A terrific gale raged all night + all day from W.S.W. with some blasts of rain. It was quite fresh however + no snow was visible on the hills. I got to morning service at which a young clergyman, a Mr Ross officiated. I expected a quiet afternoon but at 1.30 got a message to Mrs Barton¹, Oakwoodmill. Motored up. Finished the day book for Feb. + got all paid accounts marked out. Norah G². had tea with Helen [Muir]. Jack³ called. Nancy⁴ in bed. Wind howling at 11 when I went to bed.

¹ Rebecca or Rebekah Monti Garden Barton née Grant (1867-1932), wife of Andrew Barton, farmer, was at Oakwoodmill Farmhouse [1901 Census], she was born at Moulin, Perthshire, they had married at Stirling and their older children has been born in Stirlingshire and Perthshire

² Norah Campion Graham née West (1887-1971), wife of Dr David Charteris Graham (1889-1963), medical practitioner

³ John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, later knighted “for political and public services in Selkirk”

⁴ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and wife of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (above)

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

Blustery cold day with some heavy rain + sleet showers. Snow gone in town but lying in patches outside + on hills. I had a busy day from 9.30 a.m. till 7.30 p.m. with 40 minutes for lunch. Motored in forenoon in town (James Pollok¹ took about ³/₄ of an hour) + to Ravensheugh + Sunderland Hall: there to Midlem + Lilliesleaf + finally to some more town cases, Hospital, Bowhill, Carterhaugh + Ettrickhaugh + a crowd of people [at surgery] from 6 to 7.15.

¹ Not identified

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

Snow lying but roads slushy except in shade where it froze. Pretty hard at night. Fine sunny day but bitterly cold W [wind]. Motored to Goslaw Green / Hillside, Nursing Home &c. + called for Lady N. [Napier¹] at Mauldsheugh. Went on to Carterhaugh to see Elder the gardener² (who used to beat Thirladean) + met Mrs Scott, widow of Lord Charles³. Went to Newark Mill + back by Dunsdale. Banked some money + then was busy marking out paid accounts which are coming in pretty well. Up to date 1919-20 is £1268.

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

² Thomas Elder (1855-1941), domestic gardener, was an ‘Inhabitant Occupier not rated’ at Carterhaugh [Valuation Roll 1920]

³ Assume Ada Mary Montagu Douglas Scott née Ryan (d.1943), wife of Admiral Lord Sir Charles Thomas Montagu Douglas Scott (1839-1911)

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

Some snow lying this morning but it was rather a nice sunny day though cold. S.W. [wind]. When I looked out at 10 p.m. however there was a thick covering of snow. David left early + motored to Edinburgh meaning to go to the Glasgow Motor Show¹. He won’t be back till Monday. I motored to Bowhill + Sunderland Hall + saw 9 town cases. Was called out before dinner to Mrs D Thomas, Goslaw Green. Nancy + H [Helen] had tea with Bell Harkness².

¹ Presumably the motor show put on at the Kelvin Hall in January 1920 by the Scottish Motor Traders Association

² The Editor assumes this is Isabella Harkness (1859-1929); the friendship if that is what it is, may stem from support given to Mrs Harkness when her daughter died in awful circumstances in 1915 – there are references to Helen (or Helen and Nancy or Barbara) visiting Bell Harkness on dates in 1916, 1917 and 1918

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

A better day, slight frost + some snow lying on hills. Was able to cycle. Was called out at 1 a.m. from the smoke room to attend Mrs John Bateman who had a son¹. Got back to bed at 4 + was late rising. Cycled to Bridge Street + Yair + afterwards to Dandswall etc, altogether 10.3 [miles] + found it enough. David was at Sunderland Hall + Bridgeheugh. Drew £200 from the Firm [i.e. the Co-partnery].

¹ John Stewart Bateman, born 28 January 1920 at 49 Curror Street, Selkirk, son of John Kirk Bateman, woollen millworker, and Margaret Bridget Bateman née Crozier; his parents had married, 26 September 1913 at Selkirk

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

A violent southerly gale with rain + a few flakes of snow. Very cold. Very little doing. Saw 7 or 8 cases including Forest Mill + Michael (Mrs), Cannon Street. David was only at Middlestead + Ravensheugh. Chalmers called me at night about resuscitating the St Andrews Ambulance Committee in connection with the presentation of a Motor Ambulance by Craig Brown.

¹ Assume Thomas ‘T’ Craig-Brown (1844-1922); J.P.; tweed manufacturer, public servant and antiquarian

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

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]