Sarah Elizabeth Holland

Sarah Elizabeth Holland was born in England June 6, 1863

I was told that her fathers name was Harry William Holland, and that her mothers name was Mary Elizabeth Peters.

My grandfather told me about his grandmother several times.  He said that by the time she was 12 years old she was living with her aunt in London helping in her aunt's confectionery shop. Then his grandmother was an indentured servant, in order to pay for her passage to Canada.  He also said that his grandfather used to tease her that he owned her, because he bought and paid for her.  Thomas Oran Tobias (her husband)  paid the last year and a half of her service off, so they could marry.

I recently spoke to Carol (a grandaughter of Sarah), and she says that Sarah's mom died when she was about five years old.

This photo is a picture of the original charcoal drawing of her.   

 Sarah Elizabeth arrived on the Moravian in Quebec, Canada on August 08, 1877 when she was 14 years old.  She was traveling with 24 other children ranging from ages 3 up to 14. Her name is 3rd on the list in the brackets that clearly show she was traveling with Miss Rye

 The photo on the right is the Moravian, the boat she arrived on.  The photo copyright is unknown, I retrieved the photo from wrecksite.eu

 According to the Library and Archives of Canada she was one of over 100,000 children deported from England.  Her destination was Niagra-on-the-Lake, Ontario.  It was one of the Maria Rye Homes.

This is a photo from the Canadian British Home Children in Canada, Compiled by Lori Oschefski .  Sarah stayed at the home until she was placed with a family that she was indentured to.

You can read all about the home children by clicking on the Maria Rye Homes link, or the Canadian British Home Children link above.



The British government  was trying do get rid of their orphans, and street kids.  It has been done off and on for centuries.  The government said they were trying to give the children a better shot at life, and a way out of poverty, and young countries that had opportunities to grow.

However the way it worked allowed for great abuse, and many children suffered and were abused.   Sarah was lucky, and knew that she would be indentured for a period of time to pay for her passage.

There were many children that weren't so lucky, some were picked up off the street, or pulled out of orphanages, and told that their parents were dead.  Others were taken away from their families, when priests said they were unfit to care for their children because they were too poor.  Meanwhile the middle men received 7 pounds per child, and 10 pounds for their boat fair, and the clothes they would require.  Most children were indentured to families on farms and worked for a period of 5 to 7 years.  Many were sent to factories and work camps.

Sarah Elizabeth Holland Married Thomas Oran Tobias on July 4th 1883 in Buffalo N.Y..  They had 13 children only one dies during childhood.
Charles J,  Albert E,  Clarence ,  William F.,  Roy C,  Buleah G,  Sterling S,  Leah S,  Amy I, Ernest R,  Bessie E,  Thomas W,  Mary A.

In 1891according to the Canadian Census they were living in East Lambton with their children.  It is recorded that both Thomas and Sarah could read and write.  I couldn't make out his occupation.

In 1901 according to the Canada census Sarah and Thomas were living in the Brooke Township in Lambton East.  Thomas was working as a laborer.  The census say Thomas's race is French
 and Sarah"s race is English.

In the 1911 census Sarah and Thomas were living on Third St, Petrolia, East Lambton, Ontario with their children.  This census says she was born in June 1864, the 1901 census say she was born June 6 1863.  Thomas was working as a laborer in a saw mill at this time. 

Helen W. MacLean

Helen W. MacLean (McLean on Gary's birth certificate) was born August 12 1894 in Port Huron, Michigan

Her parents were Thomas MacLean, and her mother was Hattie Warren.

She married Ernest Russel Tobias, and they had one child, Gary Tobias


In 1900 Helen was 5 years old, and lived with her father and mother at 1412 Liberty, Flint, Michigan.  Helen's father Thomas was 33 at this time and was working as a carpenter.  Her mother was 30 years old.  Both her  father and mother could read.

In 1910 Helen was 15 years old, and she lived with her father (Thomas), mother (Hattie), and little sister (Anna age 5 years old) at 724 East 5th Street, Flint, Michigan.  Her father Thomas was now 43, and was working as a policeman in Flint, Michigan.  According to this federal census Hattie had delivered a total of 5 children  in 1910, only 3 were living.  So Helen had two siblings that died.

In 1914 Helen was attending Michigan State Normal College.  One of the censuses said she completed 3 years of College. Helen joined the Harmonious Mystics in college, and a sorority called Kappa Gamma Phi.  Her name was listed in Aurora (their yearbook).    

In 1920 there is a Helen Warren, She would have been 25 at this time and the census is from Flint, Michigan.  She was married to a Don Warren.  The writing is too pale to read in many areas, but both her parent were born in Michigan which matches her information.

***  It is rumored that Helen gave a daughter up for adoption.  My grandfather Gary told he that he thought he had a sister out there somewhere named Rachel.  I hope to find out more information about this time in Helen's life, and to find out what happened to Rachel and see if she had children of her own.  I know my grandfather wanted to find his sister.

Helen married Ernest Russel Tobias September 10th 1927 in Wayne county Michigan.  At the time Ernest lived in Detroit, Michigan and worked as a bread wrapper.  Helen was 32 years old, and worked as a bookkeeper at the time.

     According to the marriage certificate Helen was married one time before marrying Ernest.  She was marrying Ernest as Helen W. Warren. 

In 1930 Helen was 33, and she was living with Ernest her husband.  They were renting a home on Aurelia St. in Detroit, Michigan for 38.00.  Thomas was working as a laborer in the automobile industry.

In 1934 Gary Thomas Tobias (their only child) was born on December 8th.  in the city of Port Huron, Michigan.  When Gary was born Ernest was working as a machine operator.

In 1940 Helen and Ernest lived on Richman Road, in Kimball Michigan where they owned a house worth 2,000.00 on farm land.  According to this census Ernest had an 8th grade education, Helen had completed 3 years of college.   Ernest was now working at a brass factory as a machine operator.

On May 9, 1952 Helen MacLean died at age 57.  She died after an 11 day stay in Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, California.  Prior to her death she was living at 518 E. 126th St. Hawthorne, California.  She is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetary
According to her death certificate she had Diabetus Mellitus 18 years, Hypertensive Heart Disease 5 years.  Her direct cause of death was Broncho Pneumonia, and Cerebral Thrombosis.

 The photo is Helen's grave on the right under the roses, and the grave on the left is Ernest's (her husband).  They were buried side by side in single graves, but neither have a headstone.