Grocery and Provision Store of the Lafferty Family

A Family in Freedom

Source : Toronto Public Library Digital Archive


Adelaide Street, c. 1874

Adelaide Street is a main west-east artery in Toronto. In 1844, Newgate Street, Duke Street, Little Adelaide Street, and Adelaide Street were amalgamated to form Adelaide Street.

Source: Toronto Public Library Digital Archive


Image: Yonge Street, c.1868

Yonge Street is a major north-south arterial road in Ontario, starting at the foot of Toronto Bay. Other Black Torontonians operated businesses on Yonge Street including Dr. Augusta. 

Source: Toronto Public Library Digital Archive

Text version of the audio

By 1846, William Lafferty operated a grocery and provision store just north of here at Church Street and Adelaide Street East. Lafferty arrived in Toronto in August 1830. In 1833, he married a Black woman named Sarah Cloud and they had four children. By 1837, he established a cartage business on Stuart’s Lane (which ran North/South between King & Adelaide, just west of Jarvis Street). He operated this business for about ten years. 

By this time, the Laffertys also owned six properties in Toronto and Etobicoke. He also operated another grocery store at 50 Yonge Street in 1856 where Hotel Victoria is today. In 1841, Lafferty was described as one of the many Black migrants who arrived penniless to Canada but had made a successful life for themselves. 

A good education

William and his Sarah ensured that their children received a good education. Their third son, Alfred, was sent to attend school at the Buxton settlement from 1850 to1853. Then, he returned to Toronto, and attended Upper Canada College from 1853 to 1859. In 1860, Alfred attended University College, which is now part of University of Toronto, where he received his BA in 1863 and earned his Master of Arts degree in 1867. 

Throughout his educational career, Alfred won several academic and financial awards. In 1863, Alfred was hired as the headmaster of the Richmond Hill County Grammar School. He married Isabella Campbell, a Scottish woman. He taught for a short time at the Lindsay Grammar School, then at the Guelph High School in 1872, where he became principal, the first Black principal in Ontario. 

In 1875, Alfred became principal of the Wilberforce Educational Institute in Chatham, a school established by the Black community in that city. Later, he studied law and was called to the Bar in 1886. Alfred and his family remained in Chatham for the rest of his life. The story of the Lafferty family is great example of the experiences and lives of freedom seekers, and their children in the city of Toronto and in the province of Ontario.

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Présenté par : Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon, York University
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