Franklin County, Alabama Genealogy

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

County Courthouse
Franklin County Courthouse 410 North Jackson Ave. Russellville, AL 35653, (256) 332-8861

Records burned 1890 Probate Judge has marriage, probate and land records from 1890 Clerk Circuit Court has court records from 1923 and divorce records

Description
The County was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, famous statesman, scientist, and printer. The County has Russellville as its seat and the County was created February 6, 1818. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

Parent County
1818--Franklin County was created 6 February 1818 from the Cherokee and Chickasaw Cession of 1816. County seat: Russellville

Boundary Changes
For animated maps illustrating Alabama county boundary changes, "Rotating Formation Alabama County Boundary Maps" (1799-1980) may be viewed for free at the MapofUS.org website.

Record Loss
Franklin County had a destructive courthouse fire in 1890. See Research in Alabama: A Genealogical Guide  page 27 for suggested alternative sources to overcome this loss.

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:

Neighboring Counties



 * Colbert
 * Itawamba County, Mississippi
 * Lawrence
 * Marion
 * Tishomingo County, Mississippi
 * Winston

Cemeteries
The following web site has additional information on Franklin county cemeteries.


 * Interment.net Alabama cemetery records by county.

Census
State Census


 * 1866 - at FamilySearch — index

Local Histories

 * Northern Alabama, Historical and Biographical. Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land, 1888. Digital version at . begins on page 102.

Maps

 * Maps of Alabama (1799-1980)

Civil War, 1861-1865
Civil War service men from Franklin County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Franklin County.


 * - 1st Battalion, Alabama Artillery, Company F
 * - 2nd Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E
 * - 4th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry (Roddy's), Company E and L
 * - 5th Regiment, Alabama Cavalry, Company E
 * - 16th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A
 * - 16th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company E and H
 * - 27th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company A, B and G
 * - 35th Regiment, Alabama Infantry, Company B and K

Online Records
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1861-1865 - U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * 1871-1880 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1880-1930 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1907, 1921, 1927 - at FamilySearch — images

World War I

 * 1917-1919 - at FamilySearch — index

World War II

 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Periodicals

 * Valley Leaves. 1966–. Published by the Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1568, Huntsville, Alabama 35807. . Website identifies articles relating to (click "Search by County").

Probate Records
Online Probate Records
 * 1753 – 1999 Alabama Wills and Probate Records 1753-1999 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1809 – 1985 at FamilySearch — images

Taxation

 * 1865-1866 - U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 at Ancestry ($). Franklin County is in District 3.

Vital Records
See also How to order Alabama Vital Records

Birth

 * 1881 – 1930 at FamilySearch

Marriage

 * 1733-2013 - Alabama, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * To 1825 Index to Marriages at Ancestry $. contains over 12,000 names. Each entry includes groom, bride, marriage date, county, and state. Every name is indexed so you can search for one name, or two names that are linked.


 * 1823–1825, 1875, 1890–1902, 1936–1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800–1969 at Ancestry $. This collection is comprised of indexes created by several agencies - the Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Jordan Dodd of Liahona Research, and Hunting For Bears.


 * 1890–1900 "Alabama Marriages, 1809–1920" at Ancestry $. This database is a collection of marriage records from the state. Researchers will find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing about 150,000 records and the names of nearly 300,000 men and women.


 * Marriages at ALGenWeb


 * 1809 – 1950 at FamilySearch
 * 1816 – 1957 at FamilySearch


 * 1800 – 1969 Alabama, Marriage Collection, 1800-1969 at Ancestry $


 * 1809 – 1920 Alabama Marriages Alabama marriages

Death

 * 1881–1974 Index to Deaths and Burials at Ancestry $. Note that the number of available records can vary widely by county, and this database does not necessarily represent a comprehensive set of death records for the state during this time.


 * 1908–1959 Index to Deaths recorded by the state of Alabama at Ancestry $. The index includes name of the deceased, county of death, date of death, and the state certificate number (volume and page).


 * 1908-1974 - at FamilySearch Historical Records Collection - free


 * 1881 – 1952 at Family Search.


 * 1908 – 1974 at FamilySearch


 * 1881 – 1974 Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974 at Ancestry $


 * 1908 – 1959 Alabama Deaths Alabama Deaths At Ancestry $

Voting Registers
Alabama Voting Registers for 1867 are available online at the Alabama Department of Archives and History. Franklin County has one book.

Societies and Libraries
Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society P. O. Box 1568 Huntsville, Alabama 35807 205-728-2788 Publication: Valley Leaves Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society

Natchez Trace Genealogical Society P. O. Box 420 Florence, AL 35360 Publication: Natchez Trace Traveler Natchez Trace Genealogical Society

Russellville Heritage Preservation Society P. O. Box 1095 Russellville, AL 35653

Tennessee Valley Historical Society P. O. Box 149 Sheffield, AL 35660 Publication: Journal of Muscle Shoals History TENNESSEE VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Franklin County Archives 300 East Limestone St. Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-8827

Franklin Russellville Public Library 256-332-1536


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


 * Franklin County, Alabama


 * Franklin Co. AL


 * United States Resources: Alabama


 * Al Gen Web

Libraries
Russellville Public Library 110 East Lawrence St. Russellville, Alabama 35653 Telephone: 256-332-1535

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to Family History Centers

Family History Centre Locator

Franklin County Alabama Genealogy Websites

 * Franklin County, AL History, Records, Facts and Genealogy
 * USGenWeb project.May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project ~ contains record transcriptions from Bibles, obituaries, court records and more.
 * Franklin County ALGenWeb ~ record transcriptions and information pertinent to the county.
 * Franklin County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Franklin County, Alabama Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)