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
FRENCHE, JohnClewerHusbandman1560D/A1/66/200 D/A1/6/055MF517 MF10043B
FRENCHE, JohnIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1572D/A1/66/225 D/A1/9/365MF517 MF10046
FRENCHE, JohnLittle WittenhamYeoman1617D/A1/67/180 D/A1/15/711MF518 MF10065
FRENCHE, WilliamIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1594D/A1/67/071 D/A1/12/229MF518 MF10048
FRENCHE, WilliamNorth MoretonHusbandman1599D/A1/189/136MF96036
FRENCHE, William JnrIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1594D/A1/67/068 D/A1/12/180MF518 MF10048
FRENCLEN, JohnCumnor1551D/A1/66/155MF517
FRENTCHE, JohnLittle WittenhamHusbandman1581D/A1/67/024 D/A1/10/317MF518 MF10047A
FRETH, Harry1547D/A1/233/109MF96132
FRETHE, HarryStratfield Mortimer1547D/A1/2/197MF604
FRETHE, WilliamReading St Giles1551D/A1/4/072 D/A1/5/143MF604 MF10043A
FRETWELL, RichardChildrey1556D/A1/7/083MF10040
FRETWELL, RichardChildrey1556D/A1/66/165MF517
FREW, MatthewReading1788D/A1/190/236MF96039
FREWEN, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1670D/A1/68/120MF519
FREWEN, JohnStanford In The ValeYeoman1774D/A1/70/196MF520
FREWEN, ThomasRemenham1553D/A1/7/021MF10040
FREWEN, ThomasRemenham1553D/A1/66/159MF517
FREWIN, HenryReadingPewterer1692D/A1/69/47MF519
FREWIN, HenryReading1692D/A1/190/136MF96038
FREWIN, Henry SnrReading St LaurenceYeoman1643D/A1/68/058MF518
FREWIN, Henry SnrReadingPewterer1709D/A1/69/105MF519
FREWIN, LewisReading St GilesWaterman1642D/A1/190/046MF96037
FREWIN, MaryReading1709D/A1/69/103MF519
FREWIN, MaryReading1720D/A1/69/136MF519
FREWIN, MosesReading St Mary1805D/A1/227/138MF96124
FREWIN, WilliamWestridge, StreatleyYeoman1647D/A1/68/070MF518
FREWIN, WilliamWestridge, StreatleyYeoman1672D/A1/68/136MF519
FREWIN, WilliamDenchworth1804D/A1/227/137MF96124
FREWING, RobertReading1717D/A1/190/178MF96038
FREWING, ThomasBurghfieldWaggoner1710D/A1/69/114MF519
FREWING, ThomasBurghfieldWaggoner1710D/A1/69/114MF519
FREWYN, WilliamStreatley1577D/A1/67/010 D/A1/10/087MF518 MF10047A
FREY, JoanMidgham, Thatcham 1722D/A1/69/142MF519
FREY, RichardKingston BagpuizeInnholder1704D/A1/69/85MF519
FRIE, HenryAbingdonTanner1608D/A1/189/149MF96036
FRIE, HenryAbingdon1608D/A1/168/032MF96001
FRIE, MargeryShinfield1632D/A1/190/028 D/A1/168/225MF96037 MF96001
FRIEND, ThomasOld WindsorYeoman1610D/A1/67/139 D/A1/15/144MF518 MF10065
FRIMBLING, MarySotwell1686D/A1/69/31MF519
FRIMLEN, RalphWallingford1649D/A1/68/078MF518
FRIMLIN, WilliamWallingfordCarpenter1690D/A1/69/45MF519
FRIMLYN, JohnWallingford St MaryCarpenter1673D/A1/68/142MF519
FRITH, AnnWhite Waltham1748D/A1/70/155MF519
FRITH, ElizabethWhite Waltham1761D/A1/70/179MF520
FRITH, JohnEnborne1643D/A1/68/060MF518
FRITH, NicholasShinfieldLabourer1642D/A1/190/048MF96037
FRITH, WilliamWhite WalthamWheelwright1748D/A1/70/153MF519
FRITWELL, MaryAppleton1616D/A1/189/160MF96036
FRITWELL, MaryAppleton1616D/A1/168/136MF96001
FRITWELL, OliverKintbury1621D/A1/67/226MF518
FRITWELL, RichardArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1620D/A1/67/231 D/A1/15/893MF518 MF10065
FRIZER, JohnDedworth Green, ClewerYeoman1709D/A1/69/104MF519
FRIZER, JonathanStreatley1777D/A1/190/234MF96039
FROAME, EdwardNewburyCloth Worker1623D/A1/67/217MF518
FROGLEY , John SnrDenchworthYeoman1836D/A1/150/128MF559
FROGLEY , William SnrDenchworthYeoman1737D/A1/70/126MF519
FROGLEY, AnnEast Ilsley1826D/A1/150/111MF559
FROGLEY, DennesDenchworth1641D/A1/68/043MF518
FROGLEY, GeorgeDenchworth1839D/A1/151/6MF559
FROGLEY, JohnDenchworthYeoman1745D/A1/70/146MF519
FROGLEY, JohnAbingdonLabourer1751D/A1/70/164MF519
FROGLEY, JosephDenchworthYeoman1857D/A1/151/35MF559
FROGLEY, WilliamEast Hanney, HanneyShepherd1627D/A1/67/205MF518
FROGLEY, WilliamDenchworthYeoman1755D/A1/190/220MF96039
FROGLEY, William SnrDenchworthHusbandman1668D/A1/68/115MF519
FROGLEY, William SnrDenchworthHusbandman1700D/A1/190/149MF96038
FROGLY , William SnrDenchworthHusbandman1639D/A1/68/031MF518
FROGLYE, HughChildreyHusbandman1632D/A1/68/003MF518
FROME, HenryNorth MoretonLabourer1638D/A1/68/025MF518
FROME, JoanWoolhampton1611D/A1/67/140 D/A1/15/147MF518 MF10065
FROOD, JohnNewburyLabourer1740D/A1/190/205MF96039
FROOM , William SnrNewburyBlacksmith1748D/A1/70/156MF519
FROOM, EdwardWoolhamptonYeoman1704D/A1/69/87MF519
FROOM, JamesWoolhamptonYeoman1687D/A1/69/34MF519
FROOM, JohnInkpenBlacksmith1772D/A1/70/197MF520
FROOM, WilliamInkpenBlacksmith, Farmer 1812D/A1/150/91MF559
FROOME, AliceNewbury1617D/A1/67/200MF518
FROOME, AnneReading1674D/A1/68/148MF519
FROOME, AnnesWoolhampton1623D/A1/190/009MF96037
FROOME, EdwardNewburyFishmonger1606D/A1/189/146MF96036
FROOME, EdwardNewbury1606D/A1/168/006MF96001
FROOME, JohnInkpenBlacksmith1704D/A1/69/84MF519
FROOME, RichardInkpenYeoman1850D/A1/151/20MF559
FROOME, SarahReading St Mary1733D/A1/190/200MF96038
FROOME, ThomasWest Shefford1840D/A1/227/155MF96124
FROOME, WilliamInkpen1730D/A1/70/99MF519
FROOMES, MosesCholseyYeoman1764D/A1/70/185MF520
FROSELL, William SnrSwallowfieldButcher1625D/A1/67/215MF518
FROST, JohnWaltham St Lawrence1712D/A1/69/117MF519
FROST, JohnWaltham St LawrenceCarpenter1789D/A1/70/211MF520
FROST, JohnReadingBargeman1806D/A1/150/81MF559
FROST, RichardHungerfordDissenting Minister1851D/A1/227/161MF96124
FROUD, AlmondAldermastonBaker1803D/A1/150/80MF559
FROUD, BenjaminAldermastonYeoman1780D/A1/70/203MF520
FROUD, JohnBeenhamCarpenter1857D/A1/227/168MF96124
FROUD, JosephChaddleworth1833D/A1/227/150MF96124
FROUD, MariaReading St Mary1853D/A1/151/28MF559
FROUDE, NicholasBenham, WelfordHusbandman1675D/A1/190/80MF96037
FROWD, JosephChaddleworthYeoman1747D/A1/70/152MF519