Jane Sinton

     
     Jane Sinton was born cir. 1813 in the Par. of Southdean, ROX, SCT, although, like her sister Helen, no "official" record exists. Her death certificate implies c. 1812 (90 in 1902), although the age on her immigration papers (25 in 1839) would imply nearer 1814. Given her elder sister Isabella is c 1811, I'm going for halfway between these two, c 1813. As to place: at marriage she was at Dikerow, stated in the Jedburgh OPR as "parish of Chesters". My understanding however is that the parish was actually Southdean, with Chesters the main church of the parish, the original old Southdean parish church being very near Chesters, and now in ruins.^3,4,5,6,7
     Jean Sinton married James Telfer, son of Richard Telfer and Allison Laidlord, on 18 Nov 1836 at Southdean, Par. of Southdean, ROX, SCT, James of Jedburgh, Jane of Southdean⁸; Jedburgh OPR⁷ for Nov 13 shows "James Telfer farm servant Edgerston in this Parish has been regularly proclained for marriage with Jean Sinton at Dikerow in the parish of Chesters and they were married on the 18 Nov by the Revd Mr Richmond Southdean."^8,7
     Jane Telford died on 18 Aug 1902 at Glenburnie, SA, AUS; index shows Jane as aged 90, widow, husb James Telford.^3,5
     She was described by descendants as keeping a butter and cheese dairy.³
     Another very pleasant surprise. Nothing like an email from someone with a tentative inquiry as to whether or not I thought Jane was a dtr of my Peter Sinton and Jane Wight.
Prompt investigations showed that I had, many years ago, noted the marriage of a James Telfer and a Jane Sinton in the Southdean OPR, but as nothing further could be found about them in Scotland, I'd forgotten about them, which is rather remiss of me as I should have been looking for 2nd dtr named Janet, or similar.
All was explained when the descendant of James and Jane pointed out that they had emigrated to Sth Australia in 1839 (so missed the 1841 census for me to get a finer estimate of their ages). The circumstantial evidence as to the relationship was pretty good - fitted a gap in the known children, absolute insistence of all the children to include a child called Peter Sinton X in their broods - and finally, a picture of her showed the same chubby face as Helen, my 2greats grannie. So I'm very happy to welcome her into the family - along with what looks like it will be a gazillion Sth Australian Telfer/Telford descendants. And Jane found her rightful home all because Verity's sister was doing a quilt and they wanted to put the family ancestral tree on it.⁴
     Jane Telfer and James Telfer left from London on the 'Platina' arriving Adelaide on 9 Feb 1839 Register of emigrant labourers applying for free passage to SA 1836-1841 shows James had applied 19 Sep 1838, listed as a labourer, 28 yrs old, wife 25, male child 1½ years, engaged by a tenant of the SA Coy, so had work lined up when he arrived. Also on board was an Ann Burns nee Telford³ and a Robert & Richard Telfer⁹ (Web reports show the Platina, (also Plantina, in the same report) as arriving Adelaide on the 9 Feb 1839. The declaration of thanks¹⁰ written to Mr James Weston, (Surgeon Superintendent) was signed (amongst others) by James and Jane Telfer, and Robert and (X of) Anne Burns (but not by any other Telfer/Telfords). The voyage appears to have attracted some notoriety, with 9 deaths.^3,10,9
     James & Jane began life in the Colony camping in the tent city that was then Adelaide, dtr Jane being born in the tent.¹¹ From Adelaide they moved to Pt Gawler where James had work as a mill hand for a sawmill, and a stock hand. During their stay at Gawler they lost all their possessions when a stray firecracker (on Guy Fawkes night) set the family's tent on fire.¹¹ After Pt Gawler the family moved to Mt Barker on the Adelaide Hills where James was a shepherd, away for months at a time.¹¹ The next move was for James to work as a stockman for Dr William Rankin who owned an extensive grazing property in the area. They remained there for several years, seeing the loss of their dtr Alison to a haystack fire during this time. This period may also be where a son George was born, and died, and the next George born, the youngest.¹¹
     Aft. 1858 with settlement beginning in the Sth East of Sth Australia, James and family began a trek overland to settle there. The family report that Mrs Telford was determined not to undertake the long arduous trek and remained in her home until Jane, the eldest daughter approached the house and took baby George from her mother, under protest, and made her way tot he laden bullock drays. (I'm not sure which George)
The party consisted of 2 adults and 8 children with 3 bullock drays loaded with supplies and 100 head of cattle and averaged less than 10 miles a day, resting on Sundays, and taking six weeks to complete the journey (through Wellington, McGrath's Flat, Chainman's Wells, Salt Creek, Tilleys Swamp, Woakwine, Johnstone's homestead at Mt Muirhead and Lake Leake).
     Square Mile, Yahl Paddock and Glenburnie were being cut up into small holdings on their arrival and James obtained blocks bordering Casterton Rd near the 3 mile post. James spent the rest of his life on this farm at Glenburnie (as, presumably, did Jane).¹¹