Amy Ellen Telfer
Biography
Role: Wife of Francis Charles 'Charlie' Telfer
Also known as: Possibly "Amy May" (family nickname)
Born: 1884 — Stokes, South Australia
Died: October 1951 (aged ~67)
Birthplace: Stokes, South Australia
Grandson: Murray John Telfer (1924–2009)
Great-grandson: Timothy Neil Telfer (1959–?)
Great-great-grandson: Mark Telfer (1877–1946)
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Mother | Emily Ellen Thorpe (m. 15 Jun 1882) |
| Father | George Provis |
| Spouse | Francis Charles Telfer (1875–1954) (m. 6 Apr 1909) |
| Children | Francis Kelson Telfer, Clarice May Telfer (1911–1997), Emily Amelia Barton, Ethel Jean McMurtrie, Gladys Merle Pedler, Doris Elma Rowe, Edwin Roy Telfer, Reginald Masters Telfer, Murray John Telfer (1924–2009), Ruth Telfer |
| Siblings | Ella May Plew, Cecil Sidney Provis, Percy Valentine Provis, Alice Provis, Esther Amelia Lawrie, Janetta Ruth Lawrie, Gregory George Provis, Herbert Spencer Provis, Gertrude Emily Olston (+ others) |
| Grandparents | Charles Robert Thorpe (1832–1893) & Amelia White (1833–1916); Josiah Tarry Provis & Janetta Rowe |
Portrait
Grave — Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview SA
Family Stories
A Christmas Gift — Ernie's Book
Charlie's brother Ernie (Ernest John Telfer) wrote a book about his missionary work titled Amongst Australian Aborigines. A copy was given to Charlie and Amy as a Christmas gift, inscribed "Charlie & Amy, with love & Christmas wishes, from Eva." The book later passed to their son Murray and his wife Shirley at Ungarra. (Inscription in front of "Amongst Australian Aborigines" by E.J. Telfer, 1939)
Amy Ellen Provis married Francis Charles Telfer at Stokes in 1909 and together they raised ten children on a pioneering farm at Ungarra on the Eyre Peninsula. Life was brutally hard for her — no electricity, no running water, no refrigeration, no washing machine. She cooked on a wood stove, baked all the family's bread using homemade yeast made from hops, potatoes, flour and water, and made butter that she had to drive 18 miles into Tumby Bay in a sulky with one horse before the heat of the day. The money from the butter bought whatever groceries she could manage. She did the family laundry with a copper that had to be stoked with wood, two tubs, a scrubbing board and homemade soap, and ironed with a box iron full of hot coals. She carried water from the sheds in four-gallon kerosene tin buckets for all household needs. With a baby every couple of years, she somehow kept the household running through it all. Her daughters remembered that there was no entertainment as such in those days, "but plenty of hard work and just enough rest to keep us going." (From the Borders to the Bush, pp.130–131)
On 6 April 1909, she married Francis Charles Telfer (1875–1954) at Stokes, South Australia. The wedding was reportedly covered by a local newspaper article — "Family Wedding at Jamestown" — which mentions the celebration.
Together they raised ten children on family farms, moving from the mid-north toward the Eyre Peninsula over the decades. Amy passed away in October 1951, predeceasing her husband Francis by about three years.
Her name appears in Murray John Telfer's profile as "Amy May" in some vault records, but her registered birth name is Amy Ellen Provis.
Parents: The Provis & Thorpe Families
George Provis (Amy's father) — married Emily Ellen Thorpe on 15 June 1882. Emily's parents were Charles Robert Thorpe (1832–1893) and Amelia White (1833–1916).
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1884 | Born at Stokes, SA |
| 15 Jun 1882 | Parents George & Emily married |
| 6 Apr 1909 | Married Francis Charles Telfer (1875–1954) at Stokes, SA |
| ~1910–1933 | Ten children born |
| Oct 1951 | Died (aged ~67) |
Sources
- FamilySearch: Amy Ellen Provis (9DHC-5K8) — confirms marriage to Francis Charles Telfer
- WikiTree: Amy Ellen (Provis) Telfer (1884–1951) — confirms parents, siblings
- WikiTree: Emily Ellen Thorpe (Thorpe-3345) — Emily's parents Charles Robert Thorpe & Amelia White
- Geni: Francis Charles Telfer (1875–1954) — confirms marriage
- Find a Grave: Amy Ellen Provis Telfer (1884–1951) — buried Enfield Memorial Park (Rose Garden H8) — 1 headstone photo
Photos
Spouse
- Francis Charles Telfer (1875 – 1954)
Parents
- Emily Ellen Thorpe (? – ?)
- George Provis (? – ?)
Children
- Clarice May Telfer (1911 – 1997)
- Doris Elma Telfer (1919 – living)
- Edwin Telfer (1921 – 2009)
- Emily Amelia Telfer (1913 – 2000)
- Ethel Jean Telfer (1915 – living)
- Francis Telfer (1910 – 1987)
- Gladys Merle Telfer (1917 – living)
- Murray John Telfer (1924 – 2009)
- Reginald Masters Telfer (1922 – 2011)
- Ruth Telfer (1931 – living)