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
SIMMES, WilliamNewburyCutler1627D/A1/118/099MF540
SIMMONDS, BenjaminKintburyLabourer1835D/A1/162/10MF583
SIMMONDS, HenryBurghfieldYeoman1738D/A1/216/153MF96101
SIMMONDS, JohnCholseyYeoman1750D/A1/124/178MF544
SIMMONDS, Thomas SnrChildreyHusbandman1688D/A1/122/8MF542
SIMMONES, MargeryWargrave1623D/A1/213/130MF96095
SIMMONS, Church SnrNewburyBookseller1705D/A1/215/169MF96099
SIMMONS, ElizabethWarfield1709D/A1/122/174MF543
SIMMONS, GeorgeBurghfieldYeoman1749D/A1/124/171MF544
SIMMONS, HenryHenley, OxfordshireVictualler1751D/A1/124/184MF544
SIMMONS, JamesPurleyBlacksmith1839D/A1/231/93MF96129
SIMMONS, JohnPangbourneYeoman1666D/A1/214/127MF96097
SIMMONS, JohnReadingButcher1702D/A1/122/112MF542
SIMMONS, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1771D/A1/125/86MF544
SIMMONS, JosephNewburyBlacksmith1788D/A1/125/143MF544
SIMMONS, RichardWarfieldYeoman1721D/A1/123/87MF543
SIMMONS, SarahPangbourne1764D/A1/125/55MF544
SIMMONS, ThomasReadingMealman1723D/A1/216/71MF96101
SIMMONS, WilliamBasildonBlacksmith1739D/A1/216/155MF96101
SIMMONS, WilliamTilehurst1807D/A1/231/43MF96129
SIMMS , John SnrChiltonMaltster1725D/A1/123/130MF543
SIMMS, FlorenceSouth Moreton1672D/A1/214/154MF96097
SIMMS, John JnrCoscote, HagbourneYeoman1679D/A1/121/104MF542
SIMMS, Thomas LeeReadingCarpenter1782D/A1/125/129MF544
SIMONDES, AgnesCholsey1560D/A1/167/113MF96000
SIMONDES, JamesBuscotLabourer1628D/A1/118/121MF540
SIMONDS, ElizabethTilehurst1803D/A1/231/35MF96129
SIMONDS, FrancisTilehurstBlacksmith1842D/A1/162/85MF583
SIMONDS, JoanHarwell1730D/A1/216/104MF96101
SIMONDS, RalphUfton NervetYeoman1668D/A1/196/162 MF96051
SIMONDS, RichardArdingtonYeoman1727D/A1/123/148MF543
SIMONES, JohnRadley1577D/A1/115/136 D/A1/10/088MF538 MF10047A
SIMONS , William SnrBasildonBlacksmith1726D/A1/216/81MF96101
SIMONS, BarnabyPurley1632D/A1/119/015MF540
SIMONS, Edward SnrArdingtonHusbandman1693D/A1/215/83MF96098
SIMONS, ElizabethBurghfield1718D/A1/216/45MF96100
SIMONS, JohnWarfield, WarfieldYeoman1674D/A1/121/60MF542
SIMONS, JohnUfton NervetYeoman1707D/A1/122/164MF543
SIMONS, MargeryReading St Giles1671D/A1/214/150MF96097
SIMONS, RichardAbingdonMillwright1706D/A1/122/148MF543
SIMONS, ThomasSulham 1574D/A1/212/082MF96092
SIMONS, ThomasWinkfieldUnderkeeper, Yeoman1607D/A1/116/260 D/A1/14/241MF539 MF10064
SIMONS, ThomasSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1643D/A1/214/069 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SIMONS, ThomasPurleyBlacksmith1644D/A1/214/071 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SIMONS, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1611D/A1/168/077MF96001
SIMONS, WilliamAbingdon1614D/A1/168/107MF96001
SIMPKINS, WilliamAbingdon St HelenTanner1575D/A1/115/119 D/A1/10/016MF538 MF10047A
SIMPSON, AvoryDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1651D/A1/120/043MF541
SIMPSON, ElizabethNewbury1631D/A1/213/165 D/A1/168/212MF96095 MF96001
SIMPSON, GeorgeAppletonLabourer1855D/A1/231/120MF96130
SIMPSON, HenryCompton Beauchamp1764D/A1/125/52MF544
SIMPSON, LydiaAbingdon St Helen1834D/A1/231/85MF96129
SIMPSON, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1594D/A1/116/082 D/A1/12/172MF538 MF10048
SIMPSON, RichardSteventonYeoman1668D/A1/120/165MF541
SIMPSON, WilliamAbingdonCordwainer1846D/A1/162/107MF583
SIMPSON, WilliamAbingdonShoemaker1857D/A1/231/127MF96130
SIMS, JamesNewburyPawnbroker1843D/A1/162/92MF583
SIMS, JohnBeenham1728D/A1/123/150MF543
SIMS, JosephSouth Moreton1761D/A1/125/43MF544
SIMS, MargaretBeenham1599D/A1/13/428MF10049
SIMS, MarthaHagbourne1721D/A1/216/55MF96101
SIMS, RichardSpeen1787D/A1/216/256MF96102
SIMS, SilasSparsholt1833D/A1/231/84MF96129
SIMS, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1684D/A1/215/24MF96098
SIMS, WilliamHungerfordStonemason1854D/A1/163/33MF584
SIMSON, AnneTilehurst1730D/A1/216/112MF96101
SIMSON, EleanorDrayton1676D/A1/121/80MF542
SIMSON, FrancisNewburyOstler1582D/A1/115/193 D/A1/10/345MF538 MF10047A
SIMSON, FrideswideGrazeley, Sulhamstead Abbots1623D/A1/118/050MF540
SIMSON, JohnBurghfieldShearman1640D/A1/119/138MF541
SIMSON, NicholasSpeenhamland, SpeenWeaver1705D/A1/122/133MF543
SIMSON, RalphNewburyTailor1624D/A1/118/061MF540
SIMSON, WilliamDraytonHusbandman1677D/A1/214/181MF96097
SINDEN, LydiaReading1702D/A1/122/116MF542
SINDLER, JohnMarchamLabourer1709D/A1/122/190MF543
SINGER, HumphreyEasthampsteadHusbandman1636D/A1/119/064MF540
SINGER, RogerWarfieldLabourer1591D/A1/116/044 D/A1/11/364MF538 MF10047B
SINGER, ThomasWarfieldHusbandman1608D/A1/117/017 D/A1/14/476MF539 MF10064
SINGLETON , John SnrWest HanneyTailor1767D/A1/125/70MF544
SINGLETON , John SnrWest HanneyTailor1775D/A1/125/104MF544
SINGLETON, DanielCholseyClerk1642D/A1/214/064 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SINGLETON, JohnBasildon (Admon.), AshampsteadClerk1664D/A1/214/112MF96097
SINGLETON, JohnStanford In The ValeTailor1772D/A1/125/94MF544
SINGLETON, ThomasBasildonVicar1636D/A1/119/070MF540
SINNIS, Robert1578D/A1/115/041MF538
SISON, SarahHolyport, Bray1694D/A1/122/54MF542
SKALTHORPE, MorganNewbury1619D/A1/118/008MF540
SKARLET, RobertEast Garston1571D/A1/167/147MF96000
SKARLETT, JeffreyKintburyHusbandman1659D/A1/120/61MF541
SKEAPS, JohnCompton BeauchampHusbandman1705D/A1/215/165MF96099
SKEATE, SarahHarwell1742D/A1/124/116MF544
SKEATE, SusanGreenham, Thatcham1675D/A1/214/169MF96097
SKEATE, ThomasReading1693D/A1/122/47MF542
SKEATE, Valentine SnrReadingBroad Weaver1640D/A1/119/131MF541
SKENER, ChristopherEnborneHusbandman1557D/A1/114/163MF537
SKENER, RichardCrookham, ThatchamHusbandman1641D/A1/119/150MF541
SKERYAR, StephenNewbury1548D/A1/3/151MF604
SKERYARE, Stephen1548D/A1/233/249MF96132
SKEY, RoseWargrave1689D/A1/122/17MF542
SKILLINGS, JohnSunninghillHusbandman1734D/A1/124/67MF544