No frost but a dry dull morning with some sunshine after midday. Very pleasant. Saw Mrs Moffat¹, Backfeus at 9+ she died at 9.30. Saw Agnes Wallace² + diagnosed appendicitis which Dav.³ confirmed + operated on her at 5 p.m. Motored up to Oakwood. Mr Linton⁴ much better. Then ran out to Grundiston Height + from the high ground on Sintonparkhead⁵ got a nice view of the hunt. The meet was at Riddell + Helen⁶ cycled over to it with Miss Watson⁷, the lad McIntyre’s nurse who is at Viewfield⁸. Met Charles Plummer + his little boy riding + Mrs P. walking!⁹

¹ Beatrice Moffat (about 1841-1921), died 19 February 1921 at Back Feus, Selkirk, aged 80 [1921 778/ 15 Selkirk]

² Agnes Wallace is not identified

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

⁴ Simon Linton (1836–1921), farmer, of Manor, Peeblesshire and latterly of Oakwood, Selkirk, see diary entry for 17 February 1921

⁵ Assume Synton Parkhead, grid reference NGR NT488,214, though which of a number of high places in this vicinity Dr Muir is referring to is not evident

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁷ Miss Watson is not identified

⁸ Viewfield was the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s new (1920) premises

⁹ Assume Charles Henry Scott Plummer (1859-1948) with one of his two sons Charles Andrew Scott Plummer (1912-1959) or Walter Scott Plummer (1913-1945), and Muriel Grace Scott Plummer née Johnstone-Douglas (1874-1961)

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Another posting in the occasional series of 1913 diary entries

Still pretty cold but no rain. On high hills a sprinkling of fresh snow. Called out before breakfast to Mary Lamb¹ who had another severe attack of pain in right iliac from messages + Mrs Brown², Dunreay: Munro³, Castle Street: Adam Brown⁴, Mill Street, Davidson⁵, Bridge Street, Jo. Anderson⁶, Elmrow, Thomson⁷, Russell Cottage + Mrs Baptie⁸. Motored in Mocar⁹ to Bluecairn¹⁰, Ettrickbridgend, Singlie Inch¹¹, over Swire to Warrior’s Rest, + Yarrowford. Brought down crutches from Mrs Henderson¹², Bowhill Lodge + gave them to Tom Cunningham¹³, the Glebe. David Ingles¹⁴ began a portrait he has asked me to to allow him to paint of me. He did it in the drawing room before tea.

¹ Perhaps Mary Bella (sometimes Marybella) Lamb (1890-1954) [birth 1889, 778/60, 1889, death 1954, 778/27, Selkirk]

² Wilhelmina Alexa Brown née Mackay (about 1840-1919), wife of Andrew Brown, hosiery manufacturer, of Dunreay, Selkirk,; she was the daughter of David Mackay, heraldic painter, and Isabella Smith, previously Mackay née Morton

³ John Munro, postman, was Tenant of a house and garden at Castle Street, Selkirk [1914 Valuation Rolls, VR007900011-/57, Selkirk Burgh, page 57 of 786]; assume John Fortune Munro (1876-1918), postman and mail driver

⁴ Adam Brown is not found at Mill Street

⁵ Davidson is not found at Bridge Street

⁶ John Anderson, residenter, was Proprietor Occupier at 1914 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR007900011-/32, Selkirk Burgh, page 32 of 786]

⁷ James Thomson, ?, was at Russell Cottage, Hillside Terrace, 1914 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR007900011-/38, Selkirk Burgh, page 38 of 786]

⁸ Mrs Baptie could be Margaret Warwick nee Baptie (1234-1913) – but she was not a patient of Dr Muir’s judging by Dr John Wilson’s certification of her death – or possibly Thomas Baptie’s wife Janet who died in 1915 but Baptie was a relatively common name in Selkirkshire (seven adult females named Baptie died in Selkirkshire between 1913 and 1920)

⁹ The Mo-Car Syndicate, which became the Arrol-Johnston Car Company Ltd. from 1905, was a joint venture between George Johnston, locomotive engineer, Sir William Arrol MP, engineer and others (and later William Beardmore) and produced a ‘dogcart’ with transverse seats back-to-back

¹⁰ Presumably to visit Robert Johnstone, carpenter, occupier of a house at Bluecairn, Selkirk, 1913 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR011700008-/532, Selkirk County, page 532 of 617], see also diary entries for 4th, 5th, 7th, 15th, 17th and 21st February 1913

¹¹ Euphemia ‘Euphy’ Laidlaw (1828-1913) was staying at Singlie Inch, Kirkhope, with her nephew Robert Laidlaw at the 1911 Census and he was also recorded there in the 1913 Valuation Roll (Tenant Occupier, Cottage, Inch), Kirkhope, 1913 VR011700008-; The Inch is between Singliehill End and Gilmanscleuch and is shown on Ordnance Survey 1st Edition Selkirkshire Sheet XIV, published 1863

¹² John Henderson, foreman forester, was Inhabitant Occupier at North Lodge, Bowhill, Selkirk, 1913 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR011700008-/532, Selkirk County, page 532 of 617]

¹³ Assume Thomas Cunningham, manufacturer, Tenant Occupier at The Glebe, Selkirk, 1914 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR007900011-/135, Burgh, page 135 of 786]

¹⁴ David Ingles David Nicholson Ingles (1888-1933), A.R.H.A., portrait artist

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]

Still dry but a heavy hoar frost: brilliant sunshine for a short time but after 8.30 a dull clouded sky. Very calm. Cycled in town + to Oakwood, back to Forest Road + then via Linglie to Peelburnfoot + Fairnilee altogether 22.25 miles¹ + I felt much fitter though my legs were getting a little tired. Saw a few more [patients] after tea + got my hair cut.

¹ If readers are curious about Dr Muir’s accurate mileages they may like to know that Dr Muir was in the habit of using what he called a ‘Velometer’ (see his diary entry for 30 June 1919) which was probably a mechanical device and evidently, from Dr Muir’s comments, designed to work on a specific wheel size therefore presumably counting rotations

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Another posting in the occasional series of 1913 diary entries

Still dull, cold, calm, N.E. [wind]. Was not out of town. Sent Baptie¹ cycling to Bluecairn as I had ordered Rob^t Johnstone² 20 m of Dygitalis instead of 10. Saw town cases walking. Worked up “Edin. after Flodden” + recited it at the Guild meeting³. Also in “The …”⁴ Ross⁵ gave a short address on “Witches and Witchery”⁵. Sent 1/2 dozen applications to Stalker⁶. I must have very near 950 now.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

² Robert Johnstone, carpenter, occupier of a house at Bluecairn, Selkirk, 1913 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR011700008-/532, Selkirk County, page 532 of 617], see also diary entries for 4th, 5th, 7th, 15th, 18th and 21st February 1913

³ ‘Edinburgh after Flodden’ from ‘Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers’ by William Edmondstoune Aytoun (1813–1865), FRSE, Scottish lawyer, poet, Blackwood’s Magazine contributor and Professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at the University of Edinburgh; it starts “NEWS of battle! – news of battle! | Hark! ’tis ringing down the street: | And the archways and the pavement | Bear the clang of hurrying feet. | News of battle? Who hath brought it?” [Boos, Florence S “‘Spasm’ and Class: W. E. Aytoun, George Gilfillan, Sydney Dobell, and Alexander Smith.” Victorian Poetry, vol. 42, no. 4, 2004, pp. 553–584. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40002752. Accessed 24 Jan. 2021.]

⁴ Assume the Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister

⁵ It has not been possible to identify the reference to Witches and Witchery with any precision

⁶ Dr Muir is sending applications for Health benefits under the National Insurance Act 1911 to Donald Gordon Stalker (1867-1948), banker and law agent, Clerk to the National Health Insurance Committee, based at the British Linen Bank Buildings, Galashiels

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]

A most delightful spring day with constant bright sunshine + a little N.W. wind. Motored to Ettrick Mill, Oakwood, Henhouse, Whitmuirhall Toll¹ + Rockville². Oakwood³ rather easier. And.⁴ there. + very critical of Meg’s⁵ cooking for her father⁶. Gave Mrs Rob. Mitchell⁷ chlor. at Viewfield for curetting. Spent afternoon preparing preliminary remarks for lecture to V.A.D.⁸ tonight. There was a good turn out, fully 20 including 2 from Galashiels.

¹ John Black (fl.1921), gamekeeper, was inhabitant occupier not rated at Whitmuirhall Old Tollhouse, Selkirk [1921 Valuation, VR011700009-/333, Selkirk County, page 333 of 611]

² Rockville, home of Robert Currie (about 1847-1923), hosiery manufacturer

³ Dr Muir is referring metonymically to Simon Linton (see below) by his home

⁴ Andrew Linton (1876-1951), agriculturalist, son of Simon Linton, farmer, and Lilias or Lillias Linton née Fleming

⁵ Assume Margaret Thomson ‘Meg’ Grieve née Linton (1874-1955), daughter of Simon Linton, farmer, and Lilias or Lillias Linton née Fleming

⁶ Simon Linton (1836–1921), farmer, of Manor, Peeblesshire and latterly of Oakwood, Selkirk

⁷ Not identified but see diary entry for 15 February 1921

⁸ Voluntary Aid Detachment

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Another posting in the occasional series of 1913 diary entries

Weather much the same, calm dull + cold. Things getting quieter except for insured coming to consult (not of course today). Cycled to Bridgelands +c [The] Firs, Cannon Street finished by 1. Teddy Rodger’s engagement broken off¹. Went to evening service. Mr Ross² preached on the Antarctic disaster³. Mabel + Nancy came to supper⁴. Wrote Helen⁵ + Lizzie Rennie⁶.

¹ This is Peter Edward Alexander ‘Teddy’ Rodger (1876-1913), son of George Frederick Eck Rodger and Hilda Rodger née Seebohm; a wine merchant, unmarried, he died 10 May 1913 at Ochil Hills Sanatorium, Milnathort, usual residence Bridgelands, Selkirk, of phthisis pulmonalis, toxaemia and cardiac failure

² The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister

³ News of the “Antarctic disaster” did not come through until surviving members of the party operating at (or out of) Cape Evans had survived another winter in the Antarctic and been picked up by the Terra Nova, returning on her third and final voyage, in early 1913 [see e.g. History of Scott’s Expedition, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition 1910-1913

⁴ Conceivably Mabel Lovat McCall née Armstrong (about 1878-1917), wife of the Reverend James George McCall and Nancy Roberts née Muir (though why either should be there without their husbands isn’t clear)

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁶ Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858-1928), daughter of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir, thus Dr Muir’s niece

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]

Wind back to N.W. + dry. Tom Dunn¹ was buried today. There was a large attendance. He was buried in the Old Church and buried inside the building. I had one of the cords as also John Dunn²: Sandie³ + Alec Roberts⁴: Cox⁵, Sturrock⁶ + I think Tom Dickson⁷ + Hilson⁸. In the morning I motored to Ettrick Mill, Fairnilee, Peelburnfoot, Sund[erland] Hall Stables + Hospital. In afternoon looked up my diaries for details of the V.A.D. for tomorrow before [?] David⁹ went to Oakwood+ Ettrickbridgend + brought Helen¹⁰ back from Gilmanscleuch.

¹ Thomas ‘Tom’ Dunn (about 1844-1921), chemist and druggist, of Selkirk; son of John Dunn, chemist & druggist, and Hyndmer Rutherford Dunn nee Hewat

² Assume John Dunn (about 1888-1965), Tom Dunn’s nephew by his brother Richard Hewat Dunn (about 1846-1899); both of Tom Dunn’s brothers Richard H and John pre-deceased him

³ Assume Alexander Fowler ‘Sandie’ Roberts (1844-1929), woollen manufacturer

⁴ Assume Alexander Thomas ‘Alec’ Roberts (1885-1972), son of Thomas James Scougal ‘Tom’ Roberts and Hyndmer Rutherford Roberts née Crawford, and husband of Evelyn Laura Henderson

⁵ Assume Benjamin Connell Cox (about 1854-1924), ‘manufacturer of Scotch Tweeds’, who was at one time of Shawpark, 1889, The Firs, 1890-, and a house at Ettrickhaugh Road [possibly Mauldsheugh], 1899-1902, all Selkirk and appears to be one of the individuals named on Richard H Dunn’s probate in 1899; his daughter Muriel May Cox, later Monteith (1890-1971), was seen by Dr Muir as a baby (diary Saturday 10 January 1891) and he later referred to her husband, William Neve Monteith, who was killed in action 30 September 1915

⁶ The obvious individual is James Prain Sturrock (1870-1935), M.A., M.D., referred to in Dr John Stewart Muir’s diary entry for 31 December 1915, who was sometime assistant medical superintendent of Midlothian and Peebles Asylum and from 1914 Deputy Commissioner of the General Board of Control for Scotland (it may, of course be another individual: further transcription may throw up the answer in due course)

⁷ Tom Dickson is unidentified

⁸ There is a chance that this refers to Sydney Hilson (1870-1934), Procurator Fiscal for Jedburgh

⁹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

¹⁰ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Another posting in the occasional series of 1913 diary entries

Wind round to N.E. slight. Colder: dull: sunless: fair. Wilson¹ had to go to Bluecairn for me yesterday to see Robert Johnstone². Went up this afternoon + then to Fauldshope, Ettrickbridgend + over Swire to Warrior’s Rest + Yarrowford. Saw town cases in forenoon. Blackbird singing in garden night + morning + thrushes all round. Letter from Ernest Muir³. Lot of insured patients at night.

¹ Dr John Wilson (about 1873-1916), M.B., Master of Surgery, medical practitioner, at Kirkbrae, Selkirk, in practice with James Menzies of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk

² Robert Johnstone, carpenter, occupier of a house at Bluecairn, Selkirk, 1913 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR011700008-/532, Selkirk County, page 532 of 617], see also diary entries for 4th, 5th, 7th, 17th, 18th and 21st February 1913

³ Ernest Muir (1880-1974), C.M.G., C.I.E., F.R.C.S., medical practitioner and leprologist, based in India for many years, he was Dr Muir’s nephew

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]

Wind round to S.W. strong + a slight drizzle all day. Roads softer. David¹ went to Ed. today to see Gulland² with Miss Taylor + Miss Scott Noble³. After doing 8 town cases walking I motored to Ettrickbridgend taking Helen⁴ who went on to Gilmanscleuch while I saw old Miss Smith (who died in the course of the day⁵) [and] Mrs R Mitchell⁶, Fairholme. I also got a message there to see Miss Paterson, Ettrick Road. Met Baptie⁷ at Rinkhope + went over the Swire⁸ to Sundhope⁹, getting there about 3. Went to meeting of War Memorial Com^ttee at 8 O’Clock.

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

² George Lovell Gulland (1862-1941), C.M.G., M.D., F.R.C.P., Professor of Medicine, Edinburgh University

³ Miss Taylor is not identified but, if her companion’s title reads Mrs – it is always difficult to be sure with Dr Muir, then Scott Noble may conceivably refer to Edith Alice Scott Noble née Hutton (1893-1974), especially if the pair were attending as patients rather than nurses

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁵ Betsy Ann Smith née McKenzie, daughter of George McKenzie , grocer, and Maria McKenzie née Sobourn, and widow of John Smith, died 15 February 1921, aged 83, at Ettrickbridge, Kirkhope, of “senile debility” death certified by “John S Muir M.B. etc” [1921 776/ 1]

⁶ Jane Kennedy Mitchell, wife of William R Mitchell, timber manager, was proprietor of a house and garden at Ettrickbridgend, Kirkhope identified as property No. 121 on the 1920 Valuation Roll and only named “Fairholme” on the Valuations for 1923 onwards

⁷ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁸ The ‘Swire Road’ runs between Gordon Arms, Yarrow and just west of Ettrickbridge via Witchie Knowe

⁹ Sundhope, Yarrow, grid reference NGR NT336,251, opposite Yarrow Feus

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

A few crocuses showing colour in front

Fine weather continues + roads mostly excellent. Saw a town list of 10 cycling + went on via Rink to Peelburnfoot calling for Mrs Miller¹, the Nest on my way back. Did not feel as fagged as on Saturday my dyspepsia having gone. Helen + Nancy² walked to Half Crown Corner³. Helen stayed at Elmpark⁴ last night + ate 3 eggs for her breakfast!

¹ Marion Millar née Baird (1876-), born Carnwath, Lanarks, married, June 1904, Forth, Lanarks, Peter Millar (about 1879-), gamekeeper; children Walter Millar (1905-) and Alexander Baird Millar (1906-); they appear to have been living at ‘Robin’s Nest’, Caddonfoot between about 1904 and 1925 [Source: 1904 to 1925 Valuation Rolls]

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s third daughter/sometime housekeeper and second daughter respectively

³ Halfcrown Corner, ENE of Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT501,296; visible (but not named) on Ordnance Survey 6” Selkirkshire Sheet XII.NW, revised 1897, published, 1900, where the track from Faldonside Moor reaches the road from Glenwhilt

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]