Franklin County, New York Genealogy

Guide to Franklin County, New York ancestry, family history, and genealogy birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

New York Online Genealogy Records

Description
The County was named for the Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. The County is located in the northeast area of the state.

Parent County
Created 11 March 1808 from western part of Clinton County.

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating New York County boundary changes, "Rotating Formation New York County Boundary Maps" (1683-1915) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Franklin was taken from the western part of Clinton county in 1808, organized by act of March 11. At this time it consisted of 3 civil subdivisions: Chateaugay, Constable and Harrison (Malone.) The Revised Statutes of The State of New-York...1828 to 1835...Volume 3, (Albany: Packard and Van Benthuysen, 1836), p. 305, retrieved from google.books

Find boundaries and boundary changes of towns by tract and township numbers in the county of Franklin in The Revised Statutes of The State of New-York...1828 to 1835...Volume 3,[http://books.google.com/books/reader?id=QIA4AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb_hover&pg=GBS.PA65 p. 65-66. Retrieved from google boks]

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

Bible Records

 * 1581–1917 New York, Family Bible Records at Ancestry– ($); Index. Database is a collection of genealogically important records taken from the Bibles of colony and state residents. Reveals the Bible's original owner, brief record of descendants,and a particular event such as birth or marriage as recorded in Bible.


 * 1881–1934 Watson H. Harwood and Austin M. Gowan, Dr. Watson H. Harwood's Records of Births He Attended in Area of Chasm Falls, Owls Head, and Mountain View in Towns of Malone, Brandon, and Duane in the State of New York, Franklin County from 1881-1934 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1980).

Biography
History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York by Duane Hamilton Hurd, J. W. Lewis &amp; Co., 1880. Google eBook

A History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, New York: from the earliest period to the present time, by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Little &amp; Co., 1853. Google eBook

Historical Sketches of Franklin County and its several towns: with many short biographies by Frederick Joel Seaver, J.B. Lyon Company, 1918. Google eBook

Cemeteries
Cemetery records often reveal birth, death, relationship, military, and religious information.


 * 1800-1965 - at FamilySearch — index

Census
For information and tips on using and accessing online census records, see New York Census.

Federal

 * The 1890 Census is lost. For a substitute, see directories.
 * The 1810 Census for Franklin County has an issue. The county name was only identified on the first and last pages by the enumerator. The pages inbetween were possibly miscategorized and indexed as being pages from Essex County, New York, see United States Census, 1810 - FamilySearch Historical Records / Known Issues

Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * FamilySearch Places


 * 1839-1846 - Early U.S. French Catholic Church Records, Hogansburg, courtesy: Ancestry ($).


 * 1843-1852 - Early Marriage and Baptisms Records, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Hogansburg, NY, courtesy: USGenWeb Archives.


 * 1843-1907, 1913-1949 - Early U.S. French Catholic Church Records, Coopersville, courtesy: Ancestry ($).
 * 1762-1776 Eglise catholique. Saint-François-Régis (Saint-Régis, Québec) Contains baptisms, marriages, burials, and confirmations from various New york counties and Quebec. Includes records of Indians and whites. Text may be in English, French, Latin, or Indian.
 * 1838-1876 Eglise catholique. Saint-Jean-Chrysostôme (Saint-Chrysostôme, Québec) Contains baptisms, marriages, burials and confirmations in areas of Franklin and Clinton counties in New York as well as Quebec.
 * 1846-1876 Eglise catholique. Saint-Malachie-d'Ormstown (Saint-Malachie-d'Ormstown, Québec)

Includes baptisms, marriages and burials for several parishes in the region. Text in French and English. Also includes several areas in Quebec.


 * Church Records St Patrick Parish, Chateaugay, NY


 * Franklin County Churches

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1906-1942 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Maps and Gazetteers

 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places



Genealogy
Rootsweb message boardfor Franklin County has many information threads about families that resided in that county. There is a search engine that allows you to search by surname and topic.

History
Franklin County is part of Macomb's Purchase of 1791.

Land and Property
Original land records in began in 1808. These records are housed at the Franklin County Courthouse in Malone. Volunteers from the Franklin County Historical Society will search and copy for a small fee. Records prior to 1808 are in Clinton County, New York Land Records.

Microforms


 * 1808-1965 Deed Records 1808-1900 - Index included: 1808-1965
 * 1808-1873 Mortgage Records 1808-1853 - Index included: 1808-1873

Books




 * 1739-1802 - Landholders of Northeastern New York 1739-1802, courtesy: Ancestry ($); World Vital Records ($)

Maps

 * Maps of New York (1683-1915)
 * Atlas of Franklin County, New York. (1876)

Migration
Early migration routes to and from Franklin County for European settlers included:


 * Lake Champlain Trail pre-historic
 * Champlain Canal 1823
 * Erie Canal 1825
 * Chambly Canal 1843

War of 1812
Austin, John M., Soldiers of the War of 1812 who were residents of Franklin County, New York at the time of their service (J.m. Austin, c1999) pages 31 FHL Book 974.755 M2

Civil War

 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index

Available towns. Registers are available for: Bangor, Bellmont, Bombay, Brandon, Brighton, Burke, Chateaugay, Constable, Dickinson, Duane, Fort Covington, Franklin, Harrietstown, Malone, Moira, Santa Clara, Tupper Lake, Waverly, Westville.

Regiments. Service men in Franklin County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Franklin County:


 * - 12th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Company F.
 * - 13th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies G and H.
 * - 16th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company I.
 * - 26th Regiment, New York Cavalry, Companies I and L.
 * - 60th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company E.
 * - 92nd Regiment, New York Infantry
 * - 96th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
 * - 98th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, G and H.
 * - 98th Regiment, New York Infantry National Guard (100 days, 1864), Companies A, B, C, D, E, G and H.
 * - 106th Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies H and I.
 * - 142nd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies D, F, G and H.
 * - 164th Regiment, New York Infantry, Company A.
 * - 193rd Regiment, New York Infantry, Companies F and G.

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1791-1980 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Newspapers
Search historical newspapers of Franklin County, 1849-2002 at Northern New York Historical Newspapers:


 * Adirondack News St. Regis Falls NY 1887-1930
 * Chateaugay Journal &amp; Chateaugay Record 1881-1995
 * Fort Covington Sun 1887-1987
 * Malone Farmer 1900-1936
 * Malone Franklin Gazette 1876-1899
 * St. Regis Falls Adirondack News 1887-1933
 * Tupper Lake Free Press and Herald 1911-2005
 * Saranac Lake Adirondack Daily Enterprise 1948-1976

Periodicals
Central New York Genealogical Society has indexed Tree Talks periodicals according to counties, surnames, and given names. Use this Central New York Genealogical Societyto search for ancestors who lived in the Franklin County area.

Probate Records
New York, Probate Records, 1629-1971; Franklin Includes:

Administration bonds 1890-1908 vol 1-2; Administration bonds 1908-1920 vol 3-4; Administration decrees 1868-1890 vol 1-2; Administration decrees 1890-1909 vol 3-4 Daybook 1880-1890 vol 1-2; Daybook 1890-1898 vol 3-4; Daybook 1898-1902 vol 5 Decrees, Orders 1847-1863; Decrees, Orders 1863-1879 Dower records 1839-1880 Estate index 1800-1900 Final decrees 1878-1889 vol 2; Final decrees 1888-1905 vol 3-4; Final decrees 1905-1912 vol 6 Guardianship records 1908-1930 vol 1; Guardianship records 1913-1930 vol 1 Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary 1847-1864 vol 2; Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary 1864-1903 vol 3-5; Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary 1903-1912 vol 6; Letters of administration, Letters of testamentary 1903-1919 vol 6-7 Letters of guardianship 1842-1913 vol 1-4 Orders 1892-1910 vol 1; Sales 1839-1877 1882-1906 vol 1, 3; Sales 1899-1927 vol 4 Will index 1809-1900 vol 1; Will index 1809-1905 vol 1-3 Wills 1809-1847 vol A-C; Wills 1809-1870 vol 1-2; Wills 1831-1839 vol B; Wills 1831-1839 vol C; Wills 1839-1854 vol 1-2; Wills 1854-1864 vol 3; Wills 1864-1875 vol 4-5; Wills 1875-1879 vol 6; Wills 1879-1883 vol 7; Wills 1883-1887 vol 8; Wills 1887-1890 vol 9; Wills 1890-1894 vol 10; Wills 1894-1906 vol A-B; Wills 1895-1905 vol 11; Wills 1900-1920 vol B-D; Wills 1904-1919 vol 12-13; Wills 1913-1919 vol 13 Wills and administrations 1879-1892 vol 1-2; Wills and administrations 1890-1909 vol 3-4; Wills and administrations 1909-1916 vol 5 Time-saving Tip: Estate index 1800-1900 (in the list above) seems to serve as an index for a variety of records in the Franklin County Courthouse, i.e., Letters of Administration, Dower Records, guardianships and more, through about 1936. The set of 452 images consists of three separate quasi-chronological alphabetical indexes. You may need to check all three: 1st index: "Index to Estate Files" or "Early 1800 Register" begins with image 3 of 452 2nd index: "Index to Files, First Book" begins with image 39 of 452 3rd index: "Index to Files, Second Book" begins with image 251 of 452

Probate Records on Microfilm The probate records described above may also be on microfilms like these: 1809–1905 Wills and index 1839–1927 Probate records; including daybook, decrees, guardianships, letters, orders, sales, and bonds.

Online Probate Indexes


 * 1629-1971 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images
 * 1659-1999 - New York Wills and Probate Records 1659-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1787-1835 - Abstracts of Wills, Administrations and Guardianships in NY State, 1787-1835 at American Ancestors ($)
 * 1809–1919 - SAMPUBCO Browsable Index of testators of wills; ;.
 * 1866-1923 - at FamilySearch.org — index and images

Repositories
Cornell University. New York Historical Resources Center, Guide to Historical Resources in Essex County, New York Repositories. ([Ithaca, New York]: New York Historical Resources Center, Olin Library, Cornell University, 1987). ; . Includes index. Includes references to some family histories and genealogies.

Archives, Libraries and Museums
Clinton Essex Franklin Library Systemconsists of 34 public libraries in the counties of Clinton, Essex, and Franklin. Each library has access to genealogical databases - especially newspaper sites. Many are accessible with your library card from home. A list of the libraries in this system and their website and contact information is found here.

Akwesasne Library and Cultural Center 321 St. Rt. 37 Hogansburg, NY 13655 Fax: 518-358-2649 Phone: 518-358-2240 Has a large Native American collection which contains information on native people throughout the United States and Canada, has local history books and newspapers and a large collection of photographs.

Chateaugay Memorial Library 4 John Street P.O. Box 10 Chateaugay, NY 12920 Phone: 518-497-0400 Has the records of Chateaugay from 1881–1995 on microfilm, scrapbooks, pamphlets, clippings, archival records, pictures, and cemetery records.

Chateaugay Historical Society 191 East Main Street P.O. Box 123 Chateaugay, NY 12920 Phone: 518-497-6685 Open April to October on Wednesdays and Saturdays Has local church vitals, cemetery listings, family genealogies, historical photographs and documents relating to town history.

Franklin County Historical and Museum Society 51 Milwaukee Street P.O. Box 388 Malone, New York 12953 Phone: 518-483-2750 Donation requested of $10 per visit Collection includes: Cemetery information, census records, town directories and phone books, family folders with individual genealogies, obituaries, pre-1900 newspapers, school yearbooks, town and county histories, early assessment rolls, and vital records.

Saranac Lake Free Library 109 Main Street Saranac Lake, NY 12983 Phone: 518-891-4190 Has federal data for Essex, Franklin, Clinton, and St. Lawrence counties for 1850-1920. Also has state census data for 1855-1925. The Adirondack Research Center is found in the basement of the library. It houses many Adirondack historical materials, including books of cemetery inscriptions for southern Franklin County. One microfilm reader is available. Some church records and an obituary index for the Tri-Lakes area.

County Historian's Office
Franklin County Historian  Franklin County Historical Society 51 Milwaukee Street, PO Box 388 Malone, NY 12953 Phone: 518-483-2750

The County Historian may provide access to obituaries, vital records, church records, maps, and family files or journals. Some historians provide search services for their office records and others may refer you to local genealogists who research in the area. The Historical Society collections: 16th Regiment Civil War Papers, Adirondack history, Cemetery information, Census records, Town Directories and Phone Books, Early assessment rolls, Family folders with individual genealogies, Published/Bound Genealogies, Rep. Clarence Kilburn papers – 48 linear feet, Maps, Obituaries, Pre-1900 newspapers, Scrapbooks, School yearbooks, Town and county histories, and Vital records. See online information.

Courthouses
The Franklin County Clerk's office has marriage, divorce and court records. The Surrogate Court has probate records. For further information about where the records for Franklin County are held, see the Franklin County Courthouse page.

Volunteers at the Franklin County Historical and Museum Society may perform deed research at the Franklin County Courthouse by request for a small donation. See listing under Societies.

Family History Centers

 * Essex Vermont Family History Center
 * Plattsburgh New York Family History Center
 * Potsdam New York Family History Center


 * Kawartha Lakes Public Library - Omemee Branch - an affiliate library
 * Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society - an affiliate library

Societies
Franklin County Historical and Museum Society P.O. Box 388 51 Milwaukee Street Malone, NY 12953-0388 (518) 483-2750 Facebook For genealogy questions, email: research@northnet.org

The Adirondack Genealogical – Historical Society - they have an obituary database extracted from the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and will search for you by phone. They also have some church records, census records on Franklin and surrounding counties, local directories, and cemetery information up to 2000. Phone: 518-891-0807.

Central New York Genealogical Society Box 104, Calvin Station Syracuse, New York 13205 E-mail: [mailto:CNYGS@yahoo.com CNYSG@yahoo.com]


 * Member queries; surname research list; online resources; six meetings/year; publication: Tree Talks  quarterly with annual index.


 * Counties served: Albany, Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oreleans, Oswego, Otsego, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Washington, Wayne, Warren, Wyoming, and Yates.

Social Groups Online

 * Franklin County Historical &amp; Museum Society - Facebook.


 * New York Genealogy Research Community (FamilySearch on Facebook)

Vital Records

 * 1842-2007 NYS Historic Newspapers. Includes Akwesasne Indian Time (1982-2002), Chateaugay Journal &amp; Chateaugay Record (1881-1995), Fort Covington Sun (1887-1987), Malone Farmer (1900-1936), Malone Franklin Gazette (1842-1899), Saranac Lake Adirondack Daily Enterprise (1948-2007), and Tupper Lake Herald and Free Press (1911-2005) - free.

Birth

 * 1881-1942 New York, Birth Index, 1881-1942 at Ancestry — index, ($)


 * 1881-1942 Reclaim the Records: New York State Birth Index at Archive.org - images of index

Birth Substitutes


 * 1640–1962 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index.


 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for birth information.

Marriage

 * 1639-1962 - New York, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $


 * 1664–1784 New York. Secretary of State, Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued By the Secretary of the Province of New York, Previous to 1784 (Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1860). At Cornell University digital library-free; Internet Archive - free; Ancestry edition($); ; . Marriage bonds issued in the State of New York prior to 1784, and the earliest record dating 1664.


 * 1847–1848 and 1908–1936 at FamilySearch — index and images


 * 1881-1964 Reclaim the Records: New York State Marriage Index at Archive.org - images of index


 * 1908–1935 Marriage records and index.

Marriage Substitutes


 * 1686-1980 at FamilySearch Historical Records – free; Index. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.


 * 1800–1855 New York Marriage Notices at Ancestry– ($); Index. This database is a collection of marriage notices published in newspapers around the state. Contains name of bride and groom, marriage date, marriage location, residence, and newspaper found in.


 * 1801–1880 Barber Collection- Newspaper Marriages at Ancestry– ($); Index. Information extracted from the "Brooklyn Eagle" and the "New York Evening Post."


 * 1804–1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 8000 More Vital Records of Eastern New York State, 1804-1850 (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, 1991). ; . Abstracts of newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 1810–1908 Virginia Anne Croissant Wolfe and others, Marriages of Franklin County, New York: Vital Records Copied From Original Malone Palladium Newspapers ([S.l. : V. Wolfe], 1985)..
 * 1810-1862 John Austin, Franklin County Marriages, Franklin, New York, 2001: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ny/franklin/churches/congregational/parmelee.txt- Free. Transcription of marriages performed by Rev. Ashbel Parmelee; Malone and surrounding towns, some individuals from St. Lawrence County NY, Clinton County NY, and Canada.


 * 1856–1863 Index to Marriages and Deaths in the New York Herald at Ancestry– ($); Index. These newspaper notices refer to people up and down the East Coast as well as midwesterners and persons from as far west as the State of California. Also browsable.


 * 1874-5 See Marriage Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for marriage information for 1874-5.


 * 1874–5 Judy Mott Strong, Ruth Obenauer, and John M. Austin,Vital Records Extracted from the 1875 State Census of Franklin County, New York ([S.l.: J.M. Austin], 2000). ;.


 * 1874-5 1875 Marriages, Franklin, New York at USGenWeb Archives] - free.

Death
Death Indexes
 * 1824-1962 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1880-1956 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1880-1956 - New York, Death Index, 1880-1956 at Ancestry — ($), index only
 * 1880-1956 - Reclaim the Records: New York State Death Index at Archive.org - images of index
 * 1957-1963 - at FamilySearch — Index only

Death Substitutes


 * 1804–1850 Fred Q. Bowman, 8000 More Vital Records of Eastern New York State, 1804-1850 (Rhinebeck, New York: Kinship Books, 1991). ; . Abstracts of newspaper marriage and death columns.


 * 1847–1880 Virginia Anne Croissant Wolfe and others,Deaths of Franklin County, New York: Frontier Palladium and Malone Palladium, 1849-1880; Malone Town Records, 1847 and 1848; St. Mark's Episcopal Church Burials, 1849-1874 ([S.l.: V. Wolfe], 1985)..


 * 1849-50, 1859-60, 1869-70, 1879-80 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information.


 * See Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War in the Civil War section of Military for death information.


 * 1874-5 See Mortality Schedule information in the State Census section of Census for death information for 1874-5.
 * 1874-5 1875 Deaths by Surname, Franklin, New York at USGenWeb Archives] - free.

Additional Resources

Franklin County New York Genealogy Websites

 * Franklin County NYGenWeb
 * Franklin County, NY History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * New York Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
 * The Franklin County NYGenWeb Project, an member of The NYGenWeb Project, an affiliate of The USGenWeb Project.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Franklin County.
 * The USGenWeb Archives Project for Franklin County. (Mirror site)
 * Franklin County Genealogy