Franklin County Genealogy Records
Franklin County genealogy records document families in south-central Pennsylvania going back to the county's formation. The county seat is Chambersburg, and the courthouse there holds land records, wills, marriage licenses, and court filings that span more than two centuries. Franklin County borders Maryland to the south, which means many early settlers crossed the state line and may have records on both sides. The Franklin County Historical Society and the Franklin County Archives both support genealogy research for this region. This guide covers the main sources for Franklin County family history and how to access them.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Genealogy Records Overview
Franklin County holds a broad range of genealogy records for south-central Pennsylvania families. The Franklin County government maintains its records according to Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission guidelines. The Archives and Records Management department preserves county records and makes them available for research. The Clerk of Courts serves as the official keeper of criminal court records for the 39th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas.
Franklin County birth records from 1893 to 1905 and death records from the same period are held at the county level. Marriage licenses go back to 1885. Land records and wills date from the county's formation. For births and deaths from 1906 onward, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Franklin County also has church records from Scotch-Irish, German, and other communities that settled the area in the 1700s and 1800s.
The Franklin County government website provides access to county departments and contact information for offices that hold genealogy records. Use it as a starting point to find the right office before making a visit or submitting a records request in Franklin County.
Franklin County Historical Society
The Franklin County Historical Society, also known as the Kittochtinny Historical Society, is headquartered in the Old Jail on King Street in historic Chambersburg. The Old Jail was built in 1818. It survived the burning of Chambersburg by Confederate forces in 1864, making it one of the few pre-war structures still standing. The building is listed on the State and National Register of Historical Sites, a designation it received in 1970.
The genealogy library is located upstairs in the Old Jail. There is no elevator access, so researchers should plan accordingly. Members have free access to the research facilities. Non-members pay $5.00 per day. The library provides in-house access to Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com. Online resources for members include cemetery locators, a list of Chambersburg graduates, and Old Jail prisoner lists. The society also maintains digital copies from the M.B. Mumper Photography collection, which contains over 12,000 images from the 1920s through the 1940s. Digital copies of photos are available for $5.00 each.
The John Brown House, also known as the Mary Ritner Boarding House, is located less than a block from the Old Jail and is recognized as an authentic site in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The historical society maintains both properties as research and heritage sites connected to Franklin County history.
Note: The John Brown House is open by appointment only. Contact the historical society in advance to arrange a visit.
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds
The Franklin County courthouse in Chambersburg is the primary location for official genealogy records. The Register of Wills handles probate matters including wills, estate inventories, and estate accounts. These records date from the county's formation and document the transfer of property and assets through Franklin County families over generations. The Recorder of Deeds maintains land transfer documents, including deeds, mortgages, and subdivision plans.
Deed records are especially useful in Franklin County because many early settlers acquired land through Pennsylvania's land warrant system before the county's formation. These warrant records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. The state archives hold land warrant registers from 1733 to 1957 and patent indexes from 1684 to 1957. Both are valuable for tracing Franklin County families back to the colonial era.
The Orphans' Court in Franklin County holds guardianship records, adoption records, and marriage licenses. These records are important for researching family structure across multiple generations. Adoption records are sealed, but older guardianship papers from the 1800s can help identify children and their family connections in Franklin County.
Vital Records in Franklin County
Births and deaths from 1906 onward in Franklin County are registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health under 35 P.S. §450.801. Certified copies can be ordered online through VitalChek, by mail to P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, or in person. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Note on the application that the request is for genealogical purposes to allow broader access to older records.
For birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, contact the Franklin County courthouse. Marriage licenses from 1885 onward are available at the county level. Church records in Franklin County often predate civil registration by many decades. German Lutheran, Reformed, and Presbyterian congregations kept baptismal and burial registers that can substitute for official vital records in the pre-1893 period. The Franklin County Historical Society may have transcriptions of some of these church records in its genealogy library.
The Franklin Public Library also maintains a Pennsylvania Room with resources relevant to local genealogy research. Visit franklinlibrary.org for information on accessing local history and genealogy materials at the library.
Pennsylvania Archives and Franklin County Research
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds a wide range of materials for Franklin County genealogy. These include death certificates from 1906 to 1974, county marriage records from 1845 to 1963, and military records covering the Revolutionary War through World War I. Franklin County contributed many soldiers to these conflicts, and their records can be found in the ARIAS database and related collections at the archives.
The digitization partnership between the Commonwealth and Ancestry.com has made many state-level records available online. Pennsylvania residents can access these records at no charge through Ancestry. The State Library of Pennsylvania holds additional genealogy collections including county histories, city directories, and microfilmed census records. Census records for Franklin County from 1790 to 1930 are available on microfilm at the state library.
Franklin County's location along the Maryland border means some families appear in Maryland records as well. Researchers should check Maryland State Archives resources in addition to Pennsylvania sources when tracing families who lived near the state line. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, county records of permanent value must be preserved and made accessible, ensuring that Franklin County genealogy records remain available for future researchers.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders Maryland and several Pennsylvania counties. Researchers tracing families who moved between these areas should check records in adjacent counties as well as Franklin County.