Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County death records from 1894 to 1906 are maintained at the county courthouse in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Franklin County was formed from Cumberland County on September 9, 1784, and named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. It sits in the south-central part of the state near the Maryland border. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1906, with general compliance by 1915. Pre-1906 records remain at the county level through the Register of Wills, while post-1906 records are with the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Death Index Records
Franklin County was one of the early Pennsylvania counties to form after independence. Named for Benjamin Franklin, the county takes pride in its long history. Death records from 1894 to 1906 are the primary county-level source for genealogists researching deaths during that period. Before 1894, formal death records were not systematically kept at the Franklin County level. The combination of probate files, church records, and cemetery records serves as the primary documentation for earlier periods.
The Franklin County Death Index covering 1894 to 1906 is available in the International Genealogical Index at FamilySearch. This free resource allows researchers to search the index online before contacting the county office. Death records from 1894 to 1906 are also available at FamilySearch Library on microfilm at films 323953 through 323955. Birth records for the same period are on films 323948 and 323949. These microfilm resources can be accessed at any FamilySearch Family History Center nationwide.
For genealogy researchers, the county's proximity to Maryland means that some Franklin County families had ties to neighboring states. Ancestors who lived near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border may have records in both states. The National Archives regional facility and the Maryland State Archives hold records that may complement Franklin County research for families who crossed the state line.
Note: Statewide registration began in 1906 with general compliance by 1915, meaning some Franklin County deaths in the 1906 to 1915 window may be missing or incomplete in the state records.
Pre-1894 Franklin County Death Research
No formal county death records exist for Franklin County before 1894. Researchers must turn to other document types for deaths in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Probate records are the most direct source. When a Franklin County resident died and left property, the estate was filed with the Register of Wills. These files name the deceased, indicate when they died, list heirs, and describe the estate. Franklin County was formed in 1784, and probate records from that era onward provide coverage for many early deaths.
Church records are another vital source for pre-1894 deaths in Franklin County. The area has a strong Lutheran and Reformed church tradition, and many congregations maintained burial records going back into the 1700s. Cemetery records, both from church cemeteries and independent burial grounds, also document deaths from periods with no official records. Land records at the Recorder of Deeds may show property transfers that confirm a death date range for an ancestor who owned land in Franklin County.
The PA State Archives maintains death indices for 1906 to 1975. For deaths prior to 1894, the State Archives may hold older records or guides to locating church and cemetery sources. The PA Health genealogy page also provides guidance on using non-certificate sources for early death research.
State Death Certificates for Franklin County
Deaths from 1906 onward are recorded by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The free online death indices at the PA State Archives cover 1906 to 1975 and include name, county, year, and certificate number. Original death certificates from 1906 to 1974 are held at the State Archives. Digital copies for 1906 to 1972 are on Ancestry.com and free for Pennsylvania residents to view. Soundex phonetic indexing applies to records from 1920 to 1924 and 1930 to 1951.
Certified copies cost $20 each from the PA Division of Vital Records. Orders can be placed online through mycertificates.health.pa.gov via VitalChek, by mail to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103, or by phone at 724-656-3100 or 844-228-3516. The Harrisburg walk-in office is the most convenient for Franklin County residents and is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Death certificates are public record 50 years after death. Records through 1975 are now accessible to any researcher.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders Cumberland, Adams, Bedford, and Fulton counties. Searching these neighbors is useful when an ancestor lived near a county line or moved between counties.