Funeral Home Record
James T. Harmer & Frankie Harmer — Funeral Receipts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1866 & 1879
Two funeral receipts to Mrs. James T. (Amanda) Harmer of Philadelphia — her husband James, 1866, and their child Frankie, 1879.
2 photographs.
Two funeral receipts, both addressed to Mrs. James T. Harmer (Amanda) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: an 1866 receipt from undertaker John Sweeney, believed to be for the funeral of her husband James (the receipt notably itemizes a fee for shaving him), totaling $148.00; and an 1879 receipt from undertaker Joseph W. Rulon, on a printed billhead, for the funeral of their child Frankie, held 24 April 1879, totaling $10.50.
Inscription transcription
As transcribed by the original contributor.
Philad. August 9th 1866. Mrs. Jas. T. Harmer, to John Sweeney, Dr.
To full mounted black cloth Coffin & Pillow — $93.00
" Case — $8.00
" Washing — $7.00
" Shaving & Dressing — $5.00
" Moving & Keeping body in Ice — $8.00
" 6 Carriages & Hearse — $27.00
Total — $148.00
Rec'd Payment, John Sweeney.
Philadelphia, April 24th 1879. Mrs. Harmer, to Joseph W. Rulon, Furnishing Undertaker, No. 1517 South Eighth Street, Dr.
To furnishing Walnut Coffin for burial of child Frankie — $5.00
" 1 Carriage to Lafayette Av. — $2.50
" Opening Grave — $3.00
Total — $10.50
April 24th, Rec'd by Cash $5.00.
Name index · Funeral home record
| Funeral home record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Harmer, Frankiechild of James T. and Amanda Harmer | d. 24 Apr. 1879 | Funeral receipt, Philadelphia, April 24, 1879, Undertaker Joseph W. Rulon — total $10.50. |
| Harmer, James T. | d. Aug. 1866 | Funeral receipt, Philadelphia, Aug. 9, 1866, Undertaker John Sweeney — total $148.00. |
Both receipts are handwritten except the 1879 form, which is a printed Joseph W. Rulon billhead. The 1866 coffin line item is worn/cursive and reads ambiguously between $93, $77, and $97; $93.00 is the only figure that sums correctly to the stated $148.00 total, so it's given with that confidence. The 1879 receipt separately notes "Rec'd by Cash $5.00" against a $10.50 total — apparently a partial payment at time of service, not a correction to the total; the shop address's street name (small print, left margin) is faint and given as read.
More from the archive
Matched automatically from the archive’s name and place indexes — research leads, not confirmed relations.
Source & Citation
James T. Harmer & Frankie Harmer — Funeral Receipts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1866 & 1879. Funeral-home receipt preserved in the Ancestors at Rest archive.
Last verified: 2026-07-10