Franklin County, Massachusetts Genealogy

United States Massachusetts  Franklin County



County Courthouse
The legislature approved special charters to allow Franklin and Hampshire counties to become regional councils of government.

Franklin County Courthouse 425 Main Street Greenfield, MA 01301-3313 Phone: 413.774.7011

Clerk Courts has divorce and court records from 1811; Register of Probatre has probate records; Register of Deeds has land recorcds Towns Organized Before 1800: Ashfield 1765, Bernardston 1762, Buckland 1779, Charlemont 1765, Colrain 1761, Conway 1767, Deerfield 1677, Gil 1793, Greenfield 1753, Hawley 1792, Heath 1785, Leverett 1774, Leyden 1784, Montague 1754, New Salem 1753, Northfield 1714, Orange 1783,  Rowe 1785, Shelburne 1768, Shuetesbury 1761, Sunderland 1714, Warwick 1763, Wendell 1781, Whately 1771, Williamsburg 1771

History

 * Named for Benjamin Franklin

Parent County

 * Created 24 June 1811 from Hampshire County.

City:
Greenfield

Neighboring Counties
Berkshire | Hampshire | Worcester | Windham County, Vermont | Cheshire County, New Hampshire

Cemeteries
LDS Cemetery Records


 * US Vol. 24
 * page 87 - Atwood Family cemetery

State Census
1855 Massachusetts State Census—A free searchable index and images to the 1855 Massachusetts State Census can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search. This index includes every name listed on the census and is linked to an image including information about each person’s residence and age in 1855, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

1865 Massachusetts State Census—A free searchable index and images to the 1865 Massachusetts State Census can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search This index includes every name listed on the census and is linked to an image including information about each person’s residence and age in 1865, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

Maps

 * 1858 map of Franklin County
 * 1871 map of Franklin County
 * 1890 map of Greenfield area
 * 1895 map of Franklin County

Newspapers
Newspaperarchive.com ($) has historical newspapers available on-line. Their database has North Adams, MA newspapers (1895-1977), Pittsfield, MA newspapers (1858-1977), and [http://www.newspaperarchive.com/BrowseLocations.aspx?cntry=7&st=50&ci=9894 Fitchburg. MA newspapers] (1868-1977) covering local news that included Franklin County residents.

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers

Web Sites

 * The Franklin County MA GenWeb Project, an member of The MAGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Franklin County
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Franklin County (backup site)
 * Family History Library catalog for Franklin County
 * Massachusetts Genealogy Franklin County Genealogy
 * Kindred Trails Franklin County Massachusetts Genealogy
 * Cyndi's List Franklin County
 * Local History and Genealogy Index Franklin County, Massachusetts