Find Genealogy Records in Franklin County

Franklin County genealogy records help researchers trace family lines in the hill country of northwest Alabama. The county was formed in 1818 from Cherokee and Chickasaw lands, with Russellville serving as the county seat. A courthouse fire in 1890 destroyed most early records, so surviving files start from that decade forward. The Franklin County Probate Court now holds marriage records, wills, and estate files from the 1890s to the present day. The county health department handles birth and death records through the state ViSION network. Researchers looking for ancestors before 1890 must turn to census records, church registers, and other sources to fill in the gaps left by the fire.

The 1890 Courthouse Fire

The 1890 fire is a key fact for anyone doing Franklin County genealogy. It wiped out nearly all county records from the first 72 years. Marriage licenses, deeds, wills, and court files from 1818 to 1890 were lost. This creates a major hole in the paper trail for early families.

Franklin County is not alone. Many Alabama counties lost records to fires during the 1800s. But Franklin was hit hard. The loss included land deeds that proved ownership and marriage records that tied families together. Researchers must work around this gap using other sources.

Federal records survived the fire because they were kept in Washington, DC. Census rolls from 1820 through 1880 still exist. These list Franklin County residents by name, age, and birthplace. Land patents from the General Land Office also survived. These show who first bought land from the federal government. You can search these records at the National Archives or through online databases like FamilySearch.

Church records are another key resource. Some Baptist and Methodist churches in the area kept their own books. These might include baptism dates, marriage notes, and death records. Not all survived, but those that did can fill in blanks the fire left behind. Check with local congregations or historical societies for leads.

What Records Exist Today

The Franklin County Probate Court holds records from 1890 to the present. This is the starting point for local research. After the fire, the county began rebuilding its records. These newer files have survived to today.

Types of records at the probate court:

• Marriage records from 1890 to present
• Probate and estate files from 1890 to present
• Land deeds and property records from 1890 to present
• Wills and administrations from 1890 to present
• Guardianship records
• Adoption files (sealed by law)

State vital records started in 1908. Birth and death records from that year forward are in the state system. The Franklin County Health Department can pull these records through the ViSION network. Before 1908, births and deaths were not kept by state or county offices in most cases.

Divorce records are at the Circuit Court. Franklin County is part of the 34th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Colbert County. The circuit clerk keeps case files for all divorces filed here. State divorce records start in 1950.

Franklin County Probate Court

The probate court is the main office for genealogy records. It sits in the Franklin County Courthouse in Russellville. The probate judge heads county government here, as in all Alabama counties. The office handles marriage licenses, wills, estates, and some adoptions.

Marriage records are public. Anyone can ask for a copy. You do not need to prove a family tie. This makes marriage records one of the best places to start your search. The indexes are organized by name and date.

Estate files are also useful for genealogy. When someone died with property, the estate went through probate. Files often list heirs by name. They may include inventories of land and personal goods. Some files name children, grandchildren, or other kin who might not appear in other records.

Staff can help you search the indexes and pull files. Bring a notebook and valid ID. You can take notes or order copies of documents you find. Mail requests also work if you know exactly what record you need.

Franklin County Health Department

The Franklin County Health Department issues certified copies of vital records. Through the ViSION network, they can access any Alabama birth, death, marriage, or divorce record. You do not need to visit the county where the event happened. Any Alabama county health office connects to the same state database.

Access rules apply. Birth records less than 125 years old are restricted. Only the person named, a parent, or legal guardian can get a copy. Death records less than 25 years old have some limits too. After these time frames, records open for general genealogy use.

Walk-in service is often same day. Bring a valid ID and know the details of the record you need. Staff search the database and print your record while you wait. If you cannot visit, mail requests are also accepted. VitalChek offers online ordering at vitalchek.com with an added service fee.

Franklin County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court handles divorce cases, civil suits, and criminal matters. For genealogy, divorce records and civil cases are the most useful. Divorce files often contain marriage dates, children's names, and property details. Civil cases might involve land disputes or estate matters that reveal family ties.

Franklin County is part of the 34th Judicial Circuit. This circuit also includes Colbert County to the west. The circuit clerk keeps files for all cases filed in Franklin County. Some records are available online through AlacourtAccess. Others need an in-person visit.

If you just need a divorce certificate for genealogy, the health department may be easier. But if you want the full case file with all the details, the circuit court is where to look.

Alternative Research Sources

When county records are gone, you must look elsewhere. Franklin County researchers have several good options. These sources help fill the gap left by the 1890 fire.

Federal Census Records

Census records are vital for pre-1890 research. The federal census was taken every ten years. Franklin County appears in the 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 rolls. The 1850 and later census records list each person by name. Earlier ones only name the head of household.

These records show who lived in Franklin County and when. They list ages, birthplaces, and occupations. The 1850 census was the first to show birthplace by state. This helps trace where a family came from. Census records are free at FamilySearch.org and the National Archives.

Church Records

Church records matter when civil records are gone. Some Franklin County churches kept their own books. These might show baptisms, marriages, deaths, and membership rolls. Baptist and Methodist churches were common in northwest Alabama.

Some church records have been indexed. The Alabama Department of Archives has transcripts from various congregations. If you know which church your family attended, contact that congregation. Some old record books are still held by active churches.

Military Records

Military records can prove where a person lived. Many Franklin County men served in the Civil War. Service records, pension files, and veterans rolls list names and home counties. Confederate records are at the Alabama Department of Archives. Union records are at the National Archives.

Pension applications often include family details. A widow applying for a pension might list her marriage date and children. These details can replace lost civil records.

Newspaper Archives

Old newspapers printed birth, marriage, and death notices. They also ran legal ads for land sales and estate settlements. The Franklin County Times has served the area for many years. Earlier papers from the region may mention Franklin County families.

The Alabama Department of Archives has digitized many old newspapers. Search their collection at digital.archives.alabama.gov. Chronicling America at the Library of Congress also has free Alabama papers.

Online Research Resources

Several websites help with Franklin County genealogy. Free and paid options exist. Start with free sources before paying for subscriptions.

• FamilySearch has free census, church, and vital records
• Alabama Digital Archives has newspapers and government files
• AlacourtAccess lets you search court records online
• Ancestry has indexed records with a subscription
• FindAGrave has cemetery photos and burial info

FamilySearch is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is free. They have indexed millions of Alabama records. Census rolls, some vital records, and church records are there. Create a free account to access all tools.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has digital collections online. Old newspapers, photos, and government documents are available. Some Franklin County materials from the late 1800s may be in their collection.

AlacourtAccess covers court records from all 67 Alabama counties. Search by name or case number. This is the best way to find divorce records, civil suits, and criminal cases from Franklin County.

Cemetery Records

Cemetery records fill gaps when county records are missing. A tombstone may be the only record of a birth or death date. Franklin County has many old cemeteries. Some have graves dating to before the 1890 fire.

FindAGrave and BillionGraves are two websites with cemetery data. Volunteers photograph tombstones and upload the info. Search by name to find burial locations and dates. Many Franklin County cemeteries have been documented.

The Franklin County Historical Society has worked on cemetery transcriptions. Their records include family plots, church graveyards, and public cemeteries. This data helps when stones are too worn to read. Check with local historical groups for their published lists.

In-Person Research Tips

A visit to Russellville can help your research. Staff at the probate court can guide you to records not online. You can view original documents and take notes. Bring a notebook, ID, and any info you already have.

The Russellville Public Library has a local history section. They may hold books, maps, and files on Franklin County families. Library staff may know about resources you would not find on your own. Free internet access is available for online research.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery is worth a trip. Their research room has the best collection of old Alabama records in the state. Some Franklin County materials may be there in collections from other agencies. The drive from Russellville takes about two and a half hours heading south.

The Shoals area libraries in Florence and Muscle Shoals have regional history collections. These cover all of northwest Alabama, including Franklin County. The drive is about 30 minutes west. Staff there are familiar with the region and may have leads for your search.

Local Genealogy Tips

Franklin County sits in the hill country of northwest Alabama. The terrain is different from the Black Belt cotton counties to the south. Small farms and timber were more common here than large plantations. This shaped the records that were kept and the families who settled here.

Early settlers came from Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Many moved down the Tennessee Valley looking for cheap land. If your family was here early, check records in those states too. Migration patterns often show up in land records and family bibles.

The county borders Marion County, Colbert County, Lawrence County, and Winston County in Alabama. It also touches the Tennessee state line. Families moved across these borders for work, trade, and marriage. If you cannot find a record in Franklin County, check the neighbors.

Bear Creek and Cedar Creek run through the county. Families often settled along waterways for transportation and water power. Mills and small communities grew up along these creeks. Check for records in these specific areas if you know where your family lived.

The town of Phil Campbell is named for a railroad worker. Red Bay sits in the western part of the county. Hodges and Vina are smaller communities with their own histories. All of these use the Franklin County offices for official records, but local churches and cemeteries may have unique information.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County has several small cities and towns. None have populations over 50,000. All communities use the Franklin County Probate Court for marriage records and the county health department for vital records. The Russellville office serves the entire county.

The main communities include Russellville, Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Vina, and Hodges. Russellville is the county seat and the largest city with about 10,000 people. Red Bay sits in the western part of the county and is known for its small-town character. All residents file records through the county offices in Russellville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County. If your family lived near a county line, check records in both places. Borders shifted over time, and an ancestor might appear in a neighboring county. Franklin County's shape has changed little since its early years, but families crossed lines for church, work, and marriage.

Lincoln County and Moore County in Tennessee also border Franklin County to the north. Families moved back and forth across the state line in the early days. If your ancestors lived near the northern edge of Franklin County, Tennessee records may have useful information.