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
SMALL, ThomasSutton CourtenayLabourer1648D/A1/120/033MF541
SMALL, William1549D/A1/5/074MF10043A
SMALLBONE, AnnSparsholt1795D/A1/125/170MF546
SMALLBONE, EdmundAbingdon St Helen1857D/A1/163/49MF584
SMALLBONE, HughFrilshamHusbandman1666D/A1/120/143MF541
SMALLBONE, HumphreyEast HendredYeoman1794D/A1/125/168MF546
SMALLBONE, JamesBeenham1796D/A1/216/265MF96102
SMALLBONE, JamesBeenham1784D/A1/216/252MF96102
SMALLBONE, JoanSteventon1580D/A1/115/172 D/A1/10/261MF538 MF10047A
SMALLBONE, JohnSparsholtCarpenter1710D/A1/122/193MF543
SMALLBONE, JohnSparsholtCarpenter1710D/A1/122/193MF543
SMALLBONE, JohnWest HanneyShepherd1737D/A1/124/84MF544
SMALLBONE, JohnAbingdon1799D/A1/125/193MF546
SMALLBONE, John SnrFrilsham1565D/A1/115/003 D/A1/8/349MF538 MF10043C
SMALLBONE, John SnrSteventonYeoman1619D/A1/118/002 D/A1/15/941MF540 MF10065
SMALLBONE, JosephSparsholtYeoman1791D/A1/125/152MF546
SMALLBONE, JosephSparsholtYeoman1799D/A1/125/189MF546
SMALLBONE, RuthSteventon1799D/A1/125/194MF546
SMALLBONE, SarahBeenham1810D/A1/161/112MF583
SMALLBONE, ThomasSteventonMaltster1692D/A1/122/38MF542
SMALLBONE, ThomasBeenhamYeoman1717D/A1/123/53MF543
SMALLBONE, ThomasSteventonYeoman1738D/A1/124/89MF544
SMALLBONE, William1556D/A1/212/031MF96092
SMALLEBONE, ThomasSteventonYeoman1558D/A1/114/204 D/A1/8/047MF537 MF10043C
SMALLEBONE, ThomasSteventon1676D/A1/121/77MF542
SMALLEY , WilliamWoolhampton1705D/A1/122/135MF543
SMALLMAN, ThomasHurleyYeoman1703D/A1/215/147MF96099
SMALLYE, RichardWoolhamptonYeoman1689D/A1/82/87MF528
SMART , Richard SnrLetcombe RegisYeoman1765D/A1/125/59MF544
SMART, AnnNewbury1747D/A1/124/149MF544
SMART, AnneReading1681D/A1/121/115MF542
SMART, GriffinAppleford, Sutton CourtenayLabourer1674D/A1/214/167MF96097
SMART, HenryNewburyInnholder1630D/A1/118/140MF540
SMART, JohnNewburyWeaver1705D/A1/122/140MF543
SMART, John SnrCompton BeauchampHusbandman1669D/A1/120/171MF541
SMART, MargaretBuckland1755D/A1/125/1MF544
SMART, MarthaEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1831D/A1/162/27MF583
SMART, MaryChieveleyHarness Maker1691D/A1/203/33MF96066
SMART, RichardLongworthYeoman1732D/A1/124/44MF544
SMART, RichardBucklandYeoman1752D/A1/124/188MF544
SMART, Richard SnrLetcombe Regis1558D/A1/1/085MF10041
SMART, RobertLetcombe Regis1614D/A1/168/107MF96001
SMART, ThomasAshburyMiller1774D/A1/125/98MF544
SMART, ThomasEast Hagbourne, HagbourneBaker1822D/A1/161/86MF583
SMART, WalterNewburyYeoman1640D/A1/119/134MF541
SMART, WilliamNewburyFuller1575D/A1/115/118 D/A1/10/015MF538 MF10047A
SMART, WilliamReading St Mary1594D/A1/116/092 D/A1/12/169MF538 MF10048
SMART, WilliamGrove, WantageHusbandman1669D/A1/214/140MF96097
SMART, WilliamNewburyInnholder1694D/A1/122/52MF542
SMART, WilliamLong WittenhamHusbandman1699D/A1/122/85MF542
SMART, WilliamNewbury1726D/A1/123/141MF543
SMART, William SnrNewburyInnholder1672D/A1/121/40MF542
SMARTE, RobertLetcombe RegisHusbandman1614D/A1/213/086MF96094
SMAWLY, WilliamWoolhampton1631D/A1/118/156MF540
SMERT, WilliamLetcombe RegisHusbandman1528D/A1/1/081MF10041
SMETE, JohnHinton Waldrist1562D/A1/167/117MF96000
SMETHE, HenryChieveleyHusbandman1567D/A1/115/024 D/A1/9/068MF538 MF10046
SMETHE, RobertHurley1561D/A1/114/237 D/A1/8/211MF537 MF10043C
SMEWEN, ChristianBinfield1558D/A1/7/139MF10040
SMEWEN, ChristianBinfield1559D/A1/114/156MF537
SMEWEN, EdmundBinfield1562D/A1/114/259 D/A1/3/026MF537 MF604
SMEWEN, GilbertBinfield1554D/A1/7/027MF10040
SMEWEN, JoanWaltham St Lawrence1629D/A1/168/178MF96001
SMEWEN, JoanWaltham St Lawrence1634D/A1/213/153MF96095
SMEWEN, JudithBinfield1623D/A1/118/048MF540
SMEWEN, ThomasWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1559D/A1/114/194 D/A1/8/107MF537 MF10043C
SMEWIN, ElizabethBinfield1632D/A1/119/016MF540
SMEWING, JohnRadleyYeoman1771D/A1/125/88MF544
SMITCH, ThomasMarlston, BuckleburyHusbandman1671D/A1/121/19MF542
SMITH , Barnard SnrBradfieldYeoman1762D/A1/125/47MF544
SMITH , Edward SnrNewburyClothier1718D/A1/123/61MF543
SMITH , James SnrWest HanneyYeoman, Mason 1726D/A1/123/147MF543
SMITH , John JnrThatchamYeoman1712D/A1/123/13MF543
SMITH , John SnrAbingdonBarber1768D/A1/125/73MF544
SMITH , Joseph SnrGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Yeoman1777D/A1/125/113MF544
SMITH , Richard SnrWest SheffordYeoman1719D/A1/123/68MF543
SMITH , Richard SnrLetcombe RegisYeoman1741D/A1/124/114MF544
SMITH , Richard SnrReadingSchoolmaster1797D/A1/125/179MF546
SMITH (ALIAS BAZING), ElizabethChieveley1738D/A1/216/151MF96101
SMITH (ALIAS FOSTER), JohnThatchamWeaver1729D/A1/190/191MF96038
SMITH, 1550D/A1/114/121MF537
SMITH, AgnesAshbury1560D/A1/8/188MF10043C
SMITH, AgnesAshbury1560D/A1/167/113MF96000
SMITH, AgnesDenchworth1583D/A1/115/201 D/A1/10/410MF538 MF10047A
SMITH, AgnesKintbury1589D/A1/212/144MF96092
SMITH, AgnesKintbury1589D/A1/11/184MF10047B
SMITH, AgnesDidcot1634D/A1/119/037MF540
SMITH, AgnesDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1642D/A1/214/062 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SMITH, AliceChieveley1571D/A1/115/086 D/A1/9/305MF538 MF10046
SMITH, AliceBisham1610D/A1/117/041 D/A1/15/043MF539 MF10065
SMITH, AliceHamstead Marshall1616D/A1/168/135MF96001
SMITH, AnnArdington1688D/A1/122/1MF542
SMITH, AnnReading St Laurence1714D/A1/216/28MF96100
SMITH, AnnBisham1758D/A1/125/24MF544
SMITH, AnnHampstead Norreys1775D/A1/216/238MF96102
SMITH, AnneBradfield1672D/A1/121/42MF542
SMITH, AnthonyTheale, TilehurstHusbandman1666D/A1/214/123MF96097
SMITH, AnthonyBray1686D/A1/215/42MF96098
SMITH, AnthonyAbingdonButcher1741D/A1/124/113MF544
SMITH, ArabellaStratfield Mortimer1791D/A1/125/155MF546