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
MASON, RobertSulham1712D/A1/205/36MF96071
MASON, RobertTilehurstBricklayer1825D/A1/230/24MF96127
MASON, Robert SnrSpeenhamland, SpeenYeoman1662D/A1/204/78MF96069
MASON, ThomasSpeenhamland, Speen1589D/A1/11/184MF10047B
MASON, ThomasEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1669D/A1/98/88MF571
MASON, ThomasNewburyYeoman1684D/A1/98/155MF571
MASON, ThomasArdingtonLabourer1709D/A1/205/24MF96071
MASON, ThomasNewburyPenman1715D/A1/99/113MF572
MASON, ThomasWindsor1716D/A1/205/48MF96071
MASON, ThomasSulhamYeoman1717D/A1/99/119MF572
MASON, ThomasReading St MaryCoach Harness Maker1730D/A1/205/80MF96071
MASON, ThomasLong WittenhamMaltster1761D/A1/205/127MF96072
MASON, WilliamSulham1738D/A1/205/99MF96072
MASON, WilliamHurleyLabourer1791D/A1/100/168MF572
MASSELIN, RichardNew Windsor, Windsor1612D/A1/168/090MF96001
MASSELINE, RichardNew Windsor, Windsor1612D/A1/203/284MF96067
MASSEY, DavidWallingfordDealer1841D/A1/158/33MF581
MASSEY, WilliamBradfieldHusbandman1758D/A1/100/100MF572
MASSIE, NicholasTidmarshCarpenter1590D/A1/96/230 D/A1/11/345MF570 MF10047B
MASSON, DorothyNewbury1631D/A1/97/138MF571
MASSON, RobertMoulsford, CholseyHusbandman1598D/A1/96/271 D/A1/13/297MF570 MF10049
MASSY, JohnThatchamGunsmith1662D/A1/98/59MF571
MASTERS, CharityThatcham1802D/A1/157/60MF581
MASTERS, FrancisNewburyIronmonger1758D/A1/205/122MF96072
MASTERS, GeorgeCompton Beauchamp1709D/A1/205/22MF96071
MASTON, RogerAbingdon St HelenMason1546D/A1/5/060MF10043A
MATCHAM, ClementBotley, North Hinksey, Cumnor1639D/A1/97/186MF571
MATCHWICK, JohnWargraveYeoman1796D/A1/100/176MF572
MATHER, AnnAbingdon1738D/A1/100/55MF572
MATHER, ElizabethDrayton1854D/A1/158/67MF581
MATHER, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1707D/A1/99/80MF572
MATHEW , RichardFinchampstead1603D/A1/13/1020MF10049
MATHEW, AliceHampstead Norreys1560D/A1/96/048 D/A1/6/044MF570 MF10043B
MATHEW, AveryAbingdonCollar Maker1729D/A1/205/76MF96071
MATHEW, EdwardShinfieldHarness Maker1681D/A1/204/138MF96070
MATHEW, ElizabethHampstead Norris1683D/A1/98/151MF571
MATHEW, GeorgeBenham, SpeenHusbandman1661D/A1/63/14MF515
MATHEW, Gregory SnrHampstead NorrisYeoman1660D/A1/98/46MF571
MATHEW, JamesHampstead NorreysYeoman1596D/A1/96/258 D/A1/12/365MF570 MF10048
MATHEW, JamesChalton, HampshireHusbandman1642D/A1/98/019MF571
MATHEW, JamesHampstead Norris1670D/A1/98/97MF571
MATHEW, JamesAshampstead Buccoll, AshampsteadYeoman1678D/A1/98/131MF571
MATHEW, JamesHill House, Burghfield1693D/A1/204/165MF96070
MATHEW, James JnrAshampsteadYeoman1673D/A1/98/114MF571
MATHEW, JeremiahFinchampsteadYeoman1676D/A1/204/124MF96070
MATHEW, JoanBray1568D/A1/203/199MF96067
MATHEW, JoanBenham Valence, Speen1585D/A1/203/225MF96067
MATHEW, JohnBagnor, SpeenHusbandman1554D/A1/96/002 D/A1/7/038MF570 MF10040
MATHEW, JohnHampstead Norreys1559D/A1/96/029 D/A1/8/117MF570 MF10043C
MATHEW, JohnBenham Valence, Speen1565D/A1/96/101 D/A1/7/379MF570 MF10040
MATHEW, JohnWallingford St PeterTailor1597D/A1/96/262 D/A1/13/147MF570 MF10049
MATHEW, JohnEast Ilsley1610D/A1/168/061MF96001
MATHEW, JohnBarkhamYeoman1640D/A1/98/008MF571
MATHEW, JohnEnborneYeoman1668D/A1/204/94MF96069
MATHEW, MaryArdington1693D/A1/204/163MF96070
MATHEW, MaudeSpeen1531D/A1/1/158MF10042
MATHEW, RichardBray1546D/A1/3/081MF604
MATHEW, RichardReading St Laurence1555D/A1/96/007 D/A1/7/092MF570 MF10040
MATHEW, RichardWoodspeen, SpeenHusbandman1556D/A1/96/011 D/A1/7/127MF570 MF10040
MATHEW, RichardWytham1594D/A1/12/194MF10048
MATHEW, RichardEast HendredHusbandman1609D/A1/97/019 D/A1/14/588MF570 MF10064
MATHEW, RichardBrayHusbandman1639D/A1/97/190MF571
MATHEW, RichardYattendonYeoman1644D/A1/98/025MF571
MATHEW, Richard SnrWythamYeoman1634D/A1/97/159MF571
MATHEW, RobertAbingdonTailor1606D/A1/203/267MF96067
MATHEW, RobertAbingdon1606D/A1/168/007MF96001
MATHEW, StephenHampstead Norreys1562D/A1/167/120MF96000
MATHEW, StephenHampstead Norreys1563D/A1/203/195MF96067
MATHEW, ThomasAbingdon St HelenSieve Maker1612D/A1/97/031 D/A1/15/247MF570 MF10065
MATHEW, ThomasBray1614D/A1/97/044 D/A1/15/486MF570 MF10065
MATHEW, ThomasBagnor, Speen1616D/A1/168/136MF96001
MATHEW, ThomasSpeenYeoman1633D/A1/204/036 D/A1/168/252MF96068 MF96001
MATHEW, WalterGreat CoxwellHusbandman1699D/A1/204/176MF96070
MATHEW, WilliamHampstead NorreysYeoman1559D/A1/96/050MF570
MATHEW, WilliamHampstead NorreysYeoman1629D/A1/204/029MF96068
MATHEW, WilliamFrilshamYeoman1671D/A1/98/103MF571
MATHEW, WilliamAbingdonSackcloth Weaver1705D/A1/99/75MF572
MATHEWE, AliceReading St Laurence1560D/A1/96/051 D/A1/8/176MF570 MF10043C
MATHEWE, AliceDarby Lanes, Ashbury1636D/A1/97/170MF571
MATHEWE, AliceWytham1687D/A1/99/2MF572
MATHEWE, JohnBradfieldTailor1591D/A1/96/231 D/A1/11/365MF570 MF10047B
MATHEWE, JohnBasildonYeoman1616D/A1/97/048 D/A1/15/569MF570 MF10065
MATHEWE, JohnDarby Lanes, AshburyHusbandman1634D/A1/97/157MF571
MATHEWE, JohnWythamYeoman1647D/A1/98/031MF571
MATHEWE, RachelHampstead Norris1660D/A1/98/50MF571
MATHEWE, RichardBray1546D/A1/233/202MF96132
MATHEWE, RichardWytham1594D/A1/203/241MF96067
MATHEWE, RichardFinchampsteadYeoman1603D/A1/203/258MF96067
MATHEWE, RichardSandhurst, Sonning1648D/A1/204/070MF96069
MATHEWE, RobertWallingford St MaryTailor1602D/A1/96/148 D/A1/13/810MF570 MF10049
MATHEWE, RobertBrayYeoman1615D/A1/97/047 D/A1/15/537MF570 MF10065
MATHEWE, ThomasKintbury1557D/A1/4/116MF604
MATHEWE, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorHusbandman1573D/A1/96/127 D/A1/9/354MF570 MF10046
MATHEWE, ThomasSteventon1597D/A1/96/265 D/A1/13/138MF570 MF10049
MATHEWE, ThomasBrayYeoman1631D/A1/97/140MF571
MATHEWE, WilliamHampstead NorreysYeoman1560D/A1/8/175MF10043C
MATHEWE, WilliamGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1591D/A1/11/240MF10047B
MATHEWE, WilliamCompton Yeoman1630D/A1/97/132MF571
MATHEWE, WilliamGoosey, Stanford In The Vale 1703D/A1/99/66MF572
MATHEWES, HumphreyAbingdon1618D/A1/203/294MF69067