James Telfer

Role: Eldest son of James Telfer (1761–1845) — stayed in Scotland when his brother Francis emigrated
Born: 1796 — Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Died: 1863 — Castleton, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Spouse: Elizabeth Beattie (1802–1891) (m. ~1825)
Father: James Telfer (1761–1845)
Mother: Elizabeth Hutton Telfer (1774–1853)

"In Memory of James Telfer who died at Falside 9th Decr. 1863 aged 67 years." — Headstone inscription, Southdean Churchyard

Family

Life Summary

James Telfer was born in 1796 at Castleton, Roxburghshire, the eldest of eight children of James Telfer and Elizabeth "Betty" Hutton. He married Elizabeth Beattie around 1825 and stayed in Scotland when his younger brother Francis emigrated to South Australia in 1838.

James and Elizabeth farmed in the Liddesdale/Castleton area, where they raised at least five children. Their descendants continued in the Scottish Borders region.

Children

The headstone inscription at Southdean Churchyard lists seven children by name (Elizabeth, James, Margaret, Jean, Robert, John, Adam). The 1841 Scotland Census adds Isabella (age ~4 in 1841). Vault records suggest up to 11 children total — the remaining may have died in infancy.

Family Stories

James Telfer was the first child of James and Betty Telfer, born at Greenholm in 1796. He married Elizabeth Beattie around 1830 and stayed in Scotland as the eldest brother, while Francis set off for South Australia. Four of James's sons and one daughter would eventually follow their uncle across the world in later years.

Getting reliable records of James and Elizabeth's family has been a challenge. The children — with the exception of the youngest, Adam — were apparently never baptised, which suggests the family attended a non-conformist church during those years. Many births simply weren't registered because of a government tax of one shilling, which was a significant amount of money at the time.

The 1851 Jedburgh Census shows James as a 52-year-old agricultural labourer born in Roxburghshire, living with his wife Betty (48), and their children Ellen (19, servant), Bellie (14, servant), John (13, scholar) and Adam (9, scholar). Also in the household were Robert Beattie, a 77-year-old widower labourer (likely Elizabeth's father), and a nephew also named Robert Beattie, aged 11. James, Robert, Elizabeth and Margaret were already out of the home by then. The same census lists a Robert Telfer, aged 16, agricultural labourer, born Newcastleton, living at Falside Stable — this would have been James and Elizabeth's son Robert.

James Telfer died at 4pm on 9th December, 1863, at his dwelling house at Falside, Southdean, Roxburghshire. The cause was injuries he received from being squeezed between the shafts of a cart and a granary wall. His youngest son Adam reported the death. Elizabeth died on 28th December, 1891, at the age of 89, from "natural decay" — a quiet end after a long life.

(From the Borders to the Bush, pp. 188)

Newspaper References

• 1841 Scotland Census: Household recorded at Shaw, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire as James Telford (40), Elizabeth Telford (30), Margaret (12), James (11), Betty (9), Robert (7), Isabella (4), John (1). Surname variant "Telford" used.

Sources

• Source: Donald Telfer, From the Borders to the Bush (ISBN 0 7316 6387 X), pp. 19–20 — extract via vision_analyze 18 June 2026
• FindAGrave: James Telfer (1796–1863) — burial at Castleton
• Find a Grave: James Telfer — memorial 179710779, Southdean Churchyard; headstone photo with full inscription. Accessed 24 May 2026.
• WikiTree: James Telfer (Telfer-149) — parents, spouse, children. Accessed 24 May 2026.
• 1841 Scotland Census via FindMyPast (cited by WikiTree Telfer-150). Accessed 24 May 2026.