Franklin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

Guide to Franklin County, Pennsylvania ancestry, family history and genealogy in courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, Revolutionary War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

Franklin County Pennsylvania Historical Facts
Parent Counties: Formed from Cumberland County 9 September 1784.

County Seat: Chambersburg

Neighboring Counties: Franklin County residents may also have records in:


 * Juniata
 * Cumberland
 * Adams
 * Fulton
 * Huntingdon
 * Washington County, Maryland
 * Perry
 * Frederick County, Maryland

The Scotch-Irish settled heavily in the Cumberland Valley (which included Franklin County). It is estimated that they made up 90% of the population in the eighteenth century.

Description
The county was named in honor of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. Its county seat is Chambersburg. It was organized September 9, 1784. It is located in the South central tip of the state.

Boundary Changes

 * 14 October 1728: Lancaster County created from Chester County.


 * 27 January 1750: Cumberland County created from Lancaster County, including the future Franklin County.

For animated maps illustrating Pennsylvania county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Pennsylvania County Boundary Maps" (1673-1878) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
1864 Fire burned the courthouse in 1864.

County-wide Database - Multi-denominational

 * 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, free to members of the society; Also available at Ancestry.com – $; 7,542,774 entries. This database is incomplete for all counties.


 * Contains church records of:
 * Presbyterian Church
 * Chambersburg: Falling Spring Presbyterian Church; First United Methodist Church; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church; St. John's United Church of Christ; St. Paul Methodist Church
 * Concord: United Methodist Church
 * Fayetteville: Calvary United Methodist Church
 * Greencastle: United Brethren in Christ
 * Mercersburg: United Brethren in Christ
 * Middleburg: Emanuel's Evangelical United Brethren Church
 * Middletown: Presbyterian Church
 * Pleasant Hill: Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church
 * Waynesboro: Faith United Methodist Church
 * York: United Brethren in Christ
 * York Springs: United Brethren in Christ

Catholic
The oldest Roman Catholic congregations are located in the city of Chambersburg.


 * "100 Years of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese 1843–1943," Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 1. . Chronology, map, county-by-county information.

Church of the Brethren
Church Genealogy Records, Church of the Brethren Network

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
After the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Sydney Rigdon attempted to establish his branch of the Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1845 a group from Pittsburgh traveled to Franklin County and purchased property in Antrim Township. The group, for various reasons, never took hold and by 1847 disbanded.

Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


 * Blue Ridge Dest
 * Fairview (Waynesboro)

Lutheran
Germans settled Franklin County,with one of the earliest settlers being Matthias George. Itinerant ministers performed necessary rites in the area.

Evangelical Lutheran Church, Waynesboro


 * 1814-1875 Evangelical Lutheran Church, Waynesboro, Baptism Index 1814-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1844-1880 Evangelical Lutheran Church, Waynesboro, Marriage Index 1844-1880 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sylan (Little Cove)


 * 1834-1875 Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sylan (Little Cove), Baptism Index 1834-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1834-1906 Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, 1834-1906 at Ancestry ($).

Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pleasant Hall


 * 1788-1869 Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pleasant Hall, Baptism Index 1788-1869 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Second Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chambersburg


 * 1835-1875 Second Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chambersburg, Baptism Index 1835-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Presbyterian
The Presbyterians are very numerous in the county and were the earliest denomination in the county.

Falling Spring Presbyterian Church was organized, at a Scotch-Irish settlement in what is now Franklin County, in 1738.

Robert Kennedy Memorial Presbyterian Church, Welsh Run


 * 1836-1917 Robert Kennedy Memorial Presbyterian Church, Welsh Run, Baptism Index 1836-1917 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church, Mercersburg


 * 1769-1813 Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church, Mercersburg, Baptism Index 1769-1813 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.
 * 1769-1812 Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church, Mercersburg, Marriage Index 1769-1812 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Welsh Run Presbyterian Church


 * Jim Houpt Indexing Project This site contains indices to Military, Presbyterian Church, Cemetery, and other records in Franklin County.

Reformed
Salem Reformed Church, Washington Township


 * 1782-1809 Salem Reformed Church, Washington Township, Baptism Index 1782-1809 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free. Batch.

Court Records
Register &amp; Recorders Office Courthouse Annex 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3872 Fax: 717-709-7211

Court of Common Pleas
The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Judges also decide cases involving adoption, divorce, child custody, abuse, juvenile delinquency, estates, guardianships, charitable organizations and many other matters. The Common Pleas courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. Franklin County shares its judicial district with Fulton County. Judges of the Common Pleas courts are elected to 10-year terms. A president judge and a court administrator serve in each judicial district.

Orphans' Court
Clerk of Courts Franklin County Courthouse 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3805


 * 1785–1903 Orphans' Court Dockets Includes general index.
 * 1850–1900 Executors and Administrators, and Guardian Accounts Some volumes include surname index.
 * 1852–1900 Orphans' Court Auditor's Docket

History
The county is named for Benjamin Franklin.


 * Franklin County USGenWeb Project This site has several local histories online for Franklin County, including the 1887 History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania by Bates (1110 pgs).

Land and Property
Land records in Franklin County began in 1784. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, and maps. Property records include liens as well as livestock brands and estray records.

The following are examples of available resources:

Online Land Records


 * 1955–present Franklin County offers online access to records. Fees apply.

Online Land Abstracts


 * Land Warrants, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3 Volume 25, pp. 3-52 at Franklin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Land Records on Microfilm


 * 1784–1963 Deeds, 1784-1883; Index 1784-1963
 * 1811–1868 Mortgage Books

Additional Resources

Note that the "Maps" section below includes maps related to land ownership.

See Pennsylvania Land and Property for more information about using land records, especially about original land warrants, surveys, and patents filed at the state land office.

Additional resources can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Franklin County Pennsylvania Land in online catalogs such as:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog.)
 * (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search.)

Maps

 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted free downloadable images from the Atlas of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, from Actual Surveys under the Direction of D.G. Beers, published by Pomeroy &amp; Beers, 1868. This atlas located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially.  We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.

Military

 * Jim Houpt Indexing Project This site contains indices to Military, Church, Cemetery, and other records in Franklin County.

French and Indian War
Reverend John Elder, pastor of Derry and Paxtang churches, recruited Scotch-Irish rangers from his congregation in what is now Franklin County (then Cumberland County). Known as the Paxton Rangers or Paxton Boys, they provided security for white settlements between the Blue Mountains and the Susquehanna River. They are remembered for playing a prominent role in Pontiac's War.

Revolutionary War
Men from what is now Franklin County (then Cumberland County) served in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment.

Civil War
An interesting study, called the Valley of the Shadow Project, has collected military and private papers detailing the experience of the Civil War in Franklin County, Pennsylvania and Augusta County, Virginia.

Newspapers
Newspapers of Franklin County


 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory

Online Newspapers

To learn if there are newspapers online for a specific town or city in Pennsylvania, see news.google.com/newspapers and search for the town or the name of a newspaper.


 * Franklin Repository of Chambersburg July 8, 1863-December 27, 1865.
 * Pilot of Greencastle February 3, 1863 - July 26, 1864.
 * Waynesburg Messenger of Waynesburg August 21, 1861 - March 22, 1865.

The Digital Archives of the Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library contains full photos of local newspapers searchable by key words and article titles (try births, obituaries, hospital admissions, discharges, etc.) as well as date.
 * Record Herald, 1918-2009
 * Village Record 1851-1900
 * Waynesboro Record 1901-1921 (now known as the Waynesboro Record Herald)

Online Newspaper Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Newspaper Articles of Franklin County.
 * Civil War Era Newspapers for Franklin County.
 * Newspaper Articles at Franklin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives. Includes several items from the People's Register

Obituaries
Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died. However, sometimes an obituary is found in the location from which he or she originated. To find an obituary, see the information under the Newspaper heading

Online Obituary Abstracts


 * PA-Roots Obituaries for Franklin County.
 * Obituary and Death Notices at Franklin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Obituary Excerpts and Abstracts


 * Cell, Robert F. and Franklin Repository (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania), The Franklin Repository; Chambersburg, Pennsyvlania:Newspaper Abstracted and Indexed for Franklin County Names (Edinburg, Texas:R.F. Cell, 1992, 1995; Chambersburg, Pennsylvania:Franklin County Historical Society-Kittochtinny) An index in each volume. Contains draft lists, jurors, military lists, unclaimed letters, death and marriage notices, probate information, etc.
 * Cell, Robert F. and Mercersburg Journal (Mercersburg, Pennsylvania), Mercersburg Journal; Mercersburg, Pennsylvania; 1857-1874 (Edinburg, Texas:R.F. Cell, 1996) ;

Orphanages
Students in the Soldiers' Orphan Schools from Franklin County, Pennsylvania June 1, 1902

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes


 * Franklin County Wills and Estate Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives


 * 1683 - 1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Online Probate Records

Original probate records for some Pennsylvania counties are available free online as digital images at FamilySearch.org. The dates vary significantly for each county and not all counties are listed. Some counties may only have probate indexes. This Pennsylvania collection of images may be browsed through the links listed below:

Complete Collection:


 * 1683-1994-at FamilySearch.org

Franklin County only:


 * Franklin County Probate Records

Online Probate Record Abstracts


 * Wills - Abstracts and Letters of Administration (incomplete) at Franklin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Original Probate Records on Microfilm


 * 1700–1960 Administration Index - catalog notes state records begin in 1700's
 * 1752–1838 Courthouse Records - includes original probates, wills and land records at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * 1784–1822 Estate Papers
 * 1785–1903 Orphans' Court Dockets
 * 1785–1960 Index to Minors' Estates
 * 1850–1900 Executors, Administrators, and Guardian Accounts
 * 1852–1900 Orphans' Court Auditor's Docket
 * 1855–1961 Widows' Appraisements
 * 1962–1963 General index, Orphans' Court

Repositories

 * List of Pennsylvania Archives, Libraries, Publications, Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Archives



 * Franklin County Archives. Information about the archival and records management program established in Franklin County.
 * National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Road Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052

Courthouse

 * Franklin County Courthouse Register Recorders Office Courthouse Annex 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3872


 * Clerk of Court Franklin County Courthouse 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3805


 * Prothonotary Office Courthouse Annex Phone: 717-261-3861 Fax: 717-264-6772

Family History Centers
Chambersburg Pennsylvania Family History Center - You may also visit the Fairview Pennsylvania Family History Center (Waynesboro)

Libraries
Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library 45 E Main St Waynesboro, PA 17268 Phone: 717-762-3335 Email: [mailto:alexanderhamiltonlibrary@hotmail.com alexanderhamiltonlibrary@hotmail.com]

Societies

 * Franklin County Historical Society 175 East King Street Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-264-1667 Email: [mailto:history@pa.net history@pa.net]


 * Franklin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy Group Facebook


 * Kittochtinny Historical Society 175 East King Street Chambersburg, PA 17201


 * Shippensburg Historical Society 52 West King St. Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-532-6727 Email: [mailto:info@shippensburghistory.org info@shippensburghistory.org]

Taxation

 * 1798 Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 at Ancestry ($).

Vital Records
See also How to order Pennsylvania Vital Records

Birth

 * 1726-1930  - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is an electronic index for the years 1726 to 1930. It is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.

Early births 1894–1906 are located at the County Orphans' Court. See the heading Court Records on this page for contact information.

Beginning in 1906 Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of of Health. Birth records become public after 105 years. A statewide index is available. Once an individual is located in the index a certificate can be obtained by writing to:

Division of Vital Records Attn: Public Records P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16103


 * 1894-1906 Register of Births  Births from 1894–1906 have been microfilmed. They are available at the Pennsylvania State Archives and through local family history centers.

Marriage
Franklin County marriages are maintained by the Register of Wills. Franklin County began recording marriages in 1885. To obtain a marriage record you may go to or mail the Register of Wills.


 * 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties.
 * 1725-1976  - free index. Not complete for all years. This index is not necessarily intended to index any specific set of records. This index is not complete for any particular place or region. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index or Vital Records Index collections.
 * Pre-1810  Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) This database is incomplete for all counties. Includes 35,000 marriage records from vol. VIII of of the second series of the Pennsylvania Archives.
 * 1830-1848 James Walker's Journal, Marriages,Franklin County Archives Vital Records (USGenWeb) 
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry.com – ($) Index with images.
 * 1885-1950 Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885 – 1950. Free online index with images to some Franklin County marriages. Most of the records consist of marriage licenses, certificates, applications, docket books, and affidavits. These records have been microfilmed.
 * 1885-1963 Marriage License Dockets (Franklin County, Pennsylvania) –
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch — index and images

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary. The office of the Prothonotary is located in the courthouse building.

Death
Franklin County began recording deaths in 1893 although some were recorded from 1853–1854. Records from 1893 – 1905 are available on the 2nd Floor of the County Courthouse Annex in Chambersburg. You may request a death record from the Clerk of Courts.


 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry.com – $ Index with images.
 * 1893-1906 Register of Deaths  These county death records were microfilmed by FamilySearch. They are available through Family History Centers and at the Pennsylvania State Archives.
 * 1894-1906 Franklin County Death Index 1894-1906 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch - free.
 * 1947-2010 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Pennsylvania death certificates become public records after 50 years. An annual index is released by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Records less than 50 years old are kept by the Division of Vital Records and are not public certificates. Only certain people can request a non-public death certificate. To order a non-public representative you must be:


 * Legal representative of decedent's estate
 * Immediate family member
 * Extended family member who indicates a direct relationship to the decedent
 * Power of Attorney (Please note that a Power of Attorney document is no longer valid upon the death of the individual)

See the Pennsylvania Department of Health website to obtain a copy of a non-public death certificate. Visit website for cost.

Indexes for Pennsylvania public death records are available online through the Department of Health for 1906 through 1961. Once an individual is located in the index a certificate can be obtained by writing to:

Division of Vital Records Attn: Public Records P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16103

Franklin County Pennsylvania Genealogy Websites

 * Franklin County USGenWeb Project This site has several maps, cemetery records, name indexes, local and family histories and other information for Franklin County online.


 * Franklin County, PA History, Records, Facts and Genealogy




 * FamilyHart Online Database This is an online family database of over 843,000 linked records. There are many Franklin County families in this database. The database is updated online quarterly.


 * Franklin County PA Genealogy


 * Franklin County Genealogy Facebook Group