Cold dreary day : a little frost in morning + fresh sprinkling of snow : occasional very slight showers during the day. Thawing at night. Rose at 5 + had 2 hours work. Got books paid for 1^st half of 1903. Walked in town + drove to Ettrickbank + Hospital. Was not out after lunch till night when I had to go to see Willie Christy¹ + Mrs Walt. Dickson² a second time. Jack³ was chairman at the opening of a bazaar for Ett. Forest Bowling Club by Sheriff Smith.⁴

¹ 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.

² Annie Dickson née McRobie (1868-), wife of Walter Dickson, woollen dyer, living at Forest Terrace, Selkirk, 1901 Census. They had married 29 December 1893 and in 1895 had a daughter Jessie McRobie Dickson.

³ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Dr Muir’s son-in-law.

⁴ Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute.

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

Have a lot of serious cases facing me Annie Cunningham¹ (Bright), And. Smith² (iritis), Willie Christie³ (appendicitis), Mrs Walt. Dickson⁴ (pneumonia), And. Scott⁵ (erysipelas). Still thawing + a bitterly cold E.N.E. wind. Saw a lot of town cases walking in forenoon. In afternoon drove to Cannon Street, Broadmeadows, Bowhill + Oakwoodmill.

¹ Annie Cunningham (1877-), draper’s assistant, daughter of George Cunningham, draper, and Isa Cunningham née Graham.

² Perhaps Andrew Smith (about 1841-), joiner, living at Scott’s Place, Selkirk in 1901.

³ 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.

⁴ Annie Dickson née McRobie (1868-), wife of Walter Dickson, woollen dyer, living at Forest Terrace, Selkirk, 1901 Census. They had married 29 December 1893 and in 1895 had a daughter Jessie McRobie Dickson.

⁵ Andrew Scott 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]

Saw Chas. Alexander¹ + decided to sell by [sic] Buenos Ayres shares² which will enable me to pay up my Bank Overdraft + the Succession duty.³ Wrote Jas. Wallace⁴ + offered him the shares. Thawing today + very cold + disagreeable. Drove in Mr Ross had breakfast at 6.45 + I walked down to see him off at 7.15.⁵ Drove in forenoon to Ettrickbank + Oakwoodmill + in afternoon to Lilliesleaf, Newhouse, Sinton Mill + Ashkirk U.F. Manse.⁶

¹ Assume Charles Alexander (1852-1911), J.P., Sheriff-substitute, Solicitor, Law Agent [1911] and Burgh Prosecutor, Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory, 1903.

² It will be interesting to see if Dr Muir does offload these shares because he had a holding in Buenos Ayres at the end of the First World War.

³ Dr Muir had reported the day before that he had death duty to pay after the death in 1902 of his wife Andrina Barbara Henderson Muir née Rodger (1849-1902).

⁴ Assume James Wallace (about 1841-1922), husband of Dr Muir’s sister Mary Jane Muir.

⁵ It is not apparent why the Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman, who had moved to Selkirk in 1903 and lived at Ettrick Terrace with his wife Elizabeth Elder Ross née Sinclair, would spend the night at Dr Muir’s house and then left by train (unless that is not what Dr Muir meant).

⁶ It is not clear who was living at Ashkirk United Free Manse at this time. From 1905, as Kirklea, it was occupied by Jane Oliver and by the 1917 Valuation Roll by W H Ogilvie, returned from Australia and the United States. These dates must be taken with a pinch of salt because there was often a delay between someone occupying a property and that fact being recorded in the Valuation Rolls.

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

Got an awful surprise today by a letter from Camphill¹ saying I would have to pay over £100 of death duty on Andrina’s money.² Cold N.E. wind + inclined to thaw but frost again at night. Drove to Hospital, Ettrickbank (Alison Holmes³ back from Hospital), Broadmeadows + Oakwoodmill. Mrs Ross⁴ came at 2 + tried over some things from the Messiah with Foster⁵ + the soloists. I attended Mrs Richard Ballantyne, Backrow in afternoon.⁶ Reverend Ross⁷ came to tea. Fine performance of Messiah in church. 60 voices. Jean + Helen⁸ were singing. I went to the gallery with Dora⁹ + Mrs Ross. Pollok¹⁰ + Foster came to supper after the performance.

Overwritten at right angles: Party at Bridgelands Flower dressing competition.

¹ Camphill is so far unidentified.

² Dr Muir’s wife Andrina Barbara Henderson Muir née Rodger (1849-1902) had died 4 December 1902 at Thorncroft, Selkirk, aged 56, of cardiac failure caused by pulmonary embolism or thrombosis. She was the daughter of Peter Rodger (1804-1888), Procurator Fiscal of Selkirkshire, and Jane Rodger née Henderson.

³ Alison Holmes is unidentified and the is no previous reference to her in Dr Muir’s diary in early 1904.

⁴ Elizabeth Elder Ross née Sinclair (1875-1939), wife of the Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942).

⁵ Mr Foster is so far unidentified.

⁶ Perhaps Elizabeth Ballantyne née Reid, wife of Richard Ballantyne. They had married 1893 in Selkirk and Elizabeth had a daughter Mary Hislop Ballantyne at Selkirk in 1899.

⁷ The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman, moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.

⁸ Two of Dr Muir’s daughters Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir.

⁹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir, Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.

¹⁰ John Pollok (1858-1938), solicitor, Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.

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

Bright morning but duller in afternoon + a little snow. Cycled to Dandswall, Hospital +c + Broadmeadows. Roads improving. After lunch drove to Oakwoodmill + Hartwoodmyres as I thought there would be snow lying on the road but there was none.

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

Letter from Pat 28^th dated 10/1/04

Self denial week

Was all night at Millburn Place. Mrs Campbell had a S. [son] normally at 5.10.¹ Did not go to bed but got some writing done. Hard frost this morning which held in the shade all day though the sun softened the roads when it struck them. Cycled to Broadmeadows + Bowhill. Then by low road to Mavisbank where Mrs And. Scott¹ has Scarlet F. Got her removed to Hospital. Andrew himself has suspicious symptoms. after lunch Then came back to Glebe where Annie Cunningham³ is no better. After lunch saw some cases + walked to Bridgelands⁴ to tea. Pollok⁵ was there. Walked back to Burnbrae (where little And. Scott the draper lives), Glebe + Millburn Place. Jack, Nancy⁶ + Emmy Downes⁷ came to supper.

¹ Neil Thomas Campbell was born 28 February 1904 at 11 Millburn Place, Selkirk, the son of George Donald Campbell, gardener (domestic servant), and Jane Campbell née Hislop. The parents had married 20 February 1903 in Edinburgh.

² The Scotts cannot be readily identified.

³ Annie Cunningham (1877-), draper’s assistant, daughter of George Cunningham, draper, and Isa Cunningham née Graham.

⁴ Bridgelands, Selkirk, home of the Rodger family.

⁵ John Pollok (1858-1938), solicitor, Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.

⁶ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁷ Emmy Downs was Catherine Emily ‘Emma’ Downes (1884-1949), married later in 1904 to James Alexander ‘Jim’ Roberts (1879-1948). They left not long afterwards for New Zealand where they had two children, John Edward Downes Roberts (1906-1985) and Dorothy Violet Roberts, later MacMillan (1909-).

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

Still thawing but slowly+ calmly. Wire to Mrs Redpath, Lilliesleaf.¹ Saw a few town cases walking in the slush + then drove to Cunningham, the Glebe (Annie² very ill with Bright’s disease + Pilocarpine useless³) + over to almshouses, Lilliesleaf + Newhouse. After lunch drove to Broadmeadows, Newarkburn, Bowhill + Hospital. Examined 8 Yeomanry recruits sent down by Mr Steel.⁴ Was called down late to Mrs Campbell, Millburn Place (Jeannie Hislop⁵).

¹ Agnes Redpath née Swanston (about 1835-1912), widow of James Redpath, roadman, living at High Street, Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire.

² Annie Cunningham (1877-), draper’s assistant, daughter of George Cunningham, draper, and Isa Cunningham née Graham.

³ Pilocarpine was a common treatment for Bright’s disease (Nephritis).

⁴ Assume Samuel Strang ‘Sam’ Steel (1882-1961), son of William Strang Steel of Philiphaugh and Rosetta Edith Barber. Later an M.P., he was a soldier and Territorial administrator.

⁵ Jane Campbell née Hislop, wife of George Donald Campbell, gardener. They lived at 11 Millburn Place, Selkirk.

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

Rose 4.30 + sent out 3 or 4 accounts It was still snowing this morning but the amount lying did not indicate that it had fallen all night. It became milder during the day + the streets were deep in slush. [illegible] sleet fell at intervals + there was very little S.W. wind. There have been no new messages today. Snow in forenoon Walked in forenoon in town + over to The Firs¹ where Baptie² picked me up + I drove to Broadmeadows³ + Hangingshaw.⁴ In afternoon rode Macaulay⁵ to Newhouse.⁶ Roads very heavy. Got to bed at 10.30.

¹ Dr Muir had been attending Alice Smith née Paterson (1863-1943), wife of Patrick Smith, at the Firs, Selkirk.

² Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

³ Dr Muir had been attending Margaret Pattison Lang née Graham (1821-1914) at Broadmeadows, Selkirk.

⁴ Dr Muir had been attending Christina Dart née Rosie (1857-1928) the housekeeper at Hangingshaw, Yarrow – see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 25 February 1904.

⁵ Macaulay was one of Dr Muir’s horses.

⁶ Dr Muir had been attending Joan Elliot née Lambert (about 1853-), wife of James Elliot (about 1845-), farmer, Tenant Occupier of the farm and house of Newhouse, Lilliesleaf. Born at Bowden and Castleton, both Roxburghshire, respectively, they had married 28 June 1876 at Bowden.

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

Ground white this morning + it snowed more or less all day. Did not rise till 7 yesterday + this morning. Drove in town + to Philiphaugh + Broadmeadows. Had lunch at latter + came to Bowhill where I heard from home that there was a wire to see Mrs Dart, Hangingshaw¹ so I had to go back there. Jean + Dora² went to the missed meeting of Joint Hospital Orchestral Concert Committee at which it was resolved to increase Miss Fraser’s salary £10 to prevent her going to Durham.³

¹ Christina Dart née Rosie (1857-1928) was the housekeeper at Hangingshaw, Yarrow. Born Canisbay, Caithness, she does not seem to have stayed with the Meek family for long (nor did Mrs Meek either it seems) and between the wars died in Gloucestershire.

² Two of Dr Muir’s daughters Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir.

³ Miss 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]

Another day like yesterday. Roads better than they have been all winter. Cycled to Hospital, Linglie Mill, Broadmeadows +c. + after lunch had a very tiring ride to Newhouse + (via Ashkirk) Hartwoodmyres.¹ The Woll Road is in an awful state. Felt very fagged when I got home at 6. Got message to see Mrs Dart, Hangingshaw.² Mrs Meek is home. Meek is determined to keep her here for her confinement but I suspect she will get her way.³ Mrs Lang keeping better.⁴ It was snowing slightly as I came back from Hangingshaw.

¹ Dr Muir crossed what is now the A7 from Newhouse to reach Ashkirk where he ascended the long climb over Woll Rig to reach Hartwoodmyres at grid reference NGR NT433,248.

² Christina Dart née Rosie (1857-1928) was the housekeeper at Hangingshaw, Yarrow. Born Canisbay, Caithness, she does not seem to have stayed with the Meek family for long and died in Gloucestershire.

³ John Croil Meek (1847-1914) and Emily Winifred Gough Meek née Bristowe (1882-1953). Mrs Meek got her way and their daughter Margaret Scott Meek was born later in 1904 in Middlesex. The 1901 Census records John Meek’s place of birth as Walkerburn, Peeblesshire but in fact he was born at Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

⁴ 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 close friend of Dr Muir.

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