History & Gallery Construction:
Each section of this history and gallery will be ordered by generation and by family grouping (e.g. I - Family Origins, II - William Edward Schottlander b 1813 & Descendants, etc.) and family subgroupings will be added as needed. - Each photo or file must be captioned, starting with year, and description can be as long as needed.
- In some cases, a photo may appear in more than one gallery
- Living children under 18 will not be named.
- Groups of over 6 people will usually be included in the Places & Special Events section.
The Author of this webpage is Keith Millard, a genealogy and family historian. I/we would be pleased to hear from you with your comments or questions, and also if you have a photo or photos you would like to contribute to this free Gallery.
- In some cases, a photo may appear in more than one gallery
- Living children under 18 will not be named.
- Groups of over 6 people will usually be included in the Places & Special Events section.
The Author of this webpage is Keith Millard, a genealogy and family historian. I/we would be pleased to hear from you with your comments or questions, and also if you have a photo or photos you would like to contribute to this free Gallery.
Index:
I(a) - Family Origins
I(b) - British Home Children in Canada
II - William Edward Schottlander (1813 - ???)
III - William Edward Schottlander (1875 - 1908)
IV - William Edward Collins (White/Schottlander)
IV(a) - Ethel Biggs & William Collins Family
IV(b1) - Sarah Williams & William Collins Family
IV(b2) - Sarah Williams - part 2 of her life
IV(c) - Dorothy Martin & William Collins Family
IV(d) - Georgina (Georgie) Hall & William Collins Family
IV(e) - Mildred Shelton & William Collins
IV - Herbert Henry Schottlander (Shotlander)
IV - Lilian (Lily) Matilda Schottlander (Gardiner)
I(a) - Family Origins
I(b) - British Home Children in Canada
II - William Edward Schottlander (1813 - ???)
III - William Edward Schottlander (1875 - 1908)
IV - William Edward Collins (White/Schottlander)
IV(a) - Ethel Biggs & William Collins Family
IV(b1) - Sarah Williams & William Collins Family
IV(b2) - Sarah Williams - part 2 of her life
IV(c) - Dorothy Martin & William Collins Family
IV(d) - Georgina (Georgie) Hall & William Collins Family
IV(e) - Mildred Shelton & William Collins
IV - Herbert Henry Schottlander (Shotlander)
IV - Lilian (Lily) Matilda Schottlander (Gardiner)
I(a) - Family Origins
Family Origins may now be found in our general Schottländer and Shotlander Origins:
webpage at Family Origins
webpage at Family Origins
I(b) - British Home Children in Canada
From the late 1860s right up to 1948, over 100,000 children of all ages were emigrated right
across Canada to be used as indentured farm workers and domestics. Believed by Canadians to
be orphans, only two percent truly were.
Over ten percent of the current Canadian population are descendants of the Home Children,
although many are still unaware of their heritage. This is one of the many reasons why the
Home Children and their determination and perseverance deserve to have their huge
contribution to the founding of our nation recognized and their stories heard.
Three British Home Children, all from the Barnardo Organization,
are the key players in the following stories.
Some information courtesy of Lori Ofchefski at http://canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com/
across Canada to be used as indentured farm workers and domestics. Believed by Canadians to
be orphans, only two percent truly were.
Over ten percent of the current Canadian population are descendants of the Home Children,
although many are still unaware of their heritage. This is one of the many reasons why the
Home Children and their determination and perseverance deserve to have their huge
contribution to the founding of our nation recognized and their stories heard.
Three British Home Children, all from the Barnardo Organization,
are the key players in the following stories.
Some information courtesy of Lori Ofchefski at http://canadianbritishhomechildren.weebly.com/
Cursor over for captions, click on photos to enlarge or navigate:
Click on Download File to open in a new window, back button to return:
| british_home_children_in_canada.pdf |
This 5 minute song and graphics, a true story about a British Home Child, is called Frederick Shortt's Lament; you may have to click Play more than once!
II - William Edward Schottlander (1813 - 1871)
William Edward Schottlander was born in 1813 in Berlin, Prussia (at the time), although it is possible the family arrived in Berlin when he was still a small child, or that his birth was recorded in synagogue records which no longer exist. Some of his siblings were baptised in the Lutheran church decades after their birth (likely converted and to marry protestants) and these records are available (e.g. sister Fanny was born 1817 but baptised in 1855 when she married Robert Emil Rhose, brother Julius was born in 1815, but baptised in 1831).
In 1843, William immigrated to England, and his Certificate of Arrival in London as a Merchant is recorded. Within a year or so, he married Elizabeth, and his son, William Edward was born in 1856. William also had an interest in engineering, in 1852 he applied for a Patent for certain drilling and boring equipment.
William's Geni Profile shows he has over 5,000 blood relatives and over 5,000 ancestors in Geni. These are on his maternal side, as we have no record of Jacob David Schottlander's ancestors. These maternal ancestry records have largely been recorded and transcribed in Israel as part of a project that these names should not be forgotten.
In 1843, William immigrated to England, and his Certificate of Arrival in London as a Merchant is recorded. Within a year or so, he married Elizabeth, and his son, William Edward was born in 1856. William also had an interest in engineering, in 1852 he applied for a Patent for certain drilling and boring equipment.
William's Geni Profile shows he has over 5,000 blood relatives and over 5,000 ancestors in Geni. These are on his maternal side, as we have no record of Jacob David Schottlander's ancestors. These maternal ancestry records have largely been recorded and transcribed in Israel as part of a project that these names should not be forgotten.
Click on photos to enlarge:
III - William Edward Schottlander (1875 - 1908)
Click on photo to enlarge:
IV - William Edward Collins (White/Schottlander)
William Edward White/Collins/Gladstone/Schotlander/Collins: Author Keith Millard
William was born April 1st, 1901 in Edmonton, Enfield, a poor district of London, England. His parents were William Edward Schottlander who worked as a warehouse porter, and Elizabeth White, however their marriage had not yet been finalized and William was registered as William Edward White (his mother's surname).
A full timeline of events in William Edward's life is recorded in his Geni family tree profile Timeline, and is attached as a pdf file below.
William's father died of consumption in 1908, his mother was unable to care for him or his brother Herbert adequately, and he was turned over to the Barnardo Organization's Leopold House in London in 1909, and sent to Canada in 1910 at the age of 9 to be farm labour. Barnardo ledger records follow William's life up to 1926, which have been transcribed into his Geni Timeline (in the file below).
William ran away from the farm he was employed at shortly before his 15th birthday and joined the military on February 29, 1916 by lying about his age, but very shortly thereafter deserted... and on May 23, 1916 reenlisted using the name of William Edward Collins, an alias he used for much of the rest of his life. He served in France, was wounded in a poison gas attack, and shortly after the war ended he entered the first of many relationships by marrying Ethel Biggs of Pembroke, Ontario (using the name Gladstone) and having 2 children. He abandoned this family and in 1926 he returned to England in search of his family, returned in November of 1926, and soon thereafter entered his next relationship using the name Collins which resulted in 3 children (the 3rd child was named Betty and is the mother of Linda Black and Ian Black). He abandoned this family in 1930 and moved to Prince Edward County, where he married Dorothy Martin of Picton, Ontario using the name Schotlander, where Sally Schotlander was born in 1931 (and Sally is still living at the time of this writing). He also abandoned this family in 1932 or 1933 and his whereabouts and relationships are unknown until he reenlisted for World War II. He then embarked on a marriage with Georgina (Georgie) Hall (who had apparently abandoned her first marriage and children) in New Brunswick using the name Collins, with Gloria being born in 1943 in New Brunswick and Sheila born in Chillwack, BC in 1946, both of whom are still living. This marriage ended as well with William keeping the girls, William married widow Mildred Shelton in Vancouver in 1951, and finally, died of cancer in 1959.
What a story..... there are certainly details and perhaps other relationships and children we still don't know about. What caused this turbulent life? His brother Bert suffered many of the same traumas as a child that William did, yet lived an exemplary life which is profiled further down in this webpage. William was most certainly affected and influenced by his traumatic childhood experiences, and we know more than a third of the 100,000 British Home Children sent to Canada were mistreated and abused, almost all of the BHC were traumatized by their experiences to the point of never wanting to talk about it, but none of that is an excuse for William's essentially treating his wives and children the way he had been treated. His known relationships are profiled below.
William was born April 1st, 1901 in Edmonton, Enfield, a poor district of London, England. His parents were William Edward Schottlander who worked as a warehouse porter, and Elizabeth White, however their marriage had not yet been finalized and William was registered as William Edward White (his mother's surname).
A full timeline of events in William Edward's life is recorded in his Geni family tree profile Timeline, and is attached as a pdf file below.
William's father died of consumption in 1908, his mother was unable to care for him or his brother Herbert adequately, and he was turned over to the Barnardo Organization's Leopold House in London in 1909, and sent to Canada in 1910 at the age of 9 to be farm labour. Barnardo ledger records follow William's life up to 1926, which have been transcribed into his Geni Timeline (in the file below).
William ran away from the farm he was employed at shortly before his 15th birthday and joined the military on February 29, 1916 by lying about his age, but very shortly thereafter deserted... and on May 23, 1916 reenlisted using the name of William Edward Collins, an alias he used for much of the rest of his life. He served in France, was wounded in a poison gas attack, and shortly after the war ended he entered the first of many relationships by marrying Ethel Biggs of Pembroke, Ontario (using the name Gladstone) and having 2 children. He abandoned this family and in 1926 he returned to England in search of his family, returned in November of 1926, and soon thereafter entered his next relationship using the name Collins which resulted in 3 children (the 3rd child was named Betty and is the mother of Linda Black and Ian Black). He abandoned this family in 1930 and moved to Prince Edward County, where he married Dorothy Martin of Picton, Ontario using the name Schotlander, where Sally Schotlander was born in 1931 (and Sally is still living at the time of this writing). He also abandoned this family in 1932 or 1933 and his whereabouts and relationships are unknown until he reenlisted for World War II. He then embarked on a marriage with Georgina (Georgie) Hall (who had apparently abandoned her first marriage and children) in New Brunswick using the name Collins, with Gloria being born in 1943 in New Brunswick and Sheila born in Chillwack, BC in 1946, both of whom are still living. This marriage ended as well with William keeping the girls, William married widow Mildred Shelton in Vancouver in 1951, and finally, died of cancer in 1959.
What a story..... there are certainly details and perhaps other relationships and children we still don't know about. What caused this turbulent life? His brother Bert suffered many of the same traumas as a child that William did, yet lived an exemplary life which is profiled further down in this webpage. William was most certainly affected and influenced by his traumatic childhood experiences, and we know more than a third of the 100,000 British Home Children sent to Canada were mistreated and abused, almost all of the BHC were traumatized by their experiences to the point of never wanting to talk about it, but none of that is an excuse for William's essentially treating his wives and children the way he had been treated. His known relationships are profiled below.
Cursor over for captions, click on photos to enlarge or navigate:
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This pdf file is a Timeline of William's life, as recorded in events in Geni (including all the notations in his Barnardo Organization ledger); click on Download File to open in a new window, use back button to return.
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IV(a) - Ethel Biggs & William Collins Family
Mary Ethel Beatrice Biggs….her story - Author Sharon Tandy-Pollock
Ethel Biggs was born in Pembroke, Renfrew County , June 30, 1902. Her parents were Samuel T Biggs ( b 1869 Lake Dore,ON), and Margaret Monk(1873 Alummette Island).
Her father Samuel was a farmer, and also a fishing/hunting guide in Algonquin Park. Family story says he was a guide to Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Scouts from England. They had a farm and he also worked as a labourer.
Margaret Monk her, mother was born on Alummette Island, near Westmeath, Ont. Her Mother was Roman Catholic and her father was Presbyterian.
Ethel married William Edward Gladstone on July 08, 1919 in Chalk River Ontario. On the Marriage certificate he was listed as born in Highgate Ontario, parents: James Gladstone and Mary Collins. For what ever reason both he and Ethel went by “Collins” as surname .( In the obituary for her mother, Ethel was listed as Mrs E. Collins.)
She gave birth to Vivian Margaret Collins on Oct 19, 1921. There was no birth registration, but Vivian was baptized at the Presbyteran church and later taken to the Catholic Church by her Grandma Biggs and baptized there.
William and Ethel, along with Vivian (8mths old) resided with her parents, (as listed on 1921 Canadian Census), all at the same address in Pembroke. Records show Ethel gave birth to Reginald in 1923. William must not have been around, as she had a job arranged to cook for a Lumber company and they wouldn’t allow her to bring a newborn with her. They allowed her to take the 2 yr old, Vivian, with her. Unfortunately Reginald was placed into an Orphanage.
It has been noted by family that while Ethel worked as a cook, her parents helped to raise Vivian. There never was any mention of the son she gave to the orphanage.
While cooking at the Pembroke Hotel she met Ernest White (Ernie). They “married”, even though she wasn’t divorced. She then gave birth to Marilyn Patricia White (1933). For many years, she continued to cook at a variety of lumber yard companies, and construction companies, as Ernie worked for many of these companies.
When they lived near Ottawa, Ernie worked at Uplands Airport. At this time ( she was in her 50’s) she became blind and was diagnosed with Diabetes.
There came a time when her son, Reginald ( age 16) discovered who his mother was and located her. At this time he also met his sister Vivian, and half-sister Marilyn.
Ethel worked at a variety of facilities providing good hearty meals and wonderful pies, cakes, and bread;
- For lumber companies in the Barry’s bay, Cloyne area
- Marble Point Lodge, Marmora as cook (1940/50’s)
- Havelock Hotel (1960’s)
- Pearson’s Lodge on Buckhorn Lake, near Peterborough Ont (60’s)
- North of Kenora Ont- Lumber company
Ethel’s last residence was in Havelock Ont. While living there, her family (Reg’s, Vivian’s and Marilyn’s) would get together to visit. As far as the grandchildren knew, Ernie White was their Grandpa!
Ethel was a wonderful Grandma, loved and remembered with fondness by all of her family.
William Edward White aka Collins aka Gladstone: Author Keith Millard
There were two clues in discovering this family of William, the first being two entries in his Barnardo ledger;
July 1919, William writes, address is Box 118, Pembroke, Ontario, writes that he has a good job, nature not stated. September 1920, William reported he has changed his address and recently married, also that he is now known as W. E. Collins.
In January 1925 William wrote to Barnardo requesting information for contacting his relatives in England and where they were living, and provided the name Schottlander. In January 1926, William was in England and was arrested for theft of a woman's coat. There were several other entries as well (wanted to be sent to Australia for farmwork, joined the British Artillery for a 12 year contract, begged Barnardo for money, etc.).
In any event, the second clue to this family was in William's ship manifest arriving back in Canada on Nov 15th, 1926 (traveling as a Stoker in 3rd class), where he stated his destination in Canada was the address of his wife, Ethel Cooke (crossed out to add Collins) at General Delivery, Pembroke, Ontario. We do not know if he attempted to contact Ethel or not, but soon after was in Toronto to begin his third family relationship.
Ethel Biggs was born in Pembroke, Renfrew County , June 30, 1902. Her parents were Samuel T Biggs ( b 1869 Lake Dore,ON), and Margaret Monk(1873 Alummette Island).
Her father Samuel was a farmer, and also a fishing/hunting guide in Algonquin Park. Family story says he was a guide to Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Scouts from England. They had a farm and he also worked as a labourer.
Margaret Monk her, mother was born on Alummette Island, near Westmeath, Ont. Her Mother was Roman Catholic and her father was Presbyterian.
Ethel married William Edward Gladstone on July 08, 1919 in Chalk River Ontario. On the Marriage certificate he was listed as born in Highgate Ontario, parents: James Gladstone and Mary Collins. For what ever reason both he and Ethel went by “Collins” as surname .( In the obituary for her mother, Ethel was listed as Mrs E. Collins.)
She gave birth to Vivian Margaret Collins on Oct 19, 1921. There was no birth registration, but Vivian was baptized at the Presbyteran church and later taken to the Catholic Church by her Grandma Biggs and baptized there.
William and Ethel, along with Vivian (8mths old) resided with her parents, (as listed on 1921 Canadian Census), all at the same address in Pembroke. Records show Ethel gave birth to Reginald in 1923. William must not have been around, as she had a job arranged to cook for a Lumber company and they wouldn’t allow her to bring a newborn with her. They allowed her to take the 2 yr old, Vivian, with her. Unfortunately Reginald was placed into an Orphanage.
It has been noted by family that while Ethel worked as a cook, her parents helped to raise Vivian. There never was any mention of the son she gave to the orphanage.
While cooking at the Pembroke Hotel she met Ernest White (Ernie). They “married”, even though she wasn’t divorced. She then gave birth to Marilyn Patricia White (1933). For many years, she continued to cook at a variety of lumber yard companies, and construction companies, as Ernie worked for many of these companies.
When they lived near Ottawa, Ernie worked at Uplands Airport. At this time ( she was in her 50’s) she became blind and was diagnosed with Diabetes.
There came a time when her son, Reginald ( age 16) discovered who his mother was and located her. At this time he also met his sister Vivian, and half-sister Marilyn.
Ethel worked at a variety of facilities providing good hearty meals and wonderful pies, cakes, and bread;
- For lumber companies in the Barry’s bay, Cloyne area
- Marble Point Lodge, Marmora as cook (1940/50’s)
- Havelock Hotel (1960’s)
- Pearson’s Lodge on Buckhorn Lake, near Peterborough Ont (60’s)
- North of Kenora Ont- Lumber company
Ethel’s last residence was in Havelock Ont. While living there, her family (Reg’s, Vivian’s and Marilyn’s) would get together to visit. As far as the grandchildren knew, Ernie White was their Grandpa!
Ethel was a wonderful Grandma, loved and remembered with fondness by all of her family.
William Edward White aka Collins aka Gladstone: Author Keith Millard
There were two clues in discovering this family of William, the first being two entries in his Barnardo ledger;
July 1919, William writes, address is Box 118, Pembroke, Ontario, writes that he has a good job, nature not stated. September 1920, William reported he has changed his address and recently married, also that he is now known as W. E. Collins.
In January 1925 William wrote to Barnardo requesting information for contacting his relatives in England and where they were living, and provided the name Schottlander. In January 1926, William was in England and was arrested for theft of a woman's coat. There were several other entries as well (wanted to be sent to Australia for farmwork, joined the British Artillery for a 12 year contract, begged Barnardo for money, etc.).
In any event, the second clue to this family was in William's ship manifest arriving back in Canada on Nov 15th, 1926 (traveling as a Stoker in 3rd class), where he stated his destination in Canada was the address of his wife, Ethel Cooke (crossed out to add Collins) at General Delivery, Pembroke, Ontario. We do not know if he attempted to contact Ethel or not, but soon after was in Toronto to begin his third family relationship.
Cursor over for captions, click on photos to enlarge or navigate:
IV(b1) - Sarah Williams & William Collins Family
Sarah Williams and William Edward Shotlander aka Collins: Author Keith Millard
Thanks to the Quarriers House organization in Scotland, we now know that Sarah Williams was born on November 4, 1901 to a widow named Agnes Gambles Williams, who already had 2 small children and was living in her father's house in Workington, Cumbria, England, near to the Scottish border and Glasgow.
At 3 months of age, Sarah was "given" to a woman to be adopted, and the next 7 1/2 years were spent in a cruel environment until the woman was charged with extreme cruelty to a child and sentenced to prison at hard labour. It is a certainty that this experience caused severe and lasting emotional trauma to the child.
In 1909 Sarah was moved to the City Orphan Home in Glasgow where she was treated medically, cleaned up, clothed and fed before being transferred to the Quarriers House organization. Sarah spent the next 16 years with Quarriers House and was trained to be a maid, and toward the end of this time was placed in several "circumstances", postings where she was employed as a domestic maid. There are no reports provided of her medical or mental condition at Quarriers House.
In June 1926 Sarah received her official Birth Certificate and left the Quarriers House organization, and shortly thereafter arranged through the Salvation Army to be sent to Canada as a Domestic. On September 11, 1926, Sarah arrived in Canada and proceeded to the Salvation Army Immigration Lodge in Toronto.
According to a Childrens Aid Society letter sent to Ruth Patricia Scriver in the 1990s, "After working for a short time in Toronto, she moved to Bancroft (in northern Ontario) with a man named William Shortlander, also known as Collins, and assumed the name of Mrs Collins".
Ruth Patricia Collins was born in December 1927 and her brother Bill Williams in October 1929. In July of 1930, while pregnant with her 3rd child, William abandoned the family. A couple of months later Ruth Patricia was severely burned with boiling water, and in October was taken to Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. Sarah was placed in the Salvation Army Immigration Lodge awaiting the birth of her 3rd child and deportation, while Bill and Ruth Patricia were placed in the Marchmont House orphanage in Belleville, Ontario.
In July 1931, Sarah Williams and her 4 month old daughter Betty Williams were deported to Glasgow, Scotland, arriving there on July 10, 1931. In October 2016 we discovered that Betty had been given to a foster home shortly after arrival in Scotland, that she was still alive, was widowed and had 2 children, Linda Rhodes Black and Ian Black, both of whom we are in contact with.
William Edward Collins has been profiled earlier in the webpage, but obviously had an aversion to the truth; in the birth & baptism record for his son (see gallery) William stated he was Dutch and born in Holland. Both Ruth Patricia Collins and Bill Williams (William Wendell Collins) are deceased.
Thanks to the Quarriers House organization in Scotland, we now know that Sarah Williams was born on November 4, 1901 to a widow named Agnes Gambles Williams, who already had 2 small children and was living in her father's house in Workington, Cumbria, England, near to the Scottish border and Glasgow.
At 3 months of age, Sarah was "given" to a woman to be adopted, and the next 7 1/2 years were spent in a cruel environment until the woman was charged with extreme cruelty to a child and sentenced to prison at hard labour. It is a certainty that this experience caused severe and lasting emotional trauma to the child.
In 1909 Sarah was moved to the City Orphan Home in Glasgow where she was treated medically, cleaned up, clothed and fed before being transferred to the Quarriers House organization. Sarah spent the next 16 years with Quarriers House and was trained to be a maid, and toward the end of this time was placed in several "circumstances", postings where she was employed as a domestic maid. There are no reports provided of her medical or mental condition at Quarriers House.
In June 1926 Sarah received her official Birth Certificate and left the Quarriers House organization, and shortly thereafter arranged through the Salvation Army to be sent to Canada as a Domestic. On September 11, 1926, Sarah arrived in Canada and proceeded to the Salvation Army Immigration Lodge in Toronto.
According to a Childrens Aid Society letter sent to Ruth Patricia Scriver in the 1990s, "After working for a short time in Toronto, she moved to Bancroft (in northern Ontario) with a man named William Shortlander, also known as Collins, and assumed the name of Mrs Collins".
Ruth Patricia Collins was born in December 1927 and her brother Bill Williams in October 1929. In July of 1930, while pregnant with her 3rd child, William abandoned the family. A couple of months later Ruth Patricia was severely burned with boiling water, and in October was taken to Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. Sarah was placed in the Salvation Army Immigration Lodge awaiting the birth of her 3rd child and deportation, while Bill and Ruth Patricia were placed in the Marchmont House orphanage in Belleville, Ontario.
In July 1931, Sarah Williams and her 4 month old daughter Betty Williams were deported to Glasgow, Scotland, arriving there on July 10, 1931. In October 2016 we discovered that Betty had been given to a foster home shortly after arrival in Scotland, that she was still alive, was widowed and had 2 children, Linda Rhodes Black and Ian Black, both of whom we are in contact with.
William Edward Collins has been profiled earlier in the webpage, but obviously had an aversion to the truth; in the birth & baptism record for his son (see gallery) William stated he was Dutch and born in Holland. Both Ruth Patricia Collins and Bill Williams (William Wendell Collins) are deceased.
Cursor over for captions, click on photos to enlarge or navigate:
Click on Download File to open in a new window, back button to return:
| 1901_-_1931_-_timeline_for_sarah_williams.pdf |
| quarriers_house_-_report_-_page_1.pdf |
IV(b2) - Sarah Williams - part 2 of her life
Keith Millard: As described in section IV(b1) above, in July 1931, Sarah Williams and her 4 month old daughter Betty Ann Williams were deported to Glasgow, Scotland, arriving there on July 10, 1931.
Internet research in 2016 revealed that Scottish records were too difficult and expensive to navigate without a licensed Genealogy Researcher, and Lorna Kinnaird of DuNedin Links Genealogy was contracted to find the information we were searching for, her full report is included after the photo gallery below. This report includes genealogy facts and dates, but of course no "life story".
We believe Sarah and child Betty were sent to Salvation Army Scotland upon their arrival in 1931, and that immediately or shortly thereafter Sarah was forced to give Betty up, Betty has no memories at all of her mother. In fact, Betty and her family have never known anything of her parentage except her mother's name.
Betty was raised by a foster family named Rhodes, and we believe they really treated Betty like a daughter, Betty married Duncan Black in 1951, Ian Black was born in 1952, and Linda Rhodes Black was born in 1956. Linda recounts their family story in the section below.
In 1935 Sarah married John O'Donnell, a 41 year old widower, the wedding was held at St Mary's Church in Glasgow. Their daughter, Ellen O'Donnell was born in 1936, their son Francis O'Donnell was born in 1937. John died in 1955 and Sarah married a George Donald in 1956. Sarah died in 1979.
We are still searching to determine if Ellen O'Donnell Johnston is still alive, one of her children was named Sarah Williams Johnston and we are trying to locate her as well. Francis O'Donnell died in 2001.
This section will be updated if/when more information becomes available.
Internet research in 2016 revealed that Scottish records were too difficult and expensive to navigate without a licensed Genealogy Researcher, and Lorna Kinnaird of DuNedin Links Genealogy was contracted to find the information we were searching for, her full report is included after the photo gallery below. This report includes genealogy facts and dates, but of course no "life story".
We believe Sarah and child Betty were sent to Salvation Army Scotland upon their arrival in 1931, and that immediately or shortly thereafter Sarah was forced to give Betty up, Betty has no memories at all of her mother. In fact, Betty and her family have never known anything of her parentage except her mother's name.
Betty was raised by a foster family named Rhodes, and we believe they really treated Betty like a daughter, Betty married Duncan Black in 1951, Ian Black was born in 1952, and Linda Rhodes Black was born in 1956. Linda recounts their family story in the section below.
In 1935 Sarah married John O'Donnell, a 41 year old widower, the wedding was held at St Mary's Church in Glasgow. Their daughter, Ellen O'Donnell was born in 1936, their son Francis O'Donnell was born in 1937. John died in 1955 and Sarah married a George Donald in 1956. Sarah died in 1979.
We are still searching to determine if Ellen O'Donnell Johnston is still alive, one of her children was named Sarah Williams Johnston and we are trying to locate her as well. Francis O'Donnell died in 2001.
This section will be updated if/when more information becomes available.
Betty Williams Rhodes Black: Text dated November 3, 2016 by Linda Rhodes Black; Mum was fostered in 1931 by Joseph and Roberta Rhodes, they already has a son called David who was 10 years old. They also took in another girl at some point 4 years younger than mum called Jeannie (Jean). Not sure how old mum was but when she left school she worked in a jewelery shop called 'Glenns' in Glasgow. At this time they were living in Craig Street, Blantyre, Lanarkshire until mum met and married Duncan Black in 1951 in Blantyre. Duncan was a wages clerk with the National Coal Board. When they married they lived in a tenement in Hamilton (a one room flat). I don't think they were there very long when they moved to a 3 bedroom house in Carsgailoch Avenue, Cumnock, Ayrshire. Mum's foster parents and foster sister also moved to Cumnock (I'm not sure how this came about and I think David had emigrated to Australia by then).
Betty had a baby boy called Ian, born at Irvine Hospital in 1952. Apparently she had a very difficult time and swore she wouldn't go back so when she had her baby girl, Linda Rhodes, she had her at home in Carsgailoch Avenue in 1956.
In 1962 we moved to Gogar Bank, just outside Edinburgh. Dad had put himself through a correspondence course to become an Accountant and had a promotion. Every move we made was because of his job promotions. Edinburgh was the start of Compower, a subsidiary of the National Coal Board, getting into computers (who would have though that would take off!).
In 1967 we moved to Penkridge, just outside of Stafford in the Midlands, England. I don't think mum was very happy about leaving Scotland, though I think it was quite exciting for Ian and myself. In 1975 we moved to Stafford and shortly after Ian and I left home. Ian joined the West Midland Police Force then married and I to be married.
Dad retired in 1983 and they moved to Lytham, Lancashire for their retirement in 1985. Coincidentally I had already moved very near there when my marriage ended. Mum and Dad were very happy in Lytham until dad died of cancer in 1994. This was an enormous blow to my family but carry on you must.
Mum had her ups and downs but continued to live her life quite contentedly. She was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease in October 2015 but had already been having some falls in the year, no real consequenses except bruises and a broken arm. Until May 2016 she was still going out every day with her dogs. At this time she had 5 small dogs and a cat.
All her life she has been animal mad, especially dogs. Over the years she has shown them, done obedience with them, bred them and never been without any dogs or a cat for that matter. When I was a small child I dressed dogs up with dolls clothes and pushed them in my dolls pram. Needless to say I have my own 2 dogs now.
However since May this year after mums last fall, which frightened her so much it completely knocked any confidence she had left and hasn't been out of the house at all except with me. I go to see her most days and take her out for her lunch. It is very sad to see how she has deteriorated in a year, from a woman who hated being stuck in the house and never being without a dog to someone who has no pets by choice (she knew she couldn't look after any) and goes outside very little.
Betty had a baby boy called Ian, born at Irvine Hospital in 1952. Apparently she had a very difficult time and swore she wouldn't go back so when she had her baby girl, Linda Rhodes, she had her at home in Carsgailoch Avenue in 1956.
In 1962 we moved to Gogar Bank, just outside Edinburgh. Dad had put himself through a correspondence course to become an Accountant and had a promotion. Every move we made was because of his job promotions. Edinburgh was the start of Compower, a subsidiary of the National Coal Board, getting into computers (who would have though that would take off!).
In 1967 we moved to Penkridge, just outside of Stafford in the Midlands, England. I don't think mum was very happy about leaving Scotland, though I think it was quite exciting for Ian and myself. In 1975 we moved to Stafford and shortly after Ian and I left home. Ian joined the West Midland Police Force then married and I to be married.
Dad retired in 1983 and they moved to Lytham, Lancashire for their retirement in 1985. Coincidentally I had already moved very near there when my marriage ended. Mum and Dad were very happy in Lytham until dad died of cancer in 1994. This was an enormous blow to my family but carry on you must.
Mum had her ups and downs but continued to live her life quite contentedly. She was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease in October 2015 but had already been having some falls in the year, no real consequenses except bruises and a broken arm. Until May 2016 she was still going out every day with her dogs. At this time she had 5 small dogs and a cat.
All her life she has been animal mad, especially dogs. Over the years she has shown them, done obedience with them, bred them and never been without any dogs or a cat for that matter. When I was a small child I dressed dogs up with dolls clothes and pushed them in my dolls pram. Needless to say I have my own 2 dogs now.
However since May this year after mums last fall, which frightened her so much it completely knocked any confidence she had left and hasn't been out of the house at all except with me. I go to see her most days and take her out for her lunch. It is very sad to see how she has deteriorated in a year, from a woman who hated being stuck in the house and never being without a dog to someone who has no pets by choice (she knew she couldn't look after any) and goes outside very little.
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Sarah Williams Research report: Click on Download File to Open in a new window, back button to return:
| williams_report_-_keith_millard.pdf |
IV(c) - Dorothy Martin & William Collins Family
Keith Millard: The letter from CAS (first in Gallery below) was the clue that led to finding another of William's relationships, this time in Picton, Prince Edward County, Ontario using the surname of Schottlander, and with Dorothy Wright of Picton, Ontario who would have been 17 at the time William, 30 years old, met her. Her immediate family is shown in the Geni view, her extended family in the Ancestry family tree view (by Gerry Martin, Dorothy's 1st cousin).
In November 1930 William married Dorothy Bernice Wright, then 17 years old, in Picton, Ontario and using his official name of William Edward Schottlander. Phylis Joan (aka Sally) Schottlander was born in December of 1931, perhaps in Picton, Ontario. We have a warm weather photo of William and Sally circa probably late summer 1932, and we aren't certain of the date that he abandoned this third family of his.
As a child, Sally was told that her father had died, and it wasn't until 2016 the family discovered the origins and final events that surrounded the life of William Edward Schottlander.
In November 1930 William married Dorothy Bernice Wright, then 17 years old, in Picton, Ontario and using his official name of William Edward Schottlander. Phylis Joan (aka Sally) Schottlander was born in December of 1931, perhaps in Picton, Ontario. We have a warm weather photo of William and Sally circa probably late summer 1932, and we aren't certain of the date that he abandoned this third family of his.
As a child, Sally was told that her father had died, and it wasn't until 2016 the family discovered the origins and final events that surrounded the life of William Edward Schottlander.
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IV(d) - William's known events in Florida
During the 1950s and while living in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, William Collins was known to have told his young daughters that he had spent time in the southern US and that he had even been in prison there.
Over the space of two years or so we have searched from time to time to try and find some documented proof of these statements. Partly by persistence and partly by luck we have discovered that in the 1940 US Census William Collins was actually incarcerated in the Florida State Penitentiary at Raiford, Union County, in north Florida. This time he was using the alias of Edward W Collins, but the giveaway was that he stated he had been born in Ontario, Canada in 1901, and was shown as being an Alien (i.e. not a landed immigrant).
This was followed by finding a 1934 residency record in a hotel in Miami along with the name of his companion, Francine Collins. Close behind was a 1939 Divorce record in Dade County showing the divorce between Francine Collins and Edward W Collins.
Over the space of two years or so we have searched from time to time to try and find some documented proof of these statements. Partly by persistence and partly by luck we have discovered that in the 1940 US Census William Collins was actually incarcerated in the Florida State Penitentiary at Raiford, Union County, in north Florida. This time he was using the alias of Edward W Collins, but the giveaway was that he stated he had been born in Ontario, Canada in 1901, and was shown as being an Alien (i.e. not a landed immigrant).
This was followed by finding a 1934 residency record in a hotel in Miami along with the name of his companion, Francine Collins. Close behind was a 1939 Divorce record in Dade County showing the divorce between Francine Collins and Edward W Collins.
IV(e) - Georgina (Georgie Anna Belle) Hall & William Collins Family
Keith Millard: In searching for connections to William Edward Collins, we accidentally stumbled across an Ancestry.ca notice Sheila Cooper had made, that her father William Edward Collins surname at birth was White, his father was a Schottlander, and he changed his name to Collins when he came to Canada.
Georgina Hall: Author Sheila Collins Cooper
To be added
Georgina Hall: Author Sheila Collins Cooper
To be added
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IV(f) - Mildred Shelton & William Collins
Keith Millard: After discovering new "family member" Sheila Collins Cooper, she acquainted us with William's final marry-go-round (pun intended), when he married widow Mildred Shelton in 1951. They remained together until his death in 1959, and the rest of the story is Sheila's to tell.
Mildred Shelton: Author Sheila Collins Cooper
To be added
Mildred Shelton: Author Sheila Collins Cooper
To be added
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IV - Herbert Henry Schottlander (Shotlander)
Herbert (Bert) Henry Shotlander & Dorothy Haddon: Author Gail Shotlander
Herbert Henry Shotlander (known by all who knew him as Bert) was born in 1904 (Shoreditch, Horton New Town). He was my Grandfather, whom we called “Papa”. Bert was a gentle soul and a gentle man. This is his story as we know it to date.
Bert had a very difficult life as a toddler/young child. Between the ages of 4 and 6 Bert “lost” his entire family. His father died when Bert was 4 from consumption (TB?), and records tell us Bert’s father was of delicate health – so we have to presume that Bert would have known a father who was frequently ill.
By the age of 5 he was living with his mother, brother and sister in one sparsely furnished room above a diner. His mother was a cook, but did not earn enough to support her children. Welfare (parish relief) was granted to his father when alive, but after death Bert’s mother did not reapply. When we consider the status of women in 1909, it is not difficult to imagine the challenges. We believe this had significant consequences on Bert’s circumstances.
Bert’s younger sister Lilly was returned to the care of his mother from foster parents due to her inability to pay appropriate room and board. There was court involvement in the missed payments to the foster family, which would have brought attention to the family’s plight. CAS became involved when the school made complaints regarding Bert and his brother William. An assumption can be drawn that the boys were missing school to attend to their 2 year old sister (albeit there is no concrete proof of this … yet).
Bert’s mother signed over Bert and William to the Barnardo Home Orphanage when Bert was 5, with full understanding of “Canada Clauses”. There is no direct indication of what happened to Lilly, but the CAS records do have a footnote that references a foster family. We do know that she did not come to the Barnardo homes with the two boys. It was only 3 weeks before Christmas. As a family, one of the few things we knew is that Bert recalled his mom dropping him off, and saying she would be back. We now know that she did sign the adoption papers knowing her two boys were destined for Canada, so have to assume that this was the gentlest way she knew possible to surrender her children. I personally wonder how long Bert “waited” for his mother to return before he resigned himself to the fact that she would not. That insistent waiting based on a promise would be very real for a 5 year old child.
In less than a year, Bert’s brother William left for Canada. Bert was now 6. But he no longer had any family with him … they had all left. How traumatic that must have been.
It was not until Bert was 11 that he came to Canada as a home child with the Barnardo homes. He landed in Newfoundland, and came to the Uxbridge area to work on a farm(s). Details about these years have yet to be discovered … we are awaiting the files from the Barnardo Homes in London. We are prepared for the worse. You see, Bert never discussed his life before his marriage to Dorothy. Never. And his wife (who I called “Nana”) honoured that silence, also never disclosing any information. What trauma perpetuated in his life?
What I find so amazing is the adult that Bert became, knowing just a smidgen of his past. He met and married Dorothy Amy Haddon in his 20’s. He now had family, and treasured it fully. Nana and Papa had two children – Gerald (Gerry) and Paul. There are 6 grandchildren (and many great-grandchildren whom they never had the opportunity to meet). I know that each of his grandchildren have special memories of Papa, and treasured their time with him even to this day.
Bert worked for a company called Maple Leaf Dry Cleaners. He was “Jeeves”, the mythical man with every solution when it came to getting stubborn stains out of any dry cleanable. He was the “go to” man of the company. He worked there till retirement.
Bert loved to garden, and had a modest but perfectly groomed rockery and garden in his back yard. My father remembers building the flagstone stairs and rockery with Papa. He remembers planting a cactus from seed as son and father in the 1940’s. That cactus still lives today (affectionally called Bert), 75 years later. It was accepted into the elite cactus collection at Toronto’s Allen Gardens where it can live another 75 years. I remember his indoor grow lights that would keep him engaged with gardening through the winter months, and his groomed gardens in the summer that I know recognize as being spectacular. He also loved to putter about, fixing anything and everything made of wood. Bert was an incredibly handy man, who would help anyone who who needed advice or an extra set of hands.
Bert was a very gentle soul and a very gentle man. He held honesty and truthfulness as the standard, modeled this, and expected it from all those around him. I don’t remember ever hearing him enraged. He would state his point and hold to truth, but never engage in ‘fighting’. He never swore and avoided conflict. He loved his family dearly, showering us with smiles and hugs.
In his later years, Bert suffered from Angina. Ultimately, Bert died when I was 21 years of age, in 1981, from congestive heart failure. I treasure those last days visiting with him, holding his hand, and sitting with him as he lived out his last season of life. I know that all his grandchildren would agree with me and say we are all so privileged to have had an adult relationship with him.
Bert’s first 20 years of his life were very difficult. But his last 50 years of life were full of love and family. He must have chosen to not be jaded by his difficult start in life, but rather to celebrate his blessings in his marriage and children. That is inner strength! I admire him for his choices more and more each day as we unfold his history.
Herbert Henry Shotlander (known by all who knew him as Bert) was born in 1904 (Shoreditch, Horton New Town). He was my Grandfather, whom we called “Papa”. Bert was a gentle soul and a gentle man. This is his story as we know it to date.
Bert had a very difficult life as a toddler/young child. Between the ages of 4 and 6 Bert “lost” his entire family. His father died when Bert was 4 from consumption (TB?), and records tell us Bert’s father was of delicate health – so we have to presume that Bert would have known a father who was frequently ill.
By the age of 5 he was living with his mother, brother and sister in one sparsely furnished room above a diner. His mother was a cook, but did not earn enough to support her children. Welfare (parish relief) was granted to his father when alive, but after death Bert’s mother did not reapply. When we consider the status of women in 1909, it is not difficult to imagine the challenges. We believe this had significant consequences on Bert’s circumstances.
Bert’s younger sister Lilly was returned to the care of his mother from foster parents due to her inability to pay appropriate room and board. There was court involvement in the missed payments to the foster family, which would have brought attention to the family’s plight. CAS became involved when the school made complaints regarding Bert and his brother William. An assumption can be drawn that the boys were missing school to attend to their 2 year old sister (albeit there is no concrete proof of this … yet).
Bert’s mother signed over Bert and William to the Barnardo Home Orphanage when Bert was 5, with full understanding of “Canada Clauses”. There is no direct indication of what happened to Lilly, but the CAS records do have a footnote that references a foster family. We do know that she did not come to the Barnardo homes with the two boys. It was only 3 weeks before Christmas. As a family, one of the few things we knew is that Bert recalled his mom dropping him off, and saying she would be back. We now know that she did sign the adoption papers knowing her two boys were destined for Canada, so have to assume that this was the gentlest way she knew possible to surrender her children. I personally wonder how long Bert “waited” for his mother to return before he resigned himself to the fact that she would not. That insistent waiting based on a promise would be very real for a 5 year old child.
In less than a year, Bert’s brother William left for Canada. Bert was now 6. But he no longer had any family with him … they had all left. How traumatic that must have been.
It was not until Bert was 11 that he came to Canada as a home child with the Barnardo homes. He landed in Newfoundland, and came to the Uxbridge area to work on a farm(s). Details about these years have yet to be discovered … we are awaiting the files from the Barnardo Homes in London. We are prepared for the worse. You see, Bert never discussed his life before his marriage to Dorothy. Never. And his wife (who I called “Nana”) honoured that silence, also never disclosing any information. What trauma perpetuated in his life?
What I find so amazing is the adult that Bert became, knowing just a smidgen of his past. He met and married Dorothy Amy Haddon in his 20’s. He now had family, and treasured it fully. Nana and Papa had two children – Gerald (Gerry) and Paul. There are 6 grandchildren (and many great-grandchildren whom they never had the opportunity to meet). I know that each of his grandchildren have special memories of Papa, and treasured their time with him even to this day.
Bert worked for a company called Maple Leaf Dry Cleaners. He was “Jeeves”, the mythical man with every solution when it came to getting stubborn stains out of any dry cleanable. He was the “go to” man of the company. He worked there till retirement.
Bert loved to garden, and had a modest but perfectly groomed rockery and garden in his back yard. My father remembers building the flagstone stairs and rockery with Papa. He remembers planting a cactus from seed as son and father in the 1940’s. That cactus still lives today (affectionally called Bert), 75 years later. It was accepted into the elite cactus collection at Toronto’s Allen Gardens where it can live another 75 years. I remember his indoor grow lights that would keep him engaged with gardening through the winter months, and his groomed gardens in the summer that I know recognize as being spectacular. He also loved to putter about, fixing anything and everything made of wood. Bert was an incredibly handy man, who would help anyone who who needed advice or an extra set of hands.
Bert was a very gentle soul and a very gentle man. He held honesty and truthfulness as the standard, modeled this, and expected it from all those around him. I don’t remember ever hearing him enraged. He would state his point and hold to truth, but never engage in ‘fighting’. He never swore and avoided conflict. He loved his family dearly, showering us with smiles and hugs.
In his later years, Bert suffered from Angina. Ultimately, Bert died when I was 21 years of age, in 1981, from congestive heart failure. I treasure those last days visiting with him, holding his hand, and sitting with him as he lived out his last season of life. I know that all his grandchildren would agree with me and say we are all so privileged to have had an adult relationship with him.
Bert’s first 20 years of his life were very difficult. But his last 50 years of life were full of love and family. He must have chosen to not be jaded by his difficult start in life, but rather to celebrate his blessings in his marriage and children. That is inner strength! I admire him for his choices more and more each day as we unfold his history.
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IV - Lilian (Lily) Matilda Schottlander (Gardiner)
Lily was born in 1907, her father died in 1908, and the attached Barnardo report in 1909 stated the living conditions for the three children when both William and Herbert were removed to the Barnardo Organizations Leopold House. In June of 1911 Lily, aged 4, was removed and sent to the Hackney Workhouse under the name of Gardiner (the Barnardo report states that Elizabeth was cohabiting with a Mr Gardner, the owner of the coffee shop where she was a cook).
No further information about Lily is available at this time, but it is possible she also became a British Home Child.
No further information about Lily is available at this time, but it is possible she also became a British Home Child.
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