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
POWDRELL, GeorgeNorth Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1613D/A1/105/001 D/A1/15/355MF576 MF10065
POWDRELL, WilliamOxford, OxfordshireYeoman1627D/A1/105/126MF576
POWDRELL, WilliamOxford, OxfordshireYeoman1628D/A1/16/187MF10066
POWEL, ElizabethBurghfield1683D/A1/108/21MF577
POWEL, ThomasGinge, West HendredLabourer1754D/A1/109/192MF535
POWELL, AliceFernham, Shrivenham1565D/A1/103/184 D/A1/8/344MF573 MF10043C
POWELL, BenjaminTheale, TilehurstInnholder1693D/A1/108/70MF577
POWELL, BenjaminTheale, TilehurstInnholder1746D/A1/109/166MF535
POWELL, JoanHenwick, Thatcham1623D/A1/208/030MF96079
POWELL, JohnHanneyClerk1566D/A1/167/134MF96000
POWELL, JohnHanneyClerk, Vicar1585D/A1/207/098MF96077
POWELL, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1666D/A1/107/74MF577
POWELL, JohnBinfieldWheelwright1727D/A1/210/14MF96085
POWELL, JohnBeenham Valence, BeenhamYeoman1729D/A1/109/77MF578
POWELL, JohnEaton HastingsLabourer1745D/A1/109/162MF535
POWELL, JohnTilehurstWheelwright1828D/A1/160/16MF582
POWELL, MaryReadingWeaver1701D/A1/209/132MF96083
POWELL, MaryAbingdon1746D/A1/109/167MF535
POWELL, MarySt Marylebone, Middlesex1852D/A1/230/129MF96128
POWELL, PhilipChaddleworthClerk, Vicar1574D/A1/103/221 D/A1/9/410MF575 MF10046
POWELL, RichardUfton Nervet1560D/A1/103/152 D/A1/8/190MF573 MF10043C
POWELL, RobertBeenhamHusbandman1628D/A1/105/135MF576
POWELL, SusannaTheale, Tilehurst1709D/A1/209/162MF96084
POWELL, ThomasSouth HinkseyYeoman1724D/A1/210/2MF96085
POWELL, WilliamAbingdon1560D/A1/207/038MF96077
POWELL, WilliamAbingdon1560D/A1/167/110MF96000
POWELL, WilliamWargraveYeoman1690D/A1/138/143MF554
POWELL, WilliamTheale, TilehurstYeoman1706D/A1/108/147MF578
POWELL, WilliamUffington1710D/A1/108/211MF578
POWELL, William CalebReadingDissenting Minister1852D/A1/160/88MF582
POWERS, WilliamNewburyCordwainer1819D/A1/159/88MF582
POWILL, EleanorDry Sandford, Abingdon St Helen1686D/A1/209/63MF96083
POWILL, JohnFyfieldCordwainer1679D/A1/107/166MF577
POWILL, ThomasDry Sandford, Abingdon St Helen1684D/A1/108/31MF577
POWLE, Robert1603D/A1/104/182MF575
POWLE, RobertBinfieldHusbandman1644D/A1/106/124MF576
POWLE, RobertWarfieldHusbandman1664D/A1/107/56MF577
POWLEY, ThomasSaint Martin In The Fields, MiddlesexCook, Servant1627D/A1/105/121MF576
POWLL, JohnFinchampsteadYeoman1627D/A1/105/120MF576
POWLTER, AliceEasthampstead1580D/A1/104/026/1MF575
POWLTER, HenryEasthampsteadLabourer1619D/A1/105/053MF576
POWLTER, HenryEasthampsteadTanner1669D/A1/107/90MF577
POWLTER, JohnEasthampsteadHusbandman1638D/A1/106/067MF576
POWLTER, ThomasBurghfieldHusbandman1648D/A1/208/120MF96080
POWLTER, William SnrEasthampsteadYeoman1650D/A1/106/144MF576
POWLTON, JohnNewburyFuller1587D/A1/207/104 D/A1/11/114MF96077 MF10047B
POWLY, ThomasEnglefieldYeoman1707D/A1/209/153 MF96084
POWMEFRETT, DennisWest Hanney, Hanney1521D/A1/1/052MF10041
POWND, JohnStreatleyLabourer1624D/A1/105/089MF576
POWND, John SnrBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1630D/A1/105/147MF576
POWND, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1538D/A1/103/063MF573
POWND, RobertDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1600D/A1/104/148 D/A1/13/590MF575 MF10049
POWND, ThomasUffington1541D/A1/3/123MF604
POWND, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1570D/A1/103/203 D/A1/9/212MF575 MF10046
POWND, William SnrUffingtonHusbandman1558D/A1/103/121 D/A1/7/184MF573 MF10040
POWNDE, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1591D/A1/104/082/1 D/A1/11/394MF575 MF10047B
POWNDE, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St HelenPlough Maker1592D/A1/104/087 D/A1/12/046MF575 MF10048
POWNDE, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1557D/A1/3/114MF604
POWNDE, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1579D/A1/104/019 D/A1/10/179MF575 MF10047A
POWNE, JohnCarpenter1544D/A1/103/070 D/A1/5/017MF573 MF10043A
POWNE, JohnUffington1545D/A1/5/047MF10043A
POWNE, Thomas1546D/A1/207/009MF96077
POWNEY, AliceNew Windsor, Windsor1668D/A1/107/82MF577
POWNEY, AnneCookhamYeoman1667D/A1/208/168MF96081
POWNEY, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1624D/A1/208/029MF96079
POWNEY, JohnBrayYeoman1641D/A1/106/102MF576
POWNEY, RichardBrayYeoman1619D/A1/105/052MF576
POWNEY, RichardHawthorn, BrayYeoman1672D/A1/209/12MF96082
POWNEY, RichardBrayHusbandman1722D/A1/209/212MF96084
POWNEY, Robert SnrWinkfieldHusbandman1624D/A1/105/090MF576
POWNEY, SimonEton, Bucks., New WindsorYeoman1666D/A1/107/71MF577
POWNEY, ThomasWinkfield1579D/A1/104/020 D/A1/10/168MF575 MF10047A
POWNEY, ThomasBrayYeoman1648D/A1/106/141MF576
POWNEY, William SnrBrayHusbandman1704D/A1/108/133MF578
POWNIE, HenryWinkfieldYeoman1631D/A1/106/012MF576
POWNTNEY, WilliamEnglefieldHusbandman1638D/A1/106/069MF576
POWNY, ThomasShinfieldYeoman1738D/A1/109/131MF578
POWNYE, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1682D/A1/108/14MF577
POWNYS, JohnEast Garston1526D/A1/1/046MF10041
POWSEY, WilliamMarlston, BuckleburyHusbandman1700D/A1/209/124MF96083
POWTON, ChristopherBrayLabourer, Husbandman1638D/A1/106/066MF576
POWTYNGER, John SnrCompton1555D/A1/4/123 D/A1/233/395 D/A1/7/087MF604 MF96132 MF10040
POWYS, JohnAbingdon1611D/A1/105/017MF576
POWYS, JohnAbingdon1615D/A1/168/119MF96001
POYNT, ThomasSparsholt1544D/A1/1/012MF10041
POYNTAR, JoanCharney, Longworth1636D/A1/106/054MF576
POYNTER , William SnrStanford In The ValeWheelwright1801D/A1/159/41MF582
POYNTER, AnnDrayton1805D/A1/159/54MF582
POYNTER, ElizabethGarford, Marcham1557D/A1/207/028MF96077
POYNTER, ElizabethFernham, Shrivenham 1728D/A1/210/18MF96085
POYNTER, HenryCharney, LongworthHusbandman1611D/A1/104/234 D/A1/15/148MF575 MF10065
POYNTER, HenryEast IlsleyWheeler, Carpenter 1828D/A1/160/14MF582
POYNTER, JamesSutton CourtenayMason1842D/A1/160/51MF582
POYNTER, JaneReading1723D/A1/109/33MF578
POYNTER, JohnGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1557D/A1/103/107MF573
POYNTER, JohnStanford In The Vale1559D/A1/207/031MF96077
POYNTER, JohnCharney, LongworthHusbandman1577D/A1/104/001 D/A1/10/070MF575 MF10047A
POYNTER, JohnEast Ginge, West HendredMiller1584D/A1/207/095 D/A1/10/431MF96077 MF10047A
POYNTER, JohnWelford1636D/A1/106/053MF576
POYNTER, JohnWelfordHusbandman1638D/A1/208/085MF96080