Author: rumblingclint

Inclined to dampness with a little drizzle in forenoon. Mild : sunless. Started to cycle to Beechwood¹ but when leaving the bank it began to drizzle so I came back to the car + on mounting my bike in West Port fell + hurt my right thigh. Motored to Heatherly [sic]², Beechwood, Muthag Street, Mavisbank + then to Kersknowe³ (to get signature of a lad Bathgate⁴ to an Emigration out + was consulted by his mother⁵) + Whitmuir (Mrs Neil).⁶ Bella⁷ still in bed + Mousey⁸ doing all the work + doing it well. We had high tea in the kitchen.

¹ Dr Muir had been attending a patient at Beechwood, Linglie Road, Selkirk.

² Heatherlie, Selkirk, area of NT464,284.

³ Kersknowe, Bowden, grid reference NGR NT508,270 is visible south east of Whitmuirhall on Ordnance Survey Roxburghshire Sheet XIII (and parts of Selkirkshire Sheets XI), published 1863.

⁴ Robert Bathgate (1901-?1983), estate worker, embarked 6 April 1923 at Glasgow on Canadian Pacific Railway’s SS Marburn and arrived December 1923 at Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada en route for Toronto. He may have made a return trip in 1927 (SS Montcalm, departed Greenock, 26 Mar 1927) but he appears to have died in 1983 in British Columbia. [sources include Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Forms 30A), 1919-1924]

⁵ Henry Bathgate, orraman [odd job man on farm], was tenant at Kersknowe Holding, Bowden, Roxburghshire [1921 Census] with his wife Eleanor ‘Ellen’ Bathgate née Davidson, 49, born Carham and son Robert Bathgate, 20, born Abbotrule, Southdean (see footnote 4).

⁶ Assume Christina Neil née Scott, married 4 April 1919 at Oxnam to Adam Grey Neil, forester and joiner; she had a daughter, Agnes Grey Neil, later Caie (1921-1987) in April 1921; the family was at Whitmuir, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/333, Selkirk County, page 333 of 611].

⁷ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), the Muir family housekeeper, daughter of James Paulin, groom, and Grace Paulin née Cranston, born Ladykirk, Berwickshire [Sources include: ‘A Souter’s Bairn, recollections of life in Selkirk’ by Jenny Corbett with Avril Jack, published Selkirk Common Good Fund, 1993].

⁸ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

More sun than yesterday but a little rain at night. Roads wonderfully dry. Slight W. to N.W. [wind]. Message to the Nest.¹ Cycled there via Rink + on to Caddonfoot² + then up to Bowhill Lodge³ + Broadmeadows.⁴ In morning two slight operations at Viewfield.⁵ Bella⁶ in bed with a bilious attack. Mousey⁷ + I dined in the kitchen. David⁸ came up at night with a brace of pheasants from Dees.⁹

¹ Nest, Caddonfoot parish, grid reference NGR NT431,354.

² Rink, NT482,323 and Caddonfoot, NT448,349, both Caddonfoot parish.

³ Bowhill Lodge presumably refers to Bowhill North Lodge where Dr Muir had been visiting James Hogg [see diary entries for 19 and 20 November 1922].

⁴ Broadmeadows, Yarrowford, Selkirk, area of NT412,302.

⁵ Viewfield nursing home, the Muir & Graham medical practice’s property.

⁶ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), the Muir family housekeeper, daughter of James Paulin, groom, and Grace Paulin née Cranston, born Ladykirk, Berwickshire [Sources include: ‘A Souter’s Bairn, recollections of life in Selkirk’ by Jenny Corbett with Avril Jack, published Selkirk Common Good Fund, 1993].

⁷ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁸ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁹ Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923), anded proprietor, formerly a marine engineer, he was the son of James William Dees and Eliza Jane Irwin and lived at Faldonside, Galashiels.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Letter from Patrick¹

A dull sunless day : calm + mild. Went to Edin. by the 10.13. Travelled with John Murray² + Reid the Coop manager.³ Walked out to Newington + saw Jean⁴ + walked back. Had coffee at the New Picture Ho. + saw the pictures.⁵ Walked along to Rutland Street to meeting of Insurance Act Committee⁶ at 2.15 + left at 3.30. Went to Picture House for an hour, bought pens [?] + looked in at New Picture House again. Came out with the 6 [O’clock train]. Dav.⁷ was shooting with Duke⁸ who sent me a hare [text deleted] + a Grouse. Dees⁹ also sent me a hare. Gave one of the hares to Mrs Mack.¹⁰

¹ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902, driver, station hand, later farmer.

² John Murray is unidentifiable without more information.

³ Reid the Co-operative manager is (so far) unidentified.

⁴ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, who had a tea shop in Newington, Edinburgh.

⁵ Dr Muir was an occasional visitor to the Pictures in Edinburgh, see for instance diary entries for 21 December 1920 and 23 November 1921.

⁶ The National Insurance Act 1911 had created a system of contributory health insurance (under which employees earning less than £160 per year, and manual workers earning above this, were required to be insured) that required insurance committees to make a list of doctors willing to attend from which the insured would be able to choose.

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

⁸ Assume John Charles Montagu Douglas Scott (1864-1935), 7th Duke of Buccleuch, who succeeded to the dukedom on 5 November 1914.

⁹ Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923), anded proprietor, formerly a marine engineer, he was the son of James William Dees and Eliza Jane Irwin and lived at Faldonside, Galashiels.

¹⁰ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Beautiful sunny morning + up till 1 after which it got very misty + dull. There was hoar frost last night. Wind round to E. Message to see Nelly Stewart, Lewenshope.¹ Cycled there + Bowhill Lodge² coming back by Dunsdale, Hospital + Curror Street. Got hair cut in morning. Congregational meeting at night about lavatories + kitchen. As the latter was to be paid out of the fund for redecorating the church. I moved that it should be dropped + that was carried. Went down to Elmpark after + saw Erskine³ + Mrs Mack.⁴ Helen + Nancy⁵ cycled to Lilliesleaf.

¹ There were two Stewart households at Lewinshope, Yarrow, in the 1911 Census (Andrew, 57, and Robert, 40) and both wives were called Margaret; Robert appears in the 1922 Valuation Roll holding the weaving shed formerly Andrew’s so Mrs Stewart referred to here must be Margaret Brydon Stewart née Mitchell, married 15 June 1905 at Yarrow who was living at Lewinshope, Yarrow, 1921 Census, with Archibald Robert Stewart (1906-) and Helen Nichol Stewart (1909-), both born at Lewinshope Farm House.

² Dr Muir had visited James Hogg at Bowhill North Lodge the day before [see diary entry for 19 November 1922].

³ Erskine Harper (1887-1953), Mrs Mackintosh’s son, see footnote 4.

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

⁵ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s second and third daughters respectively.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A most charming summer-like day : almost continuous sunshine + a slight N.W. wind. I was going to Church when D.¹ asked me to give Chlor[oform] for a circum. at the Home² + I also got a ‘Phone to see old Jas. Hogg³ at Bowhill N. Lodge. Cycled there + leaving my bike at the watering trough I climbed Foulshiels Hill⁴ + had a lovely view except to N. + N.E. + E. It is only the 2 or 3 time I have been at the top. Jack + Nancy⁵ motored to Tushielaw⁶ to call on N. Grieve⁷ + Helen⁸ went with them to Gilmanscleuch.⁹ Jack + Nancy came to supper. I went to evening service.

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

² The Home is Viewfield, the Muir & Graham medical practice’s property.

³ James Hogg (about 1836-1925), retired farm labourer, at his death he was at Bowhill North Lodge, grid reference NGR NT413,299.

⁴ Foulshiels Hill, Selkirk is almost due north of Bowhill House at grid reference NGR NT427,302.

⁵ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁶ Tushielaw, Ettrick, grid reference NT306,183.

⁷ Norman William Grieve (about 1852-1936) appears to have moved to (or taken an interest in property in) the Selkirkshire and Roxburghshire areas around 1911; it is likely that he is the Norman William Grieve (about 1852-1936), born Hawick, who worked in tropical agriculture and as the director of public companies (rubber and tea companies according to A Hawick Word Book), he left £308,574.

⁸ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁹ Gilmanscleuch, Kirkhope, NT337,213.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A grand drying day for the remains of harvest. Not much sunshine but a sharp drying N.W. wind. Cycled with Nancy + Helen¹ to the Meet at Ashkirk but we were rather late. We went up to Grundiston Height² + left our bikes + walked towards Grundiston + saw them go away towards Stirches.³ I came away before the girls + called at Dryden for Mrs Cowan.⁴ Got home at 2.20. Kate Dunlop called to say Good bye. She leaves on Monday to take up a Sister’s post at Chalmers.⁵ The McConnells at Abbotsford have been looking at Whitmuirhall.⁶

¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s second and third daughters respectively.

² Groundistone Height, the highest point on the main road between Ashkirk and Hawick, is a linear feature through grid reference NGR NT498,201, crossing the A7 as it turns south across Groundistone Moss (the area looks rather different these days with the road upgraded).

³ Groundistone farm, grid reference NT491,189; its road access is from the south so the party must have crossed the fields; Stirches would have been almost due south of them as they approached Groundistone itself.

⁴ Assume Bessie or Betsy Cowan née Oliver (about 1871-1962) who had married 1895 at Kirkton, Roxburghshire, Andrew Cowan (about 1853-1936), widower, at that time farmer at Friarshawmuir, Bowden but later at Dryden, Ashkirk.

⁵ Katherine Mary ‘Kate’ Dunlop (1874-1944), nurse, daughter of Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922) and Edith Dunlop née Sugden (1846-1926); when she was a member of the Selkirkshire Voluntary Aid Detachment Dr Muir, its Commandant, noted that “Kate Dunlop has come out top at an exam. with 94%.” [diary, Saturday 9 January 1915].

⁶ The Editor cannot identify the McConnells at Abbotsford or Whitmuirhall.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

More wind – N.W. – + drouth¹ which are much needed for the stools. My cold has passed off pretty quickly due in some measure I think to Pil.Op. [?]. Message to [Jean ?] Thomson, Beechwood.² Cycled there + on to Harewoodglen + then to Caddonfoot. Papers full of election returns. The Labour Party has had the most gains + have about doubled their numbers.³

¹ Drouth, n. and v. Also drooth, drowth, †druth. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. drought. The forms drouth and drowth are now only in dial. or poet. use in Eng. Cf. Drocht. [Dictionar o’ the Scots Leid]; it is probably best known in Scots language and literature but not exclusively, see for example Thomas Hardy’s poem of new love ‘After The Visit’ [see also Dr Muir’s diary entry for 5 April 1920].

² Thomson does not appear in the Valuation Rolls at that location at this time (the 1921 Census would be helpful) so is presumably a member of the household of Miss Jemima ‘Minty’ Colville (1857-1932), the occupier of a Villa and ground ‘Beechwood’, Linglie Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/326, Selkirk County, page 326 of 611]; born Lanarkshire, she was the daughter of David Colville, steel maker, and Jane Colville née Barr, she died in 1932 at the Crichton Royal Institution, Dumfries, usual residence Beechwood, Selkirk.

³ More than doubled: in the 1922 General Election the four leading parties took:
Conservative (Bonar Law) 344 seats = minus 35 (net)
Labour (J R Clynes) 142 seats = plus 85 (net)
Liberal (H H Asquith) 62 seats = plus 23 (net)
National Liberal (Lloyd George) 53 seats = minus 71 (net).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Erskine Harper unsuccessful for Gorbals¹

There had seen some hoar frost which left things damp but it was a lovely day. Motored to Lilliesleaf to see Mrs Guthrie (Phemie Woodger).² Went via Midlem + returned via Greenhill where there is a lot of corn out yet but they have got it all cut. Did some work at record + summary cards. Helen³ cycled to Newtown⁴ for a lecture about Girl Guides + found they had been postponed. She spent the afternoon with Mrs Kennedy at Melrose.⁵ Sir Thos. Henderson [was] returned for Rox. + Selk.⁶

¹ Erskine Harper (1887-1953), Mrs Mackintosh’s son, was the National Liberal candidate for the Gorbals Division of Glasgow (he came second with 8,276 votes or 27.4%).

² Euphemia ‘Phemie’ Guthrie née Woodger (1878-1931), of Lilliesleaf, she married William Guthrie, farmer, of Craggs, Lilliesleaf, 3 September 1909 at Darling’s Regent Hotel, Canongate, Edinburgh.

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁴ Newtown St Boswells where there seems to have been some sort of locus for Guiding in the area.

⁵ Mary Balfour Kennedy née Alison (1889-1978), born Newington, Edinburgh, she married, 1915 at Morningside, William Nicol Watson Kennedy, medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire, 1921 (he had moved to a similar job at Croydon, Surrey by the 1921 Census), and had two sons, Ian Alexander Kennedy (1916-1988) and Charles Gordon Kennedy (1920-); by the time of the 1939 England and Wales Register the family had moved to Hale, Cheshire [Glendale, Ashley Road, Hale, 1929 Kelly’s Directory of Manchester of Salford and Suburbs] and she died at Macclesfield Registration District, aged 89, on 24 Dec 1978 [sources: marriage: 1915, 685/6 46, Morningside; Ian’s birth: 1916, 685/6 219, Morningside; Charles’ birth: Jun 1920, Croydon, 2a, 531; her death: Mary Balfour Kennedy, Dec Quarter 1978, Macclesfield, Cheshire 35 0661].

⁶ Sir Thomas Henderson (1874-1951), Scottish businessman and briefly Member of Parliament for the National Liberal Party; he was a director of Messrs. Innes, Henderson and Co. Ltd., hosiery manufacturers of Hawick.
In the Poll on Wednesday 15 November 1922 he narrowly defeated Sir Alfred Hamilton Grant:
Sir Thomas Henderson (National Liberal): 10,356 votes (51.7%)
Sir Alfred Hamilton Grant (Liberal): 9,698 (48.3%).
Turnout: 20,054 (60.9%).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

General Election¹

Another fine day. Walked round town Mavisbank, Hospital, Dunsdale [and] Heather Mill. Went down with Matron Waugh² to Knowepark + Church where we both voted for Henderson.³ Very little excitement. Felt a cold coming on + took to inhalation + an opium [?] pill at night. Finished putting up the accounts for Baptie⁴ to deliver.⁵

¹ The 1922 general election was a very messy affair with two Liberal factions and profound changes in Ireland (the election was not held in Southern Ireland because of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in late 1921), as well as the election of a Scottish Prohibition candidate in Dundee, a Constitutionalist at Dartford, a Communist at Motherwell and an Irish Nationalist at Liverpool Scotland, but it put the Conservative Party in power for 34 of the next 42 years (and Labour became, for the rest of the 20th Century, its main rival across Great Britain).

² Nurse, more correctly Matron Waugh was Marion Gentleman Waugh (1877-), born Craigbank, Slamannan, Stirlingshire, the daughter of Allan Waugh, seed merchant, and Christina – sometimes Christian – Turnbull Waugh née Dodds, married 1872 at Muiravonside. Matron Waugh and her mother were recorded at Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk in the 1921 Census.

³ Sir Thomas Henderson (1874-1951), Scottish businessman and briefly Member of Parliament for the National Liberal Party; he was a director of Messrs. Innes, Henderson and Co. Ltd., hosiery manufacturers of Hawick.

⁴ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

⁵ The Selkirk accounts were deliver by hand by Baptie while the others were posted.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Delightfully mild + like so many days lately bright + sunny up till midday + then clouded but no rain + no drouth¹ either. Walked to Tower Terrace, Dunsdale + Mavisbank + then at Viewfield² saw Dav.³ excise a wen from May Lang’s neck⁴ + a small tumour from a woman’s mamma. Banked £20 odd + cleared our overdraft.⁵ Made out accounts in afternoon + posted county ones.⁶ Mrs Kennedy + her little boy were up spending the day.⁷ Wired Erskine Harper at Glasgow wishing him good luck.⁸

¹ Drouth, n. and v. Also drooth, drowth, †druth. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. drought. The forms drouth and drowth are now only in dial. or poet. use in Eng. Cf. Drocht. [Dictionar o’ the Scots Leid]; it is probably best known in Scots language and literature but not exclusively, see for example Thomas Hardy’s poem of new love ‘After The Visit’ [see also Dr Muir’s diary entry for 5 April 1920].

² Viewfield had been the Muir and Graham medical co-partnership’s nursing home since Dr Muir purchased it in 1920 from Miss Alexina Margaret Buist (1853-1936), daughter of a Dundee merchant who was, with her companion Gertrude Mary Ball (1861-1941), at Viewfield prior the purchase whereupon they moved to Fergushill, a Victorian Gothic Revival house at Kirklinton, Cumberland,

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁴ Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham; born Largs, Ayrshire, died Selkirk; a cyclist [see diary entry 13 May 1916], Miss Lang was Tenant Occupier of the mansion house, stable and grounds at Harewoodglen, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/326, Selkirk County, page 326 of 611].

⁵ The Muir and Graham medical co-partnership ran its bank balance at a low level and though the partners took what look like good salaries the partnerships’s problem seems to be overheads on Viewfield and slow payment of some patients’ accounts and other monies due.

⁶ Local patients’ accounts were delivered by hand by the medical co-partnership, see for example Dr Muir’s diary entry for 28 August 1922.

⁷ Mary Balfour Kennedy née Alison (1889-1978), born Newington, Edinburgh, she married, 1915 at Morningside, William Nicol Watson Kennedy, medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire, 1921 (he had moved to a similar job at Croydon, Surrey, by the 1921 Census), and had two sons, Ian Alexander Kennedy (1916-1988) and Charles Gordon Kennedy (1920-); by the time of the 1939 England and Wales Register the family had moved to Hale, Cheshire [Glendale, Ashley Road, Hale, 1929 Kelly’s Directory of Manchester of Salford and Suburbs] and she died at Macclesfield Registration District, aged 89, on 24 Dec 1978
[sources: marriage 1915, 685/6 46, Morningside; son’s birth 1916, 685/6 219, Morningside; her death: Mary Balfour Kennedy, Dec Quarter 1978, Macclesfield, Cheshire 35 0661].

⁸ Erskine Harper (1887-1953), Mrs Mackintosh’s son, was the National Liberal candidate for the Gorbals Division of Glasgow (he came second with 8,276 votes or 27.4%).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]