Lovely morning + forenoon : very clear. Clouded in afternoon + a little rain. Message to Flora Hogg, Deuchar Mill.¹ Cycled up. She has got measles from Sandy Ingles’ Kid at Kershope.² After lunch message to Mrs Miller, Fairnilea.³ Cycled over + came back by Hospital +c. Mauldsheugh ‘Phoned that a Dr Brown⁴ was coming out to see Jim Buckham.⁵ I gave him a hurried bite of dinner at 7. David⁶ had nothing to do with it so my anger was appeased. All the Wellwood kids⁷(but Babs who is away in the Highlands⁸) came up to tell me about the picnic to Etal on Saturday. It was pouring when they went home between 8 + 9.

¹ Flora is so far unidentified. The 1921 Census recorded the occupants of Deuchar Mill, Yarrow as Henry Hogg, farmer, aged 75, his wife Christina, 62, and the children Adam, 40, Neil, 30, Elizabeth, 32, daughter-in-law Ada, 35, and granddaughter Jean, 4.

² Sandy Ingles’ child is so far unidentified.

³ Peter Miller was Inhabitant Occupier at Robin’s Nest Cottage, Fairnilee, Caddonfoot parish, but he does not appear to have been recorded there in the 1921 Census.

⁴ Dr Brown is unidentified.

⁵ This presumably refers to James Buckham (1859-1924), recorded in the 1921 Census at 8 Ettrick Road, aged 60, born Kelso, a warehouseman for George Roberts & Co. Married to Margaret Moffat, who was suffering from pernicious anaemia.

⁶ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁷ The rest of Dr Muir’s grandchildren, the ‘Wellwooders’, were 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), children of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948).

⁸ Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest grandchild, had an adventurous spirit and evidently enjoyed travelling. Dr Muir has previously recorded he in Paris, New Zealand and Australia.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Another showery day but with sunny intervals: mild. Had to motor first to Fairnilea¹ (making calls in town) [and] back to Dunsdale, Heatherlie Park² + West Port. Mr Ross³ who has biliary congestion⁴ was rather better. Clare⁵ is at home. Then I motored to Whitmuirhall⁶ + Whitmuir.⁷ Durnford⁸, Elmpark, arrived with Mrs Mack⁹ from St Andrews [illegible] with a sprained ankle. Was in the home¹⁰ all afternoon. Wrote Helen.¹¹

¹ Fairnilee, Clovenfords parish, where there was a number of different households.

² Dr Muir had been seeing someone, probably James Smith, barber, at Heatherlie Park, Selkirk (see diary entries for 6 August 1923).

³ Mr Ross is so far unidentified.

⁴ Biliary congestion is blockage of the bile ducts.

⁵ Clare is so far unidentified.

⁶ Dr Muir had been attending the Cowan family at Whitmuirhall (on the Bowden road), see diary entry for 2 August 1923.

⁷ In his 31 July diary entry Dr Muir appears to have confused Whitmuirhall and Whitmuir. It is still not possible to identify who he was attending.

⁸ Assume Norman Stanley M Durnford (1889-1965), businessman, of Stoke Bishop, Bristol, Mrs Mackintosh’s son-in-law, married to Agnes Watson Harper (1888-1976).

⁹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

¹⁰ Assume Viewfield Nursing Home (he calls his home, Thorncroft, ‘the house’).

¹¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and housekeeper, appears to have stayed at Haslemere, Surrey, where Dr Muir had been holidaying until 28 July.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Nice warm sunny forenoon. Some rain at 5 + dull evening: calm. No County work. Cycled to Heatherlie Park¹, Broomfield², Hospital +c. Sent Nurse McIntosh³ from Viewfield to Hospital⁴ with a suspicion of measles. Finished my list by 1 o’clock but was called out first for old Mrs Moran⁵ + then for Mr Ross.⁶

¹ There is a James Smith, barber, at Heatherlie Park, Selkirk in the 1923 Valuation Roll but the Editor has not been able to match him to anyone in the 1921 Census.

² Dr Muir had previously attended Broomhill, Selkirk, the home of Walter Smith and his family (see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 5 August 1923).

³ Nurse McIntosh had measles (see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 5 August 1923). She is so far unidentified. Nobody of that surname and occupation was recorded at Selkirk in the 1921 Census.

⁴ Measles would have been a concern, which explains why on 5 August 1923 Dr Muir tried to call his co-partner Dr Graham who was away on military businees and on 6 August moved the case from the private nursing home (Viewfield) to the public hospital.

⁵ Assume Ann Gibbons née Morran, sometimes Moran, Morraine or similar (about 1851-1939) – though Dr Muir called her Mrs Gibbons in his 15 May 1923 diary – who was recorded in the 1921 Census living at Backfeus, Selkirk, with her husband John Gibbons (about 1844-1932) and four children David (1881-), Agnes (1889-), John (1890-) and Jean or Jane (1893-). John Gibbons senior was from County Mayo, Ireland and he and Ann had married 29 June 1869 at Galashiels and appear to have had other children (by 1923 presumably living elsewhere – searches suggest that there is no reason to think any of them had died) including Mary (1870-), Bridget (1872-), Helen (1874-), Agnes (1887-), Catherine ‘Kate’ (1878-), Margaret ‘Maggie’ (1883-), Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ (1885-) and Sarah (1889-)..

⁶ Mr Ross is unidentified.

¹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Fine day : calm sunny warm but there was some quiet rain after 6. I didn’t get to Church. Cycled to Broomhill¹, Shawpark² +c + down to Heatherlie Park³ where I put up the boy Smith’s Potts Fracture⁴ under Chloro[orm]. Nurse McIntosh⁵ Viewfield developed measles + I tried to get Dav.⁶ on the ‘Phone but up till 7 he hadn’t replied. Went to Wellwood⁷ for supper.

¹ Broomhill, Selkirk, home of Walter Smith (about 1861-), farmer. In the 1921 household his family comprised Agnes Hume Smith nee Turnbull, married 14 May 1889 in Edinburgh, and their children Andrew Selkirk (1890-), Archibald Turnbull Smith (1894-), Jeanie Turnbull Smith (1896-), Maggie Phorson Smith (1897-), Walter Smith (1899-) and Lizzie Turnbull Smith (1904-). Andrew Smith was born at the Queen’s Head Inn, Selkirk while his father was working as an innkeeper.

² Dr Muir had been attending Shawpark, Selkirk from time to time to see John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), a civil engineer, who had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

³ There is a James Smith, barber, at Heatherlie Park, Selkirk in the 1923 Valuation Roll but the Editor cannot match him to anyone in the 1921 Census.

⁴ A Pott’s fracture is a type of ankle fracture.

⁵ Nurse McIntosh is so far unidentified. Nobody of that surname and occupation was recorded at Selkirk in the 1921 Census.

⁶ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner, appears to have gone off on some sort of military duties, see diary entry for 29 July 1923.

⁷ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, and her husband John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner, and their children.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Much better day : less wind + almost continuous sunshine: but the glass has risen too rapidly + the atmosphere was suspiciously clear. Yarrow was looking lovely. I had to go to Cramalt to see Mrs Hogg¹ but first to Broomhill² – 2 kids measles – + before that cycled to Mavisbank + Goslaw Green. Got back from Cramalt at 2 : had lunch + then motored to Rosemount, Gala (Marion Paton³) + Shawpark.⁴ Saw some town cases before 6. August holidays began. Wrote David.⁵ Stewart + Tim⁶ called + we opened the box of chocs that came from Wellwood at Xmas!

¹ Isabella Hogg née Nichol, widow of John Hogg, died 22 May 1921, aged 82, at Cramilt [Cramalt], Yarrow, informant John Hogg, son, and certified by “John S Muir MB etc Selkirk”. The wife here must presumably be Mary Hogg née Nicol who had married John Hogg junior 23 May 1884 at Yarrow.

² On 5 October Dr Muir noted that he had walked to “Broomhill (Mrs Graham, the County Surveyor’s wife)”. Mrs Graham was and continues to be unidentified but was the wife of William Graham, road surveyor and Tenant Occupier of a house and garden Broomhill, Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/386, Selkirk County, page 386 of 611].

³ Marion Paton (about 1841-1940), living with her sister Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) “on their own means” after flitting to Galashiels in May 1918.

⁴ Dr Muir had been attending Shawpark, Selkirk from time to time to see John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), a civil engineer, who had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁶ Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), two of Dr Muir’s grandsons, youngest children of John Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir of Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Things were wet this morning but there was only a slight drizzle + the weather gradually improved + the glass rose rapidly till in the afternoon it was sunny, but there was a very strong westerly gale + the river [Ettrick Water] was in high flood. Paid [?] a town round walking + motored to Beechwood + Shawpark + then to Heatherlie [illegible] where a boy Smith¹ had a Potts frac.² Wrote Jean.³ Letter from Helen⁴ + Stewart⁵ + Tim⁶ looked in.

¹ Smith is unidentified.

² A Pott’s fracture is a type of ankle fracture.

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter, living and working in Newington, Edinburgh.

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

⁵ Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003), son of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir.

⁶ George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005), son of John Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir. Later a mill owner.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Started out [on] the Bike this morning but after seeing some [illegible] the rain came on at Heathfield + I had to come home + take the car in which I went to Haining, Whitmuirhall +c. At the latter I vaccinated the boy Cowan¹ who is at Winchester School. I met the Father² who was riding + whose horse (which he was holding at the gate leading up to Gala Rigg) bolted from being frightened by the car. He introduced himself + told me I had attended him once at Whitmuirhall when he had got [illegible]. I was in the house all afternoon + made out my income tax return which gave me income for 1922-23 at £1223. 7. 2. gross. It was very wet all afternoon + evening. Wind S.E. to S.

¹ Alexander Cowan (see footnote 2) and his wife Margaret Annie Logan Home, who had married in Edinburgh in July 1903, had two sons Christopher Home Cowan (1908-1999) and Charles Anthony Cowan (1914-) and this could just about refer to either.

² Alexander Gillespie Cowan (1873-1961), papermaker and farmer, was tenant of Whitmuirhall after the Dunlop family flitted in early 1923. He didn’t move far thereafter. His death was recorded 17 August 1961 at Eastfield, Bowden (not Melrose as some records imply), just along the road from Whitmuirhall.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

It must have rained during the night for everything was wet + the rivers were down¹ There was a little rain in the forenoon but it cleared up + was a lovely evening with clear sky. I breakfasted before 8 + got away by 8.45 in the car to Ettrickbridgend (Tom Mitchell² = tobacco ?³) + Oakwoodmill⁴ walking town calls on way back. Message to Mrs Nimmo Smith’s child [at the] Haining.⁵ Was not out after lunch but after dinner went to Goslaw Green (Mrs Dav. Thomson⁶). Nancy⁷ called.

¹ This is contradictory surely?

² Assume Thomas Mitchell (1867-1937), master joiner, who was proprietor of the ‘tenants improvements gas engine’, ‘tenants erections’ and a hayshed at Ettrickbridgend, Kirkhope [1923 Valuation Rolls].

³ It is not clear what the second word says nor what the meaning of the phrase might be.

⁴ It is not obvious whom Dr Muir was visiting here.

⁵ It is not clear which Nimmo Smith child this might refer to but Austin Nimmo Smith (1886-1951), M.B., Ch.B., and his wife Muriel Alice Smith née Ackerley had three boys, Robert Hermann Nimmo Smith, Austin Ackerley Nimmo Smith and Richard Clement Nimmo Smith.

⁶ Frances Eliza Thomson née McBain, wife of David Thomson, condenser watcher for S.C.W.S. Woollen Manufacturers [1921 Census]. Both were aged 57 in the 1921 Census living at 9 Goslaw Green with their daughter Jeanie K Thomson, aged 21, who worked for Edward Gardiner. David and Frances were born at Alva (Clackmannanshire) and Selkirk respectively and had married in 1896 at Galashiels. Frances McBain’s father was James McBain, Superintendent of Police.

⁷ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

A cloudy mild calm day with a lot of rain particularly in the evening when it became very dark. I made 23 visits including Whitmuirhall (where the cook of the Cowans¹ who have taken it) sprained her foot + Whitmuirhall² where all the girls have had Scarlatina or something. Motored there. Visited the Home which is pretty full. Wrote Helen.³ Jack⁴ called when I was at lunch.

¹ The cook is unidentified but the new tenant at Whitmuirhall was Alexander Gillespie Cowan [1923 Valuation Roll VR011700009-/437, Selkirk County, Page 437 of 605].

² This seems to be a moment of confusion on Dr Muir’s part. The family described cannot be readily identified.

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and housekeeper.

⁴ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Dr Muir’s son-in-law.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Today was fine though dull till 1.30 when it rained pretty heavily. I did a round cycling + got back just as the rain was coming on. The garden is looking well, except that the blight is [illegible] on the strawberries. The roses are splendid + have benefited by being sprayed with soap suds. Yesterday I had the first dish of peas + also some cherries. Had meeting of Golf Club Comm^ttee at night + arranged runs.¹ [I did] 21 [house] visits.

¹ Dr Muir has never mentioned golf in almost 10 years of diary transcription. Runs (if that is the correct reading) is more likely to be the cycling club but that’s a big difference from what Dr Muir has clearly written.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]