The Mystery Behind Skeletal Remains Found in Benjamin Franklin's Basement

The discovery of multiple skeletons in the basement of America's founding father Benjamin Franklin's home surprised researchers. The skeletons were unearthed by conservationists while working on Franklin's London residence, Smithsonian Magazine reported.

Before signing the Declaration of Independence, Franklin lived in a house at 36 Craven Street in London for almost two decades. In 1775, he left the house and settled in America, and two centuries later people found the skeletons.

Franklin was a lodger in the house owned by a woman named Margaret Stephenson, The Guardian reported. 

In the 1990s historians urged authorities to convert Franklin's house into a museum, Smithsonian Magazine reported. The authorities agreed and conservationists entered the site to explore the property.

It was during this exploration, that the bones were found. The coroner was immediately called, who analyzed the remains and declared that the bones were buried on the site approximately 200 years ago. This implied that these beings died when Franklin was still residing in the house.

Almost 1,200 pieces of bone were excavated from the site, The Guardian reported. At present, they are in the custody of the Institute of Archaeology.

Conservationists found remains of 15 individuals and several animals in the house's basement, Benjamin Franklin House reported. The skeletons were buried in a mysterious, windowless room beneath the garden.

Many of the remains were of children. The discovery led many people to speculate whether Franklin was associated with anti-social activities. 

Though the reality behind the skeletons remains unclear, most of the researchers believe that Franklin had nothing to do with the deaths of these individuals, Smithsonian Magazine reported.

Maev Kennedy, an arts and heritage journalist shares that the most plausible explanation is that Franklin's young friend and protege, William Hewson was responsible for these burials. Hewson was a well-known anatomist of the time and might have used Franklin's residence as an anatomy school, where he analyzed human and animal remains.

The study of anatomy did not have a favorable reception amongst the populace during the 18th century, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Hence, experts believe that Hewson might have set up the school in secret at the residence. The assumption is further backed by the fact that Hewson was Stephenson's son-in-law, which gave him easy access to the property. 

Researchers think that Hewson paid resurrection men to get him bodies from the graveyard, whom he dissected for analysis, The Guardian reported. During one of the dissections, Hewson got a cut which caused blood poisoning, ultimately leading to his death.

Historians believe that Franklin would have allowed such a school in his residence because he was interested in subjects like science and left no opportunity to encourage young scholars, Discovery Magazine shared.

"[Franklin] was a champion of science—he was supportive of young researchers and others that could exemplify his passion for knowledge and innovation," Márcia Balisciano, director of the Benjamin Franklin House stated. "He probably loved the idea that this scientific work would be going on."