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
ATLLEE, RogerEnglefieldYeoman1692D/A1/174/98MF96008
ATLYE, HarrySunninghill1572D/A1/35/134 D/A1/9/363MF459 MF10046
ATOE, JohnReadingBlacksmith1710D/A1/38/29MF461
ATOE, JohnReadingBlacksmith1710D/A1/38/29MF461
ATOO, ThomasShinfieldWhitesmith1756D/A1/174/177MF96009
ATRY, ThomasBinfieldYeoman1667D/A1/37/44MF460
ATRY, ThomasBinfieldHusbandman1688D/A1/174/88MF96008
ATRYTH , MarthaBinfield1687D/A1/197/105MF96053
ATTAWELL, ChristianSandford, Abingdon St Helen 1813D/A1/144/16MF557
ATTEWAL, RichardFrilford, Marcham Labourer1740D/A1/38/104MF461
ATTEWELL, AnnDrayton1853D/A1/226/24MF96122
ATTLEE, Anthony SnrWinkfieldBricklayer1636D/A1/36/147MF460
ATTLEE, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1699D/A1/174/111MF96008
ATTUWELL, ThomasWantage, WantageYeoman1690D/A1/37/119MF460
ATTWATER, AnneReading1700D/A1/38/1MF461
ATTWELL, JohnAppleford, Sutton CourtenayHusbandman1550D/A1/35/019 D/A1/5/117MF459 MF10043A
ATTWELL, JohnThatchamWheelwright1620D/A1/36/074MF459
ATTWELL, WilliamHenwick, Thatcham1559D/A1/35/068MF459
ATTWOOD, ThomasCumnor1556D/A1/35/035 D/A1/7/136MF459 MF10040
ATWATER, AnneReading1709D/A1/38/27MF461
ATWATER, JohnStratfield Mortimer1559D/A1/173/011MF96006
ATWATER, RichardReadingCloth Worker1637D/A1/36/153MF460
ATWATER, Stephen SnrReadingClothier1673D/A1/37/63MF460
ATWATERS, ThomasFinchampsteadHusbandman1624D/A1/36/094MF459
ATWELL , JohnThatchamWheelwright1626D/A1/173/113MF96006
ATWELL , RobertSwallowfieldYeoman1674D/A1/218/34MF96106
ATWELL, PhilipHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1596D/A1/35/243 D/A1/12/353MF459 MF10048
ATWELL, WilliamThatcham1560D/A1/7/329MF10040
ATWELLES, LaurenceLittle Wittenham1568D/A1/173/021MF96006
ATWELLES, LaurenceLittle Wittenham1568D/A1/167/137MF96000
ATWELLS, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenInnholder1599D/A1/35/256 D/A1/13/383MF459 MF10049
ATWODDE, JohnBoxford1561D/A1/35/087 D/A1/6/102MF459 MF10043B
ATWOOD, ThomasCookhamLabourer1731D/A1/174/153MF96008
ATY, JustinianReading St GilesBroad Weaver1626D/A1/36/100MF459
ATYLLYSLEY, ThomasShrivenham1530D/A1/1/135MF10042
AUBARY, JosephBradfieldYeoman1762D/A1/38/154MF461
AUBEARY, JohnWinterbourne, ChieveleyYeoman1662D/A1/37/18MF460
AUBERIE, VincentShaw Cum Donnington1574D/A1/173/030MF96006
AUBERY, JohnEast Ilsley1797D/A1/174/202MF96009
AUBERY, MaryGreenham, Thatcham 1828D/A1/226/13MF96122
AUBERYE, VincentThatcham1558D/A1/35/066 D/A1/8/071 D/A1/35/79MF459 MF10043C MF459
AUBREY, JohnSnelsmore, ChieveleyYeoman1596D/A1/35/244 D/A1/12/342MF459 MF10048
AUBREY, StephenThatcham1613D/A1/36/029 D/A1/15/401MF459 MF10065
AUDLATE, WilliamNewbury1581D/A1/10/283MF10047A
AUDLEY, RobertNorth Moreton1545D/A1/35/013MF459
AUGER, EdwardHagbourneHusbandman1584D/A1/35/182 D/A1/10/435MF459 MF10047A
AUGER, ElizabethWatchfield, Shrivenham1627D/A1/36/105MF459
AUGER, JohnWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1582D/A1/173/042MF96006
AUGHTON, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1587D/A1/35/194MF459
AUGHTON, Thomas SnrNew Windsor, Windsor1587D/A1/35/200 D/A1/11/117MF459 MF10047B
AULDWORTH, MarkAbingdon1577D/A1/173/037MF96006
AUNGER, JaneMaidenhead1727D/A1/174/143MF96008
AUSTANE, Roger SnrCookham1545D/A1/35/009 D/A1/5/010MF459 MF10043A
AUSTELL, FrancesStreatleyYeoman1627D/A1/36/104MF459
AUSTELL, Henry SnrBasildonYeoman1588D/A1/35/207 D/A1/11/176MF459 MF10047B
AUSTELL, LucyOare, Chieveley1609D/A1/36/018 D/A1/14/542MF459 MF10064
AUSTELL, RichardUfton Nervet1557D/A1/6/085MF10043B
AUSTELL, RichardUfton Nervet1557D/A1/35/046MF459
AUSTELL, RichardAldworth1578D/A1/35/156MF459
AUSTELL, RichardWasingTailor1598D/A1/35/252/1 D/A1/13/285 D/A1/35/255MF459 MF10049 MF459
AUSTELL, ThomasWasingTailor1618D/A1/36/060 D/A1/15/809MF459 MF10065
AUSTELL, ThomasWindsorYeoman1635D/A1/174/001MF96007
AUSTELL, WilliamAldworth1583D/A1/35/176MF459
AUSTELL, WilliamGreenham, Thatcham1629D/A1/36/111MF459
AUSTELL, WilliamUfton NervetHusbandman1636D/A1/36/144MF460
AUSTEN, HumphreyReading St Giles1609D/A1/168/044MF96001
AUSTEN, JohnBrayHusbandman1615D/A1/36/041 D/A1/15/541MF459 MF10065
AUSTEN, JohnReadingCordwainer1669D/A1/174/53MF96008
AUSTEN, RalphAldworthHusbandman1578D/A1/35/157 D/A1/10/139MF459 MF10047A
AUSTEN, RichardBasildon1508D/A1/1/016MF10041
AUSTEN, WilliamBeedon1555D/A1/4/007MF604
AUSTEN, WilliamNew Windsor, Windsor1591D/A1/35/217 D/A1/11/365MF459 MF10047B
AUSTEN, WilliamClewerPlough Maker1634D/A1/36/135 D/A1/168/262MF460 MF96001
AUSTILL, MaryThe College, Wallingford1635D/A1/36/137MF460
AUSTILL, ThomasStreatleyLabourer1706D/A1/174/125MF96008
AUSTIN , Daniel SnrWelford1725D/A1/174/140MF96008
AUSTIN, AaronLongworth1833D/A1/226/14MF96122
AUSTIN, EdwardHermitage, Hampstead NorreysBlacksmith1719D/A1/38/49MF461
AUSTIN, EdwardReading St Laurence1798D/A1/174/203MF96009
AUSTIN, HenryWelfordYeoman1703D/A1/38/13MF461
AUSTIN, JeromeWasingTailor1641D/A1/36/175MF460
AUSTIN, JohnAbingdonYeoman1728D/A1/38/74MF461
AUSTIN, JohnHarwellYeoman1838D/A1/144/48MF557
AUSTIN, JonathanChiltonYeoman1748D/A1/174/170/2MF96009
AUSTIN, RichardNewburyBrewer1666D/A1/174/45MF96007
AUSTIN, RichardNewbury1796D/A1/174/200MF96009
AUSTIN, ThomasBeedonHusbandman1599D/A1/35/260 D/A1/13/486MF459 MF10049
AUSTIN, ThomasLambournHusbandman1638D/A1/174/013 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
AUSTIN, ThomasLongworthYeoman1751D/A1/38/133MF461
AUSTIN, ThomasLongworthYeoman1751D/A1/174/172MF96009
AUSTIN, ThomasWelfordYeoman1784D/A1/38/192MF461
AUSTIN, WilliamBeedon1556D/A1/7/084MF10040
AUSTIN, WilliamLongworthHusbandman1698D/A1/174/110MF96008
AUSTIN, WilliamBuckleburyCarpenter1751D/A1/38/134MF461
AUSTON, MargaretBeedon1576D/A1/35/151 D/A1/10/053MF459 MF10047A
AUSTYN, MargeryNew Windsor, Windsor1594D/A1/35/226 D/A1/12/147MF459 MF10048
AUSTYN, RogerCookham1575D/A1/35/144 D/A1/10/008MF459 MF10047A
AUSTYNE, WilliamBeedon1555D/A1/233/331MF96132
AVELEN, JohnNew Windsor, WindsorBaker1549D/A1/35/017MF459
AVELING, MaryNewbury1724D/A1/38/61MF461