Robert Telfer

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

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

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.