Rainsford Island in Boston Harbor was the site since 1736 of various hospital and other charitable institutions administered and funded alternately or jointly by Massachusetts and Boston. In 1854 a hospital for sick state paupers opened there, first under the auspices of the Board of Alien Commissioners and then from 1863 under that of the Board of State Charities; it was also used as a military hospital from 1864 and closed in 1866.
From the description of Board of State Charities minutes and correspondence relating to Rainsford Island Hospital, 1863-1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 123526601