John Telfer (of Castleton)

John Telfer was a Scottish farmer from Castleton parish, Roxburghshire, in the Liddesdale valley. He is the earliest confirmed ancestor in the direct Telfer line.

Vital Details

• Born: ~1715–1735 (estimated — exact date unknown), Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
• Died: Unknown
• Spouse: Elspeth Young (m. unknown, ~1750s)
• Occupation: Likely farmer or shepherd in Castleton parish

Known Children

Child	Born/Baptised	Notes
James Telfer (1761–1845)	Baptised 14 Jul 1761, Castleton	Baptised to John Telfer & Elspeth Young at Castleton. Married Betty Hutton (1776–1853). Father of Francis Telfer (1809–1895).

Note: Other children may exist — the Castleton OPRs (1697–1819) are on microfilm at FamilySearch (batch C11865-1) and ScotlandsPeople but have not been fully searched for this family.

Sources

• 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 June 2026.
• James Telfer vault profile: James Telfer (1761–1845)

⚠️ Research Gaps

• No birth or baptism record found for John Telfer. The Castleton OPR begins in 1697; John may appear in it, but this requires a direct search of the registers.
• No marriage record found for John Telfer & Elspeth Young. The Castleton marriage registers begin in 1759 — they may have married just before this date or in a different parish.
• No death or burial record found for John Telfer or Elspeth Young.
• Parents unknown — the next generation back is unconfirmed. Likely Telfer families in Castleton include William Telfer, George Telfer, and James Telfer — but no direct link has been established.