When Amelia Tonkin was born on 17 October 1858, in South Australia, Australia, her father, James Tonkin, was 22 and her mother, Prudence Trenoweth, was 27. She married Chales Putland on 10 March 1887, in Yankalilla, South Australia, Australia. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 1 daughter. She died on 26 July 1944, in Victor Harbour, South Australia, Australia, at the age of 85.