Robert Telfer
Biography
Role: Son of the Scottish patriarch — stayed in Castleton, Roxburghshire his entire life
Born: 25 April 1803 — Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Died: 1878 (aged 74) — Castleton, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Buried: Likely Old Castleton Cemetery, Newcastleton, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Occupation: Farm servant / agricultural labourer
Family Stories
The Brother Who Stayed — A Life in Castleton
Of all the children of James Telfer and Betty Hutton, Robert was the one who lived and died within a few miles of where he was born. While his younger brother Francis crossed the world to South Australia, and his older brother James followed years later, Robert stayed put in the Liddesdale valley.
He married Elizabeth "Betty" Oliver around 1828 and they set up house in Castleton. The 1841 census shows them with four young children — Elizabeth, James, Jean, and John — living alongside an older John Telfer (64), Violet Telfer, and William Telfer. Extended family sharing a roof, as folks did in those days.
Robert worked as an agricultural labourer, the kind of life his father had lived as a hand loom weaver — hard work, modest means, family close. By 1851, things had changed. Robert was 46 and living with only two of his children still at home. His wife Betty was gone — whether she'd died or left, the records don't say.
He died in 1878 at age 74, in the same parish where he was born. The statutory death registration records his mother's maiden name as Hutton, confirming his place in the family.
Robert never saw Australia. Never sailed on a ship across the ocean. But his story matters too — the brother who stayed, kept the old name in the old country, and lived the quiet life that his more adventurous siblings left behind.
(From the Borders to the Bush, pp.17-20; 1841 and 1851 Scotland Censuses)
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Father | James Telfer (1761–1845) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Hutton Telfer (1774–1853) |
| Spouse | Elizabeth "Betty" Oliver (m. ~1828) |
| Daughter | Elizabeth Telfer (~1834–) |
| Son | James Telfer (~1836–) |
| Daughter | Jean Telfer (~1838–) |
| Son | John Telfer (~1839–) |
Life Summary
Robert Telfer was born in 1803 in Castleton, Roxburghshire, the fifth child and third son of James Telfer and Betty Hutton. He was baptised on 25 April 1803 in the Church of Scotland at Castleton parish, the same Liddesdale valley where the Telfer family had lived for generations.
Unlike his younger brother Francis, who emigrated to South Australia in 1838, Robert remained in the Scottish Borders his entire life. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Oliver around 1828. The 1841 census shows the couple living in Castleton with their young family, alongside Robert's older brother John Telfer (64), Violet Telfer (25), and William Telfer (22) — likely extended family sharing a household.
By 1851, Robert (now aged 46) was living in Castleton with only his daughters Elizabeth (17) and John (11) still at home. His wife Betty is absent from the 1851 census household — she may have died between 1841 and 1851, though her death has not been traced.
Robert's death at age 74 was registered in 1878 in the Castleton district. The statutory death registration records his mother's maiden surname as Hutton, confirming his parentage.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1803 | Born — Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland |
| 25 Apr 1803 | Baptised — Castleton parish, Church of Scotland |
| ~1828 | Married Elizabeth "Betty" Oliver |
| ~1834 | Daughter Elizabeth born — Castleton |
| ~1836 | Son James born — Castleton |
| ~1838 | Daughter Jean born — Castleton |
| ~1839 | Son John born — Castleton |
| 1841 | Census: Living in Castleton with wife Betty, children Elizabeth, James, Jean, John — also in household: John Telfer (64), Violet Telfer (25), William Telfer (22) |
| 1851 | Census: Living in Castleton with daughters Elizabeth (17) and John (11) — wife absent |
| 1878 | Died (aged 74) — Castleton, Scottish Borders |
| Buried — likely Old Castleton Cemetery, Newcastleton |
Sources
- Birth/Baptism: Church of Scotland Old Parish Registers, Castleton parish, ref 784/10/82, Frame 87 — Robert Telfer baptised 25 Apr 1803, son of James Telfer & Betty Hutton. Accessed via ScotlandsPeople (WikiTree citation, accessed 25 March 2025).
- 1841 Census: Scotland Census, 1841 — Castleton, Roxburghshire. NRS ref 784/13/1. Robert Telfer (36) with household. Accessed via ScotlandsPeople (WikiTree citation).
- 1851 Census: Scotland Census, 1851 — Castleton, Roxburghshire. NRS ref 784/10/10. Robert Telfer (46) with daughters. Accessed via ScotlandsPeople (WikiTree citation).
- Death Registration: Statutory Register of Deaths, 1878, Castleton district. NRS ref 784/6. Robert Telfer death (age 74, mother's maiden name Hutton). Accessed via ScotlandsPeople (WikiTree citation).
- WikiTree: Robert Telfer (1803–1878) — Telfer-750, profile managed by Raymond Ashcroft. Accessed 28 May 2026.
- WikiTree: Betty Oliver (1807–) — Oliver-13562, born Cavers, Roxburghshire, daughter of Ebenezer Oliver & Betty Scott. Same manager as Telfer-750. Accessed 28 May 2026.
- FindAGrave: James Telfer (1761–1845) — lists Robert Telfer as child #5. Old Castleton Cemetery. Accessed 28 May 2026.
- Telfer Family Genealogy Book (ca 1986) — records spouse as Elizabeth Oliver. Lead from vault reference.