Author: rumblingclint

Calm dull warm day like thunder which never developed but there was a very heavy + sudden plump¹ between 3 + 4. I breakfasted 7.15 : left at 8.10 + cycled to Ramsaycleuch without dismounting: there to the Manse + up Mirelees². Came back by Carterhaugh + called at Lauriston. Mrs Smith³ had a long palaver about Jim⁴ who wants to come to them. Saw a few town cases in the afternoon including Mrs Lawson⁵ who is getting very low. Andrew⁶ was there. Went to evening Service but couldn’t hear anything. Message to Jas. Lewis⁷ who required catheter.

¹ A heavy down-pour of rain, Scots, cf A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700) ‘(Plump,) Plumpe, n.2 (Late ME. plumbe (once, a 1450) an abrupt plunge or heavy fall.)’ [source: Dictionar o the Scots Leid].

² Dr Muir had been to Ettrick Manse on the preceding three days to attend the (unidentified) housekeeper to the Reverend Alexander Horn and had clearly fitted in another visit as he travelled from Ramseycleuch, Ettrick, grid reference NGR NT274,145 up the Tima Water to Meerlees, NT281,118.

³ Katie Smith née Locke (about 1854-1934), wife of Thomas Smith, tweed manufacturer, who had died in 1899 (1891 Census), they had married 23 April 1873, London.

⁴ James Smith, presumably a relative, is unidentified.

⁵ Cecil Lawson née Mackinlay (about 1837-1922), widow of the Reverend John Lawson, minister of the First United Presbyterian Church, at Knowepark, Selkirk; she was the daughter of James Mackinlay, East India Merchant, and Isabella Mackinlay née Murray.

⁶ Andrew Moir Lawson (1866-1944), son of the Reverend John Lawson, minister of the First United Presbyterian Church, and Cecil Lawson née Mackinlay (about 1837-1922); a mechanical engineer, at this time he lived in Bradford, Yorkshire.

⁷ James Lewis (about 1857-1924), stationer and publisher, of Marion Crescent, Selkirk.

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

A day like yesterday calm E. [wind]. Dull almost no sunshine but very pleasant. David¹ left for camp at 2 taking Thorburn² with him. I motored to Ettrick Manse + Ramsaycleuch taking Peter³. The housekeeper⁴ had pain from constip. + I got Grace Anderson⁵ to give her an enema with good results. In afternoon cycled to Ettrick Road, Buccleuch Road + Wellwood. All the Wellwooders⁶ but Nancy were at St James’s Fair⁷.

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

² Malcolm Murray Thorburn (1889-1977), manufacturer and sometime soldier, son of William Thorburn (1847-1926), tweed manufacturer, and Isabella Thorburn née Murray (1858-1942), he was the tenant occupier at Dandswall, Shawpark Road, Selkirk and worked for Edward Gardiner & Sons, Tweed Mill, Selkirk; during the First World War he served with the 2nd Battalion Black Watch (Bareilly Brigade, Meerut Division, later renumbered as 21st Indian Brigade, 7th Indian Division) joining them at Béthune in May 1915 as a subaltern before being appointed Transport Officer around the time of the Battle of Loos (September 1915) and reverting back to his company as a result of the casualties sustained there, in November the Battalion were detailed for service in Mesopotamia arriving in Basra in January 1916 and going immediately into action at Sheikh Sa’ad on 7 January which he again observed whilst acting as Transport Officer, he went back to his Company for the Action of the Wadi before Kut (13 January), describing the treatment of the wounded after both battles, and finally the First Attempt to Relieve Kut on 21 January in which he himself was wounded and evacuated to hospital first in Basra and subsequently in Bombay [source: Private Papers of Lieutenant M M Thorburn MC].

³ Peter, evidently a charge of Dora’s, is Peter Muir Spurgeon Allen (1914-2005), who was at Thorncroft, Selkirk, aged 7, in the 1921 Census [taken 19 June 1921], born 4 June 1914, Chorlton [Lancashire], the son of the Reverend Willoughby Charles Allen and Catherine Ellen Allen née Green; a head teacher (retired), he died 16 February 2005 at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, usual residence Hope Cottage, Stenton, Dunbar, East Lothian.

⁴ The housekeeper has not been identified though it may be possible to do so when the 1921 Census is published later this year.

⁵ Grace has not been identified (there were three individuals named Grace Anderson in Selkirkshire in the 1911 Census) though it may be possible to do so when the 1921 Census is published later this year.

⁶ The Wellwooders, sometimes Wellwoods, were 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).

⁷ St James’s Fair was a market, held at St James’s Green to the north of Vigorous Haugh west of Kelso; associated with the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh (after Roxburgh was no longer inhabited, the provost of Jedburgh would come to ‘cry the fair’) it continued until the 1930s and had become a venue where Romany families from across Scotland came together to buy and sell horses and ponies. [information courtesy of the Accessing Scotland’s Past project].

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

Decidedly warmer today and without a great deal of sunshine. At night the wind went round to N.E. There was no rain except a few drops as we were going up Ettrick. Wendy Ogilvie¹ came in at 11 + had her tonsils out. Madge² came over here to lunch. I saw a few cases in town + cycled to Black Andro to see Jo. Dodds³ on behalf of the Co-op. Insur. After tea I motored to Oakwoodmill, Ramseycleuch, Ettrick Manse + over Hartleap⁴ to the Planting⁵. I took Peter in the back seat⁶.

¹ Margaret Deloraine ‘Wendy’ Ogilvie (1909-2003), daughter of William Henry Ogilvie and Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Ogilvie née Scott Anderson; born Lintalee, Jedburgh.

² Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Scott Ogilvie née Anderson (1879-1965), daughter of Thomas ‘T’ Scott Anderson of Ettrick Shaws and wife of W H Ogilvie; the family stayed at Kirklea, Ashkirk.

³ Not identified.

⁴ Dr Muir has travelled up the Ettrick Water and over Hartleap to Yarrow.

⁵ Dr Muir had attended what appears to have been Lizzie Mary Goodfellow, later Hogg (1888-1963), see his 27 July 1922 diary entry.

⁶ Peter, who was probably in the dickey seat, was a charge of Dora’s, actually Peter Muir Spurgeon Allen (1914-2005), who was at Thorncroft, Selkirk, aged 7, in the 1921 Census [taken 19 June 1921], born 4 June 1914, Chorlton [Lancashire], the son of the Reverend Willoughby Charles Allen and Catherine Ellen Allen née Green; a head teacher (retired), he died 16 February 2005 at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, usual residence Hope Cottage, Stenton, Dunbar, East Lothian.

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

A nicer day than we have had for a long time. The morning was brilliant + there was a very heavy dew. Pat Smith¹ told me the therm. had been down to 37°. It got clouded over in the afternoon but it was not so cold. I walked to Wellwood + Viewfield + up to Tait’s Hill + then cycled to Mavisbank, Hospital + Upper Faldonside Lodge. Then I went to Cauldshiels Loch + climbed through the wood on the N. side where behind a wall with the lovely view to the N.E.² I smoked + read the Scotsman. Came back by drove road³ 4 miles. After tea motored for David⁴ to Ettrick Manse to see Horn’s Housekeeper⁵. Helen went with Nancy⁶ to a sale of work at Yarrow Hall.

¹ Assume Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute, sometime of The Firs, Selkirk.

² There is a wall adjacent to the triangulation point on Cauldshiels Hill, at approximate grid reference NGR NT512,325, from which the view would be to the north east, see Ordnance Survey 6” Selkirkshire Sheet VIII.SE, published 1900.

³ The likeliest route is along the track (not identified as a drove road) that passes the west end of Cauldshiels Loch, heads south across the edge of Faldonside Moor and past Whitlaw Kips to reach the public road near Half Crown Corner, Selkirk, see Ordnance Survey 6” Selkirkshire Sheet VII, published 1863.

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁵ This refers to the (unidentified) housekeeper to the Reverend Alexander Horn (1858-1935) of Ettrick Manse.

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

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

More showers today chiefly towards evening. Four town visits one of which was Simpson, Viewfield¹. Motored to the Upper Headshaw road end and walked down there to Woll Rigg² to see a pauper lunatic Euphemia Turnbull³ who stays with her aunt Mrs Jackson⁴. Sent Baptie⁵ on to Hawick with a lot of clothes to get cleaned + he met me at Selkirk again. Cycled to Lauriston to see M^rs Smith⁶.

¹ Assume the housekeeper, otherwise unidentified; Wellwood is Dr Muir’s daughter’s home.

² This is not clear but it seems likely that Dr Muir walked from the Headshaw road end (still there just to the north of the Ashkirk road end on the A7) and walked up to and through Headshaw before crossing the Headshaw Burn to reach The Woll, Ashkirk.

³ Very probably Euphemia Turnbull (1882-1962), born Melrose, she was living with her brother John Turnbull and his wife Helen at 134 St Andrew Street, Galashiels in the 1911 Census where she was described as “Feeble-minded since infancy”; born at Melrose in 1882, she was recorded in the 1891 Census at Caddonfoot (civil parish Stow) with her grandmother Euphemia Turnbull, mother Margaret Turnbull, aunt Agnes Turnbull, uncle John Turnbull and cousin Robert Turnbull (1883-), Agnes’s son, and died 1962 aet 80 at Chiefswood House, Melrose, usual residence Caverton Mill, Kelso.

⁴ Presumably Agnes Turnbull (1862-1938), second wife of Alex Jackson, farm servant, married 1910 at Woodhead, Ancrum; in 1922 he was a ploughman and Inhabitant Occupier of a house at The Woll, Ashkirk [1922 Jackson, Alexander, Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/355, Selkirk County, page 355 of 611].

⁵ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

⁶ Katie Smith née Locke (about 1854-1934), daughter of James Locke, tweed manufacturer, and Catherine Adam Locke née Gregg. Was at Lauriston (1911 census and 1920 VR), at Broomhill, Selkirk (1901 Census) and at Mauldsheugh, with her husband Thomas Smith, tweed manufacturer, who died in 1899 (1891 Census), they had married 23 April 1873, London. Died Hillholm, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk, 7 February 1934, aged 81..

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

Very little rain today + more sunshine but no warmer. Was called up at 3.30 for Mrs Wm Brown, So. Port who had a son before I arrived¹. Cycled to Wellwood (Simpson²), Tweed Mill, Hospital, Bridgelands (Hardie³ + Scott⁴) + Faldonside. Jessie Boyd⁵ wired for me to see Weatherstone⁶ the gardener who had hurt his foot with a nail yesterday! I called for Rob^t Currie, Rockville⁷ + Mr Farquharson⁸ at Campbell the dentist⁹. Got letter from Amy Waldie¹⁰ + wrote her.

¹ John Brown, born 1 August 1922 at 4 South Port, Selkirk, son of William Brown, general labourer, and Helen Brown nee Kerr, married 19 September 1914 at St Giles, Edinburgh.

² Assume the housekeeper, otherwise unidentified; Wellwood is Dr Muir’s daughter’s home.

³ Assume James Hardie (about 1841-1922), retired ploughman, husband of Margaret Nicholson, who was Inhabitant Occupier not rated at Bridgelands Lodge, Galashiels, 1920 Valuation Roll (who had been attended previously by Dr Muir but note Robert Hardie, gardener [both 1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/370, Selkirk County, page 370 of 611] – in 1911 James (about 1888-), coachman, lived with wife May (about 1883-) and their son Robert James Hardie (about 1910-) at the coachman’s house [1911 Census 775/ 26/ 5, page 5 of 7].

⁴ Perhaps William Scott, farmer at Bridgelands and Batts, Galashiels, [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/370, Selkirk County, page 370 of 611].

⁵ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener.

⁶ John Weatherstone, gardener, Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Faldonside, Galashiels [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/369, Selkirk County, page 369 of 611].

⁷ Robert Currie junior (about 1847-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer, of Rockville, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk; Currie was the fourth of five generations at Selkirk with the given name Robert”.

⁸ Farquharson is unidentified.

⁹ Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (1879-1943), dental surgeon, at 8 The Green, Selkirk, and of Ettrickbridge, 1920 Valuation Roll; married to Isabella Watson, he died 9 July 1943, aged 63, at 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh, usual residence Elburn, Ettrickbridge.

¹⁰ Amy Kathleen Waldie (1889-1960), niece of James Wallace (about 1841-1922) Dr Muir’s brother-in-law (whose funeral they had both attended in Surrey earlier in July).

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

Heavy showers at intervals all day. Pretty calm: chilly. Saw half a doz. town cases including Paterson at the Home who is rather better¹. Got all my recent expenditure at Glasgow² + payment of accounts + books entered up. Wrote Mrs Dunlop³ to thank her for the photo + to ask her to give me if possible Dunlop’s autograph⁴. Looked down to Wellwood at night.

¹ John Paterson, millworker, of Inglis Close, Selkirk had been taken into the Muir & Graham medical co-partnership’s Wellwood Nursing Home the day before with pneumonia, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 July 2022

² Dr Muir had been elected to represent the Edinburgh Branch, South-Eastern Counties Division of the British Medical Association at the Association’s annual conference held at Glasgow in July 1922, see Dr Muir’s diary for 3 May 1922.

³ Edith Mary Dunlop née Sugden (1846-1926), the widow of Charles Walter Dunlop.

⁴ Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), East India Merchant (elsewhere described as a “merchant stuff dealer”) of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk, died 6 May 1922 at Selkirk, aged 76, buried Ashkirk Parish Churchyard [death 1922, 778/ 43, Selkirk]

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

Rather a better day : a fair amount of sunshine + perhaps a shade milder : but about 8.30 p.m. it began to rain. I got a man John Paterson from Inglis Close¹ into Viewfield² today with pneumonia. Went to Communion service. Wrote up my Glasgow diary³ + went to evening service. Magt Dunlop⁴ handed in the Photo of her father⁵ which is remarkably good.

¹ John Paterson, millworker, was Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Inglis Close, Selkirk (between Fleshmarket Street and Back Row, visible and named on Ordnance Survey 1:500 scale, 10.56 ft to 1 mile, Selkirk Sheet XII.32, published [1866] and visible but not named on later OS 25” and 6” sheets) [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/286, Selkirk Burgh, page 286 of 644].

² Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk.

³ Dr Muir had been elected to represent the Edinburgh Branch, South-Eastern Counties Division of the British Medical Association at the Association’s annual conference held at Glasgow in July 1922, see Dr Muir’s diary for 3 May 1922.

⁴ Margaret Isabel Dunlop (1875-1965), daughter of Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), East India Merchant, and Edith Mary Dunlop nee Sugden (1846-1926), of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk; her siblings were Walter Dunlop (1871-1941), Marion Edith Dunlop (1873-1958), Katherine Mary Dunlop (1874-1944), Margaret Isabel Dunlop (1875-1965), Charles Bertram Dunlop (1877-1960) and Janet Jardine Dunlop (1880-1956) [children all born in Yorkshire].

⁵ Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), East India Merchant (elsewhere described as a “merchant stuff dealer”) of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk, had died 6 May 1922 at Selkirk, aged 76, and was buried at Ashkirk Parish Churchyard [death 1922, 778/ 43, Selkirk].

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

Pouring this morning very heavily but faired in afternoon. Saw some town cases, hospital + Gib. + Lum.¹ Only three cases in Hospital 1 D. + 2 S². Spent a lot of time making out a list of the Ordnance Maps (Lowlands). Cycled to Whitmuirhall with Communion Cards for 2 of the servants = Miss [illegible] + Jane Dodds³. Her father has gone to the Priory⁴. Called for Mrs Dunlop⁵ + got a first rate photo of Charles⁶ from her.

¹ Gibson & Lumgair Ltd., woollen textile manufacturer, at St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk.

² Diphtheria and Scarlet fever which had been prevalent locally for a long time by July 1922.

³ Neither of the two servants has (yet) been identified though it may possible to do so when the 1921 Census is published later this year.

⁴ The Editor suspects that this means he has gone to work at The Priory, Ettrick Road, Selkirk, home of the Lumgair family but this probably cannot be proven until the 1921 Census is published later this year.

⁵ Edith Mary Dunlop née Sugden (1846-1926), the daughter of John Greenwood Sugden and Mary Halton Sugden née Brewitt, married 1842, Billericay, Essex, died 21 November 1926 at 24 Inverleith Place, Edinburgh, Midlothian [sources: parents’ marriage: Sugden, John Greenwood and Brewitt, Mary Halton, Sep Quarter 1842, Billericay, Essex 12 23; birth Sep Quarter 1846, Keighley 23 383; death 1926, 685/1 244, St Bernard].

⁶ Charles Walter Dunlop (1846-1922), East India Merchant (elsewhere described as a “merchant stuff dealer”) of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk, died 6 May 1922 at Selkirk, aged 76, buried Ashkirk Parish Churchyard [death 1922, 778/ 43, Selkirk].

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

Was knocked up by Matron¹ at 4.30 a.m. for Mr Forbes² + found him dead. Was not long in bed when I was rung up for Craighill to see the Baby³. She has probably Flue which all the rest have. Wend [sic] in 62 min. + came back in 59 for breakfast. David⁴ had 2 operations- a breast (Mrs Elder⁵ who had one removed at the old Home + a fatty tumour of the sub-maxillary region Rev. Brown⁶). I didn’t wait for the latter. Saw only three town cases. Feet [? Felt] rather tired. Weather still dry. Distributed Communion Cards..

¹ The Matron at Viewfield Nursing Home

² Archibald Forbes (about 1844-1922), engine-fitter, husband of Jane L Forbes née Hardie, married 3 June 1864 at Linlithgow, West Lothian

³ Assume Johan ‘Joan’ Muir Anderson, later Chisholm (1921-2009), born 1 August 1921 at Craighill, Ettrick, daughter of John Laidlaw Anderson, shepherd, and Grace Linton Anderson née Davidson, married 7 March 1919, Ettrick [birth 1921, 774/B 5, Ettrick]

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁵ Mrs Elder is (so far) unidentified

⁶ The Reverend Mr Brown is (so far) unidentified

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