John Charles Dillon (1827–1906)

Born: 1827, Dublin, Ireland | Died: 28 April 1906, Tea Tree Gully, SA (age 79) | Father: John Boswell Dillon (Dublin, Ireland) | Burial: Houghton Cemetery, section E, row 11, site 378

> Irish immigrant who married into the Telfer family. Settled at Chain of Ponds and Para Wirra, SA. Pioneer farmer under the Torrens Title system.

Family

| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Self | John Charles Dillon |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Beattie Telfer (1832–1896) |
| Child | Elizabeth Esther Dillon (1858–1945) |
| Child | John Boswell Dillon (1859–?) |
| Child | James Telfer Dillon (1861–1951) |
| Child | Robert Telfer Dillon (1862–1942) |
| Child | Francis Telfer Dillon (1864–?) |
| Child | Henry Hatch Dillon (1866–1936) |
| Child | Margaret Dillon (1869–?) |
| Child | Adam Telfer Dillon (1870–?) |
| Child | Septimus Dillon (1871–1946) |
| Father | John Boswell Dillon (Dublin, Ireland) |

Life Summary

John Charles Dillon was born in Dublin, Ireland around 1827, the son of John Boswell Dillon. He emigrated to South Australia, likely in the 1850s, where he met and married Elizabeth Beattie Telfer.

The marriage took place on 18 December 1856 at the residence of Francis Telfer, Chain of Ponds, SA — an area in the Mount Lofty Ranges northeast of Adelaide. By 1860, John had lodged a caveat for land sections 648, 5517, and 5521 in the Hundred of Para Wirra, one of the earliest property transactions under South Australia's innovative Torrens Title system.

John and Elizabeth raised nine children at their Para Wirra property between 1858 and 1871. The strong "Telfer" naming pattern across four of their sons (James, Robert, Francis, Adam) reflects Elizabeth's Scottish heritage and the close-knit Telfer family network.

John outlived Elizabeth by ten years, passing away on 28 April 1906 at Tea Tree Gully, SA, at the age of 79. He was buried at Houghton Cemetery, adjacent to his wife's plot.

Timeline

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1827 | Born, Dublin, Ireland |
| ~1850s | Emigrated to South Australia |
| 18 Dec 1856 | Married Elizabeth Beattie Telfer at Chain of Ponds, SA |
| 1858 | Birth of daughter Elizabeth Esther Dillon |
| 1859 | Birth of son John Boswell Dillon |
| 1860 | Lodged caveat for land in Hundred of Para Wirra |
| 1861 | Birth of son James Telfer Dillon |
| 1862 | Birth of son Robert Telfer Dillon |
| 1864 | Birth of son Francis Telfer Dillon |
| 1866 | Birth of son Henry Hatch Dillon |
| 1869 | Birth of daughter Margaret Dillon |
| 1870 | Birth of son Adam Telfer Dillon |
| 1871 | Birth of son Septimus Dillon at Kersbrook, SA |
| 17 Feb 1896 | Wife Elizabeth died, Norwood, SA |
| 28 Apr 1906 | Died, Tea Tree Gully, SA (age 79) |