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
ASLETT, NicholasTilehurstYeoman1632D/A1/16/414MF10066
ASSCHENDENE, JohnAbingdon St Helen1539D/A1/6/039MF10043B
ASSHEPOOLE, WilliamUfton Nervet1578D/A1/35/155 D/A1/10/152MF459 MF10047A
ASSHERIDGE, JohnShrivenhamYeoman1570D/A1/35/115 D/A1/9/195MF459 MF10046
ASSON, ThomasStanford In The Vale Yeoman1704D/A1/38/14MF461
ASSTELL, KatherineBucklebury1560D/A1/35/080 D/A1/6/033MF459 MF10043B
ASTALL, Elizabeth1591D/A1/173/050MF96006
ASTALL, Elizabeth1591D/A1/11/373MF10047B
ASTELL, ElizabethUfton Nervet1578D/A1/35/158MF459
ASTELL, ElizabethUfton Nervet1578D/A1/10/141MF10047A
ASTELL, HenryBasildon1588D/A1/35/202MF459
ASTELL, JohnBucklebury1558D/A1/35/056 D/A1/7/225MF459 MF10040
ASTELL, JohnShippon, Abingdon St Helen1612D/A1/36/027 D/A1/15/246MF459 MF10065
ASTELL, JohnEnglefieldVictualler1728D/A1/174/146MF96008
ASTELL, John SnrBasildon1544D/A1/2/035MF603
ASTELL, RichardAldworth1578D/A1/10/117MF10047A
ASTELL, ThomasAldworth1593D/A1/35/229 D/A1/12/113 D/A1/12/194MF459 MF10048 MF10048
ASTELL, ThomasAldworth1595D/A1/12/395MF10048
ASTELL, ThomasOare, Chieveley1625D/A1/36/097MF459
ASTELL, WilliamAldworth1583D/A1/173/043MF96006
ASTELL, WilliamAldworth1583D/A1/10/418MF10047A
ASTELL, WilliamUfton NervetHusbandman1593D/A1/35/230 D/A1/12/123MF459 MF10048
ASTEN, FrancesLambournHusbandman1687D/A1/197/107MF96053
ASTEN, HesterBuscot1852D/A1/144/73MF557
ASTEN, JohnBray1627D/A1/173/115MF96006
ASTEN, WilliamKintburyYeoman1663D/A1/37/28MF460
ASTENDEN, AliceShippon, Abingdon St Helen1546D/A1/35/011 D/A1/6/006 D/A1/6/152MF459 MF10043B MF10043B
ASTENDEN, JohnShippon, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1546D/A1/5/029MF10043A
ASTILL, JohnSonningMillwright1660D/A1/37/10MF460
ASTILL, John SnrTilehurstYeoman1679D/A1/174/73MF96008
ASTIN, MargeryAbingdon1643D/A1/36/180MF460
ASTIN, WilliamMidgham, Thatcham Yeoman1758D/A1/174/178MF96009
ASTIRT, JohnWinkfield1585D/A1/35/187 D/A1/11/018MF459 MF10047B
ASTLAT, EdwardPadworth1554D/A1/35/034MF459
ASTLAT, JoanPadworth1576D/A1/35/146 D/A1/10/050MF459 MF10047A
ASTLET, EdwardPadworth1554D/A1/2/032MF603
ASTLET, EdwardPadworthYeoman1619D/A1/36/076MF459
ASTLET, John SnrPadworthHusbandman1570D/A1/9/233MF10046
ASTLET, ThomasReading1603D/A1/13/1019MF10049
ASTLET, ThomasTilehurstYeoman1604D/A1/35/279 D/A1/13/1346MF459 MF10049
ASTLETT, MarthaReading1691D/A1/37/121MF460
ASTLETT, NicholasTilehurstYeoman1636D/A1/174/006 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ASTLETT, ThomasReading1603D/A1/173/071MF96006
ASTON, ElizabethStanford In The Vale 1710D/A1/174/130MF96008
ASTON, JohnAbingdon1575D/A1/35/142 D/A1/9/444MF459 MF10046
ASTON, MarthaStanford In The Vale1755D/A1/38/138MF461
ASTON, RobertStanford In The ValeYeoman1744D/A1/38/119MF461
ASTREY, FrancisCumnorYeoman1742D/A1/174/163MF96009
ASTWOOD, CecilySunningwell1590D/A1/35/211 D/A1/11/230MF459 MF10047B
ASTYN, JohnReading St MaryGlover1597D/A1/173/056MF96006
AT LEE, AliceStreatley1545D/A1/233/018MF96132
AT WELLIS, StephenHampstead Norreys1545D/A1/3/237MF604
ATFILD, AlanWarfield1571D/A1/167/148MF96000
ATFILD, ThomasOld Windsor1559D/A1/35/058 D/A1/8/065MF459 MF10043C
ATHEATH, HumphreyWarfieldClothier, Shearman1635D/A1/36/139 D/A1/36/138 D/A1/16/391MF460 MF460 MF10066
ATHEATH, HumphreyWarfieldYeoman1715D/A1/83/180MF529
ATHERTON, AliceAbingdon1671D/A1/37/51MF460
ATHERTON, RichardAbingdonButcher1667D/A1/174/48MF96007
ATHETHE, ThomasWarfield1545D/A1/2/043MF603
ATHEYES, HenryReading St LaurencePewterer1584D/A1/35/178MF459
ATHORNE, ElizabethStratfield Mortimer 1618D/A1/36/068 D/A1/15/911MF459 MF10065
ATHORNE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1559D/A1/35/059 D/A1/8/106MF459 MF10043C
ATHORNE, MaryStratfield Mortimer1627D/A1/16/104MF10066
ATHORNE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1612D/A1/36/028 D/A1/15/226MF459 MF10065
ATKINS (ALIAS DEWE), EdwardsSouth MoretonBlacksmith1733D/A1/187/150MF96032
ATKINS, ElizabethKingston Bagpuize1681D/A1/174/74MF96008
ATKINS, FrancisBuckleburyYeoman1648D/A1/36/195MF460
ATKINS, HenryBinfieldCarpenter1813D/A1/144/17MF557
ATKINS, JeremiahWytham1708D/A1/226/4MF96122
ATKINS, JohnReadingYeoman1659D/A1/37/5MF460
ATKINS, JohnNewburyLocksmith1816D/A1/144/23MF557
ATKINS, MargeryNewbury1572D/A1/35/135MF459
ATKINS, RobertReadingTanner1628D/A1/174/002MF96007
ATKINS, ThomasWythamYeoman1740D/A1/38/106MF461
ATKINS, ThomasGreat CoxwellButcher1825D/A1/226/12MF96122
ATKINS, WilliamBuscotLabourer1835D/A1/144/45MF557
ATKINSON, ArthurSulhamsteadClerk1749D/A1/38/129MF461
ATKINSON, FrancisSpeenClerk1670D/A1/37/49MF460
ATKYN, HenryNewburyChandler1572D/A1/35/131 D/A1/9/316MF459 MF10046
ATLE, JoanWinkfield1561D/A1/167/116MF96000
ATLEE, AliceStreatley1545D/A1/2/046MF603
ATLEE, AliceWinkfield1722D/A1/38/53MF461
ATLEE, AnthonyWinkfieldYeoman, Bricklayer1639D/A1/174/015 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ATLEE, ChristopherCoworth, Old Windsor1567D/A1/173/019MF96006
ATLEE, ChristopherOld Windsor1567D/A1/167/133MF96000
ATLEE, HamondCoworth, Old WindsorYeoman1630D/A1/36/121MF460
ATLEE, HesterBradfield1703D/A1/38/8MF461
ATLEE, JamesEnglefieldYeoman1749D/A1/38/124MF461
ATLEE, JoanWinkfield1562D/A1/173/015MF96006
ATLEE, JohnWinkfield1539D/A1/233/014MF96132
ATLEE, JohnWinkfield1540D/A1/2/036MF603
ATLEE, MargeryOld Windsor1631D/A1/173/122MF96006
ATLEE, RichardSunninghillYeoman1675D/A1/37/67MF460
ATLEE, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1701D/A1/38/5MF461
ATLEE, WilliamWinkfield1561D/A1/35/088 D/A1/7/344MF459 MF10040
ATLEE, WilliamWinkfield1566D/A1/35/102 D/A1/9/023MF459 MF10046
ATLEE, WilliamBinfieldYeoman1705D/A1/38/18MF461
ATLEE, WilliamWarfield1781D/A1/174/189MF96009
ATLEE, William SnrWinkfieldYeoman1638D/A1/174/014 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ATLEIGH, WilliamOld WindsorHusbandman1628D/A1/173/117MF96006