Wills Index
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 | Place Name | Occupation | Year | BRO Ref | MF Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMITH, Jane | Wargrave | 1597 | D/A1/212/184 | MF96093 | |
| SMITH, Jane | Wargrave | 1597 | D/A1/13/187 | MF10049 | |
| SMITH, Jane | Yattendon | 1633 | D/A1/214/009 | MF96096 | |
| SMITH, Jane | Yattendon | 1633 | D/A1/168/246 | MF96001 | |
| SMITH, Jane | West Compton, Compton | 1640 | D/A1/119/124 | MF541 | |
| SMITH, Jane | West Shefford | 1695 | D/A1/122/65 | MF542 | |
| SMITH, Jane | Didcot | 1709 | D/A1/122/187 | MF543 | |
| SMITH, Jane | Thatcham | 1737 | D/A1/124/86 | MF544 | |
| SMITH, Jane | Newbury | 1801 | D/A1/161/134 | MF583 | |
| SMITH, Jane | Abingdon | 1844 | D/A1/231/106 | MF96130 | |
| SMITH, Jerome | Aldermaston | Rug Weaver | 1638 | D/A1/16/488 | MF10066 |
| SMITH, Joan | East Lockinge | 1629 | D/A1/118/129 | MF540 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Holt, Kintbury | 1640 | D/A1/119/135 | MF541 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Benham, Speen | 1642 | D/A1/214/060 | MF96096 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Speen | 1642 | D/A1/169/083 | MF96002 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Abingdon | 1646 | D/A1/214/078 | MF96096 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Basildon | 1662 | D/A1/214/100 | MF96097 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Abingdon | 1667 | D/A1/120/154 | MF541 | |
| SMITH, Joan | W. Ginge, Lockinge | 1668 | D/A1/120/162 | MF541 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Thatcham | 1702 | D/A1/69/78 | MF519 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Chilton | 1710 | D/A1/122/195 | MF543 | |
| SMITH, Joan | Chilton | 1710 | D/A1/122/195 | MF543 | |
| SMITH, Joel Frankland | West Ilsley | 1831 | D/A1/162/21 | MF583 | |
| SMITH, John | Chilton | Yeoman | 1659 | D/A1/120/62 | MF541 |
| SMITH, John | Hampstead Norris | Carpenter | 1660 | D/A1/120/65 | MF541 |
| SMITH, John | Fifield, Bray | Yeoman | 1661 | D/A1/120/92 | MF541 |
| SMITH, John | Titcomb, Kintbury | Yeoman | 1662 | D/A1/120/117 | MF541 |
| SMITH, John | Burghfield | 1662 | D/A1/120/116b | MF541 | |
| SMITH, John | Finchampstead | Husbandman | 1665 | D/A1/214/117 | MF96097 |
| SMITH, John | Bourton, Shrivenham | Yeoman | 1670 | D/A1/214/146 | MF96097 |
| SMITH, John | Ardington | Yeoman | 1670 | D/A1/121/9 | MF542 |
| SMITH, John | Wasing | Yeoman | 1670 | D/A1/121/3 | MF542 |
| SMITH, John | Eling, Hampstead Norris | Yeoman | 1673 | D/A1/121/46 | MF542 |
| SMITH, John | Newbury | Chandler | 1675 | D/A1/214/170 | MF96097 |
| SMITH, John | Slade End, Brightwell | Yeoman | 1677 | D/A1/214/179 | MF96097 |
| SMITH, John | Berkshire | 1682 | D/A1/190/106 | MF96038 | |
| SMITH, John | Benham Valence, Speen | Tailor | 1683 | D/A1/215/13 | MF96098 |
| SMITH, John | Bucklebury | Carpenter | 1691 | D/A1/215/73 | MF96098 |
| SMITH, John | West Shefford | Husbandman | 1693 | D/A1/215/81 | MF96098 |
| SMITH, John | Thatcham | Husbandman | 1695 | D/A1/215/102 | MF96098 |
| SMITH, John | Burghfield | 1697 | D/A1/215/115 | MF96098 | |
| SMITH, John | Newbury | Physician | 1704 | D/A1/215/159 | MF96099 |
| SMITH, John | Wytham | Yeoman | 1705 | D/A1/122/139 | MF543 |
| SMITH, John | Thatcham | Yeoman | 1715 | D/A1/69/127 | MF519 |
| SMITH, John | Bucklebury | Kilnman | 1715 | D/A1/216/29 | MF96100 |
| SMITH, John | Bradfield | Yeoman | 1717 | D/A1/123/51 | MF543 |
| SMITH, John | Thatcham | Maltster | 1728 | D/A1/216/97 | MF96101 |
| SMITH, John | Frilford, Marcham | Yeoman | 1729 | D/A1/124/5 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Bisham | Husbandman | 1730 | D/A1/124/12 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Enborne | 1733 | D/A1/216/127 | MF96101 | |
| SMITH, John | East Hagbourne, Hagbourne | Yeoman | 1733 | D/A1/216/123 | MF96101 |
| SMITH, John | Thatcham | Husbandman | 1737 | D/A1/124/85 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Uffington | Husbandman | 1739 | D/A1/124/99 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Letcombe Regis | Yeoman | 1745 | D/A1/124/146 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Lambourn | Glazier | 1754 | D/A1/124/196 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Shellingford | Labourer | 1756 | D/A1/125/11 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Windsor | Cooper | 1781 | D/A1/125/121 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Greenham, Thatcham | Gardener | 1785 | D/A1/125/134 | MF544 |
| SMITH, John | Kintbury | Farmer | 1793 | D/A1/125/162 | MF546 |
| SMITH, John | Chieveley | 1797 | D/A1/125/178 | MF546 | |
| SMITH, John | Bray | 1799 | D/A1/125/186 | MF546 | |
| SMITH, John | Tilehurst | 1803 | D/A1/231/36 | MF96129 | |
| SMITH, John | Goosey, Stanford In The Vale | Yeoman | 1810 | D/A1/161/107 | MF583 |
| SMITH, John | Reading | Gardener | 1825 | D/A1/231/72 | MF96129 |
| SMITH, John | Oare, Chieveley | Yeoman | 1829 | D/A1/162/37 | MF583 |
| SMITH, John | Swallowfield | 1840 | D/A1/162/77 | MF583 | |
| SMITH, John | Swallowfield | Yeoman | 1846 | D/A1/162/110 | MF583 |
| SMITH, John | Didcot | Farmer | 1850 | D/A1/231/112 | MF96130 |
| SMITH, John | Reading St Giles | 1855 | D/A1/163/38 | MF584 | |
| SMITH, John | Benham Valence, Speen | 1547 | D/A1/233/247 | MF96132 | |
| SMITH, John | Bourton, Shrivenham | 1550 | D/A1/212/019 | MF96092 | |
| SMITH, John | Hamstead Marshall | 1556 | D/A1/3/184 | MF604 | |
| SMITH, John | Hamstead Park, Hamstead Marshall | 1559 | D/A1/212/045 | MF96092 | |
| SMITH, John | Bussock, Chieveley | 1560 | D/A1/167/112 D/A1/167/114 | MF96000 MF96000 | |
| SMITH, John | Hamstead Marshall | 1560 | D/A1/167/110 | MF96000 | |
| SMITH, John | Ashampstead | 1569 | D/A1/167/140 | MF96000 | |
| SMITH, John | Thatcham | Tailor | 1583 | D/A1/115/197 D/A1/10/371 | MF538 MF10047A |
| SMITH, John | Snelsmore, Chieveley | Husbandman | 1587 | D/A1/115/235 D/A1/11/260 | MF538 MF10047B |
| SMITH, John | Drayton, Abingdon St Helen | 1589 | D/A1/212/146 | MF96092 | |
| SMITH, John | Steventon | Blacksmith | 1589 | D/A1/212/135 | MF96092 |
| SMITH, John | Steventon | 1589 | D/A1/11/191 | MF10047B | |
| SMITH, John | Turville, Compton | 1590 | D/A1/212/154 | MF96092 | |
| SMITH, John | Reading St Laurence | Clerk, Vicar | 1597 | D/A1/212/180 D/A1/13/185 | MF96093 MF10049 |
| SMITH, John | Turville, Compton | 1597 | D/A1/13/318 | MF10049 | |
| SMITH, John | The Parsonage, Uffington | Parson, Husbandman | 1597 | D/A1/116/123 D/A1/13/075 | MF538 MF10049 |
| SMITH, John | Holt, Kintbury | 1598 | D/A1/116/156 D/A1/13/336 | MF539 MF10049 | |
| SMITH, John | Buckland | Husbandman | 1600 | D/A1/116/190 D/A1/13/580 | MF539 MF10049 |
| SMITH, John | Sunninghill | Yeoman | 1603 | D/A1/116/226 D/A1/13/1107 | MF539 MF10049 |
| SMITH, John | West Hanney, Hanney | Carpenter | 1608 | D/A1/117/020 D/A1/14/501 | MF539 MF10064 |
| SMITH, John | West Ilsley | Yeoman | 1610 | D/A1/117/037 D/A1/15/020 | MF539 MF10065 |
| SMITH, John | Letcombe Regis | Husbandman | 1612 | D/A1/117/076 D/A1/15/258 | MF539 MF10065 |
| SMITH, John | Newbury | 1613 | D/A1/168/100 | MF96001 | |
| SMITH, John | Langley, Hampstead Norreys | Yeoman | 1617 | D/A1/16/148 | MF10066 |
| SMITH, John | Beedon | Yeoman | 1617 | D/A1/117/138 D/A1/15/699 | MF539 MF10065 |
| SMITH, John | Hampstead Norreys | Husbandman | 1619 | D/A1/117/156 D/A1/15/898 | MF539 MF10065 |
| SMITH, John | Bussock, Chieveley | Yeoman | 1620 | D/A1/213/114 | MF96095 |
| SMITH, John | Bussock, Chieveley | 1621 | D/A1/168/166 | MF96001 | |
| SMITH, John | East Lockinge | 1623 | D/A1/213/131 | MF96095 | |
| SMITH, John | Turville, Compton | Yeoman | 1624 | D/A1/213/135 | MF96095 |
| SMITH, John | Kintbury | Yeoman | 1625 | D/A1/118/079 | MF540 |