Frank and Emily Wanzer: Freedom Seekers Who Built a Life in Toronto
1830–1911
Prospect Cemetery
Section 15 Lot 1683
Frank and Emily Wanzer’s story is rooted in courage and resilience. Both were born into slavery in the United States and escaped via the Underground Railroad, joining thousands of freedom seekers who found refuge in Toronto during the mid-19th century. Their journey north was fraught with danger, but it led to a new beginning in a city that became a beacon of hope for those fleeing bondage.
Frank worked as a labourer and supported his community, while Emily helped build a household grounded in dignity and resilience. Together, they raised their family in Toronto’s east end, strengthening a vibrant Black community rooted in churches, mutual aid societies and abolitionist networks. Alongside another couple, they found steady work and lived out their days in freedom and peace.
Their graves in Prospect Cemetery stand as silent witnesses to a chapter of Canadian history that underscores Toronto’s role as a sanctuary during one of humanity’s darkest eras. Their legacy reminds us that the fight for freedom did not end at the border; it continued in the lives they built and the communities they strengthened.
Sources:
• Pressbooks – Barnaby Grigby / Frank Wanzer & Emily Foster (alias Ann Wood)
• See It, Save It – “A Christmas Eve Escape”
