Sheet XIII.NE, published 1899, where Curling sits on the southern edge of the sheet.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Eily¹ very troublesome with the girls

Rose 6.15 breakfasted 7. Walked down to Curror Street to see Jas. Johnstone² + left at 9, Baptie³ driving me with Macaulay.⁴ In the town the roads were hard + as the glass [barometer] was rising I took my bicycle. Went to Hartwoodmyres + got off at the 10^th mile stone to cycle to Crook Cottage⁵. The roads were good but got softer as I went up. At Thirlestane⁶ I got a heavy sleety shower which continued to Cossar’s Hill.⁷ My knees were pretty wet. All the hills were white + the roads muddy. Mrs Johnstone worse + has slight peritonitis.⁸ Had good run down, wind being S.W. Called at Ramseycleuch Police Station.⁹ Got wire at Ettrickbridgend to go to Broadmeadows. Passed Baptie at Fauldshope Bridge.¹⁰ He had gone on to Gilmanscleuch + stayed there a while. At Broadmeadows saw Mrs Hamilton’s youngest child¹¹ + Mrs Lang.¹² Got home at 4.30 + had to go to Faldonside (Betty Clarkson¹³) + Sunderland Hall (Murdoch¹⁴). I travelled about 56 miles of which I cycled 38. Was called out at 9.30 to Mrs William Waldie.¹⁵

¹ Helen Turnbull ‘Eily’ Rodger (1844-1914), of Elmbank, Melrose, born 3 April 1844, Galashiels, died at Holylee House, Walkerburn, aged 71. She was the daughter of Peter Rodger, former town clerk of Selkirk, and Jane Rodger née Henderson, thus Dr Muir’s sister-in-law.

² James Johnstone (1883-), son of Ebenezer Young Johnstone (about 1843-1914), weaver, and Hannah Johnstone née Redpath and brother of Mary Ritchie (1876-), Hannah Guthrie (1878-), William Redpath (1881-), George (1885-), Ebenezer (1889-), Margaret Jane (1893-) and Charles (1896-). In 1901 they were recorded at 2a Curror Street, Selkirk.

³ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

⁴ Macaulay was one of Dr Muir’s horses, see diary entries for 11^th February 2024.

⁵ Crook Cottage, Overkirkhope, Ettrick.

⁶ Thirlestane, Ettrick, visible on Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XVIII.NW, published 1900.

⁷ Cossarshill, Ettrick.

⁸ Assume James Johnstone (1880-), at Crook Cottage, Overkirkhope, Ettrick, son of William and Mary Johnstone née Hewitson, married 13 September 1869 at Gretna.

⁹ Ramseycleuch Police Station, grid reference NT277,147, visible on Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XVIII.SW, published 1900.

¹⁰ Fauldshope Bridge, Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT417,253.

¹¹ Mrs Anna Gertrude Montgomerie Hamilton née Lang (1864-), born Largs, Ayrshire, daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham. with her children Edward William Hamilton (1893-), Margaret Graham Hamilton (1895-), Katharina (about 1900), and Winifred Anna Hamilton (1905-).

¹² Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), of Broadmeadows, daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham.

¹³ Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Clarkson (about 1828-1905), of private means, born Selkirk, living at The Cottages, Faldonside, Lindean, Galashiels, 1901 Census. Daughter of Robert Clarkson, gardener, and Helen Clarkson née Frater.

¹⁴ Thomas Murdoch, groom and Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Sunderland Hall Stables, Selkirk [1904 Valuation Rolls].

¹⁵ Jeannie Gray Waldie, born 10 January 1904 at Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk, daughter of William Waldie, cashier in a woollen factory, and Maggie Gray Waldie née Gibson. The parents had married 30 December 1902 at Selkirk..

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Much clearer day with sharp S.W. wind: river full. Inclined to frost + some hoar frost in shady places. Wire¹ to Crook Cottage.² Messages to D.C.A., Thirladean³ + Murdoch, Sunderland Hall.⁴ Drove to Heatherly, Thirladean, Dye Works⁵, Sunderland Hall, Bridgelands + Broomhill. + after to Newhouse + Almshouses.⁶

¹ The electrical telegraph was pretty well developed by 1923 but it is a sign of the relatively slow adoption of private telephones that Dr Muir is still getting ‘wires’ as a local form of communication.

² Crook Cottage, Overkirkhope, Ettrick.

³ David Carnegie Alexander, ‘Carnegie Alexander’ or ‘D.C.A.’ (1856-1928), solicitor;. He was the son of David Carnegie Alexander (about 1820-1881), solicitor, and Margaret Scott Alexander née Anderson. He had married 1899 at Edinburgh, Jane Florence Turnbull and they lived at Thirladean, Selkirk.

⁴ Thomas Murdoch, groom and Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Sunderland Hall Stables, Selkirk [1904 Valuation Rolls].

⁵ Assume Selkirk Dyeworks, on the opposite side of the railway from Tweed Mills, both sitting between Dunsdale Road and Ettrick Water, see Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XII.NW, published 1900.

⁶ Newhouse, Lilliesleaf, grid reference NGR NT522,235, Ordnance Survey six inch Roxburghshire Sheet XIII.SE, published 1899 and, the Editor assumes, the almshouses at Lilliesleaf.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Had a nice shoot at Philiphaugh. Rose 5.30 + wrote some letters + did day book. Drove round by Curror Street to see a son of Eben[ezer] Johnstone¹ + got to Philiphaugh at 9.40. All the guns but Mr S.² had gone to Harehead³ + I waited till they came to the back of the house. It began to rain shortly after + it was wet all day but not windy. There were fewer birds than usual in the Stable bank + [illegible]. We lunched in the shed near the duck pond + then did Beechwood strip (also very disappointing) + finished at Corbie Cottage from whence I walked home. There were 8 guns⁴ = R J Lang, Leadbetter, J Scott, Mr Smith, Sam, Mr Hamilton + Mr Steel. The bag was 71 pheasants, 24 rabbits, 10 hares + a woodcock. I got 9 pheasants, 2 hares + 2 rabbits, almost exactly my share of the bag but then I missed Harehead. I had to go to Caddonfoot after getting home.

¹ Ebenezer Young Johnstone (about 1843-1914), weaver, born Galashiels.

² William Strang Steel (1832-1911), D.L., J.P., retired merchant, of Philiphaugh.

³ The whole shoot is covered by Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.NE, published 1901, with Philiphaugh visible not far from General’s Bridge, Broadmeadows and Harehead to its N.N.W., Stable Bank due east, and Corby Cottage, on Corby Linn, to its N.E.

⁴ The Editor can confidently identify only William Strang Steel (above), Samuel Strang ‘Sam’ Steel (1882-1961), his son, and Robert James Lang (1856-1914), son of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900) and Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914) of Broadmeadows; though Mr Smith may be Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute, sometime of The Firs, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Another dull day + wind from S.W. rather colder but mist not dense. No appearance of frost. Saw some town cases in forenoon + consulted Pollok¹ about Hendry’s letter² + also about my duties in connection with [illegible text] + places. Then drove down to Bridgelands to see Geo. Rodger.³ After lunch drove to Hartwoodmyres. Nancy dined with us, Jack being in London.⁴

¹ John Pollok (1858-1938), Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal, living at Broomhill, Selkirk, at this time.

² Hendry had asked Dr Muir to reimburse him £8 for medical fees, see 5 January 1904 diary entry.

³ George Rodger (about 1843-1910) or perhaps his eldest son George Frederick Eck Rodger (1873-1956).

⁴ Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) wife of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), married in 1901 at Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

A terrible day of thick wet fog quite different from yesterday when it lay chiefly in the valleys + one got above it on the heights. Roads muddier too. Drove in forenoon to Hartwoodmyres, Synton + Haining Rigg. Cook¹ came in from Eastlands to tell me his aunt was dead² + shortly after they ‘Phoned from Synton for Mrs Warwick³ who had got some glass in her foot. After lunch I drove to [illegible], Caddonfoot, Bridgelands, Hospital. Got a letter from Hendry⁴ who was ill at Henderson’s, Forest Road⁵, demanding £8 from me on the grounds that I had misrepresented his case.

¹ The Editor cannot identify this individual at Eastlands, presumably at Galashiels.

² The Editor cannot identify this individual.

³ Mrs Warwick is so far unidentified.

⁴ In the 1901 Census Return the Henderson household of Rowan Cottage, Forest Road, Selkirk comprised Margaret Henderson née Marshall, aged 76, and Elizabeth Henderson, 45, and Isabella Henderson, 26, her daughters and Marion Henderson, 16, claimed as a daughter in the 1901 Census Return but as a granddaughter in the 1891 Return. Margaret was the widow of Daniel Henderson (about 1825-1899), blacksmith.

⁵ The Editor will check the 1903 diary in case it is possible to find this case.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]