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

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.

County Courthouse
Franklin County Courthouse Register Recorders Office Courthouse Annex 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Franklin County Website
 * 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
 * Franklin Courthouse Annex Phone: 717-261-3861 Fax: 717-264-6772

History Timeline
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).

Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Indentured Servants

Cemeteries
Additional Cemetery Resources
 * PA-Roots
 * Names in Stone
 * Ancestry($)
 * Jim Houpt Indexing Project This site contains indices to Military, Church, Cemetery, and other records in Franklin County.
 * Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro

Church Records


County-wide Database - Multi-denominational
 * 1708-1985 Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 at Historical Society of Pennsylvania – $, 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.

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.

LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * 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

Welsh Run Presbyterian Church


 * 1911-1913 Welsh Run Presbyterian Church Marriage Index 1911-1913 in International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. Batch
 * 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. Batch

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

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 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

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

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.

Military Records

 * 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 (VA).

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
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) ;

Other Records
Clerk of the Court

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

Published Histories

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

Poorhouse, Almshouse %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes


 * Franklin County Wills and Estate Records at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives

Online Probate Records

Complete Collection:


 * 1683-1994-at FamilySearch.org

Franklin


 * 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

Tax Records

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

Birth

 * 1726-1930  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.

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

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 Franklin


 * 1626-2016 - Pennsylvania, United States Marriages at FindMyPast
 * 1677-1950  at FamilySearch
 * 1700-1821 Pennsylvania Marriage Records Ancestry $
 * 1725-1976  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 $
 * 1830-1848 James Walker's Journal, Marriages,Franklin County Archives Vital Records (USGenWeb) 
 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Marriages Ancestry $
 * 1885-1963 Marriage License Dockets (Franklin County, Pennsylvania) –
 * 1947-2010  at FamilySearch

Death

 * 1852-1854 Pennsylvania Deaths Ancestry $
 * 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
 * 1947-2010 - at FamilySearch

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

Divorce
Divorce records are available through the office of the Franklin.

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

Family History Centers

 * 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] Website

Societies

 * Franklin County Historical Society 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
 * 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] Website

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.
 * 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
 * – 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.