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
BASELEY, ThomasSandford, Abingdon St Helen1546D/A1/233/042MF96132
BASELEY, ThomasSandford, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1546D/A1/2/084MF604
BASELEY, ThomasSunningwellHusbandman1649D/A1/45/039MF465
BASELEY, Thomas SnrSandford1588D/A1/40/165 D/A1/11/294MF462 MF10047B
BASELY, DorothyBesselsleigh1713D/A1/48/207MF467
BASELY, RalphWythamYeoman1725D/A1/49/89MF468
BASELY, RichardAppleton1614D/A1/168/111MF96001
BASELY, RichardBesselsleighYeoman1733D/A1/49/170MF468
BASELY, Richard SnrWythamYeoman1674D/A1/178/149MF96015
BASELY, Richard SnrBesselsleighYeoman1693D/A1/48/10MF467
BASFORD, AliceBoxford1598D/A1/41/103 D/A1/13/329MF463 MF10049
BASFORD, EleanorNewbury1687D/A1/187/55MF96031
BASFORD, ElizabethNewbury1662D/A1/45/115MF465
BASFORD, JamesBoxford1578D/A1/40/071MF462
BASFORD, James SnrBoxfordYeoman1695D/A1/48/31MF467
BASFORD, JohnNewburyMaltster1666D/A1/46/15MF466
BASFORD, ThomasBoxford1752D/A1/50/54MF469
BASING , John SnrBoxfordHusbandman1624D/A1/176/099MF96012
BASING , John SnrBoxfordHusbandman1637D/A1/44/100MF465
BASING, AmyBagnor, Speen1813D/A1/145/66MF557
BASING, JamesBoxfordYeoman1740D/A1/49/236MF468
BASING, JohnBoxfordYeoman1772D/A1/50/143MF469
BASING, JosephBagnor, Speen 1775D/A1/180/233MF96020
BASING, ThomasBoxfordHusbandman1679D/A1/178/182MF96015
BASING, UrsulaChaddleworth1712D/A1/180/10MF96019
BASING, WilliamChaddleworth1679D/A1/47/33MF466
BASINGE, JohnBoxfordHusbandman1615D/A1/176/050MF96012
BASINGE, JohnBoxford1615D/A1/168/117MF96001
BASINGE, WilliamChaddleworthHusbandman1635D/A1/44/075MF464
BASKERVILE, HannibalSunningwell1717D/A1/180/41MF96019
BASKERVILE, Matthew ThomasSunningwell1721D/A1/49/51MF468
BASKERVILLE, HannibalBayworth, Sunningwell1669D/A1/178/117MF96015
BASKERVLLE, ThomasBayworth, Sunningwell1708D/A1/48/68MF467
BASLEY, AliceSandford1559D/A1/39/138 D/A1/8/168MF461 MF10043C
BASLEY, EdwardAbingdonMaltster1739D/A1/49/213MF468
BASLEY, EdwardShippon, Abingdon (Shippon)Yeoman1743D/A1/180/171MF96020
BASLEY, JoanSandford1609D/A1/42/060 D/A1/15/009MF463 MF10065
BASLY, JaneAbingdon1768D/A1/50/122MF469
BASLY, RichardAppleton1614D/A1/42/118 D/A1/15/450MF463 MF10065
BASON, RobertFyfield1731D/A1/180/127MF96020
BASSAT, RichardMidgham, ThatchamWheelwright1612D/A1/42/090 D/A1/15/299MF463 MF10065
BASSATT, JoanMidgham, Thatcham1612D/A1/42/090 D/A1/15/300MF463 MF10065
BASSET , RobertHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1626D/A1/176/111MF96012
BASSET, EleanorHenwick, Thatcham1701D/A1/48/85MF467
BASSET, JohnThatcham1574D/A1/40/038 D/A1/9/406MF462 MF10046
BASSET, MarthaWargrave1749D/A1/180/188MF96020
BASSET, RichardHenwick, ThatchamShovel Maker1702D/A1/179/144MF96017
BASSET, RobertHenwick, Thatcham1560D/A1/167/111MF96000
BASSET, William SnrStanford In The Vale Fellmonger1666D/A1/178/100MF96015
BASSETT, CharlesThatchamYeoman1724D/A1/49/73MF468
BASSETT, ChristopherThatchamGrocer1728D/A1/49/116MF468
BASSETT, ElizabethPangbourne1710D/A1/48/176MF467
BASSETT, ElizabethPangbourne1710D/A1/48/176MF467
BASSETT, HenryThatchamWeaver1615D/A1/42/129 D/A1/15/520MF463 MF10065
BASSETT, JoanBucklebury1731D/A1/180/119MF96020
BASSETT, JohnThatchamFletcher1596D/A1/41/067 D/A1/12/341MF462 MF10048
BASSETT, JohnBinfieldYeoman1782D/A1/50/191MF469
BASSETT, JosephHenwick, Thatcham1702D/A1/179/141MF96017
BASSETT, RichardHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1644D/A1/45/008MF465
BASSETT, RichardHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1692D/A1/179/94MF96017
BASSETT, Richard SnrHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1689D/A1/47/143MF467
BASSETT, RobertHenwick, Thatcham1560D/A1/175/041MF96010
BASSETT, RobertStanford In The ValeYeoman1642D/A1/44/157MF465
BASSFORD, ThomasNewburyMaltster1709D/A1/48/164MF467
BASSON, MarthaCumnor1841D/A1/146/57MF557
BASTER, ThomasInkpenYeoman1790D/A1/50/225MF21170
BASTER, WilliamKintburyYeoman1794D/A1/50/242MF469
BASTIAN, RichardBradfield1771D/A1/50/139MF469
BASTIN, EdwardWokefield, Stratfield MortimerYeoman1797D/A1/51/11MF469
BASTIN, EzekielKintburyCollar Maker1807D/A1/145/36MF557
BASTIN, MaryKintbury1745D/A1/50/3MF469
BASTIN, ThomasKintburyCollar Maker1743D/A1/49/255MF468
BASTIN, ThomasKintbury1788D/A1/50/220MF21170
BASTON, JohnArdingtonYeoman1846D/A1/146/80MF557
BASTON, ThomasCompton1598D/A1/175/154MF96010
BASTON, ThomasCompton1598D/A1/13/420MF10049
BASYNG, RalphBoxfordHusbandman1559D/A1/39/150 D/A1/7/287MF461 MF10040
BAT, JohnReading St Mary1551D/A1/4/029MF604
BATCHELER, AliceKintbury1603D/A1/41/167 D/A1/13/1036MF463 MF10049
BATCHELER, JoanColthrop, Thatcham1618D/A1/43/021 D/A1/15/838MF464 MF10065
BATCHELOR, JohnAldermastonGardener1671D/A1/178/123MF96015
BATCHELOR, JohnAldermaston1844D/A1/226/115MF96123
BATCHELOR, MosesNewburyTailor1728D/A1/49/117MF468
BATCHELOR, RobertAppletonHusbandman1713D/A1/180/20MF96019
BATCHELOUR, JaneTidmarsh1661D/A1/178/60MF96015
BATCHILER, SimonWasingHusbandman1629D/A1/177/015MF96013
BATE, JohnReading St Mary1551D/A1/5/134MF10043A
BATE, JohnReadingButcher1551D/A1/233/341MF96132
BATE, ThomasNewburyButcher1615D/A1/42/113MF463
BATE, WilliamReading St LaurenceClerk, Yeoman1607D/A1/42/024 D/A1/14/354MF463 MF10064
BATELL, AgnesWinkfield1561D/A1/3/001MF604
BATELL, AgnesWinkfield1561D/A1/167/116MF96000
BATEMAN, RobertWallingford St Mary1544D/A1/1/235MF10042
BATEMAN, RobertWallingford1545D/A1/39/011MF461
BATEMAN, WalterReading1631D/A1/16/269 D/A1/44/014MF10066 MF464
BATES, JamesReadingCloth Worker1670D/A1/178/127MF96015
BATES, MargaretNewbury1621D/A1/176/080MF96012
BATH, EdwardCharney Bassett, LongworthHusbandman1730D/A1/49/136MF468
BATH, FrancisHarwellBlacksmith1702D/A1/48/102MF467
BATH, JamesRadleyLabourer1614D/A1/42/146 D/A1/15/447MF463 MF10065