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
LEWSE, Matthew SnrNewburyBlacksmith1606D/A1/92/144 D/A1/14/211MF534 MF10064
LEWSE, William SnrLongcot, Shrivenham1621D/A1/93/005MF534
LEWSELEY, JohnCholsey1549D/A1/91/010MF533
LEWYNDYN, JoanChilton1543D/A1/233/186MF96132
LEWYNDYN, JoanChilton1544D/A1/3/056MF604
LEWYS, AgnesMidgham, Thatcham1563D/A1/91/072 D/A1/8/276MF533 MF10043C
LEWYS, EdithUffington1546D/A1/201/121MF96062
LEWYS, ElizabethUffington1529D/A1/5/027MF10043A
LEWYS, JohnCumnorServant1557D/A1/3/062MF604
LEWYS, JohnMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1559D/A1/91/035 D/A1/8/026MF533 MF10043C
LEWYS, JohnFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1562D/A1/91/065 D/A1/8/231MF533 MF10043C
LEWYSLYE, JohnCholseyHusbandman1549D/A1/5/079MF10043A
LEY , BlaiseStreatleyLabourer1597D/A1/92/114 D/A1/13/214MF534 MF10049
LEY, GregoryBetterton, East Lockinge1620D/A1/92/200MF534
LEYCROFTE, ThomasHurley1569D/A1/201/154MF96063
LEYFOLLIE, RichardCumnorShepherd1650D/A1/202/116MF96065
LEYFOLLY, RichardCumnor1650D/A1/169/053MF96002
LEYVAR, WilliamLong WittenhamHusbandman1554D/A1/91/016 D/A1/7/024MF533 MF10040
LIBBE, ThomasTilehurst1661D/A1/202/117MF96065
LIBBEN, JohnWest HendredVicar, Clerk1556D/A1/91/027 D/A1/7/125MF533 MF10040
LIBBETT, RichardHenwick, ThatchamFletcher1610D/A1/92/158 D/A1/15/059MF534 MF10065
LICHEPOOLE, ChristopherNewbury1576D/A1/201/161MF96063
LICHFEILD, ThomasShinfieldCarpenter1666D/A1/94/36MF568
LID, RobertSunninghillHusbandman1630D/A1/93/048MF534
LIDBETTER, HenryShrivenhamTailor1605D/A1/202/020 D/A1/14/186MF96064 MF10064
LIDDIARD, JaneSpeen1844D/A1/157/24MF581
LIDDIARD, JohnCholseyYeoman1660D/A1/94/4MF568
LIDDIARD, JohnEast IlsleyYeoman1842D/A1/157/17MF581
LIDDIARD, ThomasLambournYeoman1837D/A1/157/4MF581
LIDDIARD, WilliamNewburyGardener1824D/A1/156/72MF581
LIDDIARD, WilliamSpeen1838D/A1/157/10MF581
LIDDIARD, WilliamEastbury, LambournYeoman1848D/A1/157/35MF581
LIDE, JohnNewburyGlover1678D/A1/202/149MF96065
LIDE, WilliamBrightwell1559D/A1/167/106MF96000
LIDIARD , John SnrNewburyWeaver1788D/A1/95/225MF569
LIDIARD, WilliamNewburyCurrier1701D/A1/203/55MF96066
LIDYARD, JohnLongworthBlacksmith1855D/A1/157/48MF581
LIFORD, NicholasFinchampstead1629D/A1/93/043MF534
LIFORD, SebastianStanford DingleyMerchant Tailor1629D/A1/93/045MF534
LIFORDE, WilliamWinkfield(W.), Reading St LaurenceYeoman1707D/A1/95/23MF568
LIGHTFOTE, NicholasReadingCarpenter1627D/A1/93/029MF534
LIGHTFOTE, ThomasReading St Laurence1568D/A1/167/139MF96000
LILBORNE, RogerCumnor1598D/A1/92/118 D/A1/13/300bMF534 MF10049
LIMBERY, RichardNewbury1621D/A1/93/001MF534
LIMBOW, WilliamReading St LaurenceCarpenter1633D/A1/93/066MF534
LIMBRO, ThomasLongworthYeoman1620D/A1/92/202MF534
LINCH, AnneNewbury1731D/A1/95/115MF569
LINCH, BrianNewburyDyer1686D/A1/203/15MF96066
LINCH, HenryNewburyClothier1671D/A1/94/54MF568
LINCH, MargeryNewbury1708D/A1/95/26MF568
LINCH, NathanielNewburyHaberdasher1621D/A1/93/003MF534
LINCH, RobertNewburyInnholder1637D/A1/93/079MF534
LINCHE, AnthonyNewburyInnholder1640D/A1/93/102MF568
LINDSEY, ArchibaldAbingdonSoldier1742D/A1/203/120MF96066
LINDSEY, JohnBuckland1769D/A1/95/191MF569
LINE, JohnYattendonYeoman1583D/A1/92/080 D/A1/10/363MF534 MF10047A
LINGE, JohnShippon, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1611D/A1/202/034 D/A1/168/068MF96064 MF96001
LINGER, AgnesAbingdon St Helen1647D/A1/93/128MF568
LINGES, RobertShippon, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1597D/A1/92/105 D/A1/13/052MF534 MF10049
LINSEY , Thomas JnrBuckland1722D/A1/95/71MF568
LINSEY, ThomasHinton WaldristHusbandman, Shepherd1677D/A1/94/81MF568
LINSEY, WilliamKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1637D/A1/93/087MF534
LINTON, RichardBourton, Shrivenham1557D/A1/7/114MF10040
LION, JohnWindsor1739D/A1/95/136MF569
LIPSCOMBE, RichardTilehurstHusbandman1718D/A1/203/85MF96066
LIPTON, Robert1557D/A1/201/131MF96062
LISSETT, ElizabethChallow, Letcombe Regis1726D/A1/95/81MF568
LITCHFEILD, ThomasLongworthFarmer1853D/A1/157/44MF581
LITEFOTE, ThomasReading St LaurenceHaberdasher1568D/A1/201/155MF96063
LITELWORK, EdwardYattendonFuller1559D/A1/91/046 D/A1/7/270MF533 MF10040
LITHERLAND, ThomasDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonYeoman1569D/A1/92/011 D/A1/9/142MF31701 MF10046
LITLEFELD, JohnPadworth1557D/A1/201/133MF96062
LITLETON, RalphCookham1604D/A1/202/015MF96064
LITLETON, RalphCookham1604D/A1/14/176MF10064
LITLEWORCKE, JohnYattendon1583D/A1/10/417MF10047A
LITLEWORTH, GeorgeBarnie House, ThatchamHusbandman1661D/A1/94/17MF568
LITTELWORTH, ChristopherReadingCarpenter1773D/A1/95/197MF569
LITTLE, Francis SnrAbingdon St NicholasHusbandman1631D/A1/202/079 D/A1/168/200MF96065 MF96001
LITTLE, GriffinNewburyTailor1640D/A1/202/094MF96065
LITTLE, JohnReading St GilesClothier1624D/A1/202/063MF96064
LITTLE, JohnBishamCordwainer1676D/A1/94/74MF568
LITTLE, JohnReading St MaryYeoman1728D/A1/95/95MF569
LITTLE, JohnWallingfordPlumber1854D/A1/147/35MF558
LITTLE, John SnrSulham1625D/A1/202/064MF96064
LITTLEFEILD, RichardBuckleburyShearman1618D/A1/92/183 D/A1/15/814MF534 MF10065
LITTLEFIELD (ALIAS PARKER), ThomasEnglefieldYeoman1724D/A1/209/214MF96084
LITTLEFIELD, AlicePadworth1603D/A1/92/137 D/A1/13/1121MF534 MF10049
LITTLEFIELD, George SnrPadworthYeoman1603D/A1/92/135 D/A1/13/1122MF534 MF10049
LITTLEFIELD, JoannaNewbury1728D/A1/203/104MF96066
LITTLEFIELD, JosephNewburyShopkeeper1781D/A1/95/211MF569
LITTLEFIELD, RichardAppletonHusbandman1631D/A1/202/082 D/A1/168/216MF96065 MF96001
LITTLEFIELD, RobertPadworth1592D/A1/201/186MF96063
LITTLEFIELD, RobertPadworth1592D/A1/12/072MF10048
LITTLEFIELD, ThomasAppletonHusbandman1631D/A1/202/081 D/A1/168/213MF96065 MF96001
LITTLEFIELD, ThomasEnglefieldYeoman1668D/A1/94/83MF568
LITTLEFILD, GeorgeAldermastonYeoman1593D/A1/201/184 D/A1/12/072MF96063 MF10048
LITTLEFYLDE, JohnEnglefield1615D/A1/92/177 D/A1/15/537MF534 MF10065
LITTLETON, AnneCookham1635D/A1/93/073MF534
LITTLETON, RichardCookham1600D/A1/202/007 D/A1/13/713MF96064 MF10049
LITTLEWORKE, AliceYattendon1670D/A1/94/51MF568