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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
CHAPMAN, AnthonyReading St Laurence1553D/A1/7/005MF10040
CHAPMAN, AnthonyReading St LaurenceTailor1553D/A1/51/063MF469
CHAPMAN, CharlotteReading1855D/A1/149/69MF559
CHAPMAN, FrancisMarchamHandycraft Man1731D/A1/59/123MF513
CHAPMAN, GabrielReading St LaurenceCloth Worker1627D/A1/182/068MF96023
CHAPMAN, GeorgeStanford DingleyBlacksmith1845D/A1/148/93MF558
CHAPMAN, JamesLetcombe BassettTailor1730D/A1/59/106MF513
CHAPMAN, JohnReadingKilnman1743D/A1/59/212MF513
CHAPMAN, JohnClewer1745D/A1/59/221MF513
CHAPMAN, JohnAbingdonCooper1768D/A1/60/70MF513
CHAPMAN, MaryMarcham1739D/A1/185/107MF96028
CHAPMAN, MaryAbingdon1828D/A1/227/34MF96124
CHAPMAN, RichardSutton Courtenay1557D/A1/233/075MF96132
CHAPMAN, RichardSutton Courtenay1557D/A1/2/140MF604
CHAPMAN, SamuelCumnorLabourer1730D/A1/185/74MF96028
CHAPMAN, ThomasMarchamBaker1670D/A1/183/109MF96025
CHAPMAN, ThomasReading1794D/A1/185/215MF96028
CHAPMAN, ThomasAbingdonCooper, Bottlemaker1815D/A1/147/107MF558
CHAPMAN, WilliamFrilford, Marcham1575D/A1/52/055 D/A1/9/442MF471 MF10046
CHAPMANE, MargaretSutton Courtenay1558D/A1/51/087 D/A1/7/144MF469 MF10040
CHAPPEL , RichardBenham, Speen1642D/A1/55/133MF474
CHAPPELL, John SnrChieveleyHusbandman1638D/A1/55/083MF474
CHAPPELL, RichardHoe Benham, WelfordFreeholder1586D/A1/52/144 D/A1/11/110MF472 MF10047B
CHAPPELL, RobertThatchamButcher1631D/A1/182/093MF96023
CHAPPELL, RobertThatchamButcher1682D/A1/184/28MF96026
CHAPPELL, RobertHamstead MarshallTailor1700D/A1/184/119MF96026
CHAPPELL, ThomasBenham Valence, SpeenWeaver1573D/A1/181/071MF96021
CHAPPELL, ThomasInkpen1599D/A1/181/169/1MF96022
CHAPPELL, ThomasNorth Heath, ChieveleyYeoman1616D/A1/54/017 D/A1/15/586MF473 MF10065
CHAPPLE, HenryHoe Benham, WelfordBlacksmith1633D/A1/182/102 D/A1/168/253MF96024 MF96001
CHAPPLE, ThomasInkpen1599D/A1/13/434MF10049
CHARDE, WilliamSulham 1570D/A1/9/206MF10046
CHARE , JohnCholsey1557D/A1/181/035MF96021
CHARE , John SnrDraytonYeoman1715D/A1/58/149MF476
CHARE, AgnesDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1594D/A1/181/144MF96022
CHARE, AgnesDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1594D/A1/12/391MF10048
CHARE, BartholomewDraytonYeoman1662D/A1/56/40MF474
CHARE, JaneDrayton1671D/A1/56/134MF475
CHARE, JoanCholsey1596D/A1/53/068 D/A1/12/435MF472 MF10048
CHARE, JohnWallingford St Leonard1550D/A1/51/054 D/A1/5/107MF469 MF10043A
CHARE, PeterDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1618D/A1/54/042 D/A1/15/866MF473 MF10065
CHARE, RichardWinterbrook, CholseyHusbandman1576D/A1/52/072 D/A1/10/047MF471 MF10047A
CHARE, RichardWinterbrook, CholseyYeoman1632D/A1/55/010MF473
CHARE, SimonReadingMaltster1707D/A1/58/105MF476
CHARE, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1575D/A1/52/062 D/A1/10/011MF471 MF10047A
CHARE, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1587D/A1/52/140 D/A1/11/101MF472 MF10047B
CHARE, WilliamCholseyHusbandman1557D/A1/2/144MF604
CHARELETON, RobertAbingdon St HelenInnholder1560D/A1/6/188 D/A1/51/173MF10043B MF470
CHARELTON, MaryNewbury1549D/A1/181/015MF96021
CHARLES, JohnLetcombe RegisMiller1661D/A1/56/33MF474
CHARLES, JohnShrivenhamCordwainer1687D/A1/57/73MF475
CHARLES, RobertNewburyShoemaker1575D/A1/181/077MF96021
CHARLETON, DorothyShrivenham1720D/A1/59/31MF476
CHARLETON, JohnReadingBroad Weaver1618D/A1/54/040 D/A1/15/858MF473 MF10065
CHARLETON, JohnSwallowfieldBlacksmith1690D/A1/184/65MF96026
CHARLETON, ThomasSutton CourtenayClerk1638D/A1/16/490MF10066
CHARLEWODE, JohnWarfield1561D/A1/181/049MF96021
CHARLEWOOD, JohnWarfield1561D/A1/167/115MF96000
CHARLEWOOD, KatherineBray1716D/A1/59/2MF476
CHARLTON, AndrewMaidenhead1704D/A1/184/145MF96027
CHARLTON, GilesReading St GilesWeaver1725D/A1/59/73MF476
CHARLTON, MarySwallowfield1716D/A1/59/4MF476
CHARLTON, RichardReading St MaryChapman Of Hardware1602D/A1/181/178MF96022
CHARLTON, RichardReading1602D/A1/13/1014MF10049
CHARLTON, ThomasSwallowfieldFarmer1845D/A1/227/63MF96124
CHARLWOOD, AbrahamBray, BrayBrazier1695D/A1/58/17MF476
CHARR, JosephReading St LaurenceBaker1699D/A1/184/118MF96026
CHARTER, WilliamWest IlsleyYeoman, Servant1703D/A1/58/71MF476
CHASE, AnnReading1774D/A1/60/89MF513
CHASE, GeorgeSwallowfieldHusbandman1615D/A1/54/003 D/A1/15/514MF473 MF10065
CHASE, JohnStratfield Saye , Hampshire1828D/A1/227/36MF96124
CHASE, JohnReadingLabourer1845D/A1/227/64MF96124
CHAULKE, AgnesBasildon1668D/A1/56/103MF474
CHAULKE, Annis1559D/A1/181/043MF96021
CHAULKE, ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1627D/A1/54/141MF473
CHAUNCELER, JohnHarwell1571D/A1/52/038 D/A1/9/271MF471 MF10046
CHAUNCELOR, AdamHarwell1609D/A1/168/051MF96001
CHAUNCLER, MatthewHarwellTailor1642D/A1/55/131MF474
CHAUNDELER, JohnNewbury1554D/A1/51/068 D/A1/7/041MF469 MF10040
CHAUNDLER, EdwardBarkhamTanner1593D/A1/53/033 D/A1/12/068MF472 MF10048
CHAUNDLER, HenryEnglefieldHusbandman1598D/A1/53/087 D/A1/13/255MF472 MF10049
CHAUNDLER, JohnWhitley, Reading St Giles1557D/A1/2/147MF604
CHAUNDLER, JohnEasthampstead1607D/A1/53/176 D/A1/14/271MF472 MF10064
CHAUNDLER, JohnEast Ilsley1616D/A1/168/127MF96001
CHAUNDLER, JohnWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1626D/A1/54/117MF473
CHAUNDLER, JohnAbingdon1636D/A1/16/426MF10066
CHAUNDLER, MargaretReading St Giles1559D/A1/51/146 D/A1/8/152MF470 MF10043C
CHAUNDLER, RichardSwallowfield1610D/A1/168/066MF96001
CHAUNDLER, RichardShinfieldLabourer1635D/A1/55/034MF473
CHAUNDLER, RobertThatchamTailor1616D/A1/54/016 D/A1/15/587MF474 MF10065
CHAUNDLER, SimonReading St Giles1550D/A1/51/050MF469
CHAUNDLER, SimonReading St Giles1550D/A1/5/115MF10043A
CHAUNDLER, WilliamBarkham1564D/A1/181/052MF96021
CHAUNLER, HenryBinfield1555D/A1/181/041MF96023
CHAUNTRELL, JohnAbingdon1581D/A1/181/093MF96021
CHAUNTRELL, ThomasReading St LaurenceButcher1558D/A1/51/095 D/A1/7/201MF469 MF10040
CHAVLY, JohnMilton1541D/A1/51/026MF469
CHAWLK, HarryShaw Cum Donnington1553D/A1/181/023MF96021
CHAWLY, JohnMilton1542D/A1/6/010MF10043B
CHAYNE, JohnWallingford St MaryMercer1548D/A1/51/045 D/A1/6/160MF469 MF10043B