At London looking north	At Barton looking south

In recognition of one of the first residents of Seaton Village, "...at 691 Markham Street where 'Mammy' Brown lived. This cottage is the oldest house in Seaton village, and Mrs. Brooks says: 'Mother lived in it over 50 years. She was 111 when she died, and she's dead 11 years. Mother came from Maryland. She and my father were slaves, and ran away because father was going to be sold."

The Story of Deborah "Mammy" Brown is documented in J. Ross Robertson's: Landmarks of Toronto (c.1914) Vol.6." (The dilapidated cottages north of the original address give an impression of what her home may have looked like. It is heritage lost by neglect.)

Through the research efforts of Erin Mitchell, the following information has been accessed: "During the mid-19th century, Seaton Village was home to the largest number of African-Canadian and African-American families in York County. Deborah and Perry Brown lived on what is now Markham Street and the Rev. William Mitchell, his wife Elizabeth, and their five children lived nearby.

Deborah lived a long life. She died in 1898 and ten years later John Ross Robertson included her story in his articles about the history of Toronto. (Adrienne Shadd, Afua Cooper and Karolyn Smardz Frost, The Underground railroad: Next Stop Toronto!: Toronto, 2002, pp. 5 - 9)"

With Thanks to the Earlscourt History Club: http://www.earlscourthistory.ca/articles.php?id=2286

A land grant dated July 9th,1886, as granted by the then Provincial Lieutenant Governor, John Beverly Robinson, includes the following information; Perry Brown died intestate about 15 years prior (c.1871) leaving his widow Deborah Brown and seized of Lot 133 on the east side of Markham Street, valued at $400. They were formerly slaves in the State of Maryland, came to Canada about 30 years ago (c.1856), settled on the lot and Perry had purchased and obtained a deed for the property in 1870. As Deborah Brown was old and feeble and unable to work or provide for herself, and was in poor circumstances she was granted possession of the property. This gives some credence to the belief that their home was among the first within Seaton village, later numbered 691 Markham Street. Her Death Record and Obituaries titled "Toronto's Oldest Resident", show that she died at the age of 111 on April 24th 1898, but at her death she was residing at "the rear of 108 Chestnut" street, the home of her daughter Mrs. Sarah Brooks. She had lived in her home on Markham up to one month before. The funeral was held at the Seaton Village Methodist Church the next day. (Copies of the above records are available from Ed Janiszewski and the files of the Community History Project.) See also: http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1126157--black-history-month-heroes-of-the-underground-railroad