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
CAVIE, JohnReading1586D/A1/11/077MF10047B
CAVYE, JohnReading1586D/A1/181/115MF96021
CAWCATE, Robert SnrNew Windsor, WindsorButcher1608D/A1/53/195 D/A1/14/491MF472 MF10064
CAWCOTT, EdwardNew Windsor, WindsorButcher1626D/A1/182/053MF96023
CAWCOTT, ThomasPeasemoreHusbandman1638D/A1/55/081MF474
CAWDERY, JohnBucklebury1731D/A1/59/128MF513
CAWKETT, EmmeNew Windsor, Windsor1612D/A1/53/237 D/A1/15/285MF472 MF10065
CAYM, RichardBrightwellHusbandman1559D/A1/51/121 D/A1/7/268MF470 MF10040
CAYNE, BarnardYattendonWeaver1576D/A1/52/075 D/A1/10/033MF471 MF10047A
CAYNE, RichardSwallowfieldYeoman1632D/A1/55/002MF473
CEANE, JoanBerkshire1671D/A1/128/91MF548
CEANE, John JnrShinfieldHusbandman1676D/A1/184/8MF96026
CELSTON, CharlesSouth HinkseyHusbandman1711D/A1/58/126MF476
CENFIELDE, EdwardBrightwaltonHusbandman1702D/A1/90/154MF533
CESSWELL, AnneReading St Giles1708D/A1/90/164MF533
CHADSEY, JohnHamstead MarshallYeoman1595D/A1/53/064 D/A1/12/254MF472 MF10048
CHADSEY, ThomasHamstead Marshall1554D/A1/181/029MF96021
CHADWELL, JohnBrightwellHusbandman1646D/A1/183/031MF96025
CHADWELL, JohnWallingfordCordwainer1712D/A1/58/138MF476
CHADWELL, ThomasWallingford St PeterShoemaker1692D/A1/57/115MF475
CHAIER, CatherineWallingford1558D/A1/167/101MF96000
CHAINEY, RalphEast LockingeYeoman1734D/A1/59/150MF513
CHAIR, RichardCompton, EastClerk1731D/A1/59/121MF513
CHAIRE, CatherineWallingford1558D/A1/181/038MF96021
CHAIRE, ClementGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Husbandman1718D/A1/59/20MF476
CHAIRE, JohnAbingdonShepherd1727D/A1/185/53MF96028
CHAIRE, PeterAbingdon St HelenHusbandman1693D/A1/184/81MF96026
CHAKE, HenryShaw Cum Donnington1580D/A1/52/097 D/A1/10/228MF471 MF10047A
CHAKE, JohnCompton1602D/A1/53/131 D/A1/13/920MF472 MF10049
CHALINOR, AliceNewbury1575D/A1/181/076MF96021
CHALK, WilliamThatchamMiller1781D/A1/60/122MF513
CHALKE, DorothySnelsmore, Chieveley1638D/A1/55/079MF474
CHALKE, HenryShaw Cum Donnington1553D/A1/5/204MF10043A
CHALKE, HenryShaw Cum Donnington1553D/A1/4/039MF604
CHALKE, JohnWest Hagbourne, HagbourneHusbandman1635D/A1/55/042MF473
CHALKE, RichardDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonYeoman1604D/A1/181/188MF96022
CHALKE, RichardShaw Cum Donnington1604D/A1/14/178MF10064
CHALKE, RichardSnelsmore, Chieveley1661D/A1/56/19MF474
CHALKE, ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1607D/A1/53/182 D/A1/14/339MF472 MF10064
CHALKLEY, AnnBray1771D/A1/60/79MF513
CHALLENGER, PhilipNewburyPainter Stainer1570D/A1/52/028 D/A1/9/190MF471 MF10046
CHALLES, AnneKintbury1701D/A1/184/129MF96026
CHALLICE, FrancisWood Speen, SpeenHusbandman1662D/A1/183/68MF96025
CHALLICE, ThomasBenham, SpeenHusbandman1661D/A1/183/59MF96025
CHALLICE, ThomasBenham, SpeenHusbandman1684D/A1/57/47MF475
CHALLICE, WilliamLong WittenhamFarmer1846D/A1/148/94MF558
CHALLIS , Joseph SnrNewburyGardener1844D/A1/148/86MF558
CHALLIS, AmyNewbury1844D/A1/148/85MF558
CHALLIS, BenjaminNewbury1802D/A1/147/63MF558
CHALLIS, JohnKintburyHusbandman1696D/A1/184/91MF96026
CHALLIS, RichardNewbury1809D/A1/227/6MF96124
CHALLIS, RichardNewburyCordwainer1844D/A1/148/87MF558
CHALLIS, ThomasNewburyGardener1814D/A1/147/101MF558
CHALLIS, WilliamNewburyCordwainer1857D/A1/149/79MF559
CHAMBARLYN, JoanReading St Mary1588D/A1/52/164 D/A1/11/293MF472 MF10047B
CHAMBER, CharlesNewburyTailor1701D/A1/184/125MF96026
CHAMBER, ThomasCookhamBasket Maker1620D/A1/54/056MF473
CHAMBER, WilliamShottesbrookeYeoman1558D/A1/51/100 D/A1/7/203MF469 MF10040
CHAMBERLAIN , Thomas SnrLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1733D/A1/59/132MF513
CHAMBERLAIN, DanielShinfield1714D/A1/184/182MF96027
CHAMBERLAIN, DanielShinfield1722D/A1/185/29MF96028
CHAMBERLAIN, HenryChildreyYeoman1577D/A1/181/079MF96021
CHAMBERLAIN, JamesAldermastonCarpenter1748D/A1/185/134MF96028
CHAMBERLAIN, JohnLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1707D/A1/184/157MF96027
CHAMBERLAIN, JosephFrilshamYeoman1807D/A1/147/84MF558
CHAMBERLAIN, JosephFrilshamFarmer1828D/A1/148/33MF558
CHAMBERLAIN, LucyHampstead Norreys1842D/A1/148/79MF558
CHAMBERLAIN, MaryWelford1803D/A1/227/1MF96124
CHAMBERLAIN, RobertSotwellHusbandman1728D/A1/185/66MF96028
CHAMBERLAIN, ThomasBeenhamCarpenter1746D/A1/59/232MF513
CHAMBERLAINE, JohnThatcham1594D/A1/12/193MF10048
CHAMBERLAINE, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman1619D/A1/182/028MF96023
CHAMBERLAINE, JohnSulham1635D/A1/55/047MF473
CHAMBERLAINE, JohnNewbury1636D/A1/182/117MF90624
CHAMBERLAINE, John SnrTilehurstYeoman1691D/A1/57/108MF475
CHAMBERLAINE, MaudeOxford, Oxfordshire1563D/A1/167/036MF96000
CHAMBERLAINE, RichardTheale, Tilehurst1691D/A1/57/105MF475
CHAMBERLAINE, RichardTilehurstInnholder1722D/A1/185/30MF96028
CHAMBERLAINE, ThomasTilehurstLabourer1670D/A1/56/120MF474
CHAMBERLAINE, ThomasReadingCordwainer1718D/A1/59/15MF476
CHAMBERLAINE, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1635D/A1/182/106/1MF90624
CHAMBERLANE, JohnPeasemoreHusbandman1634D/A1/55/015MF473
CHAMBERLAYN, WilliamSparsholt1555D/A1/7/085MF10040
CHAMBERLAYNE, AliceSparsholt1558D/A1/51/150 D/A1/10/385MF470 MF10047A
CHAMBERLAYNE, AnneChildrey1588D/A1/52/162 D/A1/11/255MF472 MF10047B
CHAMBERLAYNE, HenryFrilshamCarpenter1677D/A1/56/164MF475
CHAMBERLAYNE, JamesChildrey1594D/A1/53/054 D/A1/12/186MF472 MF10048
CHAMBERLAYNE, JohnThatchamHusbandman1594D/A1/181/142MF96022
CHAMBERLAYNE, MargaretNewbury1661D/A1/56/18MF474
CHAMBERLAYNE, ThomasBracknell1639D/A1/55/104MF474
CHAMBERLEINE, HenryChildrey1586D/A1/181/116 D/A1/11/081MF96021 MF10047B
CHAMBERLEN, GilbertStratfield Mortimer1601D/A1/53/119 D/A1/13/651MF472 MF10049
CHAMBERLEN, RobertReading1591D/A1/53/016 D/A1/12/013MF472 MF10048
CHAMBERLEN, ThomasGoosey, Stanford In The ValeYeoman1564D/A1/51/196 D/A1/8/325MF470 MF10043C
CHAMBERLEN, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1639D/A1/16/554MF10066
CHAMBERLEYN, John SnrTilehurstYeoman1618D/A1/54/037 D/A1/15/857MF473 MF10065
CHAMBERLEYNE, JohnWinkfield1619D/A1/168/162MF96001
CHAMBERLEYNE, ThomasLambourn1611D/A1/168/076MF96001
CHAMBERLIN , ThomasLambournGlover1642D/A1/55/137MF474
CHAMBERLIN , William SnrUffingtonYeoman1761D/A1/60/39MF513