Millie: August 2018

Matthew Telfer was born on 5 Nov 1795 and christened in Dec 1795 in Andover, England. He emigrated to New York City, New York, arriving aboard the Cincinnatus which sailed under master AH Grisworld on 30 Jun 1820. Although the ship record lists his occupation as farmer, Matthew took up the occupation of sailmaker in Manhattan, New York. He is listed in city directories from at least 1826 with that occupation. It is possible that he apprenticed himself to a sailmaker on arrival, or he might have already learned the art before arriving in New York.

1827 Longsworths American Almanac

Matthew died of typhus fever on 29 May 1842 at the age of 46 in Manhattan. He was buried on 4 Jun 1842 at Oliver Street Baptist Cemetery in Manhattan, New York. "The Graveyard Shift" which covers Manhattan cemeteries, does not give any information on the Oliver St. Baptist Cemetery beyond noting its existence.

New York Evening Post 30 May 1842 pg 2

Matthew Telfer and Mary Ann Giles, the daughter of Joel (Jack) Giles and Mary Corkins?, were married on 9 Jun 1822. They were living in New York City in 1840.

Mary continued to live in New York City after Matthews death. By 1870 she had moved to Jersey City, NJ where she remained until her death on 15 May 1879 at the age of 74. Mary Ann's obituary states that she is 77 so she may have been born in 1802.

Matthew Telfer and Mary Ann Giles had nine known childen.

a. Mary Ann Telfer was born on 24 Jun 1823 and died on 25 Dec 1906 at the age of 83. She married William Mook (1817-18 Nov 1886) before 1845 in Metuchen, Middlesex, New Jersey. In 1870 they were living in New York City. By 1880 they had move back to New Jersey living first in East New Brunswick and by 1900 settling in Metuchen, Middlesex County. Mary and William supposedly had eight children.

b. Robert Telfer was born on 14 May 1825 in New York. He died on 14 Jul 1868 while traveling home to Indiana after a visit to New York at the age of 43. It is interesting to note that the papers in Philadelphia were asked to copy, indicating there might still have been family to discover there. He was buried after 14 Jul 1868 at West Point Cemetery in Wolcott, White, Indiana. Robert married Elizabeth Laurie (1 Apr 1823 – 12 Aug 1903 IN) before 1848. In 1860 they were living in New York, New York. But had moved to Indiana by 1868. Robert Telfer and Elizabeth Laurie had four known childen

c. Matthew Telfer was born on 29 May 1827. Like his father, Matthew was a sailmaker. According to his death record he moved to New Jersey about 1867. Matthew Telfer and Matilda Jackson (1829… ) were married before 1852. They lived first in Metuchen, Middlesex, New Jersey. By 1880 they had moved to Jersey City and lived there until his death. Matthew died on 23 Nov 1895 at the age of 68 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey.

Matthew Telfer and Matilda Jackson were married before 1852. They appeared in the census in 1870 in Metuchen, Middlesex, New Jersey. Matthew and Matilda had four known children:

d. William Henry Telfer was born on 19 Dec 1829 and died on 14 Dec 1839 at the age of 9.

e. Harriet Jane Telfer

f. Frederick Joel Telfer was born on 1 Oct 1834. He died on 30 Jun 1865 at the age of 30.^{^[82]}Frederick Joel Telfer and Ellen M Weaver were married before 1865. In 1871 Ellen a widow is listed in the Jersey City directory as a dressmaker. In 1886 she is listed in the directory with no occupation.

g. George Richard Telfer was born on 5 Dec 1838. He died in 1842 at the age of 4.

h. William M Telfer was born on 11 Mar 1840. He died in New York on 30 Jan 1874 at the age of 33. William is listed as a stationer in 1871 and his obit lists his business as Croker and Telfer. William M Telfer and Caroline Croker (15 Mar 1842….) were married before 1870 when they are listed in the census in Ward 5 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey. Living next to William and Caroline was her brother Eugene. Listed directly under William is Henry Barnum with his wife and son, Phineas. It seems likely that this is the son and grandson of PT and would explain the close association with William O. Chapman. In 1876 Caroline, widow of William is living at 293 Seventh St. in Jersey City. William and Caroline had three children

i. John Henry Telfer was born on 30 Dec 1842. He died on 5 Nov 1873 at the age of 30 in Rochester, Monroe, New York and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery there. John married Sarah, the daughter of Millicent Osborn and George Clark, before 1870. John is listed as a printer in the 1871 directory for Jersey City. They did not have any children.

See the Osborn Genealogy for more on the family of Millicent Osborn.

Matthew Telfer dropbox
Sailmaking

Harriet Jane Telfer was born on 9 Jun 1832, the daughter of Matthew Telfer and Mary Ann Giles.

We know nothing of Harriet's early life beyond the fact that her father died when she was just 10 years old. She continued to live with her family in Manhattan until her marriage to William Osborn Chapman on 20 Jan 1852.

Harriet and extended family

She died on 17 Feb 1910 at the age of 77 in Arlington, Hudson, New Jersey. She was buried at Sylvan Lawn Cemetery in Arlington, Hudson, New Jersey.

Although she died shortly before the birth of her granddaughter, Millie gathered a few memories from other family members.

Harriet loved to hold Amateur Entertainments. Family and friends would all participate, especially the family of her sister Mary Ann Telfer Mook. There were plays, music, recitals and more.

Another memory is that Harriet would not allow P.T. Barnum in the house. William would have to go outside to visit with him. In case one wonders how well she knew him, one can see in the 1860 census that he lived next door to her brother William. He was just 14 at the time.