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
CHAYNE, OsmondWallingford St Mary1560D/A1/51/130 D/A1/7/331 D/A1/167/113MF469 MF10040 MF96000
CHAYNE, RichardRadley1537D/A1/51/189MF470
CHAYNIE, LawrenceWest Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1689D/A1/57/92MF475
CHAYNIE, ThomasUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1605D/A1/53/162 D/A1/14/057MF472 MF10064
CHAYNY, JaneBourton, Shrivenham1567D/A1/167/135MF96000
CHAYNY, JohnWest Woodhay1568D/A1/167/139MF96000
CHAYNY, RichardWallingford St Peter1566D/A1/51/023 D/A1/8/367MF469 MF10043C
CHAYNY, RoseWallingford1558D/A1/167/102MF96000
CHAYR, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1529D/A1/1/112MF10041
CHAYRE, AgnesWinterbrook, Cholsey1561D/A1/51/170 D/A1/7/342MF470 MF10040
CHEACHASIDE, RichardAbingdon1611D/A1/168/074MF96001
CHEAIRE, RichardPangbourneYeoman1700D/A1/58/48MF476
CHEAR, MaryAbingdon1749D/A1/59/246MF513
CHEARE, AnnGoosey, Stanford In The Vale 1701D/A1/184/130MF96026
CHEARE, DorothyGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1704D/A1/58/79MF476
CHEARE, JohnGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1636D/A1/55/045MF473
CHEATHASIDE, RichardAbingdon St Helen1611D/A1/182/001MF96023
CHECKER, FrisoFernham, Shrivenham1621D/A1/54/076MF473
CHEDELL, JohnKintbury1559D/A1/51/141 D/A1/7/270MF470 MF10040
CHEDSEY, ThomasHamstead Marshall1554D/A1/7/338bMF10040
CHEER , John SnrDraytonYeoman1761D/A1/60/38MF513
CHEER, BartholomewDrayton1819D/A1/227/21MF96124
CHEER, JaneAbingdon1795D/A1/185/217MF96028
CHEER, MaryDrayton1797D/A1/60/169MF513
CHEER, SamuelAbingdon1830D/A1/227/39MF96124
CHEESEMAN, JamesWinkfieldYeoman1855D/A1/149/71MF559
CHEESEMAN, ThomasEast Ilsley1708D/A1/184/159MF96027
CHEESMAN, JosephNewburyMachine Maker1848D/A1/149/42MF559
CHEMSONE, RogerFyfieldParson1557D/A1/181/034MF96021
CHENEI, AgnesUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1585D/A1/52/126 D/A1/11/038 D/A1/52/124MF472 MF10047B MF472
CHENEY, JohnBayworth, SunningwellLabourer1626D/A1/54/129MF473
CHENEY, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1773D/A1/60/86MF513
CHENIE, ThomasRadley1592D/A1/53/018 D/A1/11/352MF472 MF10047B
CHENNELL, FrancesAbingdon1663D/A1/183/65MF96025
CHENNEY, EmlynRadley1610D/A1/53/211 D/A1/15/072MF472 MF10065
CHENNEY, ThomasRadley1611D/A1/53/226 D/A1/15/156MF472 MF10065
CHERIE, JoanWarfield1570D/A1/181/065MF96021
CHERINGTON, ElijahEnglefield1611D/A1/181/213MF96022
CHERINGTON, ElijahEnglefield1611D/A1/168/072MF96001
CHERINGTON, WilliamEnglefieldClerk, Rector1621D/A1/16/330MF10066
CHERINTON, BenjaminSpeenhamland, SpeenBarber Chirurgeon1679D/A1/184/14MF96026
CHERRINGTON, AntipasEnglefield1697D/A1/184/102MF96026
CHERRINGTON, JohnHagbourneParish Clerk1727D/A1/59/98MF513
CHERRY, FrancesCookham1783D/A1/60/126MF513
CHERRY, SarahShottesbrooke1716D/A1/185/3MF96028
CHERTH, RichardNew Windsor, Windsor1607D/A1/53/178 D/A1/14/273MF472 MF10064
CHERY, JoanWarfield1570D/A1/167/144MF96000
CHERY, MargaretWarfield1556D/A1/51/076 D/A1/7/119MF469 MF10040
CHERYE, RichardWarfield1570D/A1/52/020 D/A1/9/198MF471 MF10046
CHERYE, WilliamWarfield1551D/A1/5/160MF10043A
CHESSELL , Edward SnrNewburyWeaver1745D/A1/59/226MF513
CHESSHEIRE, JohnAldermastonClerk, Vicar1585D/A1/11/009 D/A1/52/138 D/A1/11/010MF10047B MF472 MF10047B
CHESTERMAN, AnnReading1857D/A1/149/82MF559
CHESTERMAN, DavidReadingButcher1815D/A1/227/16MF96124
CHESTERMAN, JohnLambourn1665D/A1/56/74MF474
CHESTERMAN, John SnrShinfieldHusbandman1684D/A1/57/56MF475
CHESTERMAN, ThomasLongworthYeoman1757D/A1/185/154MF96028
CHESTERMAN, ThomasReadingBricklayer1853D/A1/149/58MF559
CHESTERMAN, WilliamShinfieldYeoman1724D/A1/59/61MF476
CHESTRE, RichardReading St Laurence1523D/A1/1/133MF10042
CHETTLE, ClementNewburyShoemaker1639D/A1/55/091MF474
CHETTLE, RobertNewburyBlacksmith1614D/A1/53/253 D/A1/15/487MF472 MF10065
CHEYNEY, AgnesAbingdon St Nicholas1601D/A1/53/121 D/A1/13/759MF472 MF10049
CHEYNEY, AliceChildrey1724D/A1/185/35MF96028
CHEYNEY, AnneSutton Courtenay1761D/A1/60/42MF513
CHEYNEY, EdwardShaw Cum Donnington1609D/A1/168/053MF96001
CHEYNEY, ElizabethWest Woodhay1600D/A1/53/111 D/A1/13/596MF472 MF10049
CHEYNEY, JamesAldworthYeoman1757D/A1/185/156MF96028
CHEYNEY, JohnUpper Lambourn, LambournYeoman1575D/A1/52/060 D/A1/9/439MF471 MF10046
CHEYNEY, JohnWallingford St LeonardClothier, Weaver1643D/A1/55/155MF474
CHEYNEY, Laurence SnrUpper Lambourn, LambournHusbandman1644D/A1/55/145MF474
CHEYNEY, LawrenceEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1723D/A1/59/55MF476
CHEYNEY, RichardWallingford St LeonardClothier1629D/A1/54/148MF473
CHEYNEY, RichardAbingdon1660D/A1/56/9MF474
CHEYNEY, Richard SnrUplambourn, LambournYeoman1680D/A1/57/20MF475
CHEYNEY, RobertWallingfordHatter1760D/A1/185/161MF96028
CHEYNEY, WaldronLambournYeoman1735D/A1/140/148MF555
CHEYNEY, WilliamWallingfordTailor1635D/A1/16/415MF10066
CHEYNEY, WilliamAbingdonMilliner1697D/A1/184/103MF96026
CHEYNEY, William SnrAbingdon1678D/A1/57/4MF475
CHEYNIE, EdwardShaw Cum Donnington1609D/A1/181/208MF96022
CHEYNIE, JohnWest Woodhay1569D/A1/181/058MF96021
CHEYNIE, MargaretAldermaston1591D/A1/53/019 D/A1/11/361MF472 MF10047B
CHEYNY, JaneBourton, Shrivenham1567D/A1/181/055MF96021
CHEYNY, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1665D/A1/183/81MF96025
CHEYNY, RogerAldermaston1589D/A1/52/161 D/A1/11/290MF472 MF10047B
CHEYNY, RoseWallingford1558D/A1/181/040MF96021
CHEYNYE, JohnHamstead Marshall1592D/A1/53/017 D/A1/11/355MF472 MF10047B
CHICKE, LawrenceAbingdon1590D/A1/181/133MF96022
CHICKE, LawrenceAbingdon1590D/A1/11/372MF10047B
CHICKEN, RichardAbingdon1635D/A1/16/390MF10066
CHIDLEIGHE, Robert1595D/A1/181/147MF96022
CHIDLEY, Robert1595D/A1/12/394MF10048
CHILD , FrancisBasildonLabourer1634D/A1/55/031MF473
CHILD , Richard SnrYattendonYeoman1722D/A1/185/26MF96028
CHILD , Richard SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneFarmer1841D/A1/148/67MF558
CHILD, AnnThatcham1719D/A1/59/29MF476
CHILD, Anthony SnrNewburyBrazier1689D/A1/57/86MF475
CHILD, CatherineGreenham, Thatcham 1718D/A1/59/14MF476
CHILD, ChristopherNewbury1605D/A1/181/190MF96022