Wills Index

Using the Wills Index

You can search this index of over 38,000 entries to see what Archdeaconry of Berkshire wills, administrations and inventories we have for the period 1480 to 1857.

Let's explain the difference between these records.

Wills: this is the most common record in which an individual sets out their intentions as to what should happen to their possessions after death and to appoint executors.

Administrations (admons): If a person died without making a will (intestate), the court had to appoint people to administer the estate and issued letters of administration. The appointed persons would then enter an administration bond to carry out various tasks. However, they do not reveal anything about actual possessions unless an inventory is included.

Inventories: This was made as a true record of the extent and value of the deceased’s estate and often included debts as well as possessions.

It's also worth noting that sometimes, all that survives is a registered copy of a probate record, which is a hand written version in a bound volume.

How to use the wills index:

The index is listed by surname, but also provides details of place name and occupation as well the document reference of the record and what microfilm/fiche (MF) copies we have.

To use the Name Search simply enter the name as surname, first name. For example: Blackmore, Dennis.

You can also search by surname only or first name only.

For place names or occupations please use the Keyword Search.

If you would like to look at or order copies of any of the records listed, please Contact Us.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Name Place Name Occupation Year BRO Ref MF Copy
CHILD, JoanHagbourne1641D/A1/55/105MF474
CHILD, JoanHagbourne1644D/A1/55/148MF474
CHILD, JohnReading St LaurenceSaddler1618D/A1/182/029MF96023
CHILD, JohnReading St Laurence1618D/A1/168/150MF96001
CHILD, JohnReading1749D/A1/185/142MF96028
CHILD, JosephPurley1693D/A1/184/79MF96026
CHILD, JosephLambournWheelwright1762D/A1/60/45MF513
CHILD, JosephLambournYeoman1800D/A1/60/176MF513
CHILD, JosephLambournYeoman1836D/A1/227/48MF96124
CHILD, JosephLambournBrewer1844D/A1/148/88MF558
CHILD, MatthewNewburyGlover1549D/A1/51/047 D/A1/5/089MF469 MF10043A
CHILD, RichardHagbourneLabourer1630D/A1/182/083MF96023
CHILD, RichardHagbourneLabourer1630D/A1/168/187MF96001
CHILD, RichardPurleyYeoman1647D/A1/55/173MF474
CHILD, RichardEverington, YattendonYeoman1682D/A1/57/35MF475
CHILD, RichardYattendonYeoman1726D/A1/59/77MF476
CHILD, RichardEast Hagbourne, HagbourneFarmer1851D/A1/227/73MF96124
CHILD, RobertSteventonHusbandman1698D/A1/58/37MF476
CHILD, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1625D/A1/182/059MF96023
CHILD, ThomasGreenham, Thatcham1687D/A1/184/54MF96026
CHILD, ThomasBucklebury1688D/A1/57/78MF475
CHILD, ThomasPurleyHusbandman1693D/A1/184/80MF96026
CHILD, ThomasWallingfordVictualler1719D/A1/185/18MF96028
CHILD, WilliamBuckleburyCooper1705D/A1/184/146MF96027
CHILD, WilliamMidgham, Thatcham Carpenter1756D/A1/60/20MF513
CHILD, WilliamThatchamCarpenter1756D/A1/185/153MF96028
CHILDE, JoanNew Windsor, Windsor1603D/A1/53/129 D/A1/13/1051MF472 MF10049
CHILDE, JohnBasildonYeoman1676D/A1/56/160MF475
CHILDE, NicholasReadingYeoman1612D/A1/53/230 D/A1/15/226MF472 MF10065
CHILDE, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1632D/A1/55/003MF473
CHILDE, WilliamThatchamHusbandman1727D/A1/59/84MF476
CHILDES, ThomasLong Wittenham1609D/A1/181/207MF96022
CHILDES, ThomasLong Wittenham1609D/A1/168/047MF96001
CHILDES, WilliamBuckleburyCooper1702D/A1/58/64MF476
CHILDREY, AnnAbingdon1749D/A1/59/236MF513
CHILDRY, RichardFrilford, Marcham 1744D/A1/59/215MF513
CHILDS , Giles SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneCordwainer1728D/A1/59/97MF513
CHILDS, EleanorStanford Dingley1753D/A1/60/2MF513
CHILDS, HumphreyWargraveYeoman1709D/A1/58/118MF476
CHILDS, JamesMilton1807D/A1/147/85MF558
CHILDS, JoanPurley1692D/A1/57/118MF475
CHILDS, JohnEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1722D/A1/59/40MF476
CHILDS, JohnSteventonYeoman1778D/A1/60/106MF513
CHILDS, JohnSteventon1778D/A1/185/197MF96028
CHILDS, MargaretSutton Courtenay1706D/A1/58/94MF476
CHILDS, WilliamSteventonMaltster1745D/A1/185/131MF96028
CHILES , John SnrSteventon1738D/A1/59/167MF513
CHILES, DavidLong WittenhamHusbandman1660D/A1/56/8MF474
CHILES, HughSutton CourtenayHusbandman1672D/A1/56/137MF475
CHILES, JaneSutton Courtenay1674D/A1/183/127MF96025
CHILLINGWORTH, RalphOxford, OxfordshireBrewer1644D/A1/16/624MF10066
CHIPINGHURST, AnnabellAbingdon1609D/A1/181/209MF96022
CHIPNEY, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1587D/A1/11/115MF10047B
CHIPNEYE, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1587D/A1/181/119MF96021
CHIPPINGHURST, AnnabellAbingdon1609D/A1/168/049MF96001
CHIPPINGHURST, JohnAbingdonYeoman1604D/A1/181/186MF96022
CHIPPINGHURST, JohnAbingdon1604D/A1/14/173MF10064
CHIPPINGHURST, JohnAbingdon1610D/A1/181/217 D/A1/168/063MF96022 MF96001
CHIRCHMAN, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1532D/A1/1/184MF10042
CHISWELL, MaryReading St Giles1769D/A1/185/178MF96028
CHITTELL, JacobSpeen1728D/A1/185/58MF96028
CHITTELL, RichardNalderhill, SpeenTailor1693D/A1/184/78MF96026
CHITTESTER, CharlesReadingSoldier1743D/A1/59/206MF513
CHITTL, RichardNalderhill, SpeenTailor1666D/A1/56/84MF474
CHITTLE, JohnThatchamCollar Maker1734D/A1/185/90MF96028
CHITTLE, JohnBoxfordYeoman1782D/A1/60/125MF513
CHITTLE, JohnBoxfordYeoman1789D/A1/60/148MF513
CHITTS, EdwardWhitley, Reading St Giles1710D/A1/184/170MF96027
CHITTS, RichardSteventonHusbandman1640D/A1/55/119MF474
CHIVERS, JamesHarwellLabourer1816D/A1/147/114MF558
CHIVERS, JamesHarwellThatcher1851D/A1/149/51MF559
CHIVERS, MarthaEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1824D/A1/227/28MF96124
CHOACK, TobyBasildonYeoman1664D/A1/183/78MF96025
CHOAR, JohnGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Husbandman1727D/A1/185/54MF96028
CHOATE, WilliamWhite WalthamHusbandman1626D/A1/54/121MF473
CHOBOREV, RichardAshbury1545D/A1/233/069MF96132
CHOCKE, FrancesAvington1563D/A1/51/204 D/A1/8/281 D/A1/167/035MF470 MF10043C MF96000
CHOCKE, SusannaWest WoodhayGentlewoman1623D/A1/54/087MF473
CHOKKE, ThomasNewbury1635D/A1/16/425MF10066
CHOLES, JohnSpeen Hill, SpeenHusbandman1580D/A1/52/093 D/A1/10/242MF471 MF10047A
CHOLLES, JamesHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1559D/A1/51/140 D/A1/7/259MF470 MF10040
CHOLLES, JohnHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1559D/A1/51/137 D/A1/8/146MF470 MF10043C
CHOLLES, MaudHoe Benham, Welford1559D/A1/51/124MF470
CHOLLES, MaudeHoe Benham, Welford1559D/A1/8/145MF10043C
CHOLLYS, JohnBaydon, Ramsbury, Wiltshire1541D/A1/6/140MF10043B
CHOMBLEY , Richard SnrAbingdonLabourer1729D/A1/185/69MF96028
CHOMLEY, ElizabethAbingdon1638D/A1/55/080MF474
CHOMLEY, WilliamAbingdonBarber1710D/A1/184/169MF96027
CHOMLEY, William SnrAbingdonBarber1682D/A1/57/36MF475
CHOONE, HenryNew Windsor, Windsor1674D/A1/56/144MF475
CHORY, CatherineWarfield1566D/A1/167/129MF96000
CHORY, MargaretWarfield1566D/A1/167/129MF96000
CHOTE, ElizabethWhite Waltham1557D/A1/51/085MF469
CHOTE, RichardWhite WalthamLabourer1576D/A1/52/069 D/A1/10/026MF471 MF10047A
CHOULES, CharlesSpeenhamland, Speen Draper1813D/A1/147/97MF558
CHOULES, JohnLambourn1787D/A1/185/208MF96028
CHOULES, JohnLambournYeoman1813D/A1/147/96MF558
CHOULES, JohnChipping Lambourn, Lambourn1821D/A1/227/23MF96124
CHOULES, MargaretLambourn1813D/A1/227/15MF96124
CHOULES, WilliamWestbrook, BoxfordHusbandman1661D/A1/56/34MF474