Robert Freddy Telfer
Biography
Born: 4 January 1886, Rosaville SA | Died: 14 February 1949, Burnside SA (age 63) | Mother: Martha Henstridge (~1854–1921) | Father: John Telfer (1840–1913) | Spouse: May Foy (m. 15 Aug 1919)
Family
| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Self | Robert Freddy Telfer |
| Father | John Telfer (1840–1913) |
| Mother | Martha Clara Henstridge (1854–1921) |
| Spouse | May Foy (daughter of Richard Maurice Foy; m. 15 Aug 1919, Mount Gambier SA) |
| Brother | Mark Telfer (1877–1946) |
| Sister | Clara Blanche Lane (1883–1974) |
| Brother | Douglas Telfer (1887–1956) |
| Brother | Colin Roy Telfer (1889–1964) |
| Brother | Alan Dale Telfer (1890–1937) |
Life Summary
Robert Freddy Telfer was the sixth child of John Telfer and Martha Clara Henstridge, born 4 January 1886 at Rosaville, South Australia. He remained geographically anchored within his home state. On 15 August 1919, at the age of 33, he married 31-year-old May Foy (daughter of Richard Maurice Foy) at the Methodist Manse in Mount Gambier, reflecting the strong non-conformist Protestant traditions within the family.
Robert eventually relocated to the eastern suburbs of Adelaide. He died at the age of 63 on 14 February 1949 in Burnside, South Australia. His death registration (District Code: Nor, Book: 737, Page: 866) confirms his status as a married man residing in Burnside at the time of his passing.
Family Stories
Robert Freddy Telfer was the eleventh child of John and Martha Telfer, born on 4 January 1886 at Rosaville, South Australia. He served with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in the First World War, answering the call to serve his country overseas. On 15 August 1919, at the age of 33, he married May Foy at the Methodist Manse in Mount Gambier. After the war, Robert eventually settled in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide, where he lived out his years until his death in 1949.
(From the Borders to the Bush, p.252)
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1886 | Born at Rosaville, South Australia |
| 15 Aug 1919 | Married May Foy at Methodist Manse, Mount Gambier SA (age 33) |
| 13 Nov 1921 | Mother Martha Clara Henstridge died |
| 14 Feb 1949 | Died at Burnside, South Australia (age 63) — registration Nor/737/866 |
Sources
- ✅ Approved Deep Research Report: "The Descendants of John Telfer (1841–1913) of Tantanoola" (Skippy review 29 May 2026) — via WikiTree Telfer-549, FamilySearch, SA BDM registration