Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-06
CREMATION
a noteworthy Case in the Last Century,
buFhinS OF Henry Laurens on His Plan
Eat0n IN South Carolina.

worthy has been overlooked. It is re-
markable not on y from the high char
acter OF 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 our early national life, renders
the carrying out of his last wish the
more interesting. A citizen of Charles
ton, he became q most successful
merchant, amassing a large fortune,
during business career in which he
was distinguished for his accuracy, in
tegrlty, 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 all persuasion to remain in
England he came home and identified
himself with the revolutionary strug-
gle. lie 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,
guarded 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 lnsutficiency 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-, but Laurens
replied: "He loves me dearly, and
would lay down his life to save mine,
but | 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 at
Paris, where the preliminaries of tn e
treaty were signed. On returning to
America he was received as a national
benefactor, but he declined all public
offices and devoted himself to agricul-
ture and mending of his broken for
tunes. He died December 8, 1892.
The following clause in his will relates
to the disposition of his body:
81 solemnly enjoin it on my son as an
Indispensable duty, that as soon as he
conveniently can after my decease, to
cause my body to be wrapped III 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, and
adds that it was done as desired, but
no mention of the cause of the request
or the details of the burning So I'M
usual a proceeding doubtlessly must
have created considerable interest, and
the New York Journal and Patriotic
Register, Saturday January rs, 1893, on
file at the Historical Society Library,
contaius this allusion:
"The following extract Of letter,
dated Charleston, S. c., Dec. "a, is
copied from the Norwich Weekly Reg
lister Of Jan. Ia:
A few days since Henry Laurens de-
parted this life, about seventy years of
age, and his corpse was burned Thurs
day after his decease. This was done
by his son at the request of his father,
who made this reserve in his will, that
unless his son complied with this, he
should be cut short in any of his estate,
which was worth $50, 900. The ashes
remaining from the body were taken up
and put in silver urn for that purpose
The reasons that Mr.. Laurens gave
for this singular desire was that his
body was to good to be eaten by
worms.
A foot note, however, in "Chadwick's
Report on Intramural Interment,"
states that Henry Laurens having an
infant child die of smallpox, when the
body was laid out, caused the window
to be opened to admit a fresh current
of air. The air blowing over the body,
the child was restored to life, and in
this manner barely escaped being
buried alive. So horror-stricken was
Mr. Laurens at this event that he left
orders in his will for his body to be
burned, and the inheritance of his estate
by his son was conditional on his carry
ing out the request. It is impossible
to find the details of the burning SO far,
but gentleman remembers to have
read them years ago in an English book.
The funeral pile was erected on a beau
tiful spot Of the plantation. The body,
wrapped as desired in the will, was
borne on the shoulders of four favorite
slaves and laid upon the pyre, then in
cense and perfumes were thrown upon
it. After the funeral services were held
beside it, the flames were kindled, and
when the pile was burned the ashes
were collected and placed in silver
vase.
The Rectorial Chair of Glasgow Uni