The New York House of Refuge moved operations from Manhattan Island over to Randall's Island in 1852. The House of Refuge remained in operation at this location until May 11, 1935.

In 2019, historian Clark Kidder, of Janesville, Wisconsin began indexing the old case records for the children at the New York House of Refuge. As indexing progressed Mr. Kidder came across many instances of the children (all in their teens) being buried "on the grounds of Institution." The children came primarily from New York State, but many were born in other states or countries.



The Superintendent of the House of Refuge kept a Daily Journal. Selected entries from the journal were featured in their 40th Annual Report (1864), on page 45:

"January 9: Mary D -----, one of the girls in the first division, died this morning of consumption. She had been confined to the hospital for several weeks . . ."

"January 10: The regular chapel services were held in the morning. In the afternoon the Sabbath schools were closed that the children might attend the funeral services of the late Mary D-----, who died yesterday. The services held in the chapel, were of an impressive character, and listened to by the children with deep and solemn interest . . . The remains were interred in grounds attached to the Institution."



The New York House of Refuge was under investigation for various charges of abuse in 1879. The New York Herald ran an article quoting much of the testimony given by witnesses in their Tuesday, September 16, 1879 issue (p. 5; col. 3): "Thirteenth – The managers of the said House of Refuge during the year 1874, and from thence to August 1, 1876, as I am informed and believe, and since August 1, 1876, and from thence to the 7th day of March, 1879, upon my personal knowledge, have failed to provide proper and suitable places of burial for the dead, have failed to mark the graves with means of identification, have failed to provide funeral service for the dead and have neglected that solemn observance of death that custom and civilization record."



The exact location of the cemetery on the thirty-five acres of land owned by the House of Refuge has yet to be determined.