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
PORTER, EleanorAbingdon1738D/A1/210/53MF96085
PORTER, HelenRadley1558D/A1/103/112 D/A1/7/214 D/A1/7/177MF573 MF10040 MF10040
PORTER, JamesSouth Moreton1728D/A1/210/20MF96085
PORTER, JamesAbingdonSackcloth Weaver1736D/A1/210/49MF96085
PORTER, JoanWindsor1641D/A1/208/092MF96080
PORTER, JohnThrupp, Radley1579D/A1/104/018 D/A1/10/154MF575 MF10047A
PORTER, JohnAbingdonHusbandman1604D/A1/207/147MF96078
PORTER, JohnAbingdonYeoman1643D/A1/106/120MF576
PORTER, JohnAbingdonGlazier1669D/A1/107/92MF577
PORTER, JohnReadingButcher1694D/A1/209/102MF96083
PORTER, JohnMarchamMason1695D/A1/108/83MF577
PORTER, JohnAbingdonBargeman1756D/A1/210/88MF96086
PORTER, JosephAbingdonBargeman1746D/A1/109/164MF535
PORTER, MargaretAbingdon1676D/A1/107/151MF577
PORTER, MaryNew Windsor, Windsor1701D/A1/108/114MF578
PORTER, MichaelAbingdon St HelenShoemaker1572D/A1/103/212 D/A1/9/320MF575 MF10046
PORTER, PhilipRadley1602D/A1/104/164 D/A1/13/826MF575 MF10049
PORTER, RichardRadleyHusbandman1551D/A1/4/126 D/A1/5/130MF604 MF10043A
PORTER, RichardRadley1551D/A1/233/396MF96132
PORTER, RichardBarton, Abingdon St HelenShepherd1620D/A1/105/055MF576
PORTER, RichardRadley1676D/A1/107/137MF577
PORTER, RichardSutton CourtenayMason1689D/A1/209/85MF96083
PORTER, RichardCholseyYeoman1728D/A1/210/16MF96085
PORTER, RichardCholsey1747D/A1/210/71MF96086
PORTER, Richard SnrRadleyHusbandman1662D/A1/208/142MF96080
PORTER, RoderickNorthcourt, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1646D/A1/106/128MF576
PORTER, ThomasThrupp, Radley1544D/A1/6/170MF10043B
PORTER, ThomasThrupp, Radley1544D/A1/5/221MF10043A
PORTER, ThomasThrupp, Radley1544D/A1/103/067MF573
PORTER, ThomasRadley1590D/A1/207/113MF96078
PORTER, ThomasRadley1590D/A1/11/371MF10047B
PORTER, ThomasRadleyLabourer1609D/A1/104/217 D/A1/14/497MF575 MF10064
PORTER, ThomasThrupp, Radley1612D/A1/104/248 D/A1/15/254MF575 MF10065
PORTER, ThomasLongworthYeoman1618D/A1/16/192MF10066
PORTER, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorCollar Maker1641D/A1/16/604MF10066
PORTER, ThomasThrupp, RadleyHusbandman1662D/A1/208/141MF96080
PORTER, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorPrison-Keeper1701D/A1/209/131MF96083
PORTER, ThomasSpeenYeoman1829D/A1/160/17MF582
PORTER, WilliamReading St Mary1640D/A1/169/068MF96002
PORTER, WilliamShinfield1845D/A1/160/63MF582
PORTER, William SnrReading St LaurenceBarber Surgeon1627D/A1/105/123MF576
PORTER, William SnrNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1684D/A1/209/61MF96083
PORTLOCK, ThomasAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1736D/A1/109/122MF578
PORTOR, MosesAbingdonMaltster1673D/A1/107/116MF577
PORTSMORE, RichardKintburyPlumber, Glazier1831D/A1/230/104MF96128
PORTSMOUTH, ElizabethUfton Nervet1691D/A1/209/89MF96083
POST , ThomasIdstone, AshburyYeoman1591D/A1/104/083 D/A1/12/006MF575 MF10048
POST, DavidIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1548D/A1/5/074MF10043A
POST, David1549D/A1/103/086MF573
POST, ElizabethBoxford1592D/A1/104/086 D/A1/12/037MF575 MF10048
POST, RobertBoxfordYeoman1549D/A1/103/087 D/A1/5/072MF573 MF10043A
POSTE, JohnIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1590D/A1/104/080 D/A1/11/331MF575 MF10047B
POSTERN, JohnWest Hagbourne, HagbourneWheelwright1743D/A1/102/208MF574
POSTERN, ThomasWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1718D/A1/102/164MF574
POSTGATE, IsabelBinfield1696D/A1/108/89MF577
POTENGER, FrancesBucklebury1731D/A1/109/92MF578
POTENGER, FrancisAldworthYeoman1643D/A1/106/122MF576
POTENGER, John SnrWest Compton, ComptonYeoman1630D/A1/106/010MF576
POTENGER, NicholasWest Compton, ComptonYeoman1635D/A1/106/045MF576
POTENGER, RichardBurghfield1660D/A1/208/131MF96080
POTENGER, RichardEnborneHusbandman1662D/A1/208/143MF96080
POTENGER, RichardEnglefield1662D/A1/107/31MF577
POTENGER, Richard SnrW. Compton, ComptonYeoman1661D/A1/107/20MF577
POTENGER, Richard SnrComptonShepherd1662D/A1/208/144MF96080
POTENGER, Sarah HeadChieveley1816D/A1/159/79MF582
POTENGER, ThomasComptonHusbandman1713D/A1/108/188MF578
POTENGER, ThomasComptonYeoman1713D/A1/108/188MF578
POTINGER, IsraelSpeenhamland, Speen Clothier1743D/A1/109/151MF578
POTINGER, JohnWest Compton, Compton1568D/A1/207/060MF96077
POTINGER, MaryRookhayes, Burghfield1673D/A1/209/19MF96082
POTINGER, NicholasReading1663D/A1/208/153MF96081
POTISMORE, ThomasWoolhamptonHusbandman1620D/A1/105/058MF576
POTLUCK, FrancisAldworth1642D/A1/106/114MF576
POTSMORE, John1550D/A1/207/013MF96077
POTTENGER, AnnCompton1751D/A1/109/184MF535
POTTENGER, EdmundWoolhamptonHusbandman1620D/A1/105/057MF576
POTTENGER, FrancisBasildonYeoman1718D/A1/109/6MF578
POTTENGER, GeorgeLambourn1843D/A1/160/55MF582
POTTENGER, JamesBasildonYeoman1682D/A1/209/52MF96083
POTTENGER, JohnCompton1614D/A1/168/107MF96001
POTTENGER, JohnEast Ilsley1748D/A1/210/73MF96086
POTTENGER, John JnrCompton(W.), ComptonYeoman1678D/A1/107/154MF577
POTTENGER, John SnrW. Compton, ComptonYeoman1678D/A1/107/159MF577
POTTENGER, RichardCompton1694D/A1/108/78MF577
POTTER, AndrewOxford, Oxfordshire1653D/A1/16/656MF10066
POTTER, AndrewOxford, Oxfordshire1653D/A1/16/656MF10066
POTTER, JoanSunninghill1602D/A1/104/165 D/A1/13/865MF575 MF10049
POTTER, JohnReadingMiller1774D/A1/110/16MF535
POTTER, JudithReading1640D/A1/208/090 D/A1/169/069MF96080 MF96002
POTTER, RichardBrayYeoman1663D/A1/107/51MF577
POTTER, ThomasBrayHoop Shaver1703D/A1/108/130MF578
POTTER, WilliamGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1598D/A1/207/126 D/A1/13/421MF96078 MF10049
POTTER, WilliamStratfield MortimerYeoman1632D/A1/106/026MF576
POTTER, WilliamReading St MaryBarber1640D/A1/208/089MF96080
POTTINGER , John SnrComptonYeoman1725D/A1/109/48MF578
POTTINGER, AndrewWoolhamptonYeoman1648D/A1/208/123MF96080
POTTINGER, AnneEast Ilsley1755D/A1/109/197MF535
POTTINGER, ChristopherUfton NervetWheelwright1707D/A1/108/153MF578
POTTINGER, EdwardCholsey1646D/A1/106/130MF576
POTTINGER, ElizabethWest Compton, Compton1604D/A1/104/185 D/A1/104/129/2 D/A1/13/1360MF575 MF575 MF10049