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
AYER, ElizabethGraysell Green [Grazeley?], Sulhamstead Abbots1598D/A1/173/061 D/A1/188/031 D/A1/13/422MF96006 MF96033 MF10049
AYER, JohnAldworthHusbandman1558D/A1/7/175MF10040
AYER, JohnLambwood Hill, ShinfieldYeoman1600D/A1/173/062MF96006
AYER, RobertPuseyHusbandman1571D/A1/35/129 D/A1/9/300MF459 MF10046
AYER, ThomasGrazeley, Sulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1591D/A1/35/215 D/A1/11/356MF459 MF10047B
AYERS, AliceAbingdon1640D/A1/174/019MF96007
AYERS, ElizabethReading1693D/A1/37/123MF460
AYERS, ElizabethKintbury1809D/A1/144/11MF557
AYERS, JohnReadingCordwainer1639D/A1/36/162MF460
AYERS, JohnNorth MoretonHusbandman1644D/A1/36/188MF460
AYERS, JohnWythamGardener1660D/A1/174/36MF96007
AYERS, JohnSwallowfieldTailor1677D/A1/174/66MF96008
AYERS, JohnPuseyHusbandman1740D/A1/38/108MF461
AYERS, KatherineAbingdon1638D/A1/36/156MF460
AYERS, MaryWelford1803D/A1/144/2MF557
AYERS, NicholasHampstead NorrisTailor1698D/A1/37/135MF460
AYERS, RobertKintburyYeoman1749D/A1/38/127MF461
AYERS, WilliamKennington1618D/A1/36/045 D/A1/36/046 D/A1/15/768MF459 MF459 MF10065
AYERS, WilliamNewburySmith1850D/A1/144/71MF557
AYLARDE, JohnHamstead MarshallHusbandman1569D/A1/35/117MF459
AYLEFF, WilliamWinterbourne , ChieveleyYeoman1558D/A1/35/049 D/A1/7/236MF459 MF10040
AYLEING, George SnrThatchamHusbandman1695D/A1/37/130MF460
AYLEWARDE, EdwardOld WindsorHusbandman1618D/A1/36/065 D/A1/15/897MF459 MF10065
AYLEWORTH, AndrewWest Hanney1680D/A1/37/85MF460
AYLEWORTH, EdwardOld WindsorHusbandman1618D/A1/36/065 D/A1/15/897MF459 MF10065
AYLIFFE, Peter SnrDidcotHusbandman1701D/A1/38/2MF461
AYLIN, MaryBucklebury1637D/A1/174/007 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
AYLINGE, ElizabethThatcham1662D/A1/37/19MF460
AYLOTT, ElizabethSunninghill1694D/A1/174/101MF96008
AYLWARD, JohnEasthampstead1601D/A1/35/262 D/A1/13/760MF459 MF10049
AYLWORTH, AliceWest Hanney1728D/A1/38/71MF461
AYLWORTH, Anthony SnrWest Hanney1663D/A1/37/24MF460
AYLWORTH, MartinOxford, OxfordshireDoctor Of Law1658D/A1/16/675MF10066
AYRE , ThomasWallingfordSurgeon1612D/A1/173/088MF96006
AYRES, AlicePusey1639D/A1/36/161MF460
AYRES, AnneLetcombe Bassett1718D/A1/38/45MF461
AYRES, EdwardHurleyYeoman1667D/A1/174/49MF96007
AYRES, EdwardMaidenhead, CookhamBarber1816D/A1/144/24MF557
AYRES, GeorgeEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1648D/A1/174/034 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
AYRES, JohnRadley1581D/A1/173/040MF96006
AYRES, JohnRadley1581D/A1/10/246MF10047A
AYRES, NathanielPuseyLabourer1706D/A1/174/126MF96008
AYRES, RichardCumnorYeoman1728D/A1/174/144MF96008
AYRES, RichardAbingdon St Helen1774D/A1/174/184MF96009
AYRES, RichardWargraveMaltster1831D/A1/144/39MF557
AYRES, WilliamLetcombe BassettYeoman1714D/A1/174/132MF96008
AYRES, WilliamReadingBrewer1743D/A1/38/117MF461
AYRIS, CatherineMarcham1829D/A1/144/36MF557
AYRS, JohnReading St Laurence1665D/A1/174/44MF96007
AYSHCOMBE, ElizabethLyford, East Hanney1658D/A1/37/3MF460
AYSHCOMBE, JohnLyford, East Hanney1656D/A1/37/1MF460
AYSHCOMBE, OliverEast Hanney, Hanney1648D/A1/36/192/recto D/A1/169/001aMF460 MF96002
AYSHE, SusanWarfield1630D/A1/173/121 D/A1/168/205MF96006 MF96001
AYSHLY, MaryNetherton, Fyfield1630D/A1/36/114MF459
BAASLY, JohnSunningwell1660D/A1/45/67MF465
BABHAM, ArthurCookham1563D/A1/39/182 D/A1/7/359MF461 MF10040
BACAR, MaudeCookham1559D/A1/39/137 D/A1/7/295MF461 MF10040
BACAR, RogerBurghfield1545D/A1/1/004MF10041
BACAR, ThomasEast Ilsley1551D/A1/5/134MF10043A
BACAR, ThomasEast Ilsley1551D/A1/4/022MF604
BACCHELOR, EdmundAldermaston1617D/A1/43/002 D/A1/15/700MF464 MF10065
BACCON, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1689D/A1/47/138MF467
BACCON, John SnrEastbury, LambournYeoman1605D/A1/41/193 D/A1/14/030MF463 MF10064
BACHELER, JohnNewburyCloth Worker1612D/A1/42/082 D/A1/15/241MF463 MF10065
BACHELLER, John SnrWasingYeoman1615D/A1/42/133 D/A1/15/528MF463 MF10065
BACHILOR, NicholasNewburyFuller1574D/A1/40/037 D/A1/9/405MF462 MF10046
BACKEHOWSE, RichardAbingdon St Helen1545D/A1/6/171 D/A1/5/055 D/A1/2/071 D/A1/2/087MF10043B MF10043A MF604 MF604
BACKER, PeterShinfieldYeoman1696D/A1/48/40MF467
BACKHOUSE, EdwardReadingCarpenter1684D/A1/179/36MF96016
BACKHOUSE, ElizabethSwallowfield1631D/A1/16/281MF10066
BACKHOUSE, JohnReadingBroad Weaver1644D/A1/45/001MF465
BACKHOWSE, ThomasAbingdonBlacksmith1602D/A1/41/168 D/A1/13/882MF463 MF10049
BACKSTONE, AnneReading1716D/A1/180/36MF96019
BACON , John SnrLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1725D/A1/49/83MF468
BACON, AgnesBagnor, Speen1605D/A1/41/204 D/A1/14/099MF463 MF10064
BACON, AnnBlewbury 1701D/A1/179/137MF96017
BACON, ElizabethLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1782D/A1/50/194MF469
BACON, ElizabethLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1783D/A1/50/200MF469
BACON, ElizabethReading1825D/A1/145/122MF557
BACON, HenryEastbury, LambournHusbandman1627D/A1/44/074MF464
BACON, HenryLambournLabourer1686D/A1/179/51MF96016
BACON, HenryEastbury, LambournGlover1777D/A1/50/165MF469
BACON, Henry SnrNewburyCloth Worker1626D/A1/43/142MF464
BACON, JamesEast GarstonShopkeeper1689D/A1/47/149MF467
BACON, JoanOrpenham, Kintbury1640D/A1/44/135MF465
BACON, JohnSotwell, Wallingford St LeonardLabourer1636D/A1/44/073MF464
BACON, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1712D/A1/48/187MF467
BACON, JohnEastbury, Lambourn1733D/A1/49/165MF468
BACON, John SnrEastbury, Lambourn1585D/A1/40/117 D/A1/11/035MF462 MF10047B
BACON, John SnrEastbury, LambournHusbandman, Shepherd1694D/A1/48/19MF467
BACON, MaryEast Garston1727D/A1/49/110MF468
BACON, RichardEast GarstonYeoman1694D/A1/179/104MF96017
BACON, RichardLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1760D/A1/50/90MF469
BACON, RobertLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn Husbandman1623D/A1/43/089MF464
BACON, RobertNewburyClothier1635D/A1/177/051MF96013
BACON, SamuelWhite WalthamGardener1704D/A1/48/118MF467
BACON, StephenWelfordYeoman1711D/A1/180/4MF96019
BACON, StephenSpeenCooper1743D/A1/49/260MF468
BACON, ThomasEastbury, LambournHusbandman1629D/A1/43/186MF464
BACON, ThomasKintburyYeoman1737D/A1/49/193MF468