Will Archive - The Royal Berkshire Archives

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.

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.

You can search all fields or just for names by using the search boxes below.

If you would like to look at or order copies of any of the records listed, please Contact Us.

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Names beginning with "A"

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Name: A BEARE, Thomas
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1563
Reference: D/A1/35/090 D/A1/7/363
MF Copy: MF459 MF10040

Name: A BEARE, William
Place Name: Hare Hatch, Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1553
Reference: D/A1/5/192
MF Copy: MF10043A

Name: A BEARE, William
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1553
Reference: D/A1/35/029
MF Copy: MF459

Name: A BERE, George
Place Name
Occupation
Year: 1550
Reference: D/A1/35/024
MF Copy: MF459

Name: A BEYRE, John
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1550
Reference: D/A1/4/010
MF Copy: MF604

Name: A BEYRE, John
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1550
Reference: D/A1/233/332
MF Copy: MF96132

Name: A BEYRE, Thomas
Place Name: Hare Hatch, Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1544
Reference: D/A1/233/016
MF Copy: MF96132

Name: A DENE, Henry
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1564
Reference: D/A1/35/098 D/A1/8/324
MF Copy: MF459 MF10043C

Name: A FORDE, Thomas
Place Name: Ford House, Wargrave
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1546
Reference: D/A1/233/117
MF Copy: MF96132

Name: A LEE, Constance
Place Name: Cholsey
Occupation
Year: 1605
Reference: D/A1/36/004 D/A1/13/1414
MF Copy: MF459 MF10049

Name: A PUSEY, William
Place Name: Pusey
Occupation
Year: 1580
Reference: D/A1/207/086 D/A1/10/210
MF Copy: MF96077 MF10047A

Name: ABADAM, Walter
Place Name: Bray
Occupation: Servant
Year: 1550
Reference: D/A1/5/065
MF Copy: MF10043A

Name: ABADDAM , Joyce
Place Name: Bray
Occupation
Year: 1552
Reference: D/A1/5/172 D/A1/5/066 D/A1/4/008 D/A1/175/022
MF Copy: MF10043A MF10043A MF604 MF96010

Name: ABAGHURST, George
Place Name: Brimpton
Occupation
Year: 1596
Reference: D/A1/173/058 D/A1/12/400
MF Copy: MF96006 MF10048

Name: ABAGUEST, John
Place Name: Brimpton
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1641
Reference: D/A1/174/018 D/A1/169/001a
MF Copy: MF96007 MF96002

Name: ABAUGHURST, John
Place Name: Brimpton
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1632
Reference: D/A1/36/125 D/A1/36/127
MF Copy: MF460 MF460

Name: ABBINGTON, Thomas Snr
Place Name: West Woodhay
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1587
Reference: D/A1/35/197 D/A1/11/128
MF Copy: MF459 MF10047B

Name: ABBOTT, John
Place Name: Reading
Occupation: Labourer
Year: 1746
Reference: D/A1/174/165
MF Copy: MF96009

Name: ABBUTS, Edward Snr
Place Name: Wallingford
Occupation: Cordwainer
Year: 1680
Reference: D/A1/37/89
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABBY, Thomas
Place Name: Ufton Nervet
Occupation: Servant
Year: 1730
Reference: D/A1/38/84
MF Copy: MF461

Name: ABDE, Fabian
Place Name: Buckland
Occupation
Year: 1674
Reference: D/A1/37/65
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABDY, Anne
Place Name: Hanney
Occupation
Year: 1710
Reference: D/A1/174/131
MF Copy: MF96008

Name: ABDY, Anne
Place Name: Hanney
Occupation
Year: 1710
Reference: D/A1/174/131
MF Copy: MF96008

Name: ABDY, John
Place Name: Grove, Wantage
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1661
Reference: D/A1/37/16
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABDYE, William
Place Name: Shellingford
Occupation
Year: 1694
Reference: D/A1/37/125
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABEARE, Jane
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1678
Reference: D/A1/37/78
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABEARE, John
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1711
Reference: D/A1/38/30
MF Copy: MF461

Name: ABEARE, John Snr
Place Name: Hare Hatch, Wargrave
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1616
Reference: D/A1/36/043 D/A1/15/655
MF Copy: MF459 MF10065

Name: ABEARE, John Snr
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1640
Reference: D/A1/36/166
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABEARE, John Snr
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1702
Reference: D/A1/174/117
MF Copy: MF96008

Name: ABEARE, Mary
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1637
Reference: D/A1/174/009 D/A1/169/001a
MF Copy: MF96007 MF96002

Name: ABEARE, Thomas
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1637
Reference: D/A1/174/010 D/A1/169/001a
MF Copy: MF96006 MF96002

Name: ABEERE, John Snr
Place Name: Wargrave
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1686
Reference: D/A1/37/107
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABELL, Ann
Place Name: Bradfield
Occupation
Year: 1591
Reference: D/A1/35/220
MF Copy: MF459

Name: ABERE, George
Place Name: Reading St Laurence
Occupation: Sawyer
Year: 1550
Reference: D/A1/2/030
MF Copy: MF603

Name: ABERE, Thomas
Place Name: Hare Hatch, Wargrave
Occupation
Year: 1544
Reference: D/A1/2/040
MF Copy: MF603

Name: ABEREY, Anthony
Place Name: Lambourn Woodlands, Lambourn
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1641
Reference: D/A1/36/173
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABEREY, Francis
Place Name: Reading
Occupation: Cloth Drawer
Year: 1706
Reference: D/A1/174/124
MF Copy: MF96008

Name: ABERY (ALIAS JEMMATT), Elianor
Place Name: Reading
Occupation
Year: 1723
Reference: D/A1/174/139
MF Copy: MF96008

Name: ABERY, Anthony
Place Name: Lambourn Woodlands, Lambourn
Occupation
Year: 1641
Reference: D/A1/169/001b
MF Copy: MF96002

Name: ABERY, John
Place Name: Thatcham
Occupation
Year: 1571
Reference: D/A1/35/130
MF Copy: MF459

Name: ABERY, John
Place Name: Reading
Occupation
Year: 1810
Reference: D/A1/226/6
MF Copy: MF96122

Name: ABERY, John Snr
Place Name: Marlston, Bucklebury
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1634
Reference: D/A1/36/130
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABERY, Mary
Place Name: Reading
Occupation
Year: 1775
Reference: D/A1/38/178
MF Copy: MF461

Name: ABERY, Stephen
Place Name: Thatcham
Occupation
Year: 1613
Reference: D/A1/36/029 D/A1/15/401
MF Copy: MF459 MF10065

Name: ABERY, William
Place Name: Shinfield
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1700
Reference: D/A1/179/136
MF Copy: MF96017

Name: ABERY, William
Place Name: Reading
Occupation: Cordwainer
Year: 1730
Reference: D/A1/174/149
MF Copy: MF96008

Name: ABINGDON, Thomas
Place Name: West Woodhay
Occupation
Year: 1614
Reference: D/A1/168/110
MF Copy: MF96001

Name: ABINGTON, Thomas
Place Name: West Woodhay
Occupation
Year: 1614
Reference: D/A1/173/090
MF Copy: MF96006

Name: ABREE , Simon
Place Name: Bray
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1691
Reference: D/A1/37/122
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABREE , Simon Snr
Place Name: Bray
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1662
Reference: D/A1/174/39
MF Copy: MF96007

Name: ABREY, Thomas
Place Name: Snelsmore, Chieveley
Occupation: Husbandman
Year: 1585
Reference: D/A1/35/183 D/A1/11/112
MF Copy: MF459 MF10047B

Name: ABROKE, Robert
Place Name: Bray
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1593
Reference: D/A1/35/232
MF Copy: MF459

Name: ABROOKE, William
Place Name: Bray
Occupation: Tailor
Year: 1665
Reference: D/A1/37/37
MF Copy: MF460

Name: ABSALOM, Richard
Place Name: Midgham, Thatcham
Occupation
Year: 1852
Reference: D/A1/144/76
MF Copy: MF557

Name: ABSALOM, Robert
Place Name: East Lockinge
Occupation: Yeoman
Year: 1748
Reference: D/A1/174/169
MF Copy: MF96009

Name: ABSALON, Anne
Place Name: Reading
Occupation
Year: 1697
Reference: D/A1/174/105
MF Copy: MF96008

Name: ABSALON, John
Place Name: Lambourn
Occupation
Year: 1569
Reference: D/A1/35/111 D/A1/9/169
MF Copy: MF459 MF10046

Name: ABSOLOM, John Snr
Place Name: Cholsey
Occupation
Year: 1601
Reference: D/A1/35/281 D/A1/13/703
MF Copy: MF459 MF10049

Name: ABSOLOM, Margaret
Place Name: Compton
Occupation
Year: 1747
Reference: D/A1/38/121
MF Copy: MF461

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