New: Franklin County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1812-1915

Today we’re announcing a new database, Franklin County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1812-1915.  This database was created from digital images and index contributed to NEHGS by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. The collection contains the records of 18,089 Franklin County probate cases filed between 1812 and 1915. The probate cases include wills, guardianships, administrations, and various other types of probate records. The cases range in length from one to over 530 pages, with a total of over 440,600 individual file papers.

Franklin County was created in 1811 from the northern third of Hampshire County. Earlier probate records in the area may be searched in our companion database, Hampshire County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1660-1889.

To learn more about how to navigate this collection, be sure to watch our short video, How to Search Massachusetts Probate File Papers.

We want to thank the amazing volunteers who have made this database possible including Sam Sturgis, David Anderson, Bruce Shaw, Fran Danico, and Arlys LaFehr.

This database is free; you just need an NEHGS guest membership to view these records.