Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-24
A CAROLINA CREMATIONIsT.

From the New York World. April l2.I
In citing examples of cremation in
modern times, one of the most note
worthy has been overlooked. 1t is i'm
portant not Only from the high character
of the person, bat from reasons which
bear directly upon the subject as dis
cnssed by the World. 1t is that of Henry
Laurens, which took place on his plan
tation December IL, 1892. The connec-
ton of Henry Laurens so promipe emily
and creditably with our early national
life renders the carrying out of his last
wish the more interesting. A citizen Of
Charleston, he became most successful
merchant. amassing a large fortune,
during business career in which he
was distinguished for his accuracy, in
tegrity and the punctuality with which
he met all business engagements. Hay-
ing gone to Europe for the. education OF
his son, be was one of the thirty-nine
who petitioned Parliament against the
Boston port bill, Having done all in his
power to prevent war, against all per-
suasion to remain in England he
came home and identified him
self with the revolutionary struggle.
he succeeded John Hancock as Presi-
dent of Congress, an Office be resigned
the second term, when he was made
minister to Holland. On his way to his
mission the vessel was captured by the
British, and he was carried to the tower,
on the suspicion of treason Here he
was placed in close confinement. guard
ed by two wardens, who never left him
out Of sight, With no pen to write
with, with no one to speak to, he re-
mained fourteen months, suffering from
insufficient food, not being permitted to
use his own money for that purpose,
broken down in health, and suffering
acutely from gout. His suferings be-
came known; Burke was interested in
him; various schemes we're proposed
for his release. One of these was to be
through the concessions of his son John,
then in Paris as representative of Con-
gress, but Laurens replied, HE loves
me dearly, and would lay down his life
to save mine, but | am sure he would
not sacrifice his honor to save mine; and
/ applaud him" When, finally, he was
released he was appointed one of the
ministers OF Congress for negotiating
peace. He met Jay Franklin and Adams
at Paris, where the preliminaries of the
treaty were signed. On returning to
| America he was received as national
benefacter, but he declined all public
offices, and devoted himselft to .agricul-
ture and the mending of his broken for
tunes. he died December 5, 1892. The
following clause in his will relates to
the disposition Of his body: .a,
=" solemnly erjoin 1t on my son as an
indispensable duty that as soon as he
conveniently can after my decease, to
cause my body to be wrapped in twelve
yards OF tow cloth and burned until it be
entirely consumed, and then collecting
my bones deposit them wherever he may
think proper"
His biograper Ramsey, who was his
law, relates this much, and adds
that it was done as desired but makes
no mention of the causes of the request,
or the details of the burning So unu-
sual proceeding doubtless must have
created considerable interest, and the
New York journal and Patriotic Regis
ter Saturday, January 26, 1893, on file
at the Historical Society Library, con-
tains this allusion: tr-
The following extract of letter, dated
Charleston, S. c., December "a, is cop.
led from the Norwich Weekly Register
Of January Ia:
A few days since, departed this life,
Henry Laurens, Esq, about seventy
years of age, and his corpse was burnt
the Thurgday after his decease. This
was done by his son at the request of
his father who made this reverse in his
will, that unless his son complied with
this he should be cut short in any of his
estate, which was worth e600 900 sterling.
The ashes remaining from the body were
taken up and put into silver urn for
that purpose. The reason that Mr..
Laurens gave for this singular desire
was, that bis body was too good to be
eaten by worms.
A foot note, however, in Chadwick's
REPORT on Ihtramural 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 fresh current of
air. The air blowing over the body re-
stored the child to life, and in this man
ner it barely escaped being buried alive.
/ So horror stricken was Mr.. Laurens at
this event that be left orders in his will
for his body to be burned, and the inher-
itauce of his estate by his son was made
conditional on his carrying out the re-
quest. 1t is impossible to 6nd the de-
tails Of the burning so far, but a gentle
man remembers to have read them years
ago in an English book. The funeral
pile was erected on beautiful spot on
his plantation. The body, wrapped as
desired in the will, was borne on the
shoulders of four favorite slaves and
laid upon the pyre, when incense and
perfumes were thrown upon it. After
| the funeral services were beld beside it,
the flames were kindled, and when the
pile was burned, the ashes were col
/ lected and placed in a silver vase.