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
MAY, WilliamReading1812D/A1/230/10MF96127
MAY, WilliamStratfield MortimerYeoman1816D/A1/230/16MF96127
MAY, William SnrStratfield Mortimer1610D/A1/97/024 D/A1/15/091MF570 MF10065
MAY, William SnrHamstead Marshall1611D/A1/97/027 D/A1/15/162MF570 MF10065
MAY, ZacharyBenham Valence, SpeenYeoman1637D/A1/97/180 D/A1/169/059MF571 MF96002
MAYBANCK , WilliamReading St Giles1590D/A1/203/233MF96067
MAYBANCK, MercyBray1663D/A1/98/64MF571
MAYBANCK, ThomasBrayWheelwright1663D/A1/98/63MF571
MAYBANCKE, ThomasStratfield MortimerButcher1575D/A1/203/206MF96067
MAYCOCKE, WilliamPuseyHusbandman1572D/A1/96/122 D/A1/9/319MF570 MF10046
MAYDEN, ThomasLongworthClerk1583D/A1/96/193 D/A1/10/390MF570 MF10047A
MAYE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1594D/A1/203/242 D/A1/12/192MF96067 MF10048
MAYE, JohnBrimpton1612D/A1/168/084MF96001
MAYE, John JnrBrimptonTurner1612D/A1/203/282MF96067
MAYE, MargaretLongworth1592D/A1/96/240 D/A1/12/037MF570 MF10048
MAYE, MargaretHinton Waldrist1634D/A1/97/158MF571
MAYE, RichardLongworth1541D/A1/96/053MF570
MAYE, RichardLongworthHusbandman1584D/A1/96/200 D/A1/10/443MF570 MF10047A
MAYE, Richard SnrLongworth1541D/A1/1/211MF10042
MAYE, Richard SnrStratfield Mortimer1559D/A1/96/027 D/A1/8/095MF570 MF10043C
MAYE, RobertLongworth1558D/A1/96/036 D/A1/7/246MF570 MF10040
MAYE, StephenCholseyHusbandman1601D/A1/203/253MF96067
MAYE, ThomasDraycott Moor, Longworth1587D/A1/96/215 D/A1/11/260MF570 MF10047B
MAYE, ThomasAshampstead1616D/A1/168/127MF96001
MAYE, WilliamCholsey1549D/A1/96/065MF570
MAYE, WilliamWoolhampton1618D/A1/204/002MF96068
MAYE, WilliamWoolhampton1618D/A1/168/161MF96001
MAYEBANCKE, WilliamReading St Giles1590D/A1/11/370MF10047B
MAYEN, WilliamSutton CourtenayHusbandman1667D/A1/204/93MF96069
MAYEO, SarahWatchfield, Shrivenham1765D/A1/100/116MF572
MAYHALL, ThomasTilehurstLabourer1789D/A1/100/164MF572
MAYHOE, NicholasWootton, CumnorYeoman1679D/A1/98/135MF571
MAYHOWE, JohnEnglefield1558D/A1/96/038 D/A1/8/049MF570 MF10043C
MAYMOR , JohnBrayHusbandman1630D/A1/97/128MF571
MAYMOR, SimonWinterbourne, ChieveleyHusbandman1641D/A1/98/011 D/A1/204/060MF571 MF96069
MAYMORE, RogerBurghfield1610D/A1/97/021 D/A1/15/047MF570 MF10065
MAYNARD, ElizabethBray1598D/A1/96/269 D/A1/13/277MF570 MF10049
MAYNARD, JohnReadingPlate Worker1663D/A1/204/82MF96069
MAYNARD, MaryReading1736D/A1/100/41MF572
MAYNARD, NicholasShinfield1567D/A1/96/105 D/A1/9/070MF570 MF10046
MAYNARD, RichardShinfieldHusbandman1596D/A1/96/254 D/A1/12/427MF570 MF10048
MAYNARD, RichardShinfieldPublican1851D/A1/230/45MF96127
MAYNE , Philip JnrNorth MoretonYeoman1751D/A1/100/88MF572
MAYNE, AnneNorth Moreton1569D/A1/96/116 D/A1/9/150MF570 MF10046
MAYNE, AnneNorth Moreton1569D/A1/167/140MF96000
MAYNE, ChristianNorth Moreton1557D/A1/3/082MF604
MAYNE, ChristianNorth Moreton1557D/A1/233/203MF96132
MAYNE, JohnReading St Laurence1589D/A1/96/226 D/A1/11/202MF570 MF10047B
MAYNE, JohnNorth MoretonYeoman1624D/A1/97/102MF571
MAYNE, JohnSouth Moreton1810D/A1/157/80MF581
MAYNE, PhilipNorth MoretonYeoman1729D/A1/205/75MF96071
MAYNE, PhilipNorth Moreton1842D/A1/158/38MF581
MAYNE, RichardWallingford St MaryCooper1660D/A1/98/49MF571
MAYNE, ThomasNorth MoretonYeoman1557D/A1/96/017 D/A1/7/166MF570 MF10040
MAYNE, Thomas SnrNorth Moreton1528D/A1/1/082MF10041
MAYNE, WilliamNorth MoretonYeoman1569D/A1/96/110 D/A1/9/144MF570 MF10046
MAYO , NicholasWootton, Cumnor1556D/A1/96/008 D/A1/7/129MF570 MF10040
MAYO, AgnesWootton, Cumnor1559D/A1/7/252 D/A1/96/040MF10040 MF570
MAYO, AmyNewbury1823D/A1/230/21MF96127
MAYO, ElizabethAbingdon1731D/A1/100/22MF572
MAYO, ElizabethAbingdon St Helen1785D/A1/205/146MF96072
MAYO, NicholasWootton, CumnorHusbandman1628D/A1/16/137MF10066
MAYO, NicholasAbingdonMaltster1749D/A1/100/85MF572
MAYO, RobertAbingdonCordwainer1706D/A1/205/17MF96071
MAYO, RobertAbingdon St HelenSexton1761D/A1/205/125MF96072
MAYO, StephenChawley, Cumnor1559D/A1/8/024 D/A1/96/039MF10043C MF570
MAYO, ThomasBoars Hill, CumnorYeoman1639D/A1/97/189 D/A1/169/059MF571 MF96002
MAYO, TottyNewburyStationer1808D/A1/157/78MF581
MAYO, WilliamChawley, CumnorHusbandman1569D/A1/96/112 D/A1/9/153MF570 MF10046
MAYOE, RobertLongworthYeoman1696D/A1/99/40MF572
MAYOES, JohnWallingford St MaryBaker1614D/A1/203/291 D/A1/168/111MF96067 MF96001
MAYOH, Avice (W.), Anne (Inv.)Wootton, Cumnor (W.), Cumnor, Oxfordshire1670D/A1/98/93MF571
MAYOR (ALIAS SAUNDERSON) (ALIAS SHANK), JaneBinfield1723D/A1/205/61MF96071
MAYOTT, AnnAbingdon1725D/A1/99/149MF572
MAYOTT, JohnAbingdonMercer1703D/A1/99/67MF572
MAYOTT, John JnrAbingdonApothecary1686D/A1/98/170MF571
MAYOTT, RalphAbingdon1648D/A1/204/072MF96069
MAYOTT, RichardAbingdon1614D/A1/168/109MF96001
MAYOTT, RobertAbingdonGrocer1704D/A1/99/71MF572
MAYOTT, ThomasAbingdon St Helen1627D/A1/97/118MF571
MAYOTT, ThomasAbingdonBrewer1671D/A1/98/112MF571
MAYOTTE, ElizabethAbingdon St Helen1628D/A1/97/121MF571
MAYOTTE, RichardAbingdonMercer1638D/A1/97/181MF571
MAYOW, ElizabethGreat Coxwell1845D/A1/158/47MF581
MAYOW, JohnLongworth1743D/A1/205/107MF96072
MAYOW, JosephBuckland1798D/A1/100/177MF572
MAYOW, Margaret MariaLongcot, Shrivenham 1855D/A1/158/73MF581
MAYOW, NicholasLongworthYeoman1702D/A1/99/58MF572
MAYOW, NicholasBucklandYeoman1722D/A1/99/141MF572
MAYOW, RichardWoottonYeoman1734D/A1/100/36MF572
MAYOW, RichardLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1757D/A1/205/121MF96072
MAYOW, SophiaGreat Coxwell1839D/A1/158/22MF581
MAYOW, ThomasWootton, Boars Hill, CumnorHusbandman1588D/A1/96/214 D/A1/11/175MF570 MF10047B
MAYOW, ThomasBuckland1805D/A1/157/72MF581
MAYOW, WalterBurghfield1570D/A1/9/231MF10046
MAYOW, WilliamBurghfieldHusbandman1554D/A1/96/004 D/A1/7/069MF570 MF10040
MAYOWE, ThomasBurghfield1576D/A1/96/136 D/A1/10/028MF570 MF10047A
MAZEY, ThomasWarfieldBricklayer1731D/A1/100/24MF572
MEACHEN, JohnThatchamYeoman1713D/A1/205/39MF96071
MEAD, JamesReadingCoal Merchant1851D/A1/230/46MF96127