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:

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

 * 1620-1991 (*) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index and images

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 $


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

Second Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chambersburg


 * 1835-1875 Second Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chambersburg, Baptism Index 1835-1875 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. 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. 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. Batch
 * 1769-1812 Upper West Conococheague Presbyterian Church, Mercersburg, Marriage Index 1769-1812 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch

Reformed Salem Reformed Church, Washington Township

List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1782-1809 Salem Reformed Church, Washington Township, Baptism Index 1782-1809 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * FamilySearch Places

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


 * 1683-1994  at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images only (by county)
 * 1683 -1993 Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records 1683-1993 at Ancestry $
 * 1700 -1960 Administration Index - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; catalog notes state records begin in 1700's
 * 1752 -1838 Courthouse Records - images only; click on the camera icon to view images; includes original probates, wills and land records at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * 1784 -1822 Estate Papers - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1784-1963 Franklin County Probate Records at FamilySearch
 * 1785 -1903 Orphans' Court Dockets - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1785 -1960 Index to Minors' Estates - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1850 -1900 Executors, Administrators, and Guardian Accounts - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1852 -1900 Orphans' Court Auditor's Docket - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1855 -1961 Widows' Appraisements - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * 1962 -1963 General index, Orphans' Court - images only; click on the camera icon to view images
 * Franklin County Wills and Estate Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives
 * Wills - Abstracts and Letters of Administration (incomplete) at Franklin County, 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.

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 family history 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 Family History 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 Road Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 Phone: 215-305-2044 Fax: 215-305-2052 Website

Family History Centers

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

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

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

Societies
Franklin County Historical Society - Kittochtinny 175 East King Street Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-264-1667 Email: [mailto:history@pa.net history@pa.net] Website Franklin County Pennsylvania Genealogy Group Facebook Shippensburg Historical Society 52 West King Street Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-532-6727 Email: [mailto:info@shippensburghistory.org info@shippensburghistory.org] Website

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.