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
ELDRIDGE, ThomasLambournYeoman1848D/A1/150/68MF559
ELDRIGE, AnneCholsey1661D/A1/188/72MF96034
ELDRIGE, JoanBrightwell1558D/A1/65/019 D/A1/7/150MF516 MF10040
ELDRIGE, JohnCholsey1557D/A1/233/098MF96132
ELDRIGE, JohnCholseyHusbandman1557D/A1/2/181MF604
ELDRIGE, ThomasHell, Cholsey1550D/A1/65/003MF516
ELDRYGE, RichardCholseyHusbandman1556D/A1/65/014 D/A1/7/109MF516 MF10040
ELES, GeorgeStratfield Mortimer1577D/A1/188/018MF96033
ELES, JoanUffington1618D/A1/65/121 D/A1/15/768MF517 MF10065
ELES, SimonStratfield Mortimer1565D/A1/142/016MF556
ELES, ThomasUpper Lambourn, LambournHusbandman1638D/A1/65/158MF517
ELES, WilliamBucklebury1597D/A1/65/089MF516
ELES, WilliamUfton Robert, Ufton Nervet1665D/A1/66/5MF517
ELETT, HumphreyInkpen1560D/A1/65/034 D/A1/6/069MF516 MF10043B
ELEY, RichardAbingdonInnholder1665D/A1/188/85MF96034
ELGAR , James SnrEast GarstonYeoman1724D/A1/66/72MF517
ELGAR , James SnrKintburyYeoman1745D/A1/66/98MF517
ELGAR, BartholomewSpeen Hill, Speen1559D/A1/65/025 D/A1/8/038MF516 MF10043C
ELGAR, CicelyKintbury1725D/A1/66/73MF517
ELGAR, ElizabethWormstall, Kintbury1673D/A1/188/94MF96034
ELGAR, HelenSpeen1559D/A1/8/019MF10043C
ELGAR, JamesKintburyHusbandman1764D/A1/189/73MF96035
ELGAR, James SnrElcot, KintburyYeoman1709D/A1/189/39MF96035
ELGAR, JohnKintburyYeoman1577D/A1/65/060 D/A1/10/099MF516 MF10047A
ELGAR, JohnElcot, Kintbury1648D/A1/188/068MF96034
ELGAR, JohnElcot, KintburyYeoman1675D/A1/188/96 MF96034
ELGAR, JohnKintburyYeoman1733D/A1/66/87MF517
ELGAR, MargaretOrpenham, Kintbury1594D/A1/65/083 D/A1/12/207MF516 MF10048
ELGAR, MargaretEast Garston1739D/A1/66/94MF517
ELGAR, MaryHolt, Kintbury1699D/A1/189/31MF96035
ELGAR, MaudeElcot, Kintbury1630D/A1/65/142MF517
ELGAR, RobertSpeenYeoman1558D/A1/65/027 D/A1/8/038MF516 MF10043C
ELGAR, RobertSpeen1559D/A1/188/007 D/A1/167/105MF96033 MF96000
ELGAR, Robert SnrClapton, KintburyYeoman1664D/A1/66/3MF517
ELGAR, ThomasKintbury1734D/A1/66/88MF517
ELGAR, ThomasShefford Woodlands, East SheffordYeoman1763D/A1/66/112MF517
ELGAR, WilliamWest Shefford1548D/A1/2/177MF604
ELGARE, JulianKintbury1567D/A1/65/045 D/A1/9/090MF516 MF10046
ELGARE, MaudeWest Shefford1557D/A1/233/096MF96132
ELGARE, MaudeWest Shefford1557D/A1/2/178MF604
ELGARRE, WilliamElcot, Kintbury1624D/A1/65/128MF517
ELGER, JohnWormstall, KintburyYeoman1670D/A1/66/15MF517
ELGER, JohnKintburyYeoman1750D/A1/66/105MF517
ELGER, WilliamKintburyFranklin1522D/A1/1/064MF10041
ELIAT, ThomasDenchworthHusbandman1604D/A1/65/097 D/A1/13/1199MF516 MF10049
ELIATT, JohnHamstead Marshall1586D/A1/188/024MF96033
ELIE, Richard SnrAbingdon1615D/A1/65/116 D/A1/15/562 D/A1/168/126MF516 MF10065 MF96001
ELIE, ThomasAbingdonInnholder1644D/A1/188/065MF96034
ELING , Edward D6941 JnrRadleyYeoman1719D/A1/66/68MF517
ELIOT, WilliamAbingdon1552D/A1/65/011MF516
ELIOTE, EdmundBinfield1574D/A1/65/056 D/A1/9/427MF516 MF10046
ELIOTT, JohnSunninghillYeoman1630D/A1/65/141MF517
ELIOTT, PaulLyford, Hanney1610D/A1/168/057MF96001
ELIS, RobertStratfield Mortimer1576D/A1/65/059 D/A1/10/080MF56 MF10047A
ELISHA, JamesShinfieldBricklayer1750D/A1/189/69MF96035
ELISHA, JohnShinfieldYeoman1837D/A1/150/59MF559
ELKENS, Lydia WatermanReading1837D/A1/150/53MF559
ELKENS, MarthaReading1817D/A1/227/123MF96124
ELKENS, William HollowayReading1806D/A1/227/118MF96124
ELKES, RichardWest IlsleyClerk, Rector1600D/A1/13/443MF10049
ELKES, WilliamFrilshamClerk1691D/A1/189/22MF96035
ELKINS, EdmundThe Red Lion, Reading St LaurenceBarber1701D/A1/189/35MF96035
ELKINS, EdmundReading1703D/A1/66/55MF517
ELKINS, JohnReadingClothier1683D/A1/66/31MF517
ELKINS, JohnReadingJeweller1703D/A1/66/52MF517
ELKINS, MargaretBray (W.), Binfield1696D/A1/66/46MF517
ELKINS, RobertReadingCordwainer1730D/A1/189/57MF96035
ELKINS, ThomasReading St Laurence1583D/A1/188/023 D/A1/10/416MF96033 MF10047A
ELKINS, WilliamReading1643D/A1/65/171MF517
ELKINS, WilliamBarkhamYeoman1716D/A1/66/66MF517
ELKINS, WilliamReadingPlasterer1730D/A1/189/58MF96035
ELKS, EdwardE. Shefford(W.), ChaddleworthClerk1694D/A1/66/42MF517
ELKYNS, William SnrReading St MaryClothier1639D/A1/65/161MF517
ELLAT, JohnNewburyHaberdasher1623D/A1/188/049MF96034
ELLAWAY, ElizabethEast Hendred1831D/A1/150/51MF559
ELLAWAY, ElizabethEast Hendred1840D/A1/150/62MF559
ELLAWAY, JohnEast Hendred1799D/A1/189/83MF96035
ELLAWAY, JosephSteventonFarmer1848D/A1/150/66MF559
ELLAWAY, RichardEast Hendred1777D/A1/66/128MF517
ELLAWAY, RuthEast Hendred1789D/A1/66/133MF517
ELLDERIDGE, AliceBrightwell1631D/A1/188/054MF96034
ELLENGER, JohnNewbury1616D/A1/168/135MF96001
ELLERYE, WilmotWhite Waltham1559D/A1/65/031 D/A1/7/299MF516 MF10040
ELLIATT, EdithNewbury1622D/A1/65/124MF517
ELLIATT, JohnHamstead Marshall1586D/A1/11/047MF10047B
ELLICE, Robert SnrSwallowfieldYeoman1580D/A1/65/063 D/A1/10/257MF516 MF10047A
ELLIFF, ThomasReadingCordwainer1837D/A1/150/55MF559
ELLINGER, JohnNewbury1616D/A1/188/043MF96033
ELLINGTON, RichardPeasemore1587D/A1/65/070 D/A1/11/132 D/A1/11/097MF516 MF10047B MF10047/B
ELLIOT, DanielSparsholtYeoman1767D/A1/66/115MF517
ELLIOT, ElizabethLongcot, Shrivenham1710D/A1/66/59MF517
ELLIOT, ElizabethLongcot, Shrivenham 1710D/A1/66/59MF517
ELLIOT, JaneWest Challow, Letcombe Regis1777D/A1/66/126MF517
ELLIOT, JohnKintburyCordwainer1699D/A1/58/40MF476
ELLIOT, JohnAldermastonHusbandman1730D/A1/66/78MF517
ELLIOT, Thomas SnrPangbourneCooper1686D/A1/189/17MF96035
ELLIOTT , Edward SnrDenchworthYeoman1726D/A1/66/74MF517
ELLIOTT , John SnrSpeenhamland, Speen Bricklayer1793D/A1/66/134MF517
ELLIOTT , Thomas SnrAldermastonButcher1827D/A1/150/46MF559
ELLIOTT, AnthonyStanford1590D/A1/65/075 D/A1/11/312MF516 MF10047B