John Charles Dillon

Born: 1827, Dublin, Ireland | Died: 28 April 1906, Tea Tree Gully, SA (age 79) | Father: John Boswell Dillon (Dublin, Ireland) | Burial: Houghton Cemetery, section E, row 11, site 378

Irish immigrant who married into the Telfer family. Settled at Chain of Ponds and Para Wirra, SA. Pioneer farmer under the Torrens Title system.

Family

Relation	Name
Self	John Charles Dillon
Spouse	Elizabeth Beattie Telfer (1832–1896)
Child	Elizabeth Esther Dillon (1858–1945)
Child	John Boswell Dillon (1859–?)
Child	James Telfer Dillon (1861–1951)
Child	Robert Telfer Dillon (1862–1942)
Child	Francis Telfer Dillon (1864–?)
Child	Henry Hatch Dillon (1866–1936)
Child	Margaret Dillon (1869–?)
Child	Adam Telfer Dillon (1870–?)
Child	Septimus Dillon (1871–1946)
Father	John Boswell Dillon (Dublin, Ireland)

Life Summary

John Charles Dillon was born in Dublin, Ireland around 1827, the son of John Boswell Dillon. He emigrated to South Australia, likely in the 1850s, where he met and married Elizabeth Beattie Telfer.

The marriage took place on 18 December 1856 at the residence of Francis Telfer, Chain of Ponds, SA — an area in the Mount Lofty Ranges northeast of Adelaide. By 1860, John had lodged a caveat for land sections 648, 5517, and 5521 in the Hundred of Para Wirra, one of the earliest property transactions under South Australia's innovative Torrens Title system.

John and Elizabeth raised nine children at their Para Wirra property between 1858 and 1871. The strong "Telfer" naming pattern across four of their sons (James, Robert, Francis, Adam) reflects Elizabeth's Scottish heritage and the close-knit Telfer family network.

John outlived Elizabeth by ten years, passing away on 28 April 1906 at Tea Tree Gully, SA, at the age of 79. He was buried at Houghton Cemetery, adjacent to his wife's plot.

Timeline

Date	Event
1827	Born, Dublin, Ireland
~1850s	Emigrated to South Australia
18 Dec 1856	Married Elizabeth Beattie Telfer at Chain of Ponds, SA
1858	Birth of daughter Elizabeth Esther Dillon
1859	Birth of son John Boswell Dillon
1860	Lodged caveat for land in Hundred of Para Wirra
1861	Birth of son James Telfer Dillon
1862	Birth of son Robert Telfer Dillon
1864	Birth of son Francis Telfer Dillon
1866	Birth of son Henry Hatch Dillon
1869	Birth of daughter Margaret Dillon
1870	Birth of son Adam Telfer Dillon
1871	Birth of son Septimus Dillon at Kersbrook, SA
17 Feb 1896	Wife Elizabeth died, Norwood, SA
28 Apr 1906	Died, Tea Tree Gully, SA (age 79)

Photos

John Charles Dillon memorial photo
Source: FindAGrave - John Charles Dillon — accessed 25 May 2026

Grave of John Charles Dillon, Houghton Cemetery, section E, row 11, site 378
Source: FindAGrave - John Charles Dillon — accessed 25 May 2026

Sources

• FindAGrave - John Charles Dillon (memorial 192688080) — accessed 25 May 2026
• Old Prospectors - John Charles Dillon & Elizabeth Beatie — accessed 25 May 2026
• WikiTree - Telfer-148 (Elizabeth Beattie Telfer) — accessed 25 May 2026
• Trove: The South Australian Advertiser, Apr–May 1860 — land caveat notice