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
AVELYN, ChristopherBray1566D/A1/9/028MF10046
AVELYN, ChristopherBray1566D/A1/35/107MF459
AVELYN, JoyceBray1578D/A1/35/159 D/A1/10/137MF459 MF10047A
AVELYN, MargaretFarnborough1602D/A1/35/264 D/A1/13/800MF459 MF10049
AVELYN, RalphReading1697D/A1/174/106MF96008
AVELYN, Robert1546D/A1/233/020MF96132
AVELYN, RobertNewbury1546D/A1/2/048MF603
AVELYN, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1539D/A1/35/005MF459
AVENELL, JohnThatchamHusbandman1556D/A1/2/031MF603
AVENELL, JohnBeenhamHusbandman1558D/A1/35/045 D/A1/7/150MF459 MF10040
AVENELL, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1565D/A1/173/017MF96006
AVENELL, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1565D/A1/167/126MF96000
AVENELL, JohnNewburyFuller1593D/A1/35/227 D/A1/12/077MF459 MF10048
AVENELL, JohnNewburyFuller1597D/A1/35/245 D/A1/13/080MF459 MF10049
AVENELL, MargaretShrivenham1712D/A1/38/32MF461
AVENELL, RichardSouth Moreton1568D/A1/167/139MF96000
AVENELL, RichardSouth Moreton1569D/A1/173/025MF96006
AVENELL, RobertSevenhampton, Highworth, Wiltshire1533D/A1/1/288MF10042
AVENELL, RogerThatcham1547D/A1/35/015MF459
AVENELL, ThomasTheale, TilehurstHusbandman1618D/A1/173/099 D/A1/168/154MF96006 MF96001
AVENELL, ThomasWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1632D/A1/36/123MF460
AVENELL, WilliamWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1582D/A1/35/173 D/A1/10/314 D/A1/10/335MF459 MF10047A MF10047A
AVENELL, WilliamWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1703D/A1/38/11MF461
AVENILL, EdwardFarnboroughYeoman1599D/A1/35/259 D/A1/13/483MF459 MF10049
AVENILL, JohnTilehurstLabourer1660D/A1/174/38MF96007
AVENILL, StephenWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1640D/A1/36/165MF460
AVENILL, William SnrTilehurstYeoman1622D/A1/36/087MF459
AVENYLL, JohnNewbury1560D/A1/35/084MF459
AVERD, NicholasPadworthHusbandman1683D/A1/37/98MF460
AVERED, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1610D/A1/36/022 D/A1/15/045MF459 MF10065
AVERIE, JohnWargrave1605D/A1/173/075MF96006
AVERIE, JohnWargrave1605D/A1/14/186MF10064
AVERIE, MaryNewbury1663D/A1/37/32MF460
AVERY, AnnReading1857D/A1/144/88MF557
AVERY, ElizabethNewbury1729D/A1/38/80MF461
AVERY, FrancesEasthampstead1650D/A1/36/196MF460
AVERY, GilbertWarfieldBlacksmith1673D/A1/37/61MF460
AVERY, HenryRadleyYeoman1642D/A1/174/021MF96007
AVERY, HenryRadleyYeoman1684D/A1/37/102MF460
AVERY, HenryNewburyCordwainer1743D/A1/174/164MF96009
AVERY, JosephNewburyCordwainer1701D/A1/174/115MF96008
AVERY, RichardRemenham1559D/A1/6/012MF10043B
AVERY, RichardRemenham1559D/A1/35/078MF459
AVERY, RichardAston, RemenhamHusbandman1620D/A1/36/078MF459
AVERY, RichardNorthbrook Street, NewburyClothier1643D/A1/36/185MF460
AVERY, RobertWokinghamBlacksmith1644D/A1/36/189MF460
AVERYDE, MaryEasthampstead1621D/A1/36/085MF459
AVERYE, ElizabethRadley1643D/A1/36/184MF460
AVIES, EleanorLambourn1566D/A1/35/100 D/A1/8/361 D/A1/167/128MF459 MF10043C MF96000
AVISE, ElizabethBinfield1577D/A1/35/148MF459
AVNELL, ElizabethWatchfield, Shrivenham1699D/A1/37/138MF460
AVNELL, StephenShrivenhamYeoman1713D/A1/38/34MF461
AVYS, AnnisBinfield1559D/A1/35/047 D/A1/8/095MF459 MF10043C
AVYSE, EdwardBinfieldHusbandman1575D/A1/35/147 D/A1/10/008MF459 MF10047A
AVYSE, ElizabethBinfield1576D/A1/35/150 D/A1/10/051MF459 MF10047A
AWBERRY, ReynoldTilehurstYeoman1658D/A1/37/2MF460
AWBERY, AnnEast Ilsley1855D/A1/144/83MF557
AWBERY, EdwardThatchamHusbandman1676D/A1/174/64MF96008
AWBERY, ElizabethCrookham, Thatcham1766D/A1/38/163MF461
AWBERY, JaneWallingford1737D/A1/38/95MF461
AWBERY, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1635D/A1/174/005 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
AWBERY, JohnThatchamHusbandman1739D/A1/38/103MF461
AWBERY, JohnEast IlsleyFarmer1830D/A1/144/38MF557
AWBERY, MaryEast Ilsley1790D/A1/174/192MF96009
AWBERY, RichardSnelsmore, Chieveley1559D/A1/173/013MF96006
AWBERY, RichardChieveley1559D/A1/167/109MF96000
AWBERY, RichardEast Ilsley1766D/A1/38/162MF461
AWBERY, StephenFrilsham1780D/A1/174/188MF96009
AWBERY, WilliamMarlston, BuckleburyHusbandman1599D/A1/35/251 D/A1/13/384MF459 MF10049
AWBERY, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1631D/A1/36/118MF460
AWBERY, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1677D/A1/37/75MF460
AWBERY, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1687D/A1/174/86MF96008
AWBERY, WilliamReading St LaurenceApothecary1730D/A1/174/150MF96008
AWBREY, EdwardFrilsham1815D/A1/226/7MF96122
AWBREY, Francis SnrReadingCloth Drawer1674D/A1/37/66MF460
AWBRIE, ArthurKingston BagpuizeDoctor Of Divinity, Rector1608D/A1/173/080 D/A1/168/032MF96006 MF96001
AWBRY, LeticiaTilehurst 1680D/A1/37/86MF460
AWCY, JohnShinfield1563D/A1/35/094MF459
AWDIENS, JohnShippon, Abingdon1559D/A1/167/110MF96000
AWDLADE, JohnWoolhamptonHusbandman1629D/A1/36/112MF459
AWDYENS, JohnShippon, Abingdon St Helen1560D/A1/173/014MF96006
AWFORD, GeorgePadworthLabourer1639D/A1/174/016 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
AWGER, JohnFaringdonShepherd1557D/A1/6/024MF10043B
AWLSYE, JoanWhitley, Reading St Giles1586D/A1/35/190 D/A1/11/078MF459 MF10047B
AWODE, RichardReading St Mary1540D/A1/1/282MF10042
AWOODE, ThomasRamsbury, Wiltshire1534D/A1/1/056MF10041
AWSE, William1581D/A1/35/169MF459
AWSEY, SebastianShinfield1608D/A1/36/013 D/A1/14/403MF459 MF10064
AWSTELL, WilliamOare, ChieveleyYeoman1603D/A1/35/272 D/A1/13/1083MF459 MF10049
AWSTEN, JohnAbingdon St HelenInnholder1560D/A1/8/182MF10043C
AWSTEN, JohnAbingdon1560D/A1/35/083MF459
AWSTEN, JohnAbingdon1560D/A1/167/112 D/A1/167/114MF96000 MF96000
AWSTEN, JohnCookhamFisherman1617D/A1/36/055 D/A1/15/690MF459 MF10065
AWSTEN, ThomasMaidenhead, BrayYeoman1603D/A1/173/072MF96006
AWSTEN, ThomasMaidenhead1603D/A1/13/1020MF10049
AWSTENE, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1584D/A1/35/177 D/A1/10/420MF459 MF10047A
AWSTINE, HumphreyReading St Giles1609D/A1/173/084MF96006
AWVERED, NicholasWinkfield1556D/A1/2/049MF603
AWVERED, NicholasWinkfield1558D/A1/233/021MF96132
AXAM , William SnrReadingVictualler1856D/A1/144/84MF557