John Telfer, Maltman in Glasgow

JOHN TELFER

John Tailfeir (1612) Jon Telfurd (1648) John Telfeir (1649)

Maltman in Glasgow: Burgess and Freeman of Glasgow

John Telfer, here treated, was a maltman in Glasgow. He was enrolled as a burgess and Freeman of Glasgow on 17 December 1612. He was probably an incomer to Glasgow, because he was admitted as a burgess and freeman of Glasgow by right of purchase rather than by hereditary right. Glasgow Burgesses: 43

Death

John Telfer, here treated, died before 9 August 1648, the date upon which his widow Margaret Cleland made her last will and testament. [NRS: CC/9/30]

Marriage

John Telfer, here treated, married Margaret Cleland [NRS: CC9/7/30]

Children

1. James Telfer
2. John Telfer, primus
3. John Telfer, secundus
4. Margaret Telfer
5. Jonat Telfer

The Last Will and Testament of his widow Margaret Cleland

Margaret Cleland, the widow of John Telfer, maltman, burgess of Glasgow: "being seik in bodie of the plague of pestilence but haill in spirit & of perfye memory" made her last will and testament on 5 August 1648, at Glasgow in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The witnesses present were John Anderson, one of the baillies of the burgh of Glasgow, John Hall, chirurgeon there, John Gray, tailor there, and John Baird, present Deacon of the Weavers there. Margaret Cleland nominated her son-in-law John Meiklejohn, maltman in Glasgow, to be her only executor and universal intromitter with her goods and gear, and left part of the money owed to her to her surviving children: "to James & Jon Telffurds hir sones Jonet Telffurd hir dochter spous to the sd Jon Meklejon & he for his entries & Margaret Telfurd hir othr dochter spous to Jon Thomesone maltman & he for his entries equallie & proportionallie." The remaining part of the money owed to her, that is one hundred and twenty merks owed to her by John Morrison, maltman in Glasgow, she left in legacy to her daughter Margaret and her husband John Thomesone. Margaret Cleland also left a number of household and personal items to her children. To her son James Telfer she left a covering, presumably a bed covering, and a pair of sheets. To his wife, not named, she left a pair of plaids. She also left a covering and a pair of sheets to her son John Telfer. To her daughter Jonet Telfer and her husband she left two matts, two pair of sheets, six ells of black stuff, and a pair of clasps. To her daughter Margaret Telfer and her husband she left another two matts, two pair of sheets, a gowan and a gold ring. The rest of her personal belongings, together with the remaining insight and plenishing of her house, she left to her two daughters, to be divided equally between them. Finally, I was her wish that her son-in-law John Meiklejohn should be reimbursed for the expense he had incurred while looking after her during her period of sickness. Robert Bar, weaver burgess of Glasgow, acted himself as cautioner for the executors and confirmation was granted to them on 17 May 1649. [National Records of Scotland, Glasgow Commissary Court, The Testament Testamentar of Margaret Cleland, relict of John Telfurd, maltman, burgess of Glasgow, reference CC9/7/30]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament

Evidence from the Burgess Records of Glasgow

                    1

17 December 1612: Tailfeir, John, maltman, B. and F., by purchase. Glasgow Burgesses: 43

                   2

8 February 1649: Miklejohn, John, merchant, B., as mar. Jonat, l. dau. to dec. John Telfeir, maltman, burgess. Glasgow Burgesses 1573-1750: 127

Printed Evidence

The Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow, 1573-1750. Edited by James R. Anderson (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1925), 571 pp. including indices