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
SMITH, JohnEling, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1625D/A1/118/076MF540
SMITH, JohnStocks, West Compton, ComptonYeoman1629D/A1/118/126MF540
SMITH, JohnSouth Fawley, FawleyHusbandman1636D/A1/119/068MF540
SMITH, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenWeaver1636D/A1/119/051MF540
SMITH, JohnBeenhamWeaver1640D/A1/119/137MF541
SMITH, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1641D/A1/214/053 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SMITH, JohnThatcham1645D/A1/214/075MF96096
SMITH, JohnBothampstead, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1648D/A1/120/037MF541
SMITH, JohnWargraveYeoman1648D/A1/120/036MF541
SMITH, John JnrUffingtonHusbandman1609D/A1/117/024 D/A1/14/538MF539 MF10064
SMITH, John Jnr?1624D/A1/15/841MF10065
SMITH, John SnrHamstead Marshall1559D/A1/233/278MF96132
SMITH, John SnrUffington1568D/A1/167/137MF96000
SMITH, John SnrUffingtonHusbandman1596D/A1/212/178 D/A1/12/405MF96093 MF10048
SMITH, John SnrTurville, Compton1598D/A1/212/191MF96093
SMITH, John SnrKennington, RadleyYeoman1618D/A1/117/168MF539
SMITH, John Snr1624D/A1/15/843MF10065
SMITH, John SnrHawkridge, BuckleburyHusbandman1661D/A1/120/81MF541
SMITH, John SnrBurchetts Green, HurleyYeoman1662D/A1/214/98MF96097
SMITH, John SnrBuckleburyCarpenter1663D/A1/214/108MF96097
SMITH, John SnrBinfieldYeoman1676D/A1/121/75MF542
SMITH, John SnrFrilford, MarchamYeoman1677D/A1/121/83MF542
SMITH, John SnrStratfield MortimerYeoman1685D/A1/215/34MF96098
SMITH, John SnrReading St GilesHusbandman, Scavenger1699D/A1/122/87MF542
SMITH, JonathanReading St GilesCooper1731D/A1/124/29MF544
SMITH, JosephWaltham St. LawrenceHusbandman1681D/A1/215/1MF96098
SMITH, JosephNorth Moreton1703D/A1/215/142MF96099
SMITH, JosephLockingeYeoman1705D/A1/215/163MF96099
SMITH, JosephNewburyTailor1740D/A1/124/104MF544
SMITH, JosephEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1827D/A1/162/44MF583
SMITH, JoshuaAbingdonGrocer1694D/A1/215/89MF96098
SMITH, JosiahFaringdonVictualler1815D/A1/161/87MF583
SMITH, KatherineStanford Dingley1636D/A1/119/061MF540
SMITH, KatherineReading1709D/A1/122/176MF543
SMITH, KatherineAshbury1748D/A1/124/166MF544
SMITH, LawrenceAbingdon St HelenFreemason1630D/A1/118/139MF540
SMITH, LetitiaShaw Cum Donnington1848D/A1/163/1MF584
SMITH, LetticeGreat Milton, Oxfordshire1743D/A1/124/133MF544
SMITH, LukeChiltonYeoman1691D/A1/122/33MF542
SMITH, MargaretBussock, Chieveley1614D/A1/117/092 D/A1/15/434MF539 MF10065
SMITH, MargaretTitcomb, Kintbury1672D/A1/121/39MF542
SMITH, MargaretOare, Chieveley1673D/A1/121/50MF542
SMITH, MargaretChilton1693D/A1/122/49MF542
SMITH, MargaretAbingdon1701D/A1/122/110MF542
SMITH, MargaretHurley1740D/A1/124/105MF544
SMITH, MargeryUffington1604D/A1/116/243 D/A1/13/1340MF539 MF10049
SMITH, MargeryEast Lockinge1607D/A1/117/002 D/A1/14/266MF539 MF10064
SMITH, MargerySutton Courtenay1634D/A1/214/004MF96096
SMITH, MargerySutton Courtenay1634D/A1/168/259MF96001
SMITH, MargeryStanford In The Vale Weaver1677D/A1/214/177MF96097
SMITH, MariaTadley, Hampshire1853D/A1/231/118MF96130
SMITH, MarthaEling, Hampstead Norris1685D/A1/121/156MF542
SMITH, MaryBisham1577D/A1/212/097MF96092
SMITH, MaryDidcot1631D/A1/118/149MF540
SMITH, MaryWytham1663D/A1/120/126MF541
SMITH, MaryHawkridge, Bucklebury1670D/A1/121/8MF542
SMITH, MaryNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1685D/A1/215/37MF96098
SMITH, MarySunningwell1706D/A1/215/174MF96099
SMITH, MaryClapton, Kintbury1709D/A1/122/178MF543
SMITH, MaryNewbury1723D/A1/123/107MF543
SMITH, MaryHampstead Norreys1730D/A1/216/101MF96101
SMITH, MaryEast Hanney, Hanney1755D/A1/125/3MF544
SMITH, MaryHamstead Marshall1797D/A1/216/269MF96102
SMITH, MaryMoulsford1797D/A1/125/183MF546
SMITH, MaryReading1809D/A1/161/114MF583
SMITH, MaryGoosey, Stanford In The Vale 1813D/A1/161/103MF583
SMITH, MaryEast Garston1833D/A1/162/17MF583
SMITH, MaryChilton1849D/A1/231/109MF96130
SMITH, Mary AnnReading1856D/A1/163/40MF584
SMITH, NathanielWoolhampton1701D/A1/122/98MF542
SMITH, NicholasChiltonHusbandman1593D/A1/116/049 D/A1/12/058MF538 MF10048
SMITH, NicholasSutton CourtenayHarness Maker1667D/A1/214/130MF96097
SMITH, NicholasSteventonTailor1765D/A1/125/63MF544
SMITH, NicholasWoolhamptonGrocer1842D/A1/162/87MF583
SMITH, Nicholas SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1635D/A1/119/038MF540
SMITH, NoahReading St GilesCooper1696D/A1/215/106MF96098
SMITH, PeterReadingMiller1693D/A1/122/46MF542
SMITH, PhilipKintbury1577D/A1/115/139 D/A1/10/093MF538 MF10047A
SMITH, PhilipEast Lockinge1607D/A1/117/001 D/A1/14/372MF539 MF10064
SMITH, PriscillaThatcham1653D/A1/68/79MF518
SMITH, RalphWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1634D/A1/214/013/1 D/A1/168/265MF96096 MF96001
SMITH, RalphWythamFisherman , Yeoman1687D/A1/215/49MF96098
SMITH, RichardMaidenhead, Bray1541D/A1/5/218MF10043A
SMITH, RichardChieveley1553D/A1/7/011MF10040
SMITH, RichardWallingford1558D/A1/167/101MF96000
SMITH, RichardNetherton, Fyfield1571D/A1/9/259MF10046
SMITH, RichardDidcotLabourer1572D/A1/115/095/1 D/A1/9/335MF538 MF10046
SMITH, RichardAbingdon1583D/A1/10/417MF10047A
SMITH, RichardChilton1598D/A1/212/197MF96093
SMITH, RichardChilton1598D/A1/13/426MF10049
SMITH, RichardUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1598D/A1/116/151 D/A1/13/312MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1599D/A1/116/164 D/A1/13/461MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardBradfield1600D/A1/213/011 D/A1/13/595MF96094 MF10049
SMITH, RichardGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1603D/A1/213/025MF96094
SMITH, RichardClapton, Kintbury1604D/A1/116/244 D/A1/13/1349MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardFernham, ShrivenhamShepherd1604D/A1/116/241 D/A1/13/1310MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardWest IlsleyHusbandman1608D/A1/117/014 D/A1/14/458MF539 MF10064
SMITH, RichardHawkridge, BuckleburyHusbandman1608D/A1/117/009 D/A1/14/408MF539 MF10064
SMITH, RichardLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1609D/A1/117/031 D/A1/14/587MF539 MF10064
SMITH, RichardColthrop, ThatchamYeoman1610D/A1/117/049 D/A1/15/102MF539 MF10065