Research in Edmonton later showed that Sir Edward Belcher, commander of one of the Franklin rescue expeditions, had ordered the exhumation of Hartnell in October 1852, but was thwarted by the permafrost.
Senere viste forskning i Edmonton, at sir Edward Belcher, leder af en af redningsekspeditionerne, havde beordret åbning af Hartnells grav i oktober 1852 men måtte opgive på grund af permafrosten.