Transcripts and notes on 20th Century Scottish history
Author: rumblingclint
Archivist, interests include Dr John Stewart Muir 1845-1938) of Selkirk, general practitioner, and Seton Paul Gordon (1886–1977), naturalist, author and photographer
Another dry cold grey dull day but roads improving. Cycled in town, Hospital Broadmeadows, Newarkburn, Bowhill + after lunch to Newhouse. Roads pretty stiff about Clarklands.1 Got wire after dinner to go to Gilmanscleuch to see a tramp. Baptie2 drove me down with Macaulay.3 The tramp was lying in the Elliots’ byre at Ladyside.4 There was very little wrong with him. Got back at 12.
1 Clerklands, on the road to Riddell and Lilliesleaf, grid reference NGR NT503,246 and Newhouse, S.S.E. of Riddell, grid reference NT522,235.
2 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.
3 Macaulay was one of Dr Muir’s horses, see also diary entries for 9th, 12th, 29th January and 2nd and 22nd February.
Quite fair all day + although the roads were were filthy I managed to cycle to Broadmeadows + Newarkburn. Mrs Lang1 on the whole better. After lunch Baptie2 drove me with Macaulay3 to Newhouse. Mrs Elliot4 suffering a good deal of pain. Had to come round by Sinton Mill to see Jemima Grieve.5 Jean + Dora6 walked to Middlestead about a servant.
1 Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), widow of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, of Largs, Ayrshire and later Broadmeadows, Selkirk. She was a a close friend of Dr Muir.
2 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.
3 Macaulay was one of Dr Muir’s horses, see also diary entries for 9th, 12th, 29th January and 2nd February.
4 Ann Patison ‘Annie’ Elliot, daughter of John Elliot and Jane Elliot née Dickson. She was wife of William Govenlock and they appear to have lived at Kingsknowes, Galashiels by 1904 but at this time Ann was staying at Newarkburn.
5 Jemima Grieve (1869-) was housekeeper at Synton Mill Farm House, Ashkirk [1901 Census]. She was the daughter of William Grieve and Jessie Scott Grieve née Brodie. Her mother was dead by 1901 and her father presided over a rather random group of people.
6 Two of Dr Muir’s daughters Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Very slight frost in morning. Thick mist + heavy drizzle followed by heavy rain all day.
Mrs Govenlock had a premature + decayed child after midnight.1 I went to be + had a good sleep till 7. J Elliot2 walked down to Bowhill + ‘Phoned for Baptie.3 I walked up to Broadmeadows + met him there. Mrs Lang4 still improving. Robert Lang5 ‘Phoned to me from London last night to ask for his mother + asked that I should ‘Phone this morning which I did + heard quite distinctly. Came home by Bowhill, Ettrickhaugh Road + Glebe. After churches were in went over to Newham6 + in the evening did Broadmeadows again. For the last 14 days I have averaged 32.5 miles a day. Jno. Hall7 whom I met at Alnmouth is staying with Jack + Nancy8 + came to supper tonight. [?] Thomas9 called in the afternoon.
1 Ann Patison ‘Annie’ Elliot, daughter of John Elliot, wife of William Govenlock, but at this time staying at Newarkburn.
2 John Elliot, forester, lived at Newarkburn, Selkirk, with his wife Jane Elliot née Dickson.
3 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.
4 Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), widow of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, of Largs, Ayrshire and later Broadmeadows, Selkirk. She was a a close friend of Dr Muir.
5 Robert James Lang (1856-1914), one of Mrs Lang’s sons.
6 Newham is so far unidentified.
7 John Hall is so far unidentified.
8 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.
9 This individual is so far unidentified.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Snow all gone except patches on hills. River in full flood. Was called up before 7 to see Jas. Moffat, Backfeus1, who had aphasia + slight hemiplegia. Drove to Broadmeadows, Black Andro + Bowhill + was called into John Elliot’s, Newarkburn2 to see his daughter Mrs Govanlock whose husband is now at Kingsknowes.3 After lunch drove over to Newhouse4 + at night went up to Broadmeadows again + dined there. Was leaving about 10 when John Elliot came for me to see his daughter. I found her [word deleted] with premature labour5 + sent Baptie7 home.
1 James Moffat (about 1851-), vanman, was recorded at Back Feus, Selkirk in the 1903 Valuation Roll.
2 John Elliot, forester, lived at Newarkburn, Selkirk, with his wife Jane Elliot née Dickson.
3 William Govenlock, husband of Ann Patison ‘Annie’ Elliot. They had married 27 April 1900 at Newarkburn. At that time Govenlock was reported to be at The Green, Wishaw, Lanarkshire. However in 1896 he was recorded as a gardener at Philiphaugh, Selkirk and by 1906 he was recorded at Kingsknowes, Galashiels, proprietor Adam S Cochrane.
4 The Editor has not been able to identify whom Dr Muir was attending at Newhouse, Kirkhope at this time. In his diary of 19 February 1904 Dr Muir mentioned a Mrs Elliot but no such person can be matched to the records.
5 Though it is phrased slightly oddly, the Editor assumes that this refers to the same daughter as noted above. No live birth appears to have been recorded in late February 1904 or thereafter.
6 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Colder today + more wind. It began to snow in the forenoon + there was quite a gale with sleety small hail very sore on one’s face. Found Mrs Lang1 rather better + at night May Lang2 wired that I did not need to come up. Got wire to Mrs Elliot, Newhouse3 + drove over. Mr + Mrs Geo. Roberts4 gave a ball in the Victoria Hall which was a great success. Helen + Dora5 went. I was there from about 10 till 12.30 but felt rather out of it. Danced only one dance viz. with Emma Downs, Jim Roberts’ fiancée.6 Quite fresh + raining at night. Had to lend Mrs Roberts 2 bottles of whiskey [sic].
1 Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), widow of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, of Largs, Ayrshire and later Broadmeadows, Selkirk. She was a a close friend of Dr Muir.
2 Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham. A cyclist. Born Largs, Ayrshire.
3 Joan Elliot née Lambert (about 1853-), wife of James Elliot (about 1845-), farmer, Tenant Occupier of the farm and house of Newhouse, Lilliesleaf. Born Bowden and Castleton respectively, they had married 28 June 1876 at Bowden, Roxburghshire.
4 This will be George Roberts (about 1842-1910) and his second wife Annie Elizabeth Folds née Briggs, who died 5 January 1908 at Dandswall, Selkirk.
5 Dr Muir’s two youngest daughters Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir.
6 Catherine Emily ‘Emma’ Downes (1884-1949), married later in 1904 to James Alexander ‘Jim’ Roberts (1879-1948). They left not long afterwards for New Zealand where they had two children, John Edward Downes Roberts (1906-1985) and Dorothy Violet Roberts, later MacMillan (1909-).
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Wrote Pat1 on 19th Friday morning was one of the freshest – 19°- 20° of frost [and] ice coming down the river in morning but it changed completely in afternoon
Took in case of Diphtheria although I have one of Typhoid. It is a case of Meikle’s in a family of 13.2
Nice dry day + quite calm. Drove to Broadmeadows to breakfast at 8.30. Mrs Lang3 looks very ill. Drove back to Bowhill + ‘Phoned for a nurse.4 After arranged about getting a D. case of Meikle’s into Hospital. Went on to Tushielaw + was just in time to get a lift on to Crook Cottage in Peter Smith’s5 wagon6 which was taking up Mrs Crozier.7 Found Mrs Johnstone8 very poorly. Drove straight home. My I managed to keep nice + warm all day till coming down when my fingers got perfectly benumbed + dead + the pain + tingling when I thawed them in hot water was intense. Got tea + then drove to Lindean + up to Broadmeadows again. Mrs Lang was much easier at night + her sons, who had been wired for, were countermanded.
1 Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.
2 This is an interesting reference. Meikles almost certainly refers to the work of Dr John Hally Meikle (1867-1945), M.A., B.Sc, M.D., D.P.H., medical practitioner and Chief School Medical Officer, Edinburgh. In 1906, at around the time he graduated M.D. at Edinburgh, he published an article in the Edinburgh Medical Journal on the epidemiology of diphtheria. That Dr Muir used his name in this context in early 1904 means that Meikle’s work must have attracted notice well before the article was published (though Dr Muir’s close connections with Edinburgh University Medical School and with the regional B.M.A. committees may explain that).
3 Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), widow of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, of Largs, Ayrshire and later Broadmeadows, Selkirk. She was a a close friend of Dr Muir.
4 Presumably Bowhill’s was one of very few telephones at this time, if even a well-set house like Broadmeadows did not have one.
5 Peter Smith (about 1864-), hotel-keeper at Tushielaw Inn.
6 The Editor is not sure precisely how Dr Muir’s travel worked. He had gone up by horse (his normal transport at the time it seems), switched to a wagon but, when the time came, was able to travel back independently. Did the horse follow the wagon perhaps?
7 Probably Elizabeth Crozier née Johnstone, recorded in the 1901 Census at Crook Cottage, Ettrick, with parents and her children Mary (1896-), Joan Wallace (1897-) and William (1899-). At the time of the Census her husband Allan Crozier, shepherd, was away. They had married 21 March 1895 at Ettrick.
8 Mary Johnstone née Hewitson (about 1853-1904), wife of William Johnstone, roadman, living at Crook Cottage.
9 Mrs Lang’s sons were Robert James Lang (1856-1914), William Graham ‘Willie’ Lang (1856-1943) and Hugh Lang (1857-), all born Largs, Ayrshire.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
4 – 5 inches of snow lying which did not melt much except in sun but the frost was by no means keen. Drove to Philiphaugh, Broadmeadows, Bowhill, Firs, [and] Batts.1 Had to see Mrs Lang2 again at night. She was very poorly with a high temperature. It was snowing again at night.
1 This looks like Batts. If so the Batts Burn runs across the north of Ordnance Survey kilometre square NT5029. It passes north of Lindean Moor Farm and then drifts north east past Glenwhilt.
2 Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), widow of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, of Largs, Ayrshire and later Broadmeadows, Selkirk. She was a a close friend of Dr Muir.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Frosty again + a bright day. Roads very redeable till the afternoon when they got very sticky when the sun struck. Cycled in the town in forenoon. When calling at Fowler’s, Topsfield1, some rascal stuck a pen knife in my front tyre. The would was round the rim + could only have been done in such a way. After lunch cycled to Broomhill + got punctured again by a thorn. Mrs Pollok’s wound2 is all healed at last. At 5 got wire to Mrs Lang, Broadmeadows.3 Cycled up. May Lang4 cycled back as far as Foulshiels with me. The girls5 had a lot of their friends from 8 to 11 to supper + advertisements. It passed off nicely. Dr + Mrs Wilson6, Meikle, the Allans, Isobel Murray7, the Chas. Roberts8 + Emmy Downs9 were among them. It was snowing at night.
1 William Fowler (about 1863-1933), Inspector of Poor and Registrar, Selkirk, Proprietor Occupier of a house and garden ‘Topsfield’, Dovecot Park, Selkirk.
2 Jane Pollok née MacLaurin or McLaurin (1856-1911), first wife of John Pollok (1858-1938), solicitor, Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.
3 Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914), widow of Hugh Morris Lang (1817-1900), banker and landed proprietor, of Largs, Ayrshire and later Broadmeadows, Selkirk. She was a a close friend of Dr Muir.
4 Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham. A cyclist. Born Largs, Ayrshire.
5 Dr Muir’s four daughters (the girls) were Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir, Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir, Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir.
6 Assume Dr John Wilson (about 1873-1916), medical practitioner, and Margaret Wilson née Brown.
7 Isobel Murray is so far unidentified.
8 Assume Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), tweed manufacturer, born New Zealand, and his new wife Euphemia Cranston ‘Fairy’ Roberts née Greenwood (1877-1916).
9 Emmy Downs was Catherine Emily ‘Emma’ Downes (1884-1949), married later in 1904 to James Alexander ‘Jim’ Roberts (1879-1948). They left not long afterwards for New Zealand where they had two children, John Edward Downes Roberts (1906-1985) and Dorothy Violet Roberts, later MacMillan (1909-).
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Fine bright frost day + roads good except where the sun affected them. Cycled in town + over to the Firs. Mrs Smith1 much better + was downstairs yesterday. Allowed her to go for a drive first [illegible]. After lunch drove to Bowden (‘Phone for Nancy Bruce2), Lindean, the Butts, Hospital +c. Went to meeting of Session at night at which the districts were re-arranged. Helen + Dora with Nancy3 walked to Shielshaugh for snowdrops. Miss Wallace4 + baby5 went as far as General’s Bridge.
1 Dr Muir had been attending Alice Smith née Paterson (1863-1943) at The Firs, Selkirk. She was the wife of Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute.
2 Nancy Bruce is so far unidentified.
3 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir, Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir, three of Dr Muir’s four daughters.
4 Miss Jane Wallace (1874-), 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.
5 The baby was Dr Muir’s first grandchild, Andrina Barbara Roberts, born 1902.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Dull morning : glass very low but wind abated. Breakfasted 7 + left at 8 driving with bicycle attached. Drove as far as Gilmans the 12th milestone whence I cycled to Crook Cottage2, Baptie3 picking me up at Gilmanscleuch.4 The roads were washed [?] + fairly good. 9.6 miles in an hour. Found Mrs Johnstone5 very ill + stayed 55 minutes + came back to Gilmanscleuch in 41 minutes. As I was very hot + the weather good I cycled home getting back at 1.30. The roads were very heavy [?] this side of Ettrickbridgend. Saw a few town cases after dinner. Barbara6 came up at tea time. Nancy + Jack7 with Tom Mclagan + his wife8 came to supper. I went to evening service. Shannon, Hawick9, preached. This was Communion Sunday.
1 Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.
2 Crook Cottage, near Overkirkhope, Ettrick, grid reference NGR NT217,123.
3 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.
5 Mary Johnstone née Hewitson (about 1853-1904), wife of William Johnstone, roadman, living at Crook Cottage.
6 Assume Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts (1902-), Dr Muir’s first grandchild, and presumably accompanied.
7 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, and her husband John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966).
8 The Mclagans are so far unidentified.
9 The Reverend James Wigston Shannon (1858-1926), M.A., born Braidwood, Carluke, Lanarkshire, a coal miner in his youth, took holy orders and was called to Wilton Church, Hawick in 1892, emigrated to New Zealand as part of his ministry and died there.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 