Author: rumblingclint

It had rained during the night but kept fair till midday after which it rained continuously with a strong S.W. wind. It is most melancholy weather. I motored to Riddell West Lodge and Lilliesleaf (old Leitch¹ with Epistaxis²) + then from Chester Knowe³ walked to Curling + Whitmuihall getting there fortunately before the rain came on. Jean⁴ left at 2.39. She took a lot of flowers with her.⁵ I saw one or two town cases. Got letter from Helen⁶ who says she will not be later of getting home than October 9^th!

¹ George Leitch (about 1840-1924), ploughman (presumably retired), supposedly born Smailholm, Roxburghshire, was recorded at Ashybank, Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire living with his daughter Isabella Scott Leitch.

² Nose bleed.

³ The Editor assumes that this refers to Chesterknowes, Bowden, Roxburghshire.

⁴ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter, living in Edinburgh.

⁵ Presumably from Dr Muir’s garden..

⁶ Helen Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, was evidently still away, presumably at Haslemere in Surrey, having travelled to there with Dr Muir on 16th July.

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

A dry sunny but cold day N.W. – S.W. Cycled to Hospital + Pinegrove. Went to morning service. Heard Ross¹ fairly well. Jean² didn’t go to Church. There were no messages. Mrs Mack³, Major + Mrs Charles⁴ called after church. Read parts of + finished Agnes Logan’s book.⁵ Found it most interesting + it recalled incidents of my boyhood which I had forgotten. Jean played some hymns for me at night.

¹ The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister, who moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter, living in Edinburgh.

³ Dr Muir’s generous friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946) of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁴ Major and Mrs Charles are so far unidentified.

⁵ The Editor has been unable to identify Agnes Logan’s book.

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

Lovely forenoon though wind cold : heavy showers in afternoon but fine again. David¹ was away shooting with Dees² + Charlie Roberts³ about Hume. I cycled to Eastfield + then via Kippilaw + Cavers Carre by the footbridge to Bewlie Mains + home by Lilliesleaf + Greenhill.⁴ I haven’t been across Salters Ford⁵ for many years. Had to go down to Pinegrove⁶ after lunch. About 9.45 I had to go to Whitmuirhall Toll with Fowler⁷ to see a tramp who had been knocked down by a lad on a bicycle. The tramp was very drunk + was cut about the face + ears. The boy – Nicolson from Bowden⁸ – had a black eye + slight concussion. I couldn’t go down to meet Jean⁹ who had come by the last train.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² Assume Robert Irwin ‘Robber’ Dees (1872-1923), landed proprietor, formerly a marine engineer, son of James William Dees and Eliza Jane Irwin. He controversially inherited a substantial legacy and then moved his family from Newcastle to Faldonside to enjoy its new wealth.

³ Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), born New Zealand, tweed manufacturer, at Mauldsheugh, Selkirk, 1911 Census, ‘manufacturer’, at Thornfield, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk, 1921 Census and 1919 and 1922 Valuation Rolls [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/260, Selkirk Burgh, page 260 of 644].

⁴ Eastfield, grid reference NGR NT540,289, Kippielaw, area of NT548,289, Bewlie Mains, NT551,254, and Cavers Carre, area of NT551,268, see all locations on Ordnance Survey six inch Roxburghshire Sheet XIV, published 1863.

⁵ Salters Ford footbridge crosses the Ale Water at grid reference NT558,263, see Ordnance Survey six inch Roxburghshire Sheet XIV, published 1863.

⁶ Perhaps to see the Laurie family (George Laurie, woollen mill engineman, Elizabeth Jane Douglas Laurie née King and baby John Laurie, born October 1922) at Pinegrove, Selkirk.

⁷ William Fowler (about 1863-1933), Public Assistance Officer, Inspector of Poor and Registrar at Selkirk.

⁸ The best fit is William Dodds Nicholson (1905-), son of Gideon Nicholson, carter, and Isabella Nicolson née Jamieson. They were all living in Bowden Village Street at the time of the 1921 Census. Sources include: 1921 Census 783/ 1/ 4 Bowden, Roxburgh and birth Nicholson, William Dodd, 1905 783 / 11 Bowden.

⁹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter, living in Edinburgh.

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

Everything was wet this morning as if it had rained all night but the mist was gone + it turned out a fine day but still cold + the glass low. Gave Nancy Waters¹ Chlor[oform] + extracted a lot of her first teeth. Nurse Beck² helped me. Cycled round town + finished all I had to do by 12. Did some work at record cards in afternoon. Wrote Mary.³ Also Jean⁴ who proposes coming out tomorrow night.

¹ Nancy Lilian Waters (1917-), daughter of John Alexander Waters (1879-1991), butcher, Agnes Watson Robertson, married October 1904 at Musselburgh.

² Elizabeth Fyfe Beck (1865-1954), nurse, born Dumfriesshire, died Ceres, Fife. The Southern Reporter, 10 August 1916, describes her as a District Nurse at Selkirk before she was released to take up military nursing.

³ Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister, widow of James Wallace (d.1922), and living at Scotstoune, Haslemere, Surrey.

⁴ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter, living in Edinburgh.

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

A dismal day of fog + continuous rain but quite calm. Very depressing. Had a confinement Mrs Dodds (Crissie Hope), Hill Street.¹ Was called out before breakfast + went back + found that the child came in my absence.² She required a couple of stitches. Called for Boylan³ Was not out after lunch till night when I saw Waters the butcher⁴ a second time. Got a letter from Kate MacDonald saying she would be glad to put me up.⁵

¹ Christina Dodds née Mathieson, wife of John Peacock Dodds, butcher, married 26 June 1919.

² Euphemia McBeth Dodds, born 13 September 1923 at 14 Hill Street, Selkirk.

³ Dr Muir had been attending Shawpark, Selkirk from time to time to see John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), a civil engineer, who had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

⁴ John Alexander Waters (1879-1991), butcher, at 42a High Street and with a slaughterhouse at Ladylands, Selkirk. Born Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, he was married to Agnes Watson Robertson (1882-1971) and had a son Henry Robertson ‘Harry’ Waters (1905-), an apprentice engineer working for Geo. Burns & Sons of Galashiels 1921 Census].

⁵ Catherine Isabella ‘Kate’ Macdonald [or McDonald] née Paton (about 1862-1932), widow of James Cumming Raff Macdonald [or McDonald] (1859-1921), writer, of Symons & Macdonald, 84 Irish Street, Dumfries. Dr Muir had stayed with the couple when he cycled to Dumfries on 18 September 1918.

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

On Jessie Boyd’s invitation¹ I went with the B. N. Club to Glendearg.² Jessie hired from Bryson³ + I went down to Faldonside in the Dodge + picked up Jessie, Ailie⁴, Emma⁵ + the Rev. Aitken of Ayton.⁶ It went to Gattonside Bridge + on to Glendearg where we inspected the 3 towers, Hillslap at Glendearg, Colmslie + Langshaw.⁷ Then we went via Bluecairn to Carolside + saw through the garden + home to Faldonside for tea. Spoke to Shirra Gibb.⁸ It was a dry day but windy + rather cold. There would be about 100 there. Got letter from Dora ⁹ + sent it on to Helen¹⁰

¹ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, herself a plantswoman and gardener, whose father Mr William Boyd of Faldonside apparently “well upheld the botanical tradition of the Club.” [Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists Society]

² Berwickshire Naturalists Club. Their trip to Glendearg was recorded in Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists Society, Volume XXV. 43, 1923.

³ Bryson’s motor dealership at Selkirk offered hire cars.

⁴ 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.

⁵ Assume Emma Mary Brack Boyd (1865-1949), born March Quarter 1865, Glendale, Northumberland, later lived at Alfriston, Sussex and died 16 May 1949 at Eastbourne, Sussex.

⁶ The Reverend James John Lang Aiken (1857-1933), Church of Scotland minister, son of James Aiken junior, shipbuilder, and Ann Isabella Aiken née Reid. Born Ruby Cottage, Silver Street, Aberdeen, he passed M.A., Aberdeen 1877 and B.D., Edinburgh 1880 and was licened by the Presbytery of Edinburgh in 1880. After time as a private tutor he was appointed assistant at Angle Park Chapel, afterwards St Michael’s, Edinburgh, and ordained at Ayton, Berwickshire on 30 November 1882. During his time at Ayton he was the Hon. Secretary of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club, 1903 and was Editor of the Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club from the same date [sources include Statutory BMDs and Fasti Ecclesiæ scoticanæ Vol. 2].

⁷ Berwickshire Naturalists Club visited Hillslap Tower, Melrose, Canmore ID 55601, grid reference NGR NT51315,39375, Colmslie Tower, Melrose, Canmore ID 55594, grid reference NGR NT51336,39615, and Langshaw Tower, Canmore ID 55583, grid reference NGR NT51696,39769, all Melrose, Roxburghshire.

⁸ Assume Robert Shirra Gibb (1847-1924), M.B., C.M., D.P.H., medical practitioner and farmer, sometime Medical Officer of Health for Berwickshire. Author of ‘A Farmer’s Fifty Years in Lauderdale’, Oliver and Boyd, 1927. The son of George Shirra Gibb, landed proprietor, and Margaret Gibb née Turnbull, Robert Shirra Gibb married Christian Lockie on 20 October 1874 at Govan.

⁹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

¹⁰ Helen Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, was evidently still away, presumably at Haslemere in Surrey.

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

Dull, windy : cold : glass falling steadily + a little rain. Cycled to Wellwood¹ (Miss Wallace² who has her sister with her³), Bridgeheugh Mill +c. + up to Tinnis (Rob^t Brockie⁴). Message after lunch to Walt. Mein, Curling.⁵ Motored to Whitmuirhall. Walter had an attack of shingles. Got some mushrooms. Operation for append. on Jas. Cochrane⁶ at 5.30. David⁷ tells me the [name left blank] Bridgepark⁸ have asked him to attend again.

¹ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)..

² Miss Wallace was Jane Wallace (1874-), sometime nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren [see diary entries for 6 April 1915, 22 October 1916 and 7 April 1918 and 1911 Census]. She was born at Langbarns, Tongland, Kirkcudbrightshire. Neither Jane Wallace nor the Roberts family appear on the 1921 Census. The Editor’s suspicion is that a section of Ettrick Terrace has been missed off that Census transcript by ScotlandsPeople, because the Roberts family, in Selkirk at this time for the Common Riding (see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 17 June 1921, two days before Census night), has not been documented. However, the 1921 Census was delayed and by Sunday 19 June when it was finally taken, a good many people were on the move and as a result finding specific individuals in that year’s Census has proved challenging for researchers.

³ Assume Mary Wallace (1872-), Jame Wallace’s only sister, born 21 May 1872 at Langbarns, Tongland, Kirkcudbright, daughter of Robert Wallace and Jane Wallace née Sproat married 4 July 1871 at Borgue, Kirkcudbright.

⁴ Robert Brockie (1865-1930), ploughman, lived with his brother Thomas Brockie (1860-1929), woodman, at Tinnis Cottage, Yarrow, both born Fastheugh, Selkirk, the sons of John Brockie, shepherd, and Mary Brockie née Boa, married 1860 at Stow.

⁵ Walter Mein (1905-), born Billerwell, Hobkirk, the son of James Mein and Margaret ‘Maggie’ Mein nee Barrie, married 1898 at Denholm. James Mein was Tenant / Occupier of the Farm and House at Curling, Bowden, Roxburghshire in the 1922 Valuation Roll.

⁶ James Cochrane is so far unidentified.

⁷ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁸ There are two names, Mann and Russell, recorded at properties at Bridge Park, Old Bridge Road, Selkirk at around this time but without a name it is impossible to know which Dr David Graham is referring to.

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

Still coldish. N.W. wind but otherwise a fine day. Cycled round town + made 15 calls + then cycled to the Hartwoodburn¹ road + I walked across to Deepslade.² It was so sunny that I sat down behind a dyke out of the wind + had a cigarette. Had meeting of V.A.D. Committee³ at night to arrange for an outing. Decided to go to Hume Castle on 22^d. 30 members have announced their intention of continuing in the detachment.

¹ The road through Hartwoodburn, grid reference NGR NT471,267, runs across the south of Selkirk from Oakwood Mill to the A7 opposite Selkirk Common in a roughly E – W direction.

² Deepslaids, grid reference NGR NT485,268, on the south side of Selkirk Common.

³ Dr Muir was the Commandant of the Selkirkshire Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) during the First World War and must still have been so in 1923.

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

Variable day. A little rain in afternoon. Saw 3 cases before Church. Went to morning service in Victoria Hall.¹ Birkett² conducted the service. Scarcely heard a word he said. Was called down to see Tommy Murray, Mill Street³ who fell down stairs last night when drunk + broke a rib. Robert Currie, Rockville buried today.⁴ I did not go but had the fluids drawn + [illegible] + sent my card + condolences.

¹ At a meeting of the Session it had been decided to worship at the Victoria Hall for the five to seven weeks it was going to take for the church to be painted, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 19 August 1923.

² The Reverend Robert Birkett (1846-1937), Free Church Minister at Ettrick had undertaken a swap with the Reverend Andrew Ross at Selkirk, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 8 September 1923.

³ Thomas ‘Tommy’ Murray (1856-1934), retired general porter, widowed, lived at 35 Mill Street, Selkirk.

⁴ Robert Currie junior (about 1847-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer, had died on 6 September 1923, death certified by D Charteris Graham M.B., Ch.B., Dr Muir’s medical partner.

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

A nice day but rather spoilt by a strong W. wind. There was a little hoar frost. Dav.¹ asked me to go to Smailholm Mains to see a lad Cockburn² (son of Mrs Cockburn whose foot was amputated in May³). I cycled there in 1h 40m via St Boswells + Smailholm village. Came back in 1h 57m by Mainberry⁴ which is ¾ mile farther. Got back to lunch at 2.30 + then cycled to Hutlerburn to see Rob Brockie⁵ who had fallen + burst his side. 44.25 miles for 2 insured patients!⁶ Cycled part of the way back with Birkett⁷ who is to exchange with Ross⁸ tomorrow but but I left him at Colin’s Bridge⁹ as he couldn’t take the hill.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² The lad Cockburn could be any one of William, Thomas or Andrew, the sons of Andrew Cockburn and Mary Cockburn née Thomson. The family was at Prieston, Bowden at the time of the 1921 Census which will explain why they were patients of the Muir and Graham medical partnership while at Smailholm, from where it is a very gentle walk into Berwickshire just a few fields away.

³ Mary Cockburn née Thomson, married to Andrew Cockburn at Kelso in 1894, whose operation is not explicitly mentioned in Dr Muir’s diary in May 1923, although there is a reference to Dr Muir and Dr Graham visiting Smailholm Mains together on 28 April 1923, presumably for a consultation that led to the surgery referred to here.

⁴ Assume Old Mainberry, grid reference NGR NT667,357, is a little to the south east of Smailholm on the Earlston – Kelso road, as Dr Muir notes a small diversion.

⁵ Robert Brockie (1888-), son of Thomas Brockie and Isabella Brockie née Cowie, was at Whitehillbrae, Kirkhope with his family at the time of the 1921 Census but was very possibly working on Hutlerburn, Kirkhope, Tenant / Occupier William Brockie, only a few yards down the road.

⁶ The Editor trusts that Dr Muir was not exploiting the mileage rate allowed for visiting insured medical patients.

⁷ The Reverend Robert Birkett (1846-1937), Free Church Minister, Ettrick, born Abdie, Fife, died Selkirk.

⁸ The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister, who moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

⁹ The Editor is not clear what hill Dr Muir is alluding to at Colin’s Bridge, NT429,266, just south of Bowhill.

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