1862
Toronto Necropolis
Section F Lot 157
On a spring afternoon in May 1862, a family outing on Lake Ontario turned into one of Toronto’s most heartbreaking tragedies. David Ward, an early settler of the Toronto Islands, had seven children. His second son, William, just 15 years old, was an accomplished sailor. That day, he took his five younger sisters, Rose (5), Jane (7), Cecilia (9), Phoebe (11) and Mary Ann (12), out for a sail in a small open dinghy with a single sail.
In those days, boating was a simple pleasure, but one without life jackets, weather forecasts or rescue services, such that every trip carried hidden risks. For an hour, the children enjoyed the calm waters near the shore. Then, a sudden gust of wind struck. William fell overboard, and the boat capsized, throwing all six children into the frigid lake. With immense effort, William managed to right the dinghy and pull three sisters aboard, but they succumbed to the cold. Another gust overturned the boat again, sweeping the lifeless bodies away. Phoebe clung to the gunwale until exhaustion claimed her. All five sisters drowned.
A man on shore witnessed the disaster and rescued William, who survived but was deeply scarred by the ordeal. In later years, William became a local hero, credited with saving more than 160 lives from Lake Ontario’s treacherous storms, a lifelong mission born from unfathomable tragedy. Today, such an accident is far less likely thanks to modern safety standards: mandatory life jackets, advanced weather alerts and rapid-response rescue teams. Yet, the Ward Sisters’ story reminds us that nature remains as powerful as ever. Even now, when precautions are ignored, the water can still claim lives.
The Ward name lives on in Toronto. Ward’s Island, still a vibrant community and park space, carries their legacy. Historical tours at Necropolis and local archives keep their memory alive, connecting visitors to early island life and the city’s evolving relationship with Lake Ontario. From personal heroism to modern rescue services, the Wards’ story is woven into Toronto’s identity, the tragic deaths of five young sisters serving as a permanent caution to respect Toronto’s natural environment.
Sources:
• Cabbagetown People – The Tragedy of the Ward Children
• Mount Pleasant Group – Ward Sisters
• Now Toronto – Tempestuous Isle: A tragic history of Toronto Islands
Photo: View of Ward's Hotel on Ward's Island, Toronto Island, Circa 1900, F. W. Micklethwaite, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
