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, WilliamHee Benham, WelfordHusbandman1662D/A1/120/104MF541
SMITH, WilliamHinton WaldristHusbandman1671D/A1/214/148MF96097
SMITH, WilliamHagbourneFellmonger1672D/A1/121/41MF542
SMITH, WilliamWaltham St. LawrenceHusbandman1676D/A1/214/174MF96097
SMITH, WilliamThatchamHusbandman1680D/A1/214/197MF96097
SMITH, WilliamCulham, WargraveYeoman1682D/A1/121/126MF542
SMITH, WilliamMidgham, ThatchamYeoman1683D/A1/215/14MF96098
SMITH, WilliamSpeenhamland, SpeenCarpenter1683D/A1/121/136MF542
SMITH, WilliamBucklandLabourer1684D/A1/215/29MF96098
SMITH, WilliamNewbury1686D/A1/215/41MF96098
SMITH, WilliamReadingBroad Weaver1687D/A1/215/52MF96098
SMITH, WilliamThatchamWeaver1688D/A1/215/55MF96098
SMITH, WilliamAshburyHusbandman1691D/A1/215/70MF96098
SMITH, WilliamWinkfieldYeoman1691D/A1/122/31MF542
SMITH, WilliamKintburyMiller1694D/A1/215/93MF96098
SMITH, WilliamClewerGardener1695D/A1/215/99MF96098
SMITH, WilliamChieveleyYeoman1709D/A1/122/175MF543
SMITH, WilliamStratfield MortimerHusbandman1712D/A1/216/19MF96100
SMITH, WilliamLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1713D/A1/123/20MF543
SMITH, WilliamReadingYeoman1715D/A1/123/32MF543
SMITH, WilliamReadingWaggoner1716D/A1/123/49MF543
SMITH, WilliamEast LockingeYeoman1722D/A1/123/94MF543
SMITH, WilliamEast LockingeYeoman1755D/A1/125/4MF544
SMITH, WilliamUffingtonYeoman1765D/A1/125/62MF544
SMITH, WilliamStratfield MortimerCordwainer1782D/A1/125/128MF544
SMITH, WilliamHampstead Norreys1789D/A1/216/259MF96102
SMITH, WilliamComptonFarmer1805D/A1/161/126MF583
SMITH, WilliamLetcombe Bassett1809D/A1/161/118MF583
SMITH, WilliamBasildonYeoman1810D/A1/161/111MF583
SMITH, WilliamNewburyInnholder1810D/A1/161/106MF583
SMITH, WilliamLetcombe RegisYeoman1825D/A1/162/51MF583
SMITH, WilliamLambournBlacksmith1840D/A1/162/80MF583
SMITH, WilliamSpeenWine And Spirit Merchant1842D/A1/231/100MF96130
SMITH, WilliamNewburyChina And Glass Man1853D/A1/163/26MF584
SMITH, WilliamWest Ilsley1560D/A1/167/112 D/A1/167/114MF96000 MF96000
SMITH, WilliamThatchamHusbandman1562D/A1/2/285MF604
SMITH, WilliamThatchamHusbandman1562D/A1/114/260MF537
SMITH, WilliamHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1588D/A1/116/007 D/A1/11/223MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, WilliamHolt, Kintbury1593D/A1/116/062 D/A1/12/079MF538 MF10048
SMITH, WilliamCumnorClerk1600D/A1/116/184 D/A1/13/633MF539 MF10049
SMITH, WilliamMarcham1610D/A1/213/066MF96094
SMITH, WilliamMarcham1610D/A1/168/068MF96001
SMITH, WilliamShaw Cum Donnington1611D/A1/168/080MF96001
SMITH, WilliamHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1615D/A1/117/118 D/A1/15/518MF539 MF10065
SMITH, WilliamGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1621D/A1/118/033MF540
SMITH, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1622D/A1/213/119MF96095
SMITH, WilliamIdstone, AshburyLabourer1624D/A1/213/133MF96095
SMITH, WilliamDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1626D/A1/118/088MF540
SMITH, WilliamSunninghill1628D/A1/118/117MF540
SMITH, WilliamClewerKeeper1635D/A1/214/021 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SMITH, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1636D/A1/119/060MF540
SMITH, WilliamDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1638D/A1/16/486MF10066
SMITH, WilliamAston, Remenham1642D/A1/119/160MF541
SMITH, William SellwoodGreat CoxwellYeoman1821D/A1/161/79MF583
SMITH, William SnrChieveleyHusbandman1671D/A1/121/2MF542
SMITH, William SnrWest IlsleyYeoman1686D/A1/121/165MF542
SMITHE, AgnesBagnor, Speen1584D/A1/115/211 D/A1/10/459MF538 MF10047A
SMITHE, AliceHamstead Marshall1616D/A1/213/097MF96094
SMITHE, AndrewBenham, Speen1639D/A1/119/110MF540
SMITHE, AnnBurghfield1600D/A1/116/188 D/A1/13/539MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, FrancisSnelsmore, Chieveley1592D/A1/116/047 D/A1/12/020MF538 MF10048
SMITHE, GeorgeFinchampstead1600D/A1/213/009MF96094
SMITHE, HenryWhite WalthamVicar1558D/A1/114/169 D/A1/7/195MF537 MF10040
SMITHE, HenryStratfield Mortimer1580D/A1/115/164 D/A1/10/216MF538 MF10047A
SMITHE, Henry SnrWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1603D/A1/116/231 D/A1/13/1155MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, Henry SnrWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1623D/A1/118/046MF540
SMITHE, Hugh SnrDidcotHusbandman1601D/A1/116/196 D/A1/13/643MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, JoanBraywick, Bray1558D/A1/114/166 D/A1/7/160MF537 MF10040
SMITHE, JoanBussock, Chieveley1567D/A1/115/030 D/A1/9/091MF538 MF10046
SMITHE, JoanPeasemore1599D/A1/116/168 D/A1/13/494MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, JohnBlewburyLabourer1581D/A1/212/103MF96092
SMITHE, JohnTilehurstYeoman1587D/A1/115/230 D/A1/11/258MF538 MF10047B
SMITHE, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1589D/A1/11/367MF10047B
SMITHE, JohnTurville, Compton1590D/A1/11/372MF10047B
SMITHE, JohnBrayGlover1595D/A1/116/091 D/A1/12/241MF538 MF10048
SMITHE, JohnWargrave1600D/A1/116/186 D/A1/13/524MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, JohnBucklandHusbandman1610D/A1/117/042 D/A1/15/052MF539 MF10065
SMITHE, MargaretKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1599D/A1/116/163 D/A1/13/460MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, NicholasUffingtonYeoman1597D/A1/116/131 D/A1/13/127MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, RalphCompton1591D/A1/116/041 D/A1/11/388MF538 MF10047B
SMITHE, ReginaldKingston Lisle, SparsholtHusbandman1579D/A1/115/158 D/A1/10/163MF538 MF10047A
SMITHE, RichardUffingtonHusbandman1583D/A1/115/194 D/A1/10/347MF538 MF10047A
SMITHE, RichardWinterbourne, ChieveleyHusbandman1590D/A1/116/025 D/A1/11/317MF538 MF10047B
SMITHE, RichardBurghfield1614D/A1/213/084MF96094
SMITHE, RichardDidcotHusbandman1646D/A1/214/080MF96096
SMITHE, ThomasBagnor, SpeenHusbandman1575D/A1/115/115 D/A1/10/019MF538 MF10047A
SMITHE, ThomasRadleyHusbandman1594D/A1/116/079 D/A1/12/150MF538 MF10048
SMITHE, ThomasBothampstead, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1601D/A1/116/265 D/A1/13/746MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, ThomasWoolstone, UffingtonCarpenter1626D/A1/118/093MF540
SMITHE, WalterMaidenhead, CookhamInnholder1597D/A1/116/130 D/A1/13/117MF539 MF10049
SMITHE, WilliamBoxford1564D/A1/114/274 D/A1/8/332MF537 MF10043C
SMITHE, WilliamWasing1576D/A1/115/130 D/A1/10/040MF538 MF10047A
SMITHE, WilliamNewburyWeaver1601D/A1/213/007 D/A1/13/715MF96094 MF10049
SMITHE, WilliamShaw Cum Donnington1611D/A1/213/074MF96094
SMITHE, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1613D/A1/117/086 D/A1/15/335MF539 MF10065
SMITHE, WilliamEnborneHusbandman1639D/A1/119/106MF540
SMITHER, JohnEasthampsteadHusbandman1725D/A1/123/129MF543
SMITHIARD, JohnAbingdon St HelenYeoman1587D/A1/115/225 D/A1/11/101MF538 MF10047B
SMYETH, WilliamWest Ilsley1559D/A1/212/051MF96092
SMYGTH, JamesBrimptonBlacksmith1557D/A1/212/038MF96092