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
MATTINGLY, WilliamCookham1694D/A1/99/23MF572
MATTINGLY, WilliamWoolstone, UffingtonYeoman1818D/A1/157/94MF581
MATYNGLEY, RichardWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1571D/A1/96/119 D/A1/9/247MF570 MF10046
MATYNGLEY, ThomasWaltham St Lawrence1545D/A1/3/075 D/A1/3/080 D/A1/6/028MF604 MF604 MF10043B
MATYNGLY, ThomasWaltham St Lawrence1545D/A1/233/198MF96132
MAUKES, PernellStanford In The Vale1609D/A1/97/011 D/A1/14/513MF570 MF10064
MAUKS, WilliamInkpenSawer1673D/A1/138/6MF553
MAULE, JohnExeter, DevonCoachman1831D/A1/230/29MF96127
MAULKES, RichardKintburyHusbandman1621D/A1/97/087MF570
MAULTHUS, AnneShinfield1687D/A1/98/171MF571
MAULTHUS, JohnReading St LaurenceClothier1628D/A1/97/122MF571
MAULTHUS, WilliamReading St Giles1636D/A1/97/167MF571
MAUNCELL, JohnEast Hendred1636D/A1/204/044MF96068
MAUNCEY, RobertBray1527D/A1/1/048MF10041
MAUNDER, RichardAbingdonInnholder1705D/A1/99/77/1MF572
MAUNSELL, JulianNewbury1577D/A1/96/177 D/A1/10/107MF570 MF10047A
MAUX, JohnStanford1591D/A1/11/376MF10047B
MAVERLEY, JohnLetcombe BassettShepherd1595D/A1/96/246 D/A1/12/239MF570 MF10048
MAVERLEY, PhyllisLetcombe Bassett1618D/A1/97/068 D/A1/15/855MF570 MF10065
MAVERLY, ElizabethEastbury, Lambourn1769D/A1/100/129MF572
MAWDESLEY, GilbertClewer1515D/A1/1/022MF10041
MAWE, EdmundBurghfield1578D/A1/203/214MF96067
MAWKES, ElizabethInglewood, Kintbury1591D/A1/96/232 D/A1/11/398MF570 MF10047B
MAWKES, JohnStanford In The ValeHusbandman1638D/A1/204/047 D/A1/169/059MF96069 MF96002
MAXEY , Robert SnrWallingfordCooper1728D/A1/100/11MF572
MAXEY, ElizabethWallingford1693D/A1/99/19MF572
MAXEY, ElizabethWallingford1776D/A1/100/138MF572
MAXEY, JohnWallingford1764D/A1/205/129MF96072
MAXEY, Robert JosephWallingfordShopkeeper1781D/A1/100/149MF572
MAXEY, ThomasWallingfordVictualler1713D/A1/205/42MF96071
MAXEY, ThomasWallingfordCider Maker1744D/A1/100/69MF572
MAXEY, WilliamWallingfordCooper1722D/A1/99/131MF572
MAXEY, WilliamWallingfordSalesman1826D/A1/158/1MF581
MAXEY, William SnrWallingfordCooper1680D/A1/98/139MF571
MAXFIELD, FrancisSpeenhamland, Speen Innkeeper1733D/A1/205/88MF96072
MAY , AliceWallingford St Leonard1633D/A1/168/242MF96001
MAY (ALIAS BLANDY), MaryKintbury1736D/A1/205/92MF96072
MAY (ALIAS COALES), MaryReading St Mary1718D/A1/205/52MF96071
MAY, AgnesShaw Cum Donnington1665D/A1/98/105MF571
MAY, AliceWallingford St Leonard1633D/A1/204/037MF96068
MAY, AnnMaidenhead1825D/A1/157/108MF581
MAY, AnthonyEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1661D/A1/98/53MF571
MAY, AnthonyNewburyMaltster1702D/A1/99/61MF572
MAY, CharlesBurghfield1745D/A1/205/109MF96072
MAY, EdwardChieveleyFarmer1733D/A1/205/87MF96072
MAY, EdwardDraytonFarrier1740D/A1/100/58MF572
MAY, Edward SnrBradfieldCooper1703D/A1/205/10MF96071
MAY, ElizabethNewbury1842D/A1/158/42MF581
MAY, GeorgeHinton Waldrist1594D/A1/96/247 D/A1/12/258MF570 MF10048
MAY, HumphreyEast HendredHusbandman1630D/A1/204/031 D/A1/168/186MF96068 MF96001
MAY, JamesFinchampstead1559D/A1/96/028 D/A1/8/089MF570 MF10043C
MAY, JamesClewerYeoman1639D/A1/97/191MF571
MAY, JamesClewer1639D/A1/169/060MF96002
MAY, JamesBuckleburyBucket Maker1710D/A1/205/28MF96071
MAY, JamesSwallowfieldYeoman1727D/A1/205/72MF96071
MAY, JamesSpeenScribbler1761D/A1/100/107MF572
MAY, JamesTheale, Tilehurst1774D/A1/100/135MF572
MAY, JamesSparsholt1784D/A1/205/144MF96072
MAY, JohnWallingford St PeterFuller1569D/A1/96/109 D/A1/9/136 D/A1/203/201MF570 MF10046 MF96067
MAY, JohnMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1620D/A1/97/073MF570
MAY, JohnBrimpton1627D/A1/97/113MF571
MAY, JohnCholseyHusbandman1638D/A1/204/051MF96069
MAY, JohnCholseyHusbandman1638D/A1/169/059MF96002
MAY, JohnMidgham, Thatcham1640D/A1/98/006MF571
MAY, JohnBradfieldLabourer1661D/A1/98/57MF571
MAY, JohnReadingHusbandman1692D/A1/204/162MF96070
MAY, JohnKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1702D/A1/205/6MF96071
MAY, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1812D/A1/157/83MF581
MAY, JohnEnglefield1825D/A1/230/23MF96127
MAY, JohnLambournMiller1839D/A1/158/29MF581
MAY, JohnReadingMiller1843D/A1/158/45MF581
MAY, John JnrHamstead MarshallHusbandman1682D/A1/204/141MF96070
MAY, John SnrBoxfordHusbandman1667D/A1/204/97MF96069
MAY, JosephReadingBricklayer1856D/A1/230/50MF96127
MAY, MargaretKingston Bagpuize1641D/A1/177/098 D/A1/169/059MF96014 MF96002
MAY, MargaretBrimpton1644D/A1/98/027MF571
MAY, MaryThatcham1734D/A1/205/90MF96072
MAY, MatthewPadworthLabourer1736D/A1/100/42MF572
MAY, Nicholas1558D/A1/203/181MF96067
MAY, NicholasSunninghillYeoman1644D/A1/98/029MF571
MAY, PhyllisDrayton1748D/A1/100/84MF572
MAY, RichardMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1672D/A1/98/111MF571
MAY, RichardReading St LaurenceVictualler1737D/A1/205/96MF96072
MAY, Richard SnrNewburyWaggoner1694D/A1/99/25MF572
MAY, SamuelNewburyLabourer1725D/A1/99/145MF572
MAY, SarahGreenham, Thatcham 1856D/A1/158/79MF581
MAY, ThomasAshampsteadHusbandman1616D/A1/203/293MF96067
MAY, ThomasReadingYeoman1648D/A1/98/040 D/A1/98/035/2MF571 MF571
MAY, ThomasBrimptonYeoman1648D/A1/98/035/1MF571
MAY, ThomasReadingMealman1702D/A1/99/60MF572
MAY, ThomasAbingdonBaker1707D/A1/205/19MF96071
MAY, WilliamSunninghill1542D/A1/3/074MF604
MAY, WilliamCholseyHusbandman1549D/A1/5/079MF10043A
MAY, WilliamStratfield MortimerHusbandman1641D/A1/98/012 D/A1/169/059MF571 MF96002
MAY, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1676D/A1/98/123MF571
MAY, WilliamReadingRug Maker1682D/A1/98/146MF571
MAY, WilliamSpeenhamland, SpeenThatcher1696D/A1/204/171MF96070
MAY, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1713D/A1/99/106MF572
MAY, WilliamAbingdonBaker1730D/A1/205/79MF96071
MAY, WilliamThatchamVictualler1778D/A1/100/142MF572