William Telfer

William Telfer died in Demerara in July 1823, leaving his property [Will: Edinburgh Sheriff Court SC70/1/49] to be shared among the eight ‘reputed’ [i.e. illegitimate] children born to him and Constantia Boromay, a ‘free coloured’ woman from the island of St Vincent. His property consisted mainly of a share in plantation Good Hope in Mahaica, Demerara, which was sold to an Alex Maclean.

One of the children, Robert Telfer, emigrated to Australia in 1854.

William’s mother was Margaret Lapsley from Minnigaff, Kircudbright-shire, in the Scottish Borders.

In 1793 a property outside Stabroek (later Georgetown), Demerara, belonged to the partnership Mackay, Telfer & Co [Essequebo en Demerarische Courant, 29 Dec 1793].