Margaret Wright Telfer

Role: Third wife of Francis Telfer (1809–1895) — mother of John Telfer (1847–1929)
Spouse: Francis Telfer (1809–1895) (third marriage)
Born: Unconfirmed — Scotland or early South Australia
Died: 13 Sep 1892 (aged 86–87) — Kersbrook, South Australia
Burial: Kersbrook Cemetery (General, Section B, Row 1, Plot B13)
Great-grandson: Murray John Telfer (1924–2009)
Great-great-grandson: Mark Telfer (1877–1946)

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Family

Relation	Name
Spouse	Francis Telfer (1809–1895) (3rd wife)
Children	John Telfer (1847–1929), George Wright Telfer, Margaret Dougal Telfer

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Grave — Kersbrook Cemetery, South Australia

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Life Summary

Margaret Wright was the third wife of Francis Telfer (1809–1895). She married him in South Australia after the deaths of his first wife Jean Murray (d. 1839) and second wife Dinah Flavel.

She was the mother of:

• John Telfer (1847–1929) — Mark's great-great-grandfather
• George Wright Telfer — who later farmed at Willaston
• Margaret Dougal Telfer

Margaret Wright died on 13 September 1892 at Kersbrook and is buried at Kersbrook Cemetery (General, Section B, Row 1, Plot B13). Her death came about three years before Francis, which prompted his eventual move from the farm at Kersbrook to live with his son at Gawler.

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About the Three Wives of Francis Telfer

Francis Telfer married three times — an unusual number that sometimes causes confusion in genealogical records:

Jean Murray — married in Scotland, mother of James (1832), Esther Jane (1834), Elizabeth (1836). Jean died 22 Jan 1839, shortly after arrival in SA.

Dinah Flavel — second wife in South Australia

Margaret Wright — third wife and mother of John and the younger children

Some trees simply list "Margaret Telfer" as Francis's wife without specifying which marriage, leading to contradictions between sources.

Family Stories

The Stirling Castle Legend

According to Donald Telfer's family history (1986), Chapter 2, p. 27: Family tradition held that Margaret Wright was "born in Stirling Castle." Which room — the main bedchamber, a guest room, or the servants' quarters — was left for speculation. The last reigning monarch to live at Stirling Castle was James VI (1567–1625), so the story may refer to her family's residence within the castle precincts rather than the royal apartments.

Sources

• Find a Grave: Margaret Telfer (1805–1892) — buried Kersbrook Cemetery (General, Section B, Row 1, Plot B13) — 1 headstone photo
• WikiTree: Francis Telfer (abt.1809–1895) — confirms three wives
• RootsWeb Tarlee Cemetery listing — confirms wives' names
• Geni: John Telfer (1847–1929) — confirms mother Margaret Telfer