John Telfer (1840–1913)

Family

| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Self | John Telfer |
| Father | James Telfer (1796–1863) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Beattie (1802–1891) |
| Brother | James Telfer (1829–1913) |
| Brother | Robert Telfer (1835–1907) |
| Brother | Adam Francis Telfer (1842–1925) |
| Spouse (1) | Martha Allen (m. 10 Jan 1865 — d. 9 May 1876) |
| Spouse (2) | Martha Clara Henstridge (m. 28 Dec 1876 — d. 13 Nov 1921) |

Children — Martha Allen (4)

| Name | Born | Died | Married |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Telfer | 18 Oct 1866, Honeysuckle Flat SA | 28 Aug 1946, Glencoe West SA | Alma Ida Sporer (24 Oct 1917) |
| Elizabeth Telfer | 2 Oct 1868, Black Heath, Tungkillo SA | 11 Oct 1950, Gumeracha SA | Edwin Ernest Clarke (6 Jul 1899) |
| Susan Telfer | 9 May 1871, Black Heath, Tungkillo SA | 29 Jul 1952, Mount Gambier SA | Robert Agnew (21 Dec 1892) |
| Martha Telfer | 18 Apr 1873, Black Heath, Tungkillo SA | 4 Aug 1964, Mount Gambier SA | Malcolm Duncan Cameron (29 Mar 1899) |

Children — Martha Clara Henstridge (11)

| Name | Born | Died | Married |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Telfer | 12 Apr 1877, Up and Down Rocks SA | 23 Jul 1946, Adelaide SA | Julia Matilda Seebohm (9 Jul 1902) |
| Maria Clara Telfer | ~1878 | 22 Dec 1903, Tantanoola SA | Never married |
| Isabella Lucieton Telfer | 17 Jul 1880, Edgerston SA | 30 Jun 1964, Klemzig SA | Alexander Brown Thomson (12 Jul 1911) |
| John Roland Telfer | 20 Jan 1882, Tantanoola SA | Unknown | — |
| Clara Blanche Telfer | 19 Nov 1883, Tantanoola SA | 7 Jun 1974, Cheltenham Cemetery SA | Francis Edward Lane (6 Apr 1903) |
| Robert Freddy Telfer | 4 Jan 1886, Rosaville SA | 14 Feb 1949, Burnside SA | May Foy (15 Aug 1919) |
| Douglas Telfer | 7 Oct 1887, Mount Gambier SA | 1956, Brunswick East VIC | Lilian Daisy Dawson (1910) |
| John Roland Telfer (1882–1975) | 20 Jan 1882, Tantanoola SA | 1975 (age 93) | — |
| Colin Roy Telfer (1889–1964) | 19 Jan 1889, Tantanoola SA | 14 May 1964 (age 75), Surry Hills NSW | — |
| Alma Tressy Cullen (1893–1976) | 27 Nov 1893, Tantanoola SA | 8 May 1976 (age 83), Ringwood Vic | George Lewis Cullen (5 Sep 1923) |
| Marian Telfer Cornish (1896–1977) | ~1896, Tantanoola SA | 1977 | Kenneth Cornish (21 Jun 1924, Gumeracha SA) |

Life Summary

John Telfer was born around 1840–1841 in Roxburghshire, Scotland, the son of James Telfer (1796–1863) and Elizabeth Beattie. He emigrated to South Australia with his family sometime after 1842 (his youngest brother Adam was born in Scotland that year).

John first married Martha Allen on 10 January 1865 at the Residence of Robert Boyd, Adelaide. Martha was born around 1840 and had possibly arrived in SA aboard the Morning Star (Nov 1862–Feb 1863) as a servant. They had four children together: James, Elizabeth, Susan, and Martha. Martha Allen died on 9 May 1876 at German Flat, Mount Gambier, aged about 36.

John remarried later that same year — on 28 December 1876 at the Residence of J. Telfer, Tantanoola Creek — to Martha Clara Henstridge. Martha Clara was born 22 January 1854, the daughter of Frederick Henstridge. She and John had 11 children together, bringing the total to 15 across both marriages.

John settled in the Tantanoola district of South Australia's South East, where he farmed. He died on 5 January 1913 at Tantanoola, aged approximately 72, and was buried at Tantanoola Cemetery.

His second wife, Martha Clara Henstridge, survived him by nearly 9 years, dying on 13 November 1921 at Adelaide, aged 67. She was listed as a widow of Tantanoola.

Timeline

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1840–1841 | Born in Roxburghshire, Scotland |
| ~1840s–1850s | Emigrated to South Australia with family |
| 10 Jan 1865 | Married Martha Allen at Residence of Robert Boyd, Adelaide |
| 18 Oct 1866 | Son James born at Honeysuckle Flat |
| 2 Oct 1868 | Daughter Elizabeth born at Black Heath, Tungkillo |
| 9 May 1871 | Daughter Susan born at Black Heath, Tungkillo |
| 18 Apr 1873 | Daughter Martha born at Black Heath, Tungkillo |
| 9 May 1876 | First wife Martha Allen died at German Flat, Mount Gambier |
| 28 Dec 1876 | Married Martha Clara Henstridge at Residence of J. Telfer, Tantanoola Creek |
| 12 Apr 1877 | Son Mark born at Up and Down Rocks |
| ~1878 | Daughter Maria Clara born |
| 17 Jul 1880 | Daughter Isabella Lucieton born at Edgerston |
| 20 Jan 1882 | Son John Roland born at Tantanoola |
| 19 Nov 1883 | Daughter Clara Blanche born at Tantanoola |
| 4 Jan 1886 | Son Robert Freddy born at Rosaville |
| 7 Oct 1887 | Son Douglas born at Mount Gambier |
| 19 Jan 1889 | Son Colin Roy born at Tantanoola |
| 27 Oct 1890 | Son Alan Dale born at Tantanoola |
| 27 Nov 1893 | Daughter Alma Tressy born at Tantanoola |
| 5 Jan 1913 | Died at Tantanoola, South Australia |
| Jan 1913 | Buried at Tantanoola Cemetery |

Notes

Distinct from John Telfer (1847–1929): This John Telfer (1840–1913) is a different person from John Telfer (1847–1929), who was the son of Francis Telfer (1809–1895) and lived at Willow Plains near Clare. The two Johns were likely cousins (their fathers James and Francis were brothers).

Date uncertainty for births: Birth years for John's children are primarily from WikiTree (Telfer-549) which draws on SA BDM registrations. The specific registration numbers are recorded on WikiTree.

Martha Allen arrival: WikiTree suggests Martha Allen may have arrived aboard the Morning Star (28 Nov 1862 – 13 Feb 1863). Unconfirmed — needs Trove verification.

Trove mention: An 1895 Border Watch Almanac listing shows "Tantanoola-Mr. Jas. Telfer" as a newspaper agent — likely John's son James Telfer (1866–1946) acting as local agent for the Border Watch newspaper.

'Marian' resolved — confirmed as 15th child: The 1924 Trove wedding notice between "Marian, youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Telfer, Tantanoola" and Kenneth Cornish has been confirmed via WikiTree (Telfer-725). Marian Telfer (born ~1896, died 1977) was the 11th child from Martha Clara Henstridge — making her the 15th child of John Telfer. She married Kenneth Cornish on 21 Jun 1924 at Gumeracha, SA.

Death dates resolved — all 5 children accounted for: Death research completed 1 June 2026 for the three remaining unknowns:

- John Roland Telfer (b.1882) — died 1975 (age 93) — source: RootsWeb Lehmann/Henschke family card
- Colin Roy Telfer (b.1889) — died 14 May 1964, Surry Hills NSW — source: Ryerson Index SMH
- Alma Tressy Telfer/Cullen (b.1893) — died 8 May 1976, Ringwood Vic — source: RootsWeb family card

Alan Dale Telfer death resolved: Alan Dale Telfer (1890-1937) was confirmed to have died 13 Sep 1937 at Wilga Tank, Girilambone, NSW, intestate — working as a coalminer/ganger. Source: NSW Government Gazette intestate notices. See Alan Dale Telfer (1890–1937).

Sources

WikiTree: John Telfer (abt.1841-1913) — Telfer-549 — includes full biography, 15 children with SA BDM registration numbers, marriages, and death details — accessed 26 May 2026

FindAGrave: John Telfer (unknown-1913) — buried Tantanoola Cemetery — accessed 26 May 2026

Trove — Border Watch Almanac: "Tantanoola-Mr. Jas. Telfer" — South Australian Chronicle, 13 Apr 1895 — accessed 26 May 2026

FamilySearch: Eric John Telfer (1913–1963) grandson of John Telfer — FamilySearch LVCN-MKG — accessed 26 May 2026

Trove — Wedding Notice: "TELFER—CORNISH" — 21 Jun 1924, Marian (youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Telfer, Tantanoola) married Kenneth Cornish — The Chronicle, 21 Jun 1924 — accessed 28 May 2026

Australian Cemeteries Index: John Telfer (1841?-1913) — buried Tantanoola Cemetery — austcemindex.com — accessed 28 May 2026

Ryerson Index: Searched for John Roland Telfer in SA (not found); Colin Roy Telfer found — died 14 May 1964, Surry Hills NSW — ryersonindex.org — accessed 28 May 2026

WikiTree: Marian Telfer (abt.1896-1977) — Telfer-725 — confirmed as 15th child of John Telfer & Martha Clara Henstridge, married Kenneth Cornish 1924 — accessed 29 May 2026

FindAGrave — Confirmation: John Telfer (unknown-1913) — died 5 Jan 1913, aged 72, Tantanoola Cemetery — accessed 29 May 2026

Deep Research Report (approved): "John Telfer (1841-1913) of Tantanoola — Descendants & Missing Death Dates" — Skippy-reviewed and approved 30 May 2026 — identified false leads for John Roland & Colin Roy; subsequent manual research found correct death dates

Lehmann/Henschke RootsWeb Family Card: John Roland Telfer — b. 1882 SA, d. 1975 age 93 — moadstorage.blob.core.windows.net — accessed 1 June 2026

RootsWeb Family Card: George Lewis Cullen & Alma Tressie Telfer — marriage 5 Sep 1923 Renmark SA, Alma d. 8 May 1976 Ringwood Vic age 83 — freepages.rootsweb.com — accessed 1 June 2026