Wind away back to N.E. but it was a nice dry day with a good deal of sun in the afternoon. Was not out of town. Rose at 5.30 + did not go out till 11.30. Saw some cases cycling + after lunch at 2 got all the rest of the day at ledger. Finished posting 1902.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

The nicest freshest day of the season with a mild S.W. wind which melted a lot of the snow on the hills. The roads not quite good enough all round for cycling. Drove via Castle Street + Haining to Oakwoodmill, Hartwoodmyres, Bowhill + Broadmeadows. Mrs Lang¹ wonderfully well + has been out twice for a drive. Was not out after dinner except for evening service. Attended meeting of Session to consider Thomas Goodfellow’s² resignation of Sunday School Superintendent which it was resolved not to accept.³

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 Goodfellow (1863-), groom, in 1901 Census recorded as a boarder at a house in Selkirk. He may have had itchy feet at this time because, though it is not clear where he was in the 1911 Census, by 1921 he was appears to have been living in Morningside, Edinburgh, a postal telegraphist, married and with three children.

³ It is not clear what the ramifications of this would have been.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Frosty again last night but a cloudier day at least after the forenoon. Wind W.S.W. Snow disappearing very gradually. Saw some town cases walking + then drove to Riddell + Newhouse. Large meet at Riddell. Had lunch there. The General¹ very keen about motors. Strongly recommends the Oldsmobile. Was not out after getting home at 4. Nancy² went for a walk with Mrs Fraser.³

¹ Assume Lieutenant-General John Sprot (1830-1907) of Riddell House, Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire, Honorary Colonel of the Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

³ Mrs Fraser 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]

Hard frost again last night followed by a magnificent brilliant cloudless day. Rose at 4.20 + did some good work at ledger. Was not out of town + went at ledger again in afternoon with Dora¹ at the index. Nancy + baby² came to tea. Baby now calls me “Ga’ fuff”. Mrs Rodger, Ettrick View³ called + she was “Eliriosus”.⁴ Attended Mrs Christy, High Street, who had a d [daughter] at 6.45.⁵ Mrs Sprot called to ask me to see her mother.⁶ Baptie⁷ drove to Melrose with 2 decanters.⁸

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s third and youngest daughters.

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, and her first child Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts (1902-1996).

³ Mrs Rodger is so far unidentified.

⁴ The Editor assumes this is some more baby language.

⁵ Winnie Lester Christie was born 6.50 p.m. on 11 March 1904 at 37 High Street, Selkirk, the daughter of John Christie, licensed grocer, and Jeannie Christie née Cowan. Her parents were married 8 September 1893.

⁶ Assume Gertrude Gladys Violet Sprot (1889-1966), daughter of Charlotte Gertrude Cole (1856-1933). Her mother had married Lieutenant-General John Sprot in 1886, his third marriage.

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

⁸ This appears to be a non sequitur.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Letter from Pat¹ on 11 Frises mail² late also from Aggie McKinnon³

Wrote him + sent a cutting from Scotsman about the catching of a salmon at Stobo with a horse hair

Fine clear calm day : bright + sunny. Sharp frost last night. No new messages today. Less doing than usual. Drove in town + to Oakwoodmill, Hartwoodmyres, Bowhill, Broadmeadows (lunch), Philiphaugh + Hospital. Choral Union concert (Creation) Jean⁴ singing : Nancy⁵ hearing [?]. H. + D.⁶ walked to Whitmuirhall for snowdrops. Choral Union Concert “Creation” + dance. Wind round to N.W. after being E. + N.E. for a long time.⁷

¹ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.

² This reference is obscure. Dr Muir previously mentioned Frise in connection with his son Pat on 29 January 1904.

³ Aggie McKinnon is so far unidentified.

⁴ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter.

⁵ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s third and youngest daughters.

⁷ The Editor is not confident that he has correctly identified the break between this and the following diary entry.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Still fresh + though weather cock pointed N.E. it was much milder. There was some sun also in the afternoon. The hills however are quite white + the snow is heavy on the Greenhill Road. After seeing some town cases walking I drove to Lilliesleaf + Newhouse¹ + after lunch rode Macaulay² to Blackhaugh going + coming by the Ford.³

¹ Newhouse, Lilliesleaf, grid reference NGR NT522,235, Ordnance Survey six inch Roxburghshire Sheet XIII.SE, published 1899 and, the Editor assumes, the almshouses at Lilliesleaf.

² Macaulay was one of Dr Muir’s horses.

³ Blackhaugh, Caddonfoot Parish, grid reference NGR NT42355,38350, where the ford across the Caddon Water is clearly visible on Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet III.SE, published 1900. The proprietor was The Right Honourable Baroness Fanny G J Reay and the tenants of the various houses there included John Elliot, Walter Hogarth, George Paton, John Brockie and George Hope.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Another covering of snow this morning + it was falling at daybreak, but there was a decided though calm + slow thaw + a lot of the snow disappeared. At night it was raining. Rose at 4 + did a lot of writing + posting [accounts]. Sat at ledger all forenoon + got Dora¹ to help me turning up the names in the index. Went out at 12.30 + saw some cases. Lunched at Wellwood² + walked to Buccleuch Road + Mavisbank. Geo. Rodger³ called. He is going to see Bramwell.⁴ Attended meeting of Session at which And. Henderson’s resignation as Session Clerk was accepted⁵ + Mr Boyd⁶ was appointed in his place.

¹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.

² It is not clear whose home this was at this time. Te Whare was not recorded as that in the Valuation Rolls until George Roberts was recorded there in 1915. It was certainly named Te Whare before this date as Andrina Barbara Henderson Roberts (daughter of John Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts nee Muir) was born there in 1902. It may also be recalled that Dr Muir previously wrote that he had “Called at Wellwood to see Baby”. Furthermore John ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1951) was born at Wellwood in November 1904.

³ Assume George Rodger (about 1843-1910), proprietor of Bridgelands at this time.

⁴ Assume Edwin ‘Ed’ Bramwell (1873-1952), Professor, M.B., Ch.B., F.R.C.P.E., Scottish neurologist, specialist in brain injuries and shell-shock and President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh from 1933 to 1935.

⁵ Assume Andrew Henderson (1858-1911), watchmaker, of No. 6 The Glebe, Selkirk.

⁶ Perhaps John Boyd (1848-1905), woollen warehouseman, of Ivybank, Selkirk.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

A thick covering of snow. The day was one of fog, drizzle + slush + yet in some places there seemed to be frost. The wind was slight + E. Mrs Walt. Dickson (Annie McRobie) died this morning.¹ I saw town cases + Hospital walking before lunch + in afternoon drove to Oakwoodmill, Hartwoodmyres, Bowhill + Broadmeadows. Advised And. Smith to go in to Edinburgh about his eye which he will do tomorrow.²

¹ Annie Dickson née McRobie (1859-1904) died 7 March 1904 at Forest Road, Selkirk, aged 43, of pneumonia six days as certified by John S Muir M.B. +c. She was the daughter of John McRobie and Jessie McRobie née Lambert and was married to Walter Dickson, woollen factory worker.

² Andrew Smith had presented with Iritis on 3 March 1904. He may have been Andrew Smith (about 1841-), joiner, who was recorded living at Scott’s Place, Selkirk in 1901.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Less wind today but very windy. More or less snow all day but little or no frost. At night the streets were all white. Saw Annie McRobie¹ 4 times. Was not out of town + went twice to church which I have not done for many weeks. The services were appropriate to the Centenary of the British + Foreign Bible Society² which occurs tomorrow. Archie Russell, Forest Road, died this morning.³

¹ Annie Dickson née McRobie (1859-), wife of Walter Dickson. They had married 29 December 1893 and in 1895 had a daughter Jessie McRobie Dickson.

² The Society was formed on 7 March 1804 to encourage the “wider circulation and use” of the Scriptures, initially setting out to provide access to affordable bibles in Welsh (Beibl i Bawb – A Bible for All).

³ Archibald Russell (1878-1904), watchmaker, died 6 March 1904 at 58 Forest Road, Selkirk, aged 25, of tuberculous phthisis certified by John S Muir. He was the son of John Russell, saddler, deceased, and Janet Scott, formerly Russell née Ruthven.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]

Was knocked up at 5 by Walt. Dickson¹ + Lizzie McRobie² who said Annie³ was much worse + wanting to get Wilson⁴ in Consultation. She has not slept any so gave her some Sulphonal.⁵ Met Wilson there at 10. The pneumonia had shifted to the [?]. Annie Cunningham⁶ not so well. Walked there + along to Mavisbank. And. Scott⁷ + Willie Christie⁸ improved. After lunch drove to Broadmeadows, Bowhill, Hartwoodmyres + Oakwoodmill. Very cold day E.N.E. wind + occasional showers of small snow + hail. Most wintry spell of weather we have had. After dinnner saw Christy, Cunningham, Dickson + Archie Russell⁹ (the latter sinking).

¹ Walter Dickson, woollen dyer, living at Forest Terrace, Selkirk, 1901 Census.

² Assume Elizabeth McRobie (1855-), living at Forest Terrace, Selkirk in 1901. She was Annie Dickson’s sister and their parents were John McRobie, woollen weaver, and Jessie McRobie née Lambert.

³ Annie Dickson née McRobie (1859-), wife of Walter Dickson. They had married 29 December 1893 and in 1895 had a daughter Jessie McRobie Dickson.

⁴ Assume Dr John Wilson (about 1873-1916), medical practitioner.

⁵ Sulphonmethane also sulphonal, a late 19th Century sedative.

⁶ Annie Cunningham (1877-), draper’s assistant, daughter of George Cunningham, draper, and Isa Cunningham née Graham.

⁷ Andrew Scott is so far unidentified.

⁸ William C Christie (1886-), licensed grocer’s assistant, son of John Christie, licensed grocer, and Jane also Jeannie Christie née Cowan. The parents married in 1892 and it is not clear if John was William’s father.

⁹ Archibald Russell (1878-1904), watchmaker, died 6 March 1904 at 58 Forest Road, Selkirk, aged 25, of tuberculous phthisis certified by John S Muir. He was the son of John Russell, saddler, deceased, and Janet Scott, formerly Russell née Ruthven.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]