Records that survive
These are the record series the Library of Virginia has on microfilm for Franklin County, with the earliest and latest years filmed. A span can include gaps; it doesn't mean every year in between survives.
Land and deeds
- Deed Book1786–1901
- District Court Deed Book1789–1814
- Plat Book1809–1891
- Trust Deed Book1900–1909
Wills
- General Index to Wills1786–1948
- Will Book1786–1906
- Circuit Court Will Book1804–1901
Estates and guardianships
- Guardians' Accounts1805–1929
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Bonds1785–1865
- Ministers' Returns1786–1858
- Marriage Register1853–1915
- Register of Births1853–1879
- Register of Deaths1853–1871
- Loose Papers [ Marriage Returns1857–1859
- Marriage Licenses1866–1912
Court orders and minutes
- Loose Papers [Judgments1783–1789
- Order Book1786–1906
- Determined Papers1789–1907
- Chancery Order Book1831–1903
- Clerks' Fees1917
See every volume and reel number at the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia note: The following reels are not available through interlibrary loan: 283, 288-331, 354-363, 395-401, 481- 482, 502-560, 596-649. there are no reels numbered 502 to 558 and 596 to 649.
Source: Library of Virginia, County and City Records on Microfilm. Reels marked for interlibrary loan can be borrowed through your local library.
Where to find the records
- Franklin County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the circuit court clerk's office, and any online record search the county offers.
- The circuit court clerk's office
Virginia's deed, will and marriage books are usually kept by the clerk of the circuit court for the county or city, though many older records have been moved to the Library of Virginia. Call before you visit; hours and access to older volumes vary.
- Library of Virginia: Franklin County records on microfilmfree
Every filmed volume with its years and reel number. Use the reels in Richmond; many can be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
- Library of Virginia: Chancery Records Indexfree
Search equity court suits by name. They're rich in family detail: estate divisions, heirs and land disputes. Many localities' suits are scanned and free to view.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Virginia, Franklin" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Bedford County, Henry County
Check the parent counties for earlier records: Bedford County, Henry County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1785, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Start with the deed and will books: they name relatives, neighbors and land. Then try the court order books, which mention almost everyone in the county sooner or later, as witnesses, jurors, road workers or parties to a suit.