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
RAWLENS , RichardStanford In The ValeHusbandman1571D/A1/111/034 D/A1/9/283MF535 MF10046
RAWLENS, William SnrBenham, SpeenYeoman1662D/A1/113/8MF536
RAWLENSON, GeorgeWallingford All Hallows1544D/A1/110/110 D/A1/6/156 D/A1/6/176MF535 MF10043B MF10043B
RAWLINES, JamesAbingdon St HelenBlacksmith1714D/A1/113/139MF537
RAWLINGE, JohnStanfordHusbandman1587D/A1/111/080 D/A1/11/135MF535 MF10047B
RAWLINGS, JohnPangbourneJoiner1710D/A1/211/115MF96091
RAWLINGS, JohnPangbourne1744D/A1/114/14MF537
RAWLINGS, ThomasReading St GilesWeaver1721D/A1/113/152MF537
RAWLINS, JohnShottesbrookeBlacksmith1690D/A1/211/86MF96091
RAWLINS, JohnStratfield MortimerBlacksmith1736D/A1/70/117MF519
RAWLINS, JohnAvingtonYeoman1768D/A1/114/51MF537
RAWLINS, MichaelAbingdon1738D/A1/211/140MF96091
RAWLINS, RichardPangbourne1714D/A1/211/119MF96091
RAWLINS, SarahAbingdon1738D/A1/211/141MF96091
RAWLINS, ThomasEnglefieldYeoman1558D/A1/7/142MF10040
RAWLINS, ThomasAbingdonSackcloth Weaver1774D/A1/114/56MF537
RAWLINS, WilliamAbingdonYeoman1793D/A1/114/80MF537
RAWLINS, WilliamStratfield MortimerLabourer1845D/A1/231/24MF96129
RAWLINSON, RobertClewer1603D/A1/210/219MF96088
RAWMAN, JohnWallingfordFlax Dresser1731D/A1/113/180MF537
RAWNSONN, RichardBray1577D/A1/210/193MF96088
RAXLEY, WilliamSulhamstead BannisterYeoman1784D/A1/114/69MF537
RAY , Robert SnrBishamYeoman1768D/A1/114/50MF537
RAY, DavidCookhamYeoman1612D/A1/111/176 D/A1/15/259MF536 MF10065
RAY, Giles SnrCookhamYeoman1705D/A1/113/115MF537
RAY, RichardCookham1690D/A1/211/82MF96091
RAYAR, RichardSutton CourtenayYeoman1598D/A1/111/122 D/A1/13/346MF535 MF10049
RAYE, GilesCookhamYeoman1549D/A1/110/123 D/A1/5/086MF535 MF10043A
RAYER , ThomasHanney1544D/A1/3/138MF604
RAYER , ThomasHanney1544D/A1/233/239MF96132
RAYER, ElizabethSutton Courtenay1694D/A1/113/95MF31702
RAYER, JaneCharney Bassett, Longworth1682D/A1/211/70MF96091
RAYER, JoanSutton Courtenay1681D/A1/113/64MF536
RAYER, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1580D/A1/111/056 D/A1/10/263MF535 MF10047A
RAYER, JohnCharney Bassett, LongworthMason1669D/A1/211/57MF96091
RAYER, JohnSutton CourtenayMiller1729D/A1/113/168MF537
RAYER, JohnKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1767D/A1/114/48MF537
RAYER, JohnSutton Courtenay1788D/A1/211/169MF96091
RAYER, JohnBeedonFarmer1825D/A1/161/19MF583
RAYER, John SnrCharney, LongworthMason1634D/A1/211/008 D/A1/168/266MF96090 MF96001
RAYER, JosephSutton CourtenayMiller1741D/A1/211/144MF96091
RAYER, MargaretEast Hanney, Hanney1546D/A1/3/139 D/A1/233/240MF604 MF96132
RAYER, MarthaNorth Hinksey1741D/A1/211/143MF96091
RAYER, MaryCharney Bassett, Longworth1730D/A1/113/177MF537
RAYER, MarySutton Courtenay1741D/A1/114/6MF537
RAYER, NicholasSutton CourtenayMaltster1672D/A1/113/36MF536
RAYER, PhilipCharney Bassett, LongworthMason1701D/A1/211/106MF96091
RAYER, RichardSutton CourtenayHusbandman1665D/A1/211/44MF96090
RAYER, RobertCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1683D/A1/211/72MF96091
RAYER, ThomasSutton CourtenayYeoman1640D/A1/112/128MF536
RAYER, WinifredSutton Courtenay1639D/A1/112/119MF536
RAYER, WinifredEast Ilsley1743D/A1/114/12MF537
RAYERE, JohnBetterton, East Lockinge1546D/A1/3/130 D/A1/233/232MF604 MF96132
RAYMOND, RichardAbingdonLawyer1715D/A1/113/145MF537
RAYNER, MilesReading1560D/A1/210/166MF96088
RAYNER, MilesReading1560D/A1/167/109MF96000
RAYNOLD, CecilyDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1544D/A1/110/111 D/A1/6/157 D/A1/6/175MF535 MF10043B MF10043B
RAYNOLD, EdmundDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1546D/A1/3/133 D/A1/233/234MF604 MF96132
RAYNOLD, RobertReading1559D/A1/167/109MF96000
RAYNOLD, WilliamDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1543D/A1/110/107MF535
RAYNOLDES, AnthonyInkpenHusbandman1607D/A1/111/154 D/A1/14/341MF536 MF10064
RAYNOLDES, JohnInkpen1562D/A1/111/006 D/A1/8/232MF535 MF10043C
RAYNOLDES, JohnAldworthLabourer1602D/A1/111/129 D/A1/13/815MF536 MF10049
RAYNOLDES, MatthewReading St LaurenceShoemaker1589D/A1/210/206MF96088
RAYNOLDES, MatthewReading St Laurence1589D/A1/11/192MF10047B
RAYNOLDES, NicholasWest HendredHusbandman1621D/A1/210/251MF96089
RAYNOLDES, RobertAshburyClerk, Curate1556D/A1/210/152 D/A1/7/338eMF96088 MF10040
RAYNOLDES, RobertKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1617D/A1/210/245 D/A1/168/137MF96089 MF96001
RAYNOLDES, ThomasReading St Giles1586D/A1/210/202MF96088
RAYNOLDS, GeorgeSparsholt1637D/A1/112/115MF536
RAYNOLES, BrianFawler, SparsholtYeoman1619D/A1/112/034 D/A1/15/945MF536 MF10065
RAYNOLES, JoanUffington1638D/A1/112/116MF536
RAYNOLES, NicholasUffingtonYeoman1637D/A1/112/105MF536
RAYNOLES, RichardFawler, SparsholtYeoman1632D/A1/112/087MF536
RAYNOWLD, AliceKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1556D/A1/110/132 D/A1/7/123MF535 MF10040
RAYSE, JohnWest Hagbourne, HagbourneJoiner1635D/A1/112/095MF536
READ , John SnrWythamFarmer1784D/A1/114/71MF537
READ , ThomasWallingford1643D/A1/211/020 D/A1/169/078MF96090 MF96002
READ, AnneWytham1735D/A1/113/182MF537
READ, EdithNewbury1661D/A1/211/33MF96090
READ, FrancisShellingfordYeoman1662D/A1/211/35MF96090
READ, GeorgeBaulking, Uffington1713D/A1/211/117MF96091
READ, HenryBaulking, UffingtonYeoman1637D/A1/112/108MF536
READ, HenryBaulking, UffingtonYeoman1677D/A1/113/49MF536
READ, HenryReadingVictualler1696D/A1/211/97MF96091
READ, JamesBurghfieldMariner1848D/A1/161/55MF583
READ, JaneYattendon1758D/A1/114/35MF537
READ, JohnReading St Laurence1557D/A1/110/137MF535
READ, JohnChiltonHusbandman1593D/A1/111/101 D/A1/12/096MF535 MF10048
READ, JohnChiltonHusbandman1600D/A1/111/123 D/A1/13/511MF535 MF10049
READ, JohnThatchamYeoman1781D/A1/114/65MF537
READ, JohnWytham1782D/A1/211/168MF96091
READ, JohnAldermastonInnkeeper1812D/A1/161/10MF583
READ, RalphWythamYeoman1719D/A1/113/150MF537
READ, Ralph SnrWythamHusbandman1661D/A1/211/31MF96090
READ, RichardFyfieldLabourer1662D/A1/211/38MF96090
READ, RichardChieveley1809D/A1/231/7MF96129
READ, ThomasBourton, ShrivenhamCarpenter1850D/A1/231/28MF96129
READ, WilliamReadingTanner1700D/A1/211/105MF96091
READ, WilliamThatcham1716D/A1/211/121MF96091