Origins of "to be caught dead doing sthg"?

[Artful]

It's an expression I use often "you wouldn't catch me dead doin'/wearin'/sayin' that".
And I wonder if I am wise to use it or if it means people are on the look-out "to catch me dead"?

[Quizmonster]

The earliest recorded example is found in a story published in 1915 by Rudyard Kipling, which contains the sentence: "'Wouldn't be found dead in Hilarity', was Winchmore's grateful reply." (I assume Hilarity here is the name of a club, theatre or whatever.)

[Artful]

Thanks, QM. It's recent, isn't it? I'm surprised.