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
SOUTHIE, WilliamBinfieldTanner1597D/A1/116/134 D/A1/13/145MF539 MF10049
SOUTHRIDGE, JohnStreatley1608D/A1/168/038MF96001
SOUTHRIGE, JohnStreatley1608D/A1/213/051MF96094
SOUTHWELL, ElizabethNewbury1787D/A1/125/139MF544
SOUTHWELL, JohnNewburyVictualler1785D/A1/125/135MF544
SOUTHWELL, JosephNewburyDyer1771D/A1/125/87MF544
SOUTHY, ThomasBrayLabourer1626D/A1/118/090MF540
SOUTHY, Thomas SnrBinfieldYeoman1686D/A1/121/166MF542
SOUZTEND, JohnTilehurst1565D/A1/115/011MF538
SOWTH , TobyWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1627D/A1/213/143MF96095
SOWTH, JohnAldermaston1558D/A1/212/033 D/A1/7/340a D/A1/167/098MF96092 MF10040 MF96000
SOWTH, JohnHurleyHusbandman1611D/A1/117/060 D/A1/15/186MF539 MF10065
SOWTHALL, HughBurghfieldClerk, Parson1558D/A1/212/043MF96092
SOWTHBIE, AvisNewton, Buckland1603D/A1/116/215 D/A1/13/1089MF539 MF10049
SOWTHBIE, SusanHinton Waldrist1606D/A1/116/263 D/A1/15/070MF539 MF10065
SOWTHBY , RobertNewton, BucklandYeoman1570D/A1/115/091 D/A1/9/327MF538 MF10046
SOWTHBY, RobertBuckland1570D/A1/167/143MF96000
SOWTHBYE, RichardHinton WaldristHusbandman1572D/A1/115/063MF538
SOWTHE , JoanStratfield Mortimer1612D/A1/117/083 D/A1/15/294MF539 MF10065
SOWTHE , JohnFarnboroughHusbandman1558D/A1/114/183 D/A1/8/002MF537 MF10043C
SOWTHE , JohnBinfield1569D/A1/212/071MF96092
SOWTHE, ThomasReading St Laurence1580D/A1/115/170 D/A1/10/254MF538 MF10047A
SOWTHEBYE, RichardBurghfieldHusbandman1599D/A1/116/154 D/A1/13/361MF539 MF10049
SOWTHEN, RobertYattendonYeoman1589D/A1/116/014 D/A1/11/198MF538 MF10047B
SOWTHEND, JohnTilehurst1565D/A1/7/378MF10040
SOWTHEY, AgnesBinfield1572D/A1/115/089 D/A1/9/314MF538 MF10046
SOWTHEY, JoanWarfield1590D/A1/116/019 D/A1/11/334MF538 MF10047B
SOWTHEY, RichardWarfieldHusbandman1556D/A1/114/155MF537
SOWTHEY, RichardCookhamHusbandman1568D/A1/212/068MF96092
SOWTHEY, RichardBinfieldWeaver1592D/A1/116/050 D/A1/12/030MF538 MF10048
SOWTHEY, RichardBinfield1618D/A1/213/112 D/A1/168/155MF96095 MF96001
SOWTHEY, RichardBrayHusbandman1632D/A1/119/013MF540
SOWTHEY, RobertBrayLabourer1638D/A1/119/084MF540
SOWTHEY, SOWTHY, EdwardBinfieldYeoman1663D/A1/120/122MF541
SOWTHEY, WilliamBinfieldHusbandman1634D/A1/119/035MF540
SOWTHEY, WilliamBinfieldYeoman1667D/A1/80/154MF527
SOWTHEYE, JamesBinfield1565D/A1/115/006 D/A1/7/381MF538 MF10040
SOWTHEYE, RobertBinfield1565D/A1/115/007 D/A1/7/381MF538 MF10040
SOWTHIE, HenryBrayHusbandman1609D/A1/117/034 D/A1/14/598MF539 MF10064
SOWTHIE, NicholasBinfieldLathemaker, Hatmaker1602D/A1/116/207 D/A1/13/806MF539 MF10049
SOWTHIE, WilliamBinfieldHusbandman1607D/A1/117/006 D/A1/14/361MF539 MF10064
SOWTHY, JohnBinfield1569D/A1/167/141MF96000
SOWTHY, RichardCookham1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
SPACKMAN, RobertChieveleyWheelwright1747D/A1/124/150MF544
SPACKMAN, TemperanceNewbury1731D/A1/124/41MF544
SPACKMAN, ThomasLambourn1819D/A1/231/64MF96129
SPALDING, CharlesReadingFarrier1830D/A1/162/33MF583
SPANSWICK , Ann SnrLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1739D/A1/124/94MF544
SPANSWICK, HannahEastbury, Lambourn1850D/A1/163/12MF584
SPANSWICK, JaneAshbury1722D/A1/216/67MF96101
SPANSWICK, JohnLambournYeoman1730D/A1/124/20MF544
SPANSWICK, JonathanEastbury, LambournYeoman1790D/A1/125/150MF544
SPANSWICK, JonathanEastbury, Lambourn1838D/A1/162/70MF583
SPANSWICK, RogerLambournYeoman1764D/A1/125/57MF544
SPANSWICK, RogerEastbury, LambournYeoman1803D/A1/161/129MF583
SPANSWICK, StephenEastbury, LambournYeoman1817D/A1/161/90MF583
SPANSWICK, ThomasLynte, ColeshillHusbandman1612D/A1/117/077 D/A1/15/260MF539 MF10065
SPANSWICK, WilliamEastbury, LambournYeoman1844D/A1/162/95MF583
SPAREHAWKE, JohnReading St GilesCarpenter1618D/A1/117/148 D/A1/15/849MF539 MF10065
SPARHAKE, NicholasStratfield Mortimer1558D/A1/114/246 D/A1/6/202MF537 MF10043B
SPARHAUKE, LaurenceYattendon1571D/A1/115/079 D/A1/9/274MF538 MF10046
SPARHAWK, AveryTilehurst1546D/A1/233/246MF96132
SPARHAWKE, AveryTilehurstHusbandman1545D/A1/3/145MF604
SPARHAWKE, JoanWallingford1551D/A1/5/136MF10043A
SPARHAWKE, JoanSaint Johns, Wallingford St Leonard1551D/A1/114/126MF537
SPARHAWKE, ThomasHarwellLabourer1640D/A1/119/121MF540
SPARK, ThomasReadingInnholder1555D/A1/114/144MF537
SPARKE, JaneAbingdon1682D/A1/121/124MF542
SPARKES, MaryAbingdon1712D/A1/123/6MF543
SPARKS, HannahThatcham1845D/A1/231/107MF96130
SPARKS, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1695D/A1/215/101MF96098
SPAROHAWKE, RichardWeston, WelfordHusbandman1559D/A1/114/189 D/A1/8/042MF537 MF10043C
SPAROW, JohnNewbury1528D/A1/1/087MF10041
SPAROWE, JoanBrightwalton1620D/A1/118/021MF540
SPAROWE, JohnBinfield1587D/A1/212/128MF96092
SPAROWE, JohnBinfield1587D/A1/11/098MF10047B
SPARROCK, WilliamBurghfieldSawyer1689D/A1/122/10MF542
SPARROKKE, RichardTilehurstHusbandman1559D/A1/114/209MF537
SPARROW , GeorgeWest SheffordShoemaker1629D/A1/118/131MF540
SPARROW, AliceBrightwalton1582D/A1/115/195 D/A1/10/355MF538 MF10047A
SPARROW, FrancisBrightwaltonFarmer1761D/A1/125/41MF544
SPARROW, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1571D/A1/115/080MF538
SPARROW, JohnFawleyHusbandman1576D/A1/212/092MF96092
SPARROW, JohnBrightwaltonYeoman1716D/A1/123/41MF543
SPARROW, KatherineBray1707D/A1/122/161MF543
SPARROW, MaryShrivenham1689D/A1/215/65MF96098
SPARROW, MaryWickham, Welford 1788D/A1/216/258MF96102
SPARROW, SamuelNewburyApothecary1736D/A1/216/138MF96101
SPARROW, StephenNewburyCarrier1630D/A1/213/161 D/A1/168/190MF96095 MF96001
SPARROW, ThomasHolt, KintburyMiller1706D/A1/215/173MF96099
SPARROW, ThomasWelfordHusbandman1781D/A1/125/123MF544
SPARROW, WalterEast GarstonShepherd1572D/A1/115/092MF538
SPARROW, WilliamBrightwaltonHusbandman1582D/A1/115/179 D/A1/10/276MF538 MF10047A
SPARROW, WilliamBradfieldHusbandman1749D/A1/124/174MF544
SPARROWE, FrancisBrightwaltonHusbandman1608D/A1/117/012 D/A1/14/418MF539 MF10064
SPARROWE, John SnrBrightwaltonHusbandman1683D/A1/121/131MF542
SPARROWE, RobertWeston, WelfordHusbandman1591D/A1/116/045 D/A1/12/012MF538 MF10048
SPARROWE, WilliamMidgham, ThatchamCloth Worker1627D/A1/213/148MF96095
SPARROWHAWK, SarahAbingdon1791D/A1/125/156MF546
SPEAKMAN , Elizabeth SnrReading1716D/A1/123/46MF543