Who settled here
The French built Fort Machault in 1753 at the junction of French Creek and the Allegheny River. The British built Fort Venango on the same ground in 1760, and it was destroyed in 1763 during Pontiac's Rebellion. Fort Franklin was built in 1787 on French Creek during the Northwest Indian War to shield settlers from raids, and it quickly became the center of the town of Franklin.
Franklin was incorporated as a borough in 1828 and as a city in 1868.
Why families moved on
- A frontier fort town. Venango County's early history was shaped by wars along the Allegheny, and settlers came and went as fighting ended. The sources used for this guide do not tie families from here to specific Ohio counties.
Records that say exactly why a family left are rare. Treat these as leads, and look for evidence about your own ancestors in deeds, tax lists, court cases, and church records.
Clues to look for
- Check Allegheny and Lycoming County records for pre-1800 events.
- Military and fort records can place men in Franklin in the 1780s and 1790s.
