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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MERYWEATHER, Nicholas | Wokefield, Stratfield Mortimer | 1692 | D/A1/99/18 | MF572 | |
| MESSENGER, Richard | Waltham St Lawrence | Shepherd | 1821 | D/A1/157/100 | MF581 |
| MESSENGER, Thomas | Wootton | Yeoman | 1765 | D/A1/100/113 | MF572 |
| MESSENGER, William Snr | Reading | Husbandman | 1674 | D/A1/98/120 | MF571 |
| MESSINGER, Thomas | Tidmarsh | Miller | 1630 | D/A1/97/130 | MF571 |
| METCALF, Anthony | Reading | 1666 | D/A1/98/78 | MF571 | |
| METCALFE, Joseph | Bradfield | Shoemaker | 1822 | D/A1/157/102 | MF581 |
| MEW, Henry | Ashampstead | Husbandman | 1598 | D/A1/203/250 | MF96067 |
| MEW, Henry | Ashampstead | 1598 | D/A1/13/425 | MF10049 | |
| MEW, John | Wokefield, Stratfield Mortimer | 1629 | D/A1/97/124 | MF571 | |
| MEWS, Sylvester | Aldworth | Husbandman | 1679 | D/A1/98/136 | MF571 |
| MEYEW, Walter | Binfield | 1570 | D/A1/96/118 | MF570 | |
| MICHAELL, William | Binfield | Clothier | 1620 | D/A1/97/081 | MF570 |
| MICHALLE, William | Binfield | Victualler | 1621 | D/A1/97/088 | MF570 |
| MICHEAL, Rowland | Sutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay | Labourer | 1660 | D/A1/98/48 | MF571 |
| MICHEALL, Richard | Shinfield | Carpenter | 1629 | D/A1/204/028 | MF96068 |
| MICHEL, Henry | West Shefford | 1663 | D/A1/98/67 | MF571 | |
| MICHELL , Edward | Grandpont, Oxfordshire | Boatman | 1698 | D/A1/204/179 | MF96070 |
| MICHELL, Alexander | West Shefford | 1640 | D/A1/98/007 | MF571 | |
| MICHELL, Alice | Shippon, Abingdon St Helen | 1618 | D/A1/97/067 D/A1/15/819 | MF570 MF10065 | |
| MICHELL, Anthony | Burghfield | 1591 | D/A1/11/373 | MF10047B | |
| MICHELL, Barbara | Sutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay | 1660 | D/A1/204/75 | MF96069 | |
| MICHELL, Emma | Shippon, Abingdon St Helen | 1634 | D/A1/97/156 | MF571 | |
| MICHELL, John | Newbury | Fuller | 1580 | D/A1/203/215 | MF96067 |
| MICHELL, John | Newbury | 1580 | D/A1/10/213 | MF10047A | |
| MICHELL, John | Marcham | Husbandman | 1588 | D/A1/96/219 D/A1/11/153 D/A1/11/161 | MF570 MF10047B MF10047B |
| MICHELL, John | Sutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay | Wheelwright | 1667 | D/A1/204/96 | MF96069 |
| MICHELL, John | Maidenhead | Victualler | 1679 | D/A1/204/130 | MF96070 |
| MICHELL, John Snr | Newbury | Yeoman | 1673 | D/A1/204/115 | MF96070 |
| MICHELL, John Snr | East Challow, Letcombe Regis | 1707 | D/A1/99/84 | MF572 | |
| MICHELL, Richard | Burghfield | 1616 | D/A1/203/300 | MF96067 | |
| MICHELL, Robert | Cumnor | Yeoman | 1720 | D/A1/99/130 | MF572 |
| MICHELL, Thomas | Burghfield | Yeoman | 1668 | D/A1/204/99 | MF96069 |
| MICHELL, Thomas | West Shefford | Cordwainer | 1670 | D/A1/204/107 | MF96069 |
| MICHELL, William | Finchampstead | Sadler | 1628 | D/A1/16/131 | MF10066 |
| MICHELL, William Snr | Old Windsor | 1641 | D/A1/98/010 | MF571 | |
| MICHILL, Anthony | Finchampstead | 1605 | D/A1/96/170 D/A1/14/125 | MF570 MF10064 | |
| MICHILL, William | Frilsham | Wheelwright | 1707 | D/A1/99/83 | MF572 |
| MICKLEM, Francis | Cookham | Husbandman | 1725 | D/A1/99/148 | MF572 |
| MICKLEM, Robert | Cookham | Yeoman | 1641 | D/A1/98/015 | MF571 |
| MIDDELLTON, John | Abingdon | Barber | 1710 | D/A1/205/27 | MF96071 |
| MIDDELTON, John | Sutton Courtenay | Carpenter | 1603 | D/A1/96/155 D/A1/13/893 | MF570 MF10049 |
| MIDDLEBOROUGH, Edward | Wytham | Labourer | 1633 | D/A1/204/040 D/A1/168/254 | MF96068 MF96001 |
| MIDDLETON, Ann | Shalbourn | 1849 | D/A1/230/42 | MF96127 | |
| MIDDLETON, Benjamin | Newbury | Cordwainer | 1838 | D/A1/158/21 | MF581 |
| MIDDLETON, Edward | Sotwell | Cordwainer | 1710 | D/A1/99/97 | MF572 |
| MIDDLETON, Edward | Sotwell | Cordwainer | 1710 | D/A1/99/97 | MF572 |
| MIDDLETON, Elizabeth | Slade End, Brightwell | 1669 | D/A1/98/91 | MF571 | |
| MIDDLETON, George | Sutton Courtenay | Yeoman | 1716 | D/A1/99/115 | MF572 |
| MIDDLETON, John | Shalbourn | Miller | 1838 | D/A1/230/34 | MF96127 |
| MIDDLETON, John Jnr | Tilehurst | Husbandman | 1574 | D/A1/96/133 D/A1/9/435 | MF570 MF10046 |
| MIDDLETON, John Snr | Tilehurst | 1618 | D/A1/204/003 | MF96069 | |
| MIDDLETON, John Snr | Tilehurst | 1618 | D/A1/168/158 | MF96001 | |
| MIDDLETON, John Snr | Tilehurst | Yeoman | 1638 | D/A1/97/182 | MF571 |
| MIDDLETON, John Snr | Slade End, Brightwell | Yeoman | 1663 | D/A1/98/66 | MF571 |
| MIDDLETON, Nicholas | Tilehurst | Husbandman | 1569 | D/A1/96/111 D/A1/9/205 | MF570 MF10046 |
| MIDDLETON, Peter | Reading | Bricklayer | 1642 | D/A1/204/065 D/A1/169/059 | MF96069 MF96002 |
| MIDDLETON, Richard | Abingdon | Victualler | 1751 | D/A1/205/117 | MF96072 |
| MIDDLETON, Robert | Abingdon | 1715 | D/A1/205/44 | MF96071 | |
| MIDDLETON, Robert Snr | Sotwell | Yeoman | 1698 | D/A1/99/48 | MF572 |
| MIDDLETON, Sarah | Abingdon | 1768 | D/A1/100/122 | MF572 | |
| MIDDLETON, William | Henwick, Thatcham | Labourer | 1603 | D/A1/203/259 | MF96067 |
| MIDDLETON, William | Tilehurst | Bricklayer | 1639 | D/A1/97/192 D/A1/169/060 | MF571 MF96002 |
| MIDDLETON, William | Abingdon | Innkeeper | 1851 | D/A1/158/62 | MF581 |
| MIDELTON, Richard | Sutton Courtenay | Yeoman | 1671 | D/A1/98/109 | MF571 |
| MIDLETON, Agnes | Tilehurst | 1574 | D/A1/96/132 | MF570 | |
| MIDLETON, Agnes | Steventon | 1629 | D/A1/97/123 | MF571 | |
| MIDLETON, Joan | Wargrave | 1664 | D/A1/98/73 | MF571 | |
| MIDLETON, John | Long Wittenham | Husbandman | 1661 | D/A1/98/54 | MF571 |
| MIDLETON, Thomas | Steventon | 1618 | D/A1/97/063 D/A1/15/786 | MF570 MF10065 | |
| MIDLETON, Thomas | Steventon | 1664 | D/A1/98/72 | MF571 | |
| MIDLETON, William | Sutton Courtenay | Carpenter | 1639 | D/A1/97/199 D/A1/16/522 | MF571 MF10066 |
| MIDLETONN, Thomas | Brightwalton | Clerk, Parson | 1615 | D/A1/97/046 D/A1/15/524 | MF570 MF10065 |
| MIDWINTER, Ann | Shrivenham | 1663 | D/A1/98/68 | MF571 | |
| MIDWINTER, Joseph | Ashford, Middlesex | Servant | 1854 | D/A1/158/70 | MF581 |
| MIDWINTER, Stephen | Reading St Laurence | Hat Maker | 1827 | D/A1/158/5 | MF581 |
| MIDWINTER, Thomas Snr | Shrivenham | Weaver | 1662 | D/A1/204/87 | MF96069 |
| MIDWINTER, William | Cumnor | Yeoman | 1855 | D/A1/158/75 | MF581 |
| MIFLIN, William | Uffington | Labourer | 1830 | D/A1/158/7 | MF581 |
| MIGHELS, William | Burghfield | 1560 | D/A1/167/100 | MF96000 | |
| MIHELL, Joan | Reading St Mary | 1661 | D/A1/204/80 | MF96069 | |
| MIHELL, John | Reading St Mary | Pin Maker | 1712 | D/A1/205/34 | MF96071 |
| MIHILL, Ann | Binfield | 1636 | D/A1/16/406 | MF10066 | |
| MIHILL, Richard | Brimpton | Weaver | 1683 | D/A1/204/143 | MF96070 |
| MIHILL, William | Brimpton | 1685 | D/A1/204/150 | MF96070 | |
| MILAM, Andrew | Winkfield | Yeoman | 1733 | D/A1/100/32 | MF572 |
| MILAM, John | Bray | Bricklayer | 1670 | D/A1/204/105 | MF96069 |
| MILAM, John Snr | Warfield | Bricklayer | 1643 | D/A1/204/067 D/A1/169/059 | MF96069 MF96002 |
| MILAM, William | Winkfield | Bricklayer | 1591 | D/A1/96/233 D/A1/12/012 | MF570 MF10048 |
| MILAND, Anne | Bray | 1684 | D/A1/204/147 | MF96070 | |
| MILAND, Robert | Didcot | 1712 | D/A1/99/100 | MF572 | |
| MILAND, William | Didcot | Tailor | 1683 | D/A1/98/152 | MF571 |
| MILDENHALL, Ann | Datchet, Buckinghamshire | 1830 | D/A1/230/28 | MF96127 | |
| MILDENHALL, Richard | Lambourn | Shoemaker | 1840 | D/A1/230/36 | MF96127 |
| MILES , William Jnr | Welford | Yeoman | 1744 | D/A1/100/68 | MF572 |
| MILES, Augustine | Sunningwell | Husbandman | 1639 | D/A1/204/057 D/A1/169/060 | MF96069 MF96002 |
| MILES, Cressant | East Challow, Letcombe Regis | 1609 | D/A1/203/276 D/A1/168/054 | MF96067 MF96001 | |
| MILES, Edward | Englefield | Husbandman | 1663 | D/A1/204/89 | MF96069 |
| MILES, Edward | Reading | Cordwainer | 1698 | D/A1/99/49 | MF572 |
| MILES, Elizabeth | Harwell | 1796 | D/A1/100/174 | MF572 |