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
CHOULES, MargaretLambourn1813D/A1/227/15MF96124
CHOULES, WilliamWestbrook, BoxfordHusbandman1661D/A1/56/34MF474
CHOUNES, RichardAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1625D/A1/182/058MF96023
CHOWLES, RichardHoe Benham, WelfordYeoman1619D/A1/54/053MF473
CHOWLES, RichardHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1642D/A1/55/134MF474
CHOWLES, RobertHoe Benham, Welford1624D/A1/182/045MF96023
CHOWLES, WilliamShaw Cum DonningtonShopkeeper1811D/A1/147/91MF558
CHOWN, JamesAbingdonTailor1678D/A1/57/5MF475
CHRANSHEWE, HenryBrayClerk, Vicar1597D/A1/181/160 D/A1/13/186MF96022 MF10049
CHRCH, EdwardDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1543D/A1/2/115MF604
CHRISTIAN, JohnReading St Mary1702D/A1/184/137MF96027
CHRISTMAS, RichardCholseyYeoman1675D/A1/56/151MF475
CHRISTMAS, RobertCholseyYeoman1630D/A1/54/171MF473
CHRISTMAS, WilliamCholseyBlacksmith1707D/A1/58/97MF476
CHRISTMUS, AnneCholsey1633D/A1/55/011MF473
CHRISTOFER, JoanUffington1592D/A1/53/027 D/A1/12/015MF472 MF10048
CHRISTOFER, ThomasUffingtonHusbandman1583D/A1/52/123 D/A1/10/349MF471 MF10047A
CHRISTOPHER, JohnGreat CoxwellHusbandman1664D/A1/56/64/1MF474
CHRISWEEKE, JohnEnborneYeoman1697D/A1/184/94MF96026
CHROCHER, ThomasSwallowfield1601D/A1/53/120 D/A1/13/655MF472 MF10049
CHROUCH, ElizabethRadley1598D/A1/53/094 D/A1/13/305MF472 MF10049
CHROUCH, ThomasRadleyYeoman1638D/A1/182/127MF96024
CHRUCHER, GeorgeSwallowfieldHusbandman1671D/A1/56/126MF475
CHUBB, WilliamNewbury1827D/A1/227/33MF96124
CHUMBLEY, JoanAbingdon1737D/A1/185/97MF96028
CHUMBLEY, JohnAbingdonBarber1736D/A1/59/154MF513
CHURCH , Henry SnrHinton WaldristYeoman1715D/A1/58/148MF476
CHURCH , John SnrStanford In The ValeMaltster1717D/A1/59/8MF476
CHURCH , Thomas SnrWoolstone, UffingtonYeoman1722D/A1/59/41MF476
CHURCH , William SnrEast LockingeYeoman1769D/A1/60/71MF513
CHURCH, AnneStanford1604D/A1/53/153 D/A1/13/1331MF472 MF10049
CHURCH, ChristianDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1607D/A1/53/181 D/A1/14/317MF472 MF10064
CHURCH, EdmundShrivenhamYeoman1766D/A1/185/175MF96028
CHURCH, EdwardLockingeHusbandman1567D/A1/52/010 D/A1/9/059MF471 MF10046
CHURCH, EdwardHanney1740D/A1/185/112MF96028
CHURCH, EdwardHinton WaldristYeoman1765D/A1/60/54MF513
CHURCH, ElizabethSouth Hinksey, Cumnor1635D/A1/55/035MF473
CHURCH, ElizabethHinton Waldrist1732D/A1/59/117MF513
CHURCH, ElizabethNewbury1739D/A1/227/51MF96124
CHURCH, ElizabethGrove, Wantage1850D/A1/227/72MF96124
CHURCH, EllinDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1625D/A1/54/114MF473
CHURCH, EveBrightwell1776D/A1/60/101MF513
CHURCH, GeorgeSheffordCarpenter1716D/A1/59/1MF476
CHURCH, GeorgeChiltonFarmer1828D/A1/148/34MF558
CHURCH, HannahHinton Waldrist1744D/A1/59/214MF513
CHURCH, HenryWest Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1634D/A1/55/025MF473
CHURCH, HenryWest Hanney, Hanney1634D/A1/168/259MF96001
CHURCH, JamesCholsey1791D/A1/185/211MF96028
CHURCH, JaneDrayton1694D/A1/184/84MF96026
CHURCH, JeffreyWoolstone, UffingtonYeoman1683D/A1/57/44MF475
CHURCH, JoanWoolstone, Uffington1691D/A1/57/107MF475
CHURCH, JohnCumnorHusbandman1573D/A1/52/048 D/A1/9/381MF471 MF10046
CHURCH, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1601D/A1/53/118 D/A1/13/648MF472 MF10049
CHURCH, JohnSutton CourtenayTailor1603D/A1/53/148 D/A1/13/1128MF472 MF10049
CHURCH, JohnWallingfordNarrow Weaver1620D/A1/182/033MF96023
CHURCH, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenCarpenter1626D/A1/182/051MF96023
CHURCH, JohnDraytonLabourer1685D/A1/184/42MF96026
CHURCH, JohnShrivenham1743D/A1/59/213MF513
CHURCH, JohnStanford In The ValeYeoman1752D/A1/59/260MF513
CHURCH, John SnrStanford In The Vale Yeoman1706D/A1/58/96MF476
CHURCH, KatherineEast Ilsley1667D/A1/56/99MF474
CHURCH, LucyChieveley1849D/A1/227/69MF96124
CHURCH, MargaretDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1662D/A1/56/41MF474
CHURCH, MargaretThatcham1708D/A1/184/158MF96027
CHURCH, MaryWoolstone, Uffington1635D/A1/182/114MF96024
CHURCH, OliverFyfield1570D/A1/181/062MF96021
CHURCH, RichardStanford In The ValeHusbandman1624D/A1/54/098MF473
CHURCH, RichardChildreyTailor1628D/A1/182/072MF96023
CHURCH, RichardUffingtonHusbandman1636D/A1/55/061MF473
CHURCH, RichardStanfordYeoman1642D/A1/55/132MF474
CHURCH, RichardBurgage, Hinton Waldrist1694D/A1/58/13MF476
CHURCH, RichardStanford In The Vale Yeoman1701D/A1/58/55MF476
CHURCH, RichardWest HanneyYeoman1718D/A1/59/10MF476
CHURCH, RichardWest HanneyYeoman1722D/A1/59/46MF476
CHURCH, RichardChieveleyBricklayer1850D/A1/149/49MF559
CHURCH, Richard SnrStanford In The Vale Yeoman1688D/A1/57/81MF475
CHURCH, RogerStanford In The ValeHusbandman1581D/A1/52/102 D/A1/10/280MF471 MF10047A
CHURCH, RogerFyfield Wick, FyfieldYeoman1619D/A1/54/049 D/A1/15/937MF473 MF10065
CHURCH, SamuelHinton WaldristYeoman1723D/A1/59/57MF476
CHURCH, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1630D/A1/182/084MF96023
CHURCH, ThomasWinterbourne, ChieveleyCarpenter1632D/A1/55/004MF473
CHURCH, ThomasFyfield Wick, FyfieldHusbandman1663D/A1/183/72MF96025
CHURCH, ThomasWest HanneyYeoman1667D/A1/56/87MF474
CHURCH, ThomasEast LockingeYeoman1679D/A1/57/12MF475
CHURCH, ThomasWoolstone, UffingtonYeoman1733D/A1/59/138MF513
CHURCH, ThomasWest HanneyYeoman1737D/A1/59/165MF513
CHURCH, ThomasAldermastonLabourer1737D/A1/185/98MF96028
CHURCH, ThomasHinton WaldristYeoman1760D/A1/185/159MF96028
CHURCH, ThomasBucklandFarmer1851D/A1/149/50MF559
CHURCH, Thomas SnrDuxford, Hinton WaldristYeoman1697D/A1/58/29MF476
CHURCH, WalterDraytonCordwainer1684D/A1/57/53MF475
CHURCH, WilliamStanford In The ValeYeoman1602D/A1/53/125 D/A1/13/780MF472 MF10049
CHURCH, WilliamDuxford, Hinton WaldristHusbandman1628D/A1/54/143MF473
CHURCH, WilliamWinkfieldHusbandman1633D/A1/55/012/1MF473
CHURCH, WilliamEast Challow, Letcombe RegisTailor1640D/A1/183/004MF96025
CHURCH, WilliamBuckleburyYeoman1675D/A1/184/5MF96026
CHURCH, WilliamCatmoreYeoman1737D/A1/59/164MF513
CHURCH, WilliamHinton WaldristYeoman1737D/A1/59/161MF513
CHURCH, WilliamLyford, West HanneyYeoman1740D/A1/59/183MF513
CHURCH, WilliamMarchamYeoman1741D/A1/185/119MF96028