River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-05-08
CREMATION.

\ Noteworthy Case in thc Last Century
burning OF Henry Lnurens on His Plan
tatiOn in south Carolina.
In the citing examples of cremation
in modern times, one of the most note
worthy has been overlooked. Ii is re-
markable not only from the high char
acter os the person, but from reasons
which bear directly upon the subject
1t is that of Henry Laurens, which took
place upon his plantation December Ii,
1872. The connection of Henry Lau-
ems SO prominently and creditably
with ou early national life, renders
the carrying out of his last wish the
more interesting. A citizen of Charles
ton, he became most successful
merchant, amasslng a large fortune.
during business career in which he
was distinguished for his accuracy, in
tegrity, and the punctuality with which
he met all his business engagements.
Having gone to Europe for the educa-
ton of his son, he was one of the thirty
nine who petitiOned parliament against
the Boston port bill Having done
every thing in his power to prevent
war, against ill persuasion to remain in
himself with the revolutionary strug-
gle. He succeeded John Hancock as
president of Congress, an office he re-
signed after a second term, and became
minister to Holland. On his way to his
mission the vessel was captured by the
British, and he was carried to the tow
er, on the suspicion of treason. Here
he was placed in close confinement,
by two warders who never left
him out Of sight. With no pen to
write with, with no one to speak with.
he remained fourteen months, suffering
from lnsutliciency of food, not being
allowed to use his own money for that
purpose, broken down IN health, and
suffering acutely from govt. His suf-
ferlng became known: Burke was inter-
ested IN him; various schemes were
proposed for his release. On of these
was to be through the concessions of
his son John, then in Paris as Repre-
sentative of Congress, bu. Laurens
replied: He loves me dearly, and
would lay down his life to save mine,
but l am sure he would not sacrifice his
own honor to save mine, and | applaud
him. When, finally, he was released
he was appointed one of the Members
OF Congress for negotiating peace.
He met JAY Franklin and Adams ut
Paris, where the preliminaries of tn e
treaty were signed. On returning to
America he was received as national
benefactor, but he declined all public
offices and devoted himself to agricul-
ture and mending Of his broken for
tunes. He died December s, 1892.
The following clause in his viii relates
to the disposition of his body:
81 solemiIy enioin IL on my son as an
indispensal le duty, that as soon as he
conveniently can after my decease, to
cause my body 10 be wrapped in twelve
yards of tow cloth and burned until it
is entirely consumed then, collecting
my bones deposit them where ever he
may think proper.
His biographer, Ramsey, who was
his son-in-law, relates this much, aud
adds that II was done rs desired, but
no mention of the cause of the request
or the details of the burning. So nm
usual proceeding doubtlessly must
have created considerable interest and
the New York journal and Patriotic
Register, Saturday January IS, 1893, on
file at the Historical Society Library,
contaius this allusiou:
1.-The following extract Of letter
dated Charleston. ). c., Dee. II, is
copied from the Norwich Weekly Reg
lister of Jan. IA:
A few days since Henry Laurcns de
parted this life. about seventy years Of
age. aud his corpse was burned Thurs
day after his dcccasc. This was done
by his son nj the request OF his father,
who made this reserve IN his will. that
unless his son complied with this, he
should bc cut short IN any of his estate,
which was worth ECO. 600. The ashes
remaining from the body were taken mp
and put in silver urn for that purpose.
The reasons that Mr. Laurcns gave
for this singular desire was That his
body was to good 90 bc eaten 10y
worms.
A foot note. however, in "Chadwiek's
Report on lntramuml Iutcrment, "
states that Henry Laurcns having nm
infant child die Of smallpox. when the
body was laid out. caused the window
Is bc opened "a admit fresh current
of air The air blowing over the body.
the child was restored to life. and In
& his manner barely escaped being
buried alive. 50 horror-strieken was
Mr. laurpus al this event that No loft