BURIAL GROUNDS REST HAVEN CEMETERY Deer Island, Boston Harbor The Rest Haven Cemetery at Deer Island contains the graves of over 850 Irish men and women who died at the quarantine station, which was established in June 1847 when fear of typhus and cholera epidemics motivated city leaders to check Irish ships arriving in Boston Harbor. Many Irish who passed the physician inspection at Deer Island and proceeded to the city quickly became ill from the poor health conditions in Irish ghettos along Boston's waterfront. Many Irish were homeless during this period, and were found sleeping in the Boston Common or in doorways with their families. These were transported by horse and cart to Long Wharf, where a boat returned them to Deer Island for treatment or, in some cases, last rites http://www.irishheritagetrail.com/deerisland.html