{"id":7254,"date":"2014-05-29T15:38:13","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T15:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=7254"},"modified":"2018-01-29T13:35:39","modified_gmt":"2018-01-29T18:35:39","slug":"funeral-sermons-how-to-research-funeral-records-for-genealogy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/funeral-sermons-how-to-research-funeral-records-for-genealogy.html","title":{"rendered":"Funeral Sermons: How to Research Funeral Records for Genealogy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Mary\u00a0Harrell-Sesniak explains that in earlier times funeral sermons were published and sold\u2014and these documents often provide a wealth of family history information. Mary\u00a0 is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

You\u2019re probably wondering what\u2019s so exciting about funeral sermons, a rather sobering subject. Until recently I agreed, but then I did some genealogy research using funeral sermons and discovered that there are exciting ancestral details to be culled from them.<\/p>\n

In fact, I urge all family historians to find and examine funeral sermons about their ancestors whenever they can.<\/p>\n

Funeral Sermons: a Long and Honored Tradition<\/strong><\/p>\n

In earlier days, funeral sermons were often published. Authors (especially ministers) delivered inspirational and memorable sermons, often including personal family details about the deceased. Afterward, friends and bereaved family members requested copies for keepsakes; the funeral sermons were printed and sold to them.<\/p>\n

Although published sermons are rare nowadays, the practice is a long and honored tradition.<\/p>\n

Newspaper Advertisements for Funeral Sermons<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early newspapers ran ads announcing the availability of funereal sermons for purchase. In order to entice sales, most of these ads include pertinent genealogical details that we as genealogists can use as proof documents for lineage society applications.<\/p>\n

This newspaper advertisement<\/a> for Hezekiah Huntington\u2019s funeral sermon is typical. Notice that it includes his date of death, where he died, the burial date and the minister\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

\"ad<\/a>
Connecticut Gazette (New London, Connecticut), 14 May 1773, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By comparison, this obituary for Hezekiah Huntington is a disappointment with its dearth of details\u2014the entire obituary<\/a> is one simple line:<\/p>\n

At New-London, the hon. Hezekiah Huntington, Esq; of Norwich.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"obituary<\/a>
Massachusetts Spy (Boston, Massachusetts), 25 February 1773, page 217<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just think: the old newspaper ad for the funeral sermon\u2014let alone the actual funeral sermon itself\u2014provides more details than the obituary!<\/p>\n

Where to Find Funeral Sermons<\/strong><\/p>\n

GenealogyBank\u2019s newspaper archives<\/a> are a good place to find old ads for funeral sermons. Also, the site\u2019s Historical Books<\/a> collection contains digitized funeral sermons and eulogies.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>
Screenshot: search page for GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Books collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To find genealogical information in early funeral sermons, try searching both the newspaper archives<\/a> for historical advertisements about the funeral, as well as the Historical Books<\/a> collection.<\/p>\n

My Own Family History Discovery in a Funeral Sermon<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I decided to look at the funeral sermons in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Books<\/a> collection, I really wasn\u2019t expecting to find anything about my own family. How wrong I was! While browsing the titles on the search results page, one heading jumped out at me: it named my 6th great grandfather, Joseph Starr, husband of Mary Benedict.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

In all my years of genealogy research, I\u2019ve never been able to find an obituary for Joseph Starr\u2014so this 23-page funeral sermon was an exciting find. I already knew several things about my ancestor\u2019s life, such as his occupation as a shoemaker, tanner and farmer, and military service with the 20th Regiment of Cap. Nehemiah Waterman\u2019s Company during the American Revolutionary War.<\/p>\n

New Details about My Ancestor Joseph Starr<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
Photo: cover of the funeral sermon for Captain Joseph Starr, 1802. Credit: GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Books.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This old funeral sermon confirmed some facts I already knew, but also added new details about Joseph Starr\u2019s life. Some of these new research findings include:<\/p>\n