Adam Telfer

Born ~1771 at Sorbietrees, Roxburghshire, Scotland. Son of James Telfer and Margaret Armstrong of Sorbietrees. Died 6 February 1846 at Newcastleton aged 75. Name on family headstone in Castleton Cemetery. The name "Adam" appears regularly in succeeding Telfer generations.

Family Stories

The Brother on the Headstone

Most of what we know about Adam Telfer comes from one place: a headstone in Castleton Cemetery, Newcastleton. It reads:

"Erected in Memory of Francis Telfer, who died at Newcastleton on 4th June, 1836, aged 68 years (b 1768). Also Jenet Telfer, his sister, who died at Newcastleton on 9th February 1842, aged 72 years (b 1770). Also Adam Telfer, their brother, who died at Newcastleton on 6th February, 1846, aged 75 years (b 1771)."

That's it. Three siblings on one stone — Francis, Jenet, and Adam — all dying within a decade of each other, all in the same little border town. Adam never married (or if he did, no record survived). He never left Scotland. He lived his whole life within a few miles of where he was born, in the Liddesdale valley near the English border.

But here's the thing. The name "Adam" didn't die with him. It kept popping up in the family for generations — Adam Telfer (1799–?), Adam Francis Telfer (1842–1925), and further down the line. Some names travel better than people do.

(From the Borders to the Bush, pp.17-19; Castleton Cemetery headstone)

Source: From the Borders to the Bush — pages 17-19; Castleton Cemetery headstone

Militia identification & residence trail (research note, 2026-09-01)

1802 Castleton Militia List (No. 84) records the ONLY Telfer in the parish: "Adam Telfer, shepherd, at Redmoss." Age-fit (18–45 in 1802) makes Adam of Sorbietrees (b ~1771, aged ~31) the probable match; Adam (1799–?) ruled out (aged ~3).

Castleton male heads of families rolls 1835–1838 (NRS CH2/64/3, transcribed on oldscottish.com) show no Adam Telfer anywhere in the parish; Telfer/Telford household heads are James (schoolmaster, Saughtree), William (shepherd, Kershope, England side), Gilbert (labourer, Wheathaugh), Robert & William Telford (labourers). Redmoss is held by John Jackson (shepherd) in all years — consistent with the shepherd having changed since 1802, or with Adam being a non-communicant / not an independent household head by the 1830s (he'd be ~63–67, never married per headstone).

Open question: no record yet literally ties "Adam Telfer" to the Redmoss steading beyond the 1802 militia roll. Decisive next lead = Castleton Kirk Session Minutes covering the 1802 window:

• CH2/64/4 (Kirk Session Minutes 1773–1821)
• CH2/64/5 (Kirk Session Minutes 1797–1808) ← contains exactly 1802

Both offered as £1/name/year lookups on oldscottish.com. A lookup could record Adam's residence, a wife, or children of Adam (a potential undocumented branch).

Source (research note): oldscottish.com Castleton records page (transcriptions of NRS CH2/64/3 male-heads rolls). Corroborating context — not a standalone verified fact.