Franklin County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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

Description
The county was named in honor of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. The county is located in the south-central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Franklin County Courthouse 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3848  Fax:  717-261-3854 Clerk of Courts/Orphan's Court: 717-261-3805 Prothonotary: 717-261-3858 Register & Recorder: 717-261-3872 Franklin County Website County Clerk has birth and death records 1894-1906, marriage records from 1885, divorce records from 1884, probate and land records from 1785

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

 * Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives
 * Shearer Bible Records: Franklin County, PA at USGenWeb Archives

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Indentured Servants

Cemeteries

 * ca.1700-ca.1950   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images (incomplete)

Census Records
Federal Census
 * 1850-1880  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Church Records

 * Visit Franklin County, Pennsylvania Church Records for information about church denominations and records in Franklin County.

Court Records

 * 1752-1838 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1785-1903 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1850-1900 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1852-1900 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1863-1865 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images

Emigration and Immigration

 * 1798-1828  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Alphabet index then by numbered entry
 * 1900-1923  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
 * 1952-1957   at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

African American

 * The Valley of the Shadow, Fall 1859 - Fall 1870

Guardianship

 * 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


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

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

Online Land Indexes and Records


 * 1784-1963 Deeds, 1784-1883; Index 1784-1963  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1811-1868 Mortgage Books  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1955–present Franklin County offers online access to records. Fees apply.
 * Land Warrants, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3 Volume 25, pp. 3-52 at Franklin County, Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Local Histories

 * Historical Sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. 1878. By I.H. M'Cauley. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania : E.F. Pursel. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.
 * The History and Topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry Counties (Pennsylvania). 1846. By I. Daniel Rupp. Lancaster, Pa. : Gilbert Hills. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); . Index: FamilySearch Digital Library.
 * History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. 1887. Chicago : Warner, Beers. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($).

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps


 * Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
 * Ancestor Tracks has posted 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.
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Military Records
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
 * 1861-1865  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1865-1936  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 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 (VA).

World War II
 * 1933-1947  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Naturalization and Citizenship

 * 1795-1931  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1795-1952  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Newspapers
Newspapers of Franklin County

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.


 * Chronicling America US Newspaper Directory
 * Franklin Repository of Chambersburg July 8, 1863-December 27, 1865.
 * Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive
 * Pennsylvania Newspapers
 * 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

 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1977-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

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) ;

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records


 * 1683-1963 Franklin County Probate Records at FamilySearch
 * 1683-1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1683-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
 * 1700-1960 (*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1752-1838 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1784-1822 (*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — images
 * 1784-1905 (*); Register of Wills at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1785-1903 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1785-1960 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1850-1900 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1852-1900 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1855-1961 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1962-1963 (*); Clerk of Orphans' Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * Franklin County Archives, Wills and Estate Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

Tax Records

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

Birth

 * 1520-1999  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1709-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * 1894-1906 Register of Births  Births from 1894 -1906 have been microfilmed. They are available at the Pennsylvania State Archives and through local FamilySearch centers.
 * 1941-1976  at FamilySerch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Marriage

 * 1512-1989  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1626-2016 Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1682-1976  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * 1709-1940  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
 * Pre-1810  Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1830-1848 James Walker's Journal, Marriages,Franklin County Archives Vital Records (USGenWeb) 
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1885-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1885-1963 Marriage License Dockets (Franklin County, Pennsylvania) –  - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

Death

 * 1720-1999  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index, some images
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
 * 1856-1971  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images
 * 1893-1906 Register of Deaths  These county death records were microfilmed by FamilySearch. They are available through FamilySearch Centers and at the Pennsylvania State Archives.
 * 1894-1906 Franklin County Death Index 1894-1906 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary, Franklin County Courthouse.

Archives
National Archives at Philadelphia 14700 Townsend Rd Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 Email: [mailto:philadelphia.archives@nara.gov philadelphia.archives@nara.gov] Website Facebook

FamilySearch Centers

 * Chambersburg Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
 * Fairview Pennsylvania FamilySearch Center
 * Franklin County Library System - Coyle Free Library - an affiliate library.

Libraries
Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library 45 E Main St Waynesboro, PA 17268 Phone: 717-762-3335 Email: [mailto:staff@ahmfl.org staff@ahmfl.org] Website Facebook

Museums
Kittochtinny Genealogy Library and Museum Franklin County Historical Society 175 E King St Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-264-1667 Email: [mailto:OPhistory@pa.net OPhistory@pa.net] Website Facebook

Societies
 Franklin County Historical Society 175 E King St Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-264-1667 Email: [mailto:OPhistory@pa.net OPhistory@pa.net] Website Facebook Franklin County Pennsylvania Genealogy Group Website Facebook Shippensburg Historical Society 52 W King St PO Box 539 Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-532-6727 Email: [mailto:info@shippensburghistory.org info@shippensburghistory.org] Website Facebook

Websites

 * USGenWeb Project for Franklin County.
 * FamilyHart Online Database with many Franklin County families listed.
 * Franklin County PA Genealogy
 * – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.