Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes

Wet till midday + fair after. Colder S.W. Saw a dozen town cases. Message to Amos¹ + Short², Crosslee which David did. I pottered at the books, chiefly trying to find out if Dav. had given me 3/- for Mrs Brown, Kirkwynd. Some accounts being paid. Letter from Jean [Muir]. She wants away + can’t get. Helen + Nancy called at Levenlea³ about the baby clothes. Got an Ayr paper pictures of Rennie⁴ + an account of the 70th anniversary of his ministry.

¹ Perhaps Walter Amos, roadman, at Quave Burn Cottage, Chapelhope [Valuation Roll 1920]

² Assume Walter Short, ploughman, at Crosslee [Valuation Roll 1920]

³ John Harrison junior, manufacturer, was Proprietor at Levenlea, Selkirk [Valuation Roll 1920]

⁴ The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Dr Muir’s brother in law; widower of Catherine Stewart Muir

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Blowy + fresh + the pavement dry for a wonder [?] but there was a little rain in the afternoon + evening. S.W. [wind] Cycled to Curror Street, Danderwall Cottage, Haining Gate + Glebe Castle Street + Hospital in all 3.9 [miles]. Was in the house all afternoon till 4 when H + I went to Wellwood where the Roberts connection were assembled to celebrate [?] John Roberts¹ Golden Wedding. We had champagne + tea. Went to evening service when a Mr Godfrey, a missionary, preached.

¹ Sir John Roberts (1845-1934), C.M.G., Selkirk-born New Zealand businessman and Mayor of Dunedin, had married, 26 January 1870, Louisa Jane Kettle, second daughter of the surveyor who laid out Dunedin, Charles H Kettle; they had at least nine children, including John Roberts junior, Dr Muir’s son-in-law [Sources include Otago Daily Times, Issue 2489, 27 January 1870]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Strong W wind + heavy rain up till 12.30. Fair + drying after. David got back from Dryhope at 2.30 a.m. + intended going to Edinburgh for the weekend but was kept all day with Mrs Robert Scott, Kilncroft + didn’t get her over till 5.30¹. Unfortunately she died shortly after². He had the same stiff job with her as I had in September 1917. I did a small town list. Was called out about 3 to Dobie³ at Victoria Hall who fell off a ladder + fractured his radius. I went down to see Jack [Robert] at night. He is not right yet, there is some extra trouble at the Mill that is worrying him.

¹ Assume Mary Scott, born 24 January 1920, at 31 Kilncroft, Selkirk, daughter of Robert Scott, millman, and Mary Scott, deceased [see footnote 2]; her parents had married in 1915 at Selkirk

² Mary Scott née Stoddart, wife of Robert Scott, woollen millman, died 24 January 1920 at 31 Kilncroft, Selkirk, aged 37, of “fatty degeneration of heart” certified by D Charteris Graham M.B., Ch.B.; the previous birth referred to was that of Robert Scott, born 24 September 1917

³ Assume John Dobie, caretaker and “Inhabitant Occupier Not Rated” at Victoria Hall, Scotts Place, 1920 Valuation Roll

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Jack better today. Called for him in the morning + saw Munro with whom I had a nice crack last night. Motored to Faldonside (Dawn¹) + Sunderland Hall. Dav. came up in afternoon + helped me to address the form accounts + I got them all finished + arrayed for delivery. D. was at Newarkburn + Newark Mill + then at night had to go to Shaws + finally to a confinement at Dryhope². It was a day of constant drizzle.

¹ Assume Dawn Gordon Belle Brack Boyd Wilson, later Boyd Wilson Milne (1894-1980)

² Assuming this was Dryhope, Yarrow then the only obvious birth would be that of George William Ballantyne Steele of Dryhope Hope born 18 January 1920 which, though it appears too early to be that referred to, is Entry No. 1 in the Yarrow District Births for 1920

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

There was a message to see Jack + I found him all upset + nervous over the chairmanship of the supper tonight. He had to give it up. He hadn’t slept for the last two nights. Walked from Wellwood to Curror Street, Dandswall Lodge + Backrow. About 2 got ‘phone from Bowhill about Lady Nap Bowhill about Mrs Ordish¹ + a still room maid whom I found with Dip. + sent to Hospital. Saw Lady Mary². Went to supper to returned soldiers in Victoria Hall. Went down to Wellwood for Munro + took him back there after. Supper great success, over 400 present. Co-op store did it well.

¹ Hannah Ordish (about 1845-1920), housekeeper at Bowhill

² This may refer to Lady Mary Theresa Montagu Douglas Scott later Cecil (1904-1984)

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A dry day with a strong sharp W.N.W. wind. Bella [Paulin] still in bed. Walked to Curror Street, Ashybank, Sloethornbank, Heather Mill [parenthesis scored out] Mauldsheugh (Lady N.¹), Glebe + then to Bank, Kirkwynd, Backrow + Tait’s Hill. Made out list of accounts. David [Graham] came to tea + we put up most of the County ones [accounts].

¹ Clarice Jessie Evelyn Napier née Hamilton (1881-1951), the Hon., Lady Napier

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A slight touch of frost which quite disappeared but there was a sharp N.W. wind + in the forenoon a little rain. I started to bicycle + went to Bleachfield Road (Mrs W Smith curetting), Hospital + Goslaw Green but came back for the car + did Harewoodglen + Newarkburn + after lunch had to go back to Bowhill to see Lady Mary¹ (suspicion of chickenpox) + then to Yair, so I got nothing more done at the accounts. Helen had tea with the Peeresses² at Elmpark.

¹ This may refer to Lady Mary Theresa Montagu Douglas Scott later Cecil (1904-1984)

² This refers to the group of titled women who were descendants of Sir John Watson (1819-1898), 1st Bt. of Earnock and Neilsland, Scottish coal owner, including Ladies Lady Belhaven and Stenton, Hemphill and Napier – see also diary entries for 15th and 16th January 1920

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Change to cold weather again. N.W. wind + a few flakes of snow but a good deal of sunshine. Saw a town list of 13 + got to the accounts at 1 + finished them at 10.30 p.m. Bella¹ still in bed but rather better. Mousey² working away like a Trojan except when she paid a visit to the dentist. Louise + Stewart³ came to say good bye [sic] before going back to school. Fed them on chocolates.

¹ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and housekeeper

³ Louisa Jane ‘Louise’ Roberts (1906-1982) and Stewart Muir Roberts (1908-2003), two of Dr Muir’s grandchildren

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A mild dark rainy day, at least showering. Saw some cases + met Dav. at Walker, Glebe Terrace at 11 when he curetted Lizzie¹ + then at the House [Mauldsheugh], Annie Little². From there I walked to the Hospital where I have sent McColl’s housekeeper, McPherson who, I suspect, has been prigging³ his wine. Was in the house after 1.30. Made out some accounts. Bella⁴ in bed with a combination of asthma, cystitis + lumbago! Helen⁵ had all the work + we supped in the kitchen off an excellent rabbit pie of her making + stewed apples with whipped cream.

¹ Perhaps Elizabeth Walker, fancy draper, who was at 16 Glebe Terrace, then aged 39, in the 1911 Census

² Assume Ann Helen ‘Annie’ Little (1894-1968), Red Cross VAD holder of Red or White Stripe, of Hawkshaw, Kirkhope, Selkirkshire, Dr Muir’s servant for 6½ years until early 1918 when she left go to Moffat Hydro Military Hospital on V.A.D. work [Southern Reporter, 6 April 1922]

³ Stealing, thieving: a common usage in England but not Scots it appears

⁴ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

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

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Mild windy + wet all day till evening when the sky cleared + the temperature fell. I had hoped to cycle (+ actually did to Bleachfield Road + Goslaw Green) but it was too wet so I motored to Cannon Street, Yair + Hospital. Made out some accounts + got on with [the letter] P. Helen Nancy took Helen in Tricar to the Meet at Ashkirk + they followed to Woll, Grundistone, Dimpleknowe, Newhouse, Harelaw, Netherow + Lilliesleaf¹.

¹ Nancy Roberts and Helen Muir have followed the hunt in a south easterly direction from the Woll through the Groundistone area (as centred on kilometre square grid reference NGR NT4919) before turning north and east to Lilliesleaf via Dimpleknowe (grid reference NT503,227), Newhouse (NT521,235), Harelaw (NT533,231) and Netherraw (NT553,238)

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]