On a sunny autumn day, a simple wooden box built by a local cabinet maker, containing human bones, was laid to rest once again in a modest reburial ceremony in Brentwood. For two years, researchers and students from the Forensic Anthropology Identification and Recovery (F.A.I.R.) Lab at the University of New Hampshire collaborated with town officials and the state archaeologist of New Hampshire to study and record the remains, which were discovered more than two decades ago during construction. It was established that these remains belonged to individuals from a pauper farm, operational in the mid-1800s.
“We examined the skeletal remains to establish their age and condition, and to help unravel the mystery surrounding their burial in an isolated area without a marker,” stated Alex Garcia-Putnam, co-director of UNH’s F.A.I.R. Lab. “After years of detailing the skeletal remains, we felt privileged to not only provide significant insights into their lives but also to take part in the reburial, allowing these individuals to find peace and offering closure to the concerned parties.”
The remains of the farm workers were accidentally discovered during excavation on private land in 1999. A visit from the New Hampshire state archaeologist confirmed their historical significance based on their age and condition, leading to their transfer to the New Hampshire medical examiner’s office for safekeeping, where they stayed for 23 years. In 2022, the remains were moved to UNH for skeletal analysis by researchers.
UNH’s F.A.I.R. Lab collaborates with law enforcement and the medical examiner’s office to identify remains, but this particular case was primarily historical. The team analyzed the bones to date them and assess the health of the individuals, also exploring town records and maps to understand the historical context of the location. According to their findings, detailed in a paper published in the journal American Antiquity, the remains exhibited signs of hardship, indicative of poverty and strenuous labor, along with various health issues such as osteoarthritis and dental problems, reflecting physiological stress. They were found in a grave without any markers, further signifying a background of poverty on land believed to have been part of the Brentwood Poor Farm from 1841 to 1868.
Poor farms were established predominantly in rural areas of the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries as a form of welfare, aimed at supporting impoverished individuals and other dependent groups. These farms provided shelter and food in exchange for labor, yet often subjected residents to abusive and cruel treatment. The inception of poor farms is said to stem from a desire to keep marginalized groups—including those affected by poverty, racial differences, or mental and physical illnesses—out of sight from the more affluent society.
The town of Brentwood collaborated closely with the current landowners to arrange a reinterment
in the exact spot of the original grave. The individuals from the poor farm were likely buried hastily and without markers, eventually fading from memory as the poor farm system of social welfare dissolved in the 1930s and 1940s and the land transitioned to private ownership.
“Every individual deserves a dignified final burial, and we hope this event demonstrates Brentwood’s commitment to its residents,” expressed Joyce Keegal, Brentwood’s cemetery superintendent. “We are incredibly grateful to UNH for their efforts in illuminating the lives of these individuals and helping us advocate for them.”
“This collaboration amongst the Brentwood community, the state, the homeowners, and UNH has been remarkable—providing answers and connection while offering closure and fulfilling resolutions for everyone involved,” remarked Amy Michael, co-director of UNH’s F.A.I.R. Lab. “Our work encompasses a variety of cases, from criminal investigations to cold cases, and it is deeply rewarding to transition remains from a shelf in a medical examiner’s office, giving them a respectful burial. Today was a significant day.”
The burial site is situated on private land in a confidential area. Plans are underway by Brentwood town officials and the local historical society for an upcoming exhibit about the Brentwood Poor Farm.
