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
FORTY , LeonardEast IlsleyHusbandman1636D/A1/190/033MF96037
FORTY, ChristianNewbury1741D/A1/70/135MF519
FORTY, ElizabethBaulking, Uffington1806D/A1/150/83MF559
FORTY, HenryAbingdonPriest1520D/A1/1/070MF10041
FORTY, JohnKennington, RadleyHusbandman1669D/A1/68/119MF519
FORTY, JohnHarwellWheelwright1676D/A1/68/157MF519
FORTY, JohnNewburyGlover1681D/A1/190/98MF96038
FORTY, ThomasNewburyGlover1740D/A1/70/132MF519
FORTY, WilliamKintburyYeoman1683D/A1/69/18MF519
FORTYE, AgnesEaston, Welford1572D/A1/66/226 D/A1/9/337MF517 MF10046
FORTYE, WilliamChieveley1545D/A1/189/085MF96036
FORTYE, WilliamEaston, Welford1610D/A1/67/137 D/A1/15/090MF518 MF10065
FORTYE, William SnrEaston, Welford1572D/A1/66/224 D/A1/9/318MF517 MF10046
FORWARD, ThomasAbingdon1740D/A1/190/242MF96039
FORWOOD, MichaelWhite WalthamYeoman1602D/A1/67/103 D/A1/13/840MF518 MF10049
FOSTAR, ThomasBarkhamYeoman1640D/A1/68/035MF518
FOSTARD, WilliamBuckleburyBrick Maker1577D/A1/10/144MF10047A
FOSTER , John JnrThatchamYeoman1712D/A1/123/13MF543
FOSTER (ALIAS SMITH), JohnThatchamWeaver1729D/A1/190/191MF96038
FOSTER, AliceSouth Moreton1612D/A1/67/144 D/A1/15/180MF518 MF10065
FOSTER, AnnHamstead Marshall1661D/A1/68/93MF519
FOSTER, BenjaminNewburyWeaver1709D/A1/190/163MF96038
FOSTER, ConstanceWaltham St Lawrence1742D/A1/70/138MF519
FOSTER, EdwardEast Ilsley1607D/A1/67/123 D/A1/14/302MF518 MF10064
FOSTER, ElizabethThatcham1604D/A1/67/118 D/A1/13/1345MF518 MF10049
FOSTER, ElizabethThatcham1612D/A1/67/150 D/A1/15/266 D/A1/168/078MF518 MF10065 MF96001
FOSTER, ElizabethNew Windsor, Windsor1632D/A1/68/002MF518
FOSTER, ElizabethHamstead Marshall1681D/A1/190/99MF96038
FOSTER, FrancesAbingdon Formerly Of Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire1692D/A1/69/51MF519
FOSTER, GriffinNewburyWeaver1639D/A1/190/040MF96037
FOSTER, HenryGreenham, Thatcham1636D/A1/68/018MF518
FOSTER, JoanThatcham1702D/A1/69/78MF519
FOSTER, JoanAbingdon1707D/A1/69/99MF519
FOSTER, JohnEast Ilsley1557D/A1/233/114MF96132
FOSTER, JohnEast Ilsley1558D/A1/2/206MF604
FOSTER, JohnThatcham1563D/A1/66/210 D/A1/8/271aMF517 MF10043C
FOSTER, JohnShottesbrookeHusbandman1572D/A1/66/227 D/A1/9/330MF517 MF10046
FOSTER, JohnBuckleburyHusbandman1583D/A1/67/032 D/A1/10/404MF518 MF10047A
FOSTER, JohnThatchamWheelwright1606D/A1/67/121 D/A1/14/149MF518 MF10064
FOSTER, JohnEast Ilsley1609D/A1/67/131 D/A1/14/532MF518 MF10064
FOSTER, JohnCrookham, Thatcham1610D/A1/189/156MF96036
FOSTER, JohnThatcham1610D/A1/168/065MF96001
FOSTER, JohnBuckleburyTurner1616D/A1/67/167 D/A1/15/594MF518 MF10065
FOSTER, JohnBinfieldYeoman1675D/A1/190/83MF96037
FOSTER, JohnBerkshire1682D/A1/190/106MF96038
FOSTER, JohnWaltham St. LawrenceHusbandman1685D/A1/69/25MF519
FOSTER, JohnThatchamHusbandman1695D/A1/215/102MF96098
FOSTER, JohnThatchamYeoman1715D/A1/69/127MF519
FOSTER, John SnrBucklebury1556D/A1/66/168 D/A1/7/122MF517 MF10040
FOSTER, John SnrEast IlsleyHusbandman1598D/A1/67/090 D/A1/13/315MF518 MF10049
FOSTER, MarianEast Ilsley1591D/A1/67/053 D/A1/11/394MF518 MF10047B
FOSTER, NicholasEast IlsleyHusbandman1674D/A1/68/149MF519
FOSTER, PriscillaThatcham1653D/A1/68/79MF518
FOSTER, RichardBucklebury1558D/A1/7/227MF10040
FOSTER, RichardBucklebury1558D/A1/66/185MF517
FOSTER, RichardThatchamAx Burner1589D/A1/67/047 D/A1/11/001aMF518 MF10047B
FOSTER, RichardNewbury1626D/A1/67/209MF518
FOSTER, RichardHenwick, Thatcham1642D/A1/68/047MF518
FOSTER, ThomasWaltham St Lawrence1531D/A1/1/166MF10042
FOSTER, ThomasHurley1559D/A1/66/190 D/A1/8/108MF517 MF10043C
FOSTER, ThomasKingston BagpuizeWeaver1612D/A1/67/153 D/A1/15/315MF518 MF10065
FOSTER, ThomasCrookham, ThatchamHusbandman1623D/A1/190/012MF96037
FOSTER, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorHusbandman, Victualler1638D/A1/190/036MF96037
FOSTER, ThomasHarts Hill, ThatchamYeoman1676D/A1/214/171MF96097
FOSTER, Thomas SnrHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1664D/A1/190/68MF96037
FOSTER, WilliamWaltham St Lawrence1555D/A1/7/338dMF10040
FOSTER, WilliamWaltham St Lawrence1555D/A1/7/338cMF10040
FOSTER, WilliamWaltham St Lawrence1555D/A1/189/095/1MF96036
FOSTER, WilliamThatcham1562D/A1/189/107MF96036
FOSTER, WilliamBucklebury1578D/A1/67/013MF518
FOSTER, WilliamHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1596D/A1/67/077 D/A1/12/357MF518 MF10048
FOSTER, WilliamSouth Moreton1600D/A1/189/138MF96036
FOSTER, WilliamShottesbrookeYeoman1603D/A1/189/142MF96036
FOSTER, WilliamEast IlsleyHusbandman1604D/A1/67/112 D/A1/13/1294MF518 MF10049
FOSTER, WilliamBrayYeoman1605D/A1/67/119 D/A1/14/107MF518 MF10064
FOSTER, WilliamCrookham, ThatchamYeoman1625D/A1/67/216MF518
FOSTER, WilliamNew Windsor, WindsorInnholder1638D/A1/68/027MF518
FOSTER, WilliamWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1657D/A1/68/81MF518
FOSTER, WilliamWaltham St. Lawrence1676D/A1/69/1MF519
FOSTER, WilliamThatchamHusbandman1680D/A1/214/197MF96097
FOSTER, WilliamThatchamWeaver1688D/A1/215/55MF96098
FOSTER, WilliamAbingdon1690D/A1/69/42MF519
FOSTER, William SnrCrookham, ThatchamYeoman1613D/A1/67/156 D/A1/15/344MF518 MF10065
FOULE, MaryWargrave1594D/A1/67/070 D/A1/12/190MF518 MF10048
FOULER, JohnHanney1571D/A1/189/115MF96036
FOULER, RichardAppletonHusbandman1595D/A1/67/076 D/A1/12/254MF518 MF10048
FOULER, RichardWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1639D/A1/68/028MF518
FOULKES, ThomasBradfieldHusbandman1663D/A1/68/104MF519
FOUND, JohnPangbourneSchoolmaster1749D/A1/70/160MF519
FOUND, MaryShaw Cum Donnington1740D/A1/70/130MF519
FOURD, WilliamWhite WalthamLabourer1552D/A1/5/156MF10043A
FOURDE, JamesWallingford 1544D/A1/233/108MF96132
FOURDE, JohnBrightwell1561D/A1/66/206 D/A1/8/192MF517 MF10043C
FOURDE, John SnrWicks, White WalthamYeoman1604D/A1/67/114 D/A1/13/1365MF518 MF10049
FOWLE, JoanReading St Mary1583D/A1/189/120MF96036
FOWLE, WilliamReading St Mary1583D/A1/189/121 D/A1/10/416MF96036 MF10047A
FOWLER , JoanChaddleworth1665D/A1/68/108MF519
FOWLER , MaryGarford, Marcham, East Hanney1705D/A1/69/93MF519
FOWLER , William SnrDuxford, Hinton WaldristGardener, Rough Mason1707D/A1/190/160MF96038
FOWLER, ElizabethBrightwalton1742D/A1/70/140MF519