Dead Man's Ashes
New Ipswich Historical Society
March 1915
DEAD MAN'S ASHES SENT PARCEL POST
No One in New Ipswich But Sexton Notified of J. B. Davis' Death in California.
Unannounced to relatives or friends, the ashes of James B. Davis arrived in New Ipswich from California on Thursday of last week, ahead of a letter to a former town sexton announcing his death, and were buried in the New Ipswich cemetery without services of any kind. This unusual incident, which had not become generally known in that little New Hampshire town until Sunday, has caused not a little comment, for the late Mr. Davis was one of the most highly respected residents of New Ipswich during his long residence there. He was known to quite a number of people in this city for after giving up his home in New Ipswich he came here to make his home with his daughter, Henry L. Kingsbury. Mrs.
In the fall of 1913, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsbury left Fitchburg to establish their home in San Diego, Cal., and it was there that Mr. Davis, who accompanied them, died. The trip across the continent was begun in an automobile, and the Sentinel had a most interesting account of the trip shortly after it ended. Mr. Davis and his daughter did not make the whole trip by automobile, going on from Indianapolis by train.
The date of Mr. Davis' death is not known to relatives and friends in New Ipswich. The ashes, addressed to William T. Bucknam, a former town sex- ton, arrived at the little post office there on Thursday of last week, and a few hours later came a letter to Mr. Bucknam, giving notice of the fact that the body had been cremated and asking for proper burial. No burial services were held, for relatives had no chance to arrange for them.
The ashes were not insured and the cost of sending them across the continent was just 84 cents.
Mr. Davis was born in New Ipswich on Dec. 23, 1832, and lived there all his life until 1913.
Photo Archives
I believe this was the home of J.B. Davis photographed in 1981
James Roger diary entry
2nd February 1913
Frost; 8 above; fair and bright; wind west. Mr. Lord preached from the text “When saw we Thee, etc. etc.” Unconscious Christianity: S.S. after. 19 present. No evening service.
So Mr. Davis appears to have been in declining health, is taken to California anyway and dies; and presumably his daughter and her husband have him cremated and unceremoniously ship his ashes back home. Was this shipment COD, as it's listed as 'uninsured'? Without his daughter and son-in-law notifying any friends or relatives in New Ipswich of his demise?
I was just going to type where that house is today. and then read Isabel's comment. Where the Esty/Davis family lived when I was growing up. Yes, across from the entrance to the cemetery.