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
PAYSE, Simon SnrStratfield MortimerYeoman1628D/A1/208/048MF96080
PAYSE, ThomasReading St GilesBaker1565D/A1/103/186MF573
PAYSE, ThomasWokefield, Stratfield MortimerHusbandman1623D/A1/105/083MF576
PAYSON, JoanWargrave1641D/A1/106/101MF576
PAYTON , Thomas SnrAbingdonVictualler1795D/A1/110/68MF535
PAYTON, TheodoraAbingdon1812D/A1/230/82MF96128
PEACE, JoanThatcham1635D/A1/106/048MF576
PEACH, AnnAbingdon1741D/A1/109/143MF578
PEACOCK , JohnBrayYeoman1648D/A1/106/139MF576
PEACOCK, IsabelBray1638D/A1/208/084 D/A1/169/069MF96080 MF96002
PEACOCK, WilliamCumnorClergyman1728D/A1/109/65MF578
PEACOCKE, FrancesCumnor1699D/A1/108/104MF578
PEACOCKE, JohnChawley, Cumnor1669D/A1/209/1MF96082
PEACOCKE, MaryChawley, Cumnor1662D/A1/208/138MF96080
PEACOCKE, NicholasBrayHusbandman1648D/A1/106/138MF576
PEACOCKE, WilliamSouth HinkseyClerk1754D/A1/210/84MF96086
PEAD , JamesLongworthHusbandman1625D/A1/208/043MF96080
PEAD, HannahMarcham1736D/A1/210/50MF96085
PEAD, HenryFyfieldYeoman1728D/A1/109/60MF578
PEAD, JamesFyfieldHusbandman1701D/A1/209/128MF96083
PEAD, JaneFrilford, Marcham 1754D/A1/109/193MF535
PEAD, JoanMarcham1701D/A1/209/127MF96083
PEAD, JohnLongworthHusbandman1725D/A1/210/7MF96085
PEAD, JohnMarchamYeoman1736D/A1/210/51MF96085
PEAD, MaryPusey1703D/A1/209/140MF96083
PEAD, MaryFyfield1780D/A1/110/36MF535
PEADE, Henry SnrFrilford, MarchamYeoman1640D/A1/106/090MF576
PEADE, JoanFrilford, Marcham1662D/A1/107/35MF577
PEADE, JoanKennington, Radley1690D/A1/209/86 MF96083
PEADE, JohnBrayYeoman1618D/A1/105/045 D/A1/15/907MF576 MF10065
PEADE, KatherineDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1618D/A1/105/041 D/A1/15/820MF576 MF10065
PEADE, ThomasFrilford, Marcham1558D/A1/207/023 D/A1/7/340a D/A1/167/098MF96077 MF10040 MF96000
PEADE, ThomasMarcham1558D/A1/103/124 D/A1/7/248MF573 MF10040
PEADE, ThomasMarchamHusbandman1716D/A1/108/200MF578
PEADE, WilliamFrilford, Marcham1575D/A1/103/228 D/A1/10/011MF575 MF10047A
PEADE, WilliamFrilford, MarchamHusbandman1632D/A1/106/022MF576
PEADE, WilliamFyfield Wick, FyfieldYeoman1676D/A1/107/149MF577
PEAKE, JamesTilehurst1616D/A1/105/027 D/A1/15/604MF576 MF10065
PEARCE, AnnBoxford1755D/A1/210/83MF96086
PEARCE, AnneBuckland1718D/A1/108/208MF578
PEARCE, BartholomewDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1613D/A1/105/003 D/A1/15/392 D/A1/168/102MF576 MF10065 MF96001
PEARCE, ClementGrazeley, Sulhamstead AbbotsYeoman, Carpenter1701D/A1/108/112MF578
PEARCE, ConstanceNewbury1705D/A1/209/141MF96083
PEARCE, DorothyMoulsford1671D/A1/209/11MF96082
PEARCE, ElizabethNewbury1729D/A1/109/75MF578
PEARCE, ElizabethReading1798D/A1/210/124MF96086
PEARCE, EmmaAshbury1714D/A1/209/180MF96084
PEARCE, FrancisIdstone, AshburyYeoman1700D/A1/108/110MF578
PEARCE, FrancisFarnborough1771D/A1/210/102MF96086
PEARCE, HenrySulhamstead Abbots1635D/A1/16/382MF10066
PEARCE, HenrySulhamstead Abbots1635D/A1/106/047MF576
PEARCE, JamesChaddleworthYeoman1664D/A1/107/60MF577
PEARCE, JeanThe Pest-House, Cundit Close, Reading St Giles1647D/A1/106/132MF576
PEARCE, JohnNewburyBarber Chirurgeon1668D/A1/107/80MF577
PEARCE, JohnEnborneLabourer1682D/A1/209/54MF96083
PEARCE, JosephIdstone, AshburyYeoman1706D/A1/108/141MF578
PEARCE, JosephTilehurstHusbandman1766D/A1/109/230MF535
PEARCE, MarthaNewbury1668D/A1/107/84MF577
PEARCE, RichardSulhamstead Abbots1818D/A1/159/85MF582
PEARCE, SarahNewbury1701D/A1/108/210MF578
PEARCE, SarahAshbury1796D/A1/110/75MF535
PEARCE, SarahBoxford1807D/A1/159/60MF582
PEARCE, SusannahReading1841D/A1/230/118MF96128
PEARCE, ThomasIdstone, Ashbury1665D/A1/107/65MF577
PEARCE, ThomasLongworthYeoman1717D/A1/209/193MF96084
PEARCE, ThomasNewburyBaker1721D/A1/209/204MF96084
PEARCE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1782D/A1/110/45MF535
PEARCE, ThomasAshbury1795D/A1/110/67MF535
PEARCE, ThomasAldermastonFarmer, Innholder 1852D/A1/160/89MF582
PEARCE, WilliamAldermastonCarpenter1626D/A1/105/109MF576
PEARCE, WilliamChaddleworthYeoman1663D/A1/208/148MF96081
PEARCE, WilliamNewburyWoollen Draper1670D/A1/107/99MF577
PEARCE, WilliamUffingtonMiller1742D/A1/210/64MF96086
PEARCIE, AnneReading St Laurence1625D/A1/208/038MF96080
PEARCIE, JohnReading St LaurenceCarpenter1623D/A1/105/086MF576
PEAREMAN, EdwardHolt, KintburyYeoman1676D/A1/209/28MF96082
PEAREMAN, ThomasAston Tirrold1601D/A1/13/719MF10049
PEARES, JamesLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1731D/A1/109/86MF578
PEARKER, JohnDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonCordwainer1761D/A1/109/214MF535
PEARMAN, JohnBrayYeoman1792D/A1/110/57MF535
PEARMAN, KeziaPangbourne1843D/A1/160/54MF582
PEARMAN, StephenThatchamLabourer1684D/A1/108/27MF577
PEARMAN, ThomasAston Tirrold1601D/A1/207/139MF96078
PEARN, ThomasChaddleworthHusbandman1698D/A1/108/96MF577
PEARNE, JohnTempleton, KintburyYeoman1687D/A1/108/45MF577
PEARNE, WilliamInkpenHusbandman, Ploughwright1634D/A1/208/073MF96080
PEARNE, WilliamInkpenFarmer1634D/A1/168/267MF96001
PEARRY, WilliamReadingGardener1737D/A1/109/128MF578
PEARSALL, JohnReading1828D/A1/160/15MF582
PEARSE , AviceReading1684D/A1/108/29MF577
PEARSE, EmmeSouth Hinksey, Cumnor1597D/A1/104/128 D/A1/13/230MF575 MF10049
PEARSE, HelenBrimpton1593D/A1/104/096 D/A1/12/113MF575 MF10048
PEARSE, JohnBrimpton1574D/A1/103/222 D/A1/9/411MF575 MF10046
PEARSE, JosephSouth HinkseyYeoman1671D/A1/107/105MF577
PEARSE, JosephNewburyMaltster1701D/A1/209/121MF96083
PEARSE, MarthaSouth Hinksey1707D/A1/108/151MF578
PEARSE, RobertHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman, Farmer1633D/A1/208/070 D/A1/168/246MF96080 MF96001
PEARSE, Robert SnrKnighton, Compton BeauchampHusbandman1663D/A1/208/149MF96081
PEARSE, ThomasNewburyBaker1703D/A1/108/128MF578
PEARSE, ThomasNewburyCarpenter1598D/A1/207/122MF96078