A family scandal and a book that had to be written: Barbara Cole tells us of the origin of her book, ‘The Devil’s Tapestry’
Explore John Willis Sr’s journey from Wantage, to Colonial Maryland, 50-acre land patent, family legacy & court roles in the 17th/18th C
Thomas Willats, from a notable Berkshire family, faced extensive legal disputes and financial difficulties. Despite owning Kidmore End estate, he endured 17 years in debtor’s prison amid multiple Chancery cases, family inheritance conflicts and controversial associations with Ely Stott. His extensive correspondence and legal records reveal both personal and financial struggles.
St Michael’s Church in Inkpen, Berkshire, a Grade II* listed thirteenth century building with flint walls and Bath stone dressings, stands at the North Wessex Downs. Rich in history, it preserves memorials to the influential Butler family, whose contributions over 150 years, with renovations and ecclesiastical roles, have shaped the parish’s religious and community life.
Richard Peaver recounts a royal tale, an attack on the queen in 1813 by a domestic servant suffering from mental health issues
“It is a shame I should suffer more than the rest, as others are as guilty as I am.” - John Abell, 13 July 1837
In March 1785 when Thomas Heddington (surname is also recorded as Headington, Eddington, Addington and Haddington) broke into Isaac Sewell’s house, I am sure he had no idea that he would be part of the first British settlement of Australia.
Berkshire Family History Society works to meet the needs of those researching their ancestry across the UK and overseas – as well as those looking for former relatives in historic Berkshire. You do not need to be a member to benefit.
The society offers:
Research Zone in central Reading that is free to use and open to all
Free access at The Centre for Heritage and Family History to online resources like FindMyPast, the 1939 Register, The Genealogist, the British Newspaper Archive and Ancestry (the worldwide edition)
Regular free help and advice sessions
Meetings in Abingdon, Bracknell, Newbury, Reading and Windsor; and a virtual Computer Branch which meets online. All meetings are open to everyone
Community forum – informed answers to research queries and advice from experienced researchers
Members’ Area with data and other information not readily accessible elsewhere
Indexes and transcriptions of Berkshire’s historic records on CD — parish registers, probate documents, monumental inscriptions, maps, First World War history and more
Quarterly magazine, the Berkshire Family Historian, for members
a chance to join in project work, recording, transcribing and helping to preserve records
Links to the research experience, advice and support of members worldwide