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
[A]BEDDAM, JoyceBray1552D/A1/5/172 D/A1/5/066 D/A1/4/008 D/A1/175/022MF10043A MF10043A MF604 MF96010
A BEARE, ThomasWargrave1563D/A1/35/090 D/A1/7/363MF459 MF10040
A BEARE, WilliamHare Hatch, Wargrave1553D/A1/5/192MF10043A
A BEARE, WilliamWargrave1553D/A1/35/029MF459
A BERE, George1550D/A1/35/024MF459
A BEYRE, JohnWargraveHusbandman1550D/A1/4/010MF604
A BEYRE, JohnWargraveHusbandman1550D/A1/233/332MF96132
A BEYRE, ThomasHare Hatch, Wargrave1544D/A1/233/016MF96132
A DENE, HenryWargrave1564D/A1/35/098 D/A1/8/324MF459 MF10043C
A FORDE, ThomasFord House, WargraveHusbandman1546D/A1/233/117MF96132
A LEE, ConstanceCholsey1605D/A1/36/004 D/A1/13/1414MF459 MF10049
A PUSEY, WilliamPusey1580D/A1/207/086 D/A1/10/210MF96077 MF10047A
ABADAM, WalterBrayServant1550D/A1/5/065MF10043A
ABADDAM , JoyceBray1552D/A1/5/172 D/A1/5/066 D/A1/4/008 D/A1/175/022MF10043A MF10043A MF604 MF96010
ABAGHURST, GeorgeBrimpton1596D/A1/173/058 D/A1/12/400MF96006 MF10048
ABAGUEST, JohnBrimptonHusbandman1641D/A1/174/018 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ABAUGHURST, JohnBrimptonHusbandman1632D/A1/36/125 D/A1/36/127MF460 MF460
ABBINGTON, Thomas SnrWest WoodhayHusbandman1587D/A1/35/197 D/A1/11/128MF459 MF10047B
ABBOTT, JohnReadingLabourer1746D/A1/174/165MF96009
ABBUTS, Edward SnrWallingfordCordwainer1680D/A1/37/89MF460
ABBY, ThomasUfton NervetServant1730D/A1/38/84MF461
ABDE, FabianBuckland1674D/A1/37/65MF460
ABDY, AnneHanney1710D/A1/174/131MF96008
ABDY, AnneHanney1710D/A1/174/131MF96008
ABDY, JohnGrove, WantageYeoman1661D/A1/37/16MF460
ABDYE, WilliamShellingford1694D/A1/37/125MF460
ABEARE, JaneWargrave1678D/A1/37/78MF460
ABEARE, JohnWargraveYeoman1711D/A1/38/30MF461
ABEARE, John SnrHare Hatch, WargraveYeoman1616D/A1/36/043 D/A1/15/655MF459 MF10065
ABEARE, John SnrWargraveYeoman1640D/A1/36/166MF460
ABEARE, John SnrWargraveHusbandman1702D/A1/174/117MF96008
ABEARE, MaryWargrave1637D/A1/174/009 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ABEARE, ThomasWargraveYeoman1637D/A1/174/010 D/A1/169/001aMF96006 MF96002
ABEERE, John SnrWargraveYeoman1686D/A1/37/107MF460
ABELL, AnnBradfield1591D/A1/35/220MF459
ABERE, GeorgeReading St LaurenceSawyer1550D/A1/2/030MF603
ABERE, ThomasHare Hatch, Wargrave1544D/A1/2/040MF603
ABEREY, AnthonyLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1641D/A1/36/173MF460
ABEREY, FrancisReadingCloth Drawer1706D/A1/174/124MF96008
ABERY (ALIAS JEMMATT), ElianorReading1723D/A1/174/139MF96008
ABERY, AnthonyLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1641D/A1/169/001bMF96002
ABERY, JohnThatcham1571D/A1/35/130MF459
ABERY, JohnReading1810D/A1/226/6MF96122
ABERY, John SnrMarlston, BuckleburyYeoman1634D/A1/36/130MF460
ABERY, MaryReading1775D/A1/38/178MF461
ABERY, StephenThatcham1613D/A1/36/029 D/A1/15/401MF459 MF10065
ABERY, WilliamShinfieldYeoman1700D/A1/179/136MF96017
ABERY, WilliamReadingCordwainer1730D/A1/174/149MF96008
ABINGDON, ThomasWest Woodhay1614D/A1/168/110MF96001
ABINGTON, ThomasWest Woodhay1614D/A1/173/090MF96006
ABREE , SimonBrayYeoman1691D/A1/37/122MF460
ABREE , Simon SnrBrayYeoman1662D/A1/174/39MF96007
ABREY, ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1585D/A1/35/183 D/A1/11/112MF459 MF10047B
ABROKE, RobertBrayYeoman1593D/A1/35/232MF459
ABROOKE, WilliamBrayTailor1665D/A1/37/37MF460
ABSALOM, RichardMidgham, Thatcham 1852D/A1/144/76MF557
ABSALOM, RobertEast LockingeYeoman1748D/A1/174/169MF96009
ABSALON, AnneReading1697D/A1/174/105MF96008
ABSALON, JohnLambourn1569D/A1/35/111 D/A1/9/169MF459 MF10046
ABSOLOM, John SnrCholsey1601D/A1/35/281 D/A1/13/703MF459 MF10049
ABSOLOM, MargaretCompton1747D/A1/38/121MF461
ABSOLOM, WilliamWest Ilsley1621D/A1/36/075MF459
ABSOLON , Richard SnrWallingfordCarpenter1737D/A1/38/99MF461
ABSOLON , Richard SnrWallingfordCarpenter1752D/A1/38/136MF461
ABSOLON, AgnesCookham1572D/A1/173/028MF96006
ABSOLON, EdwardCholseyYeoman1649D/A1/174/035 D/A1/169/162MF96007 MF96002
ABSOLON, EdwardCholsey1681D/A1/174/76MF96008
ABSOLON, HumphreyBucklandYeoman1718D/A1/38/47MF461
ABSOLON, JamesCholseyHusbandman1603D/A1/35/273 D/A1/13/1130MF459 MF10049
ABSOLON, JamesWinkfieldYeoman1728D/A1/38/73MF461
ABSOLON, KatherineBuckland1768D/A1/174/180MF96009
ABSOLON, RichardMoulsford, CholseyHusbandman1588D/A1/35/203 D/A1/11/302MF459 MF10047B
ABSOLON, RichardEast IlsleyShepherd1732D/A1/174/155MF96008
ABSOLON, RichardCholseyFarmer1826D/A1/144/33MF557
ABSOLON, SamuelCholseyMiller1810D/A1/144/12MF557
ABSOLON, ThomasCholseyYeoman1571D/A1/35/128 D/A1/9/322 D/A1/167/145MF459 MF10046 MF96000
ABSOLON, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1576D/A1/35/145 D/A1/10/025MF459 MF10047A
ABSOLON, ThomasReadingHusbandman1695D/A1/174/103MF96008
ABSOLON, WilliamCholsey1576D/A1/173/034MF96006
ABURY, RadolphReadingGunsmith1691D/A1/174/97MF96008
ACERS, JohnCulham, Oxfordshire1685D/A1/37/105MF460
ACERS, RichardAbingdonYeoman1724D/A1/38/58MF461
ACHAMBER, JohnNewburyButcher1558D/A1/173/007 D/A1/167/100MF96006 MF96000
ACKERMAN, MarthaReading1792D/A1/174/195MF96009
ACKERMAN, RichardLambournYeoman1721D/A1/38/52MF461
ACKERMAN, WilliamReadingMealman1791D/A1/174/194MF96009
ACKERS, RichardAbingdonGrocer1742D/A1/174/160MF96009
ACKLEE, HesterBradfield1702D/A1/174/116MF96008
ACLAND, MichaelAbingdon1635D/A1/174/003MF96007
ACRES , Jonathan SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneMaltster1725D/A1/38/64MF461
ACRES, AnneStreatley1668D/A1/37/45MF460
ACRES, GregoryNorth MoretonTailor, Apparitor1665D/A1/174/43MF96007
ACRES, JohnUffington1558D/A1/35/037 D/A1/7/150MF459 MF10040
ACRES, JohnHagbourneCordwainer1642D/A1/36/178MF460
ACRES, JonathanEast Hagbourne, HagbourneMaltster1737D/A1/38/100MF461
ACRES, JosephSpeen1749D/A1/174/171MF96009
ACRES, LawrenceComptonShoemaker1706D/A1/174/127MF96008
ACRES, Lawrence SnrHagbourneHusbandman1663D/A1/37/27MF460
ACRES, RichardAbingdonLabourer1738D/A1/174/158MF96008
ACTON, HenryNewburyChandler1572D/A1/35/131 D/A1/9/316MF459 MF10046