Wills Index
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 | Place Name | Occupation | Year | BRO Ref | MF Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KNIGHT, John | Thatcham | Town-Clerk | 1694 | D/A1/90/135 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, John | Sunninghill | Tailor | 1694 | D/A1/201/32 | MF96061 |
| KNIGHT, John | Maidenhead, Cookham | Shepherd | 1710 | D/A1/201/51 | MF96061 |
| KNIGHT, John | Henwick, Thatcham | 1718 | D/A1/201/63 | MF96061 | |
| KNIGHT, John | Shinfield | Yeoman | 1721 | D/A1/91/84 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, John | Farnborough | 1731 | D/A1/91/115 | MF533 | |
| KNIGHT, John | Chieveley | Yeoman | 1754 | D/A1/91/145 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, John | Basildon | Carpenter | 1813 | D/A1/155/59 | MF580 |
| KNIGHT, John | Thatcham | Victualler | 1842 | D/A1/156/5 | MF581 |
| KNIGHT, Joseph | Brightwalton | Yeoman | 1743 | D/A1/91/132 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Margaret | Thatcham | 1588 | D/A1/89/014 D/A1/11/251 | MF532 MF10047B | |
| KNIGHT, Margaret | Reading | 1705 | D/A1/201/46 | MF96061 | |
| KNIGHT, Margery | West Ginge, East Lockinge | 1583 | D/A1/10/365 | MF10047A | |
| KNIGHT, Martha | Reading | 1698 | D/A1/90/149 | MF533 | |
| KNIGHT, Mary | Reading | 1672 | D/A1/90/94 | MF532 | |
| KNIGHT, Peter | Brightwalton | Yeoman | 1771 | D/A1/91/165 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Philadelphia | Reading | 1748 | D/A1/91/138 | MF533 | |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Pangbourne | Wheelwright | 1587 | D/A1/89/010 D/A1/11/262 | MF532 MF10047B |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Henwick, Thatcham | Yeoman | 1607 | D/A1/200/073 D/A1/168/021 | MF96060 MF96001 |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Farnborough | 1638 | D/A1/90/016 | MF532 | |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Brightwalton | 1665 | D/A1/90/74 | MF532 | |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Beenham | Yeoman | 1721 | D/A1/91/83 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Peasemore | Cordwainer | 1739 | D/A1/91/122 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Reading | Yeoman | 1790 | D/A1/91/192 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Richard | Reading | Yeoman | 1795 | D/A1/91/197 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Robert | Hoe Benham, Welford | Husbandman | 1579 | D/A1/88/101 D/A1/10/282 | MF532 MF10047A |
| KNIGHT, Robert | Hoe Benham, Welford | 1581 | D/A1/88/090 | MF532 | |
| KNIGHT, Robert | Hoe Benham, Welford | 1594 | D/A1/89/036 D/A1/12/229 | MF532 MF10048 | |
| KNIGHT, Robert | West Woodhay | Yeoman | 1597 | D/A1/89/044 D/A1/13/082 | MF532 MF10049 |
| KNIGHT, Robert | Abingdon | Cordwainer | 1838 | D/A1/155/87 | MF580 |
| KNIGHT, Rose | Colthrop, Thatcham | 1612 | D/A1/200/080 D/A1/168/089 | MF96060 MF96001 | |
| KNIGHT, Stephen | Henwick, Thatcham | Yeoman | 1603 | D/A1/89/069 D/A1/13/1080 | MF532 MF10049 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Benham Valence, Speen | 1560 | D/A1/8/171 | MF10043C | |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Stanford Dingley | Tanner | 1599 | D/A1/89/047 D/A1/13/384 | MF532 MF10049 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Wargrave | Farrier | 1625 | D/A1/89/127 | MF532 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Stanford Dingley | Tanner | 1641 | D/A1/90/030 | MF532 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Stanford Dingley | 1641 | D/A1/169/049 | MF96002 | |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Reading | Bell Founder | 1666 | D/A1/90/77 | MF532 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Inkpen | Husbandman | 1679 | D/A1/201/5 | MF96061 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | West Woodhay | Yeoman | 1679 | D/A1/201/3 | MF96061 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Church Speen, Speen | Brewer | 1702 | D/A1/90/151 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Thomas | Ingleleaze, Kintbury | Husbandman | 1721 | D/A1/91/82 | MF533 |
| KNIGHT, Vincent | Shaw Cum Donnington | 1560 | D/A1/88/044 D/A1/3/265 | MF531 MF604 | |
| KNIGHT, Vincent | Thatcham | 1580 | D/A1/200/040 | MF96059 | |
| KNIGHT, Vincent | Thatcham | 1580 | D/A1/10/235 | MF10047A | |
| KNIGHT, Vincent | Henwick, Thatcham | Yeoman | 1586 | D/A1/89/006 D/A1/11/069 | MF532 MF10047B |
| KNIGHT, Vincent | Henwick, Thatcham | Yeoman | 1635 | D/A1/90/007 | MF532 |
| KNIGHT, William | Sulhamstead Abbots | 1578 | D/A1/88/092 D/A1/10/131 | MF532 MF10047A | |
| KNIGHT, William | Longcot, Shrivenham | Weaver | 1586 | D/A1/89/008 D/A1/11/068 | MF532 MF10047B |
| KNIGHT, William | Reading | Bell Founder | 1587 | D/A1/89/009 D/A1/11/139 | MF532 MF10047B |
| KNIGHT, William | Cholsey | Shepherd | 1626 | D/A1/89/130 | MF532 |
| KNIGHT, William | Inkpen | Yeoman | 1629 | D/A1/200/106 | MF96060 |
| KNIGHT, William | Henwick, Thatcham | Husbandman | 1632 | D/A1/90/002 D/A1/168/223 | MF532 MF96001 |
| KNIGHT, William | Theale, Tilehurst | Tanner | 1688 | D/A1/90/119 | MF532 |
| KNIGHT, William | Swallowfield | Blacksmith | 1701 | D/A1/201/40 | MF96061 |
| KNIGHT, William | Reading St Giles | Yeoman | 1714 | D/A1/201/60 | MF96061 |
| KNIGHT, William | Thatcham | Labourer | 1831 | D/A1/229/34 | MF96126 |
| KNIGHTE, Hugh | Enborne | Yeoman | 1591 | D/A1/89/026 D/A1/11/406 | MF532 MF10047B |
| KNIGHTE, John | Henwick, Thatcham | Yeoman | 1591 | D/A1/89/024 D/A1/11/389 | MF532 MF10047B |
| KNIGHTE, Richard | Burghfield | Yeoman | 1671 | D/A1/90/92 | MF532 |
| KNIGHTE, Thomas | Colthrop, Thatcham | Yeoman | 1588 | D/A1/89/012 D/A1/11/154 | MF532 MF10047B |
| KNIGHTE, Thomas | Bradfield | Yeoman | 1617 | D/A1/89/105 D/A1/15/722 | MF532 MF10065 |
| KNIGHTE, Vincent | Thatcham | 1586 | D/A1/11/064 | MF10047B | |
| KNIGHTON, John | West Hendred | Yeoman | 1673 | D/A1/90/96 | MF532 |
| KNIGHTON, Richard | Lambourn | Yeoman | 1746 | D/A1/91/136 | MF533 |
| KNIGHTON, Richard | Lambourn | Yeoman | 1769 | D/A1/91/161 | MF533 |
| KNIGHTON, Richard Snr | Chipping Lambourn, Lambourn | Yeoman | 1703 | D/A1/90/153 | MF533 |
| KNIGHTON, William | Chipping Lambourn, Lambourn | Yeoman | 1696 | D/A1/90/144 | MF533 |
| KNIGHTON, William | East Hendred | Husbandman | 1730 | D/A1/84/92 | MF529 |
| KNIGHTT, Charity | Stratfield Mortimer | Servant | 1619 | D/A1/200/090 | MF96060 |
| KNIPE, Elizabeth | Childrey | 1850 | D/A1/156/14 | MF581 | |
| KNIPE, Isaac | Aldermaston | Clergyman | 1836 | D/A1/229/35 | MF96126 |
| KNIPE, Keziah | Childrey | 1854 | D/A1/156/19 | MF581 | |
| KNIPE, Richard | Buscot | 1785 | D/A1/201/111 | MF96061 | |
| KNOLLYS, Lettice | Stanford In The Vale | 1631 | D/A1/16/263 | MF10066 | |
| KNOTT , James Snr | Reading | Weaver | 1718 | D/A1/90/179 | MF533 |
| KNOTT, James | Donnington, Shaw Cum Donnington | 1844 | D/A1/156/11 | MF581 | |
| KNOTT, John | Padworth | 1553 | D/A1/233/386 | MF96132 | |
| KNOTT, John | Cookham | Millwright | 1682 | D/A1/90/108 | MF532 |
| KNOTTES, John | Padworth | 1552 | D/A1/4/102 D/A1/5/157 | MF604 MF10043A | |
| KNOTTS, Olive | Reading | 1719 | D/A1/90/180 | MF533 | |
| KNOWELLS, Robert | Fawley | 1588 | D/A1/89/018 D/A1/11/291 | MF532 MF10047B | |
| KNOWLES, Anne | Longworth | 1716 | D/A1/90/176 | MF533 | |
| KNOWLES, John | East Challow, Letcombe Regis | Yeoman | 1688 | D/A1/90/124 | MF532 |
| KNOWLES, John Snr | West Lockinge, Wantage | Yeoman | 1660 | D/A1/200/129 | MF96060 |
| KNOWLES, Mary | East Challow, Letcombe Regis | 1689 | D/A1/201/21 | MF96061 | |
| KNOWLES, Nicholas | North Moreton | 1597 | D/A1/89/045 D/A1/13/220 | MF532 MF10049 | |
| KNOWLES, Richard | Ardington | 1578 | D/A1/200/038 | MF96059 | |
| KNOWLES, Richard | North Moreton | Husbandman | 1600 | D/A1/89/052 D/A1/13/522 | MF532 MF10049 |
| KNOWLES, Robert | Longworth | Maltster | 1707 | D/A1/90/163 | MF533 |
| KNYGHT, Alice | Thatcham | 1544 | D/A1/3/049 D/A1/233/182 | MF604 MF96132 | |
| KNYGHT, Anne | Bradfield | 1587 | D/A1/89/011 D/A1/11/121 | MF532 MF10047B | |
| KNYGHT, Edmund | Brightwalton | 1565 | D/A1/88/061 D/A1/7/378 | MF531 MF10040 | |
| KNYGHT, John | Thatcham | Farmer | 1539 | D/A1/1/222 | MF10042 |
| KNYGHT, John | Benham, Speen | Yeoman | 1558 | D/A1/88/034 D/A1/7/252 | MF531 MF10040 |
| KNYGHT, John | Reading St Mary | 1565 | D/A1/88/058 D/A1/8/348 | MF531 MF10043C | |
| KNYGHT, John Snr | Beenham | 1559 | D/A1/88/039 | MF531 | |
| KNYGHT, Margaret | Hanney | 1544 | D/A1/88/005 D/A1/6/159 D/A1/6/177 | MF531 MF10043B MF10043B | |
| KNYGHT, Margaret | Moor, Longworth | 1570 | D/A1/88/069 D/A1/9/209 | MF531 MF10046 | |
| KNYGHT, Reynold | Pangbourne | 1547 | D/A1/200/008 | MF96059 |