Mount Pleasant East in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Resting Place of Pioneers

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 11, 2026

1. The Resting Place of Pioneers Marker

Inscription. In this area of the cemetery lie buried many of the inhabitants of the early town of "Muddy York”.

They were originally buried in the Potter's Field, a plot of six acres in Yorkville at what is now the north-west corner of Bloor and Yonge streets, during the period 1826 to 1850. As a cemetery it was obliged to close because of steady municipal growth. The remains of 364 persons were removed to this location and some 984 others were removed to the Toronto Necropolis between the years 1851 and 1881. The individual monuments were also moved, but being made of soft stone, most of them became illegible from erosion and have been laid flat on the plots.

“The original purchase price in 1825 of "the Potter's Field" was seventy-five pounds currency, or $300.00. The whole amount being raised by subscriptions, in sums in no case exceeding one dollar.”

Requiescat in Pace

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1826.

Location. 43° 41.769′ N, 79° 23.414′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Mount Pleasant East. It can be reached from Merton Street. The marker is in Mount Pleasant Cemetary on its north side, approx. 400 metres east of the entrance near Young Street and Merton

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Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 195 Merton Street, Toronto ON M4S M4S, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Right Honourable William Lyon Mackenzie King / Le Très Honorable William Lyon Mackenzie King (a few steps from this marker); William Lyon Mackenzie King (a few steps from this marker); Kay Gardner Beltline Park (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Yonge Station (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Mount Pleasant Cemetery / Cimetière Mount Pleasant (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Upper Canada College (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); Glenn Gould (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); Imperial Oil Building (approx. 1.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . . Potter’s Field Cemetery (Toronto Historical Association).

Meeting in the Masonic Hall on Yonqe, residents of York Township formed a select committee in December 1825 to develop a burying ground. The secretary of the meeting was William Lyon Mackenzie, and Thomas Carfrae of Yorkville was appointee to arrange for the purchase of six acres from Mary Elmsley, widow of Hon. John Elmsley. Five men were appointed trustees, including Carfrae. Eight people were appointed to solicit subscriptions for the purchase,
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 11, 2026

2. The Resting Place of Pioneers Marker
Ataacjed to the stone at the lower centre of photo
and Hon. Mr. Baby was to present a petition to the Legislative Council, and Mr. Robinson to the House of Assembly. The Act was passed on 30 January 1826, and in May of that year the six acres were purchased. The first burial, on 18 July 1826, was that of Carfrae’s day-old daughter Mary. The Sexton who kept the records and looked after the grounds was John Wolstencroft, and his records indicate that more than 6000 people were buried in this non-sectarian cemetery. The frame church which had served as the first St. Paul’s Bloor Street East (Anglican) church, was rolled on logs along Bloor to serve as the cemetery chapel, and it was located at the centre point where Bay Street was later pushed through.

(Submitted on April 15, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Example of grave marker from the old Potters Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 11, 2026

3. Example of grave marker from the old Potters Field

Map of Toronto, 1842, showing the location of the Potter’s Field Cemetery (top centre) image. Click for full size.

4. Map of Toronto, 1842, showing the location of the Potter’s Field Cemetery (top centre)

Toronto Public Library (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 15, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.