James Telfer

Role: Scottish patriarch — father of Francis Telfer (1809–1895) and grandfather of the Australian Telfer family
Born: 7 September 1761 — Sorbietrees, Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Died: 19 December 1845 (aged 84) — Castleton, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Buried: Old Castleton Cemetery, Newcastleton, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Occupation: Farmer at Sorbietrees / Blackburnfoot

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Family

Relation	Name
Spouse	Elizabeth Hutton Telfer (1774–1853) (m. ~1795)
Son	James Telfer (1796–1863) — stayed in Scotland, farmer at Falside
Daughter	Isobel/Isabella Telfer (1798–1875) — m. Hunter
Child	Adam Telfer (1799–)
Daughter	Margaret Telfer (1802–1884) — m. Armstrong
Son	Robert Telfer (1803–1878)
Son	John Telfer (1805–1839)
Son	Francis Telfer (1809–1895) (1809–1895) — emigrated to South Australia 1838
Son	William Telfer (1811–1881)

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Life Summary

James Telfer was born in 1761 at Sorbietrees, in the parish of Castleton, Roxburghshire (the Liddesdale region of the Scottish Borders). He worked as a farmer, likely at the family lands of Sorbietrees and Blackburnfoot in the Castleton area.

He married Betty Hutton around 1795. Together they raised at least eight children in the Liddesdale valley, spanning from James (born 1796) to William (born 1811). The parish of Castleton, centred on the village of Newcastleton, sits in the borderlands between Scotland and England — a rugged farming region where the Telfer name has been recorded for centuries.

James never emigrated to Australia. He lived his entire life in the Scottish Borders and was buried at Old Castleton Cemetery in Newcastleton. His son Francis emigrated to South Australia in 1838 aboard the Prince George, settling first at Chain of Ponds and later at Clare. Francis brought the Telfer name to Australia, where it continues through the South Australian branch.

Evidence note — convergent secondary evidence: James Telfer and Betty Hutton are confirmed as the parents of Francis Telfer (immigrant) through multiple independent sources:

• FindAGrave memorial 170769918 lists James Telfer (1761–1845) and children including Francis
• FindAGrave memorial 170769934 lists Elizabeth "Betty" Hutton Telfer (1774–1853), spouse of James
• WikiTree profile Telfer-400 (Francis Telfer) cites sources linking to parents James and Betty
• William Telfer's Scottish Statutory Death Index entry records mother's maiden surname as "Hutton" — confirming the family unit
• The vault's James Telfer (1796–1863) file lists "Father: James Telfer (1761–1845)" and "Mother: Betty Hutton (1774–1853)"

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Timeline

Date	Event
7 Sep 1761	Born — Sorbietrees, Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
~1795	Married Betty Hutton
1796	Son James born — Castleton
1798	Daughter Isobel born
1799	Child Adam born
1802	Daughter Margaret born
1803	Son Robert born
1805	Son John born
1809	Son Francis born — later emigrated to South Australia
1811	Son William born
19 Dec 1845	Died (aged 84) — Castleton, Scottish Borders
Buried — Old Castleton Cemetery, Newcastleton

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Photos

James Telfer (1761–1845) — headstone at Old Castleton Cemetery, Newcastleton, Scottish Borders
Source: FindAGrave — James Telfer — accessed 27 May 2026

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Sources

• FindAGrave: James Telfer (1761–1845) — memorial 170769918, Old Castleton Cemetery. Includes headstone photo, lists children. Accessed 27 May 2026.
• FindAGrave: Elizabeth "Betty" Hutton Telfer (1774–1853) — spouse, same cemetery. Accessed 27 May 2026.
• WikiTree: Francis Telfer (abt.1809–1895) — confirms parents James Telfer and Betty Hutton. Accessed 27 May 2026.
• FindAGrave: William Telfer (1809–1888) — sibling, Statutory Death Index with mother's maiden surname Hutton. Accessed 27 May 2026.
• Vault reference: James Telfer (1796–1863) — lists father as James Telfer (1761–1845), mother as Betty Hutton. Created 24 May 2026.
• FamilySearch IGI: Batch C11865-1 (Castleton OPR) — James Telfer baptised 14 Jul 1761, Castleton, Roxburghshire; parents John Telfer & Elspeth Young. Source call number 1067953. Accessed May 2026.