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
SPEAKMAN, WilliamReading St Laurence1775D/A1/216/236MF96102
SPEAKMAN, William SnrReadingSawyer1707D/A1/122/162MF543
SPEARING, JohnReading St GilesHusbandman1678D/A1/214/186MF96097
SPEED, WilliamReading St LaurenceVictualler1664D/A1/214/115MF96097
SPEEN, ElizabethWytham1743D/A1/124/131MF544
SPEEN, JohnCumnor1702D/A1/122/119MF543
SPEENE, AnthonyBotley, North Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1589D/A1/116/011 D/A1/11/195MF538 MF10047B
SPEENE, JaneCumnor1728D/A1/123/158MF544
SPEENE, JohnWythamYeoman1729D/A1/124/10MF544
SPEENE, JohnCumnorYeoman1734D/A1/124/71MF544
SPEENE, KatherineBotley, Cumnor1606D/A1/116/253 D/A1/14/136MF539 MF10064
SPEENE, MartinBotley, Cumnor1633D/A1/214/001 D/A1/16/334MF96096 MF10066
SPEENE, RichardWythamYeoman1643D/A1/120/001/1MF541
SPEENE, WilliamHill End, CumnorYeoman1611D/A1/117/058 D/A1/15/151MF539 MF10065
SPEENE, WilliamWythamHusbandman1687D/A1/215/50MF96098
SPEKES, PeterWarfieldHusbandman1619D/A1/117/155 D/A1/15/892MF539 MF10065
SPENCER (ALIAS HARBERT), FrancesUfton Nervet1736D/A1/216/135MF96101
SPENCER, DavidAbingdon1647D/A1/214/082MF96097
SPENCER, JohnStanford1531D/A1/1/180MF10042
SPENCER, JohnBradfieldShearman1664D/A1/120/132MF541
SPENCER, JohnReadingYeoman, Weaver1670D/A1/214/145MF96097
SPENCER, John JnrClewerCarpenter1604D/A1/116/239 D/A1/13/1280MF539 MF10049
SPENCER, RobertHagbourneHusbandman1662D/A1/120/94MF541
SPENCER, ThomasReadingMaltster1662D/A1/120/98MF541
SPENCER, ThomasCookhamBargeman1671D/A1/214/151MF96097
SPENCER, WalterStratfield Mortimer1603D/A1/116/223 D/A1/13/1043MF539 MF10049
SPENCER, WilliamClewerCordwainer1731D/A1/216/114MF96101
SPENCER, WilliamBinfieldBroom Maker1824D/A1/162/59MF583
SPENE, RichardBotley, Cumnor1562D/A1/212/061MF96092
SPENE, ThomasCumnor1562D/A1/167/118MF96000
SPENE, ThomasCumnor1563D/A1/212/058MF96092
SPENEIGE, JohnChildreyHusbandman1563D/A1/114/263 D/A1/8/238MF537 MF10043C
SPENNE, EmeBotley, Cumnor1581D/A1/115/173 D/A1/10/302MF538 MF10047A
SPENNEDGE, JaneLambourn1617D/A1/117/141 D/A1/15/724MF539 MF10065
SPENNEDGE, RobertUpper Lambourn, LambournHusbandman1615D/A1/117/113 D/A1/15/492MF539 MF10065
SPENSER, AlbanWallingfordDyer1598D/A1/212/195 D/A1/13/424MF96093 MF10049
SPENSER, MarianAbingdon St Helen1553D/A1/5/220MF10043A
SPENSER, OliverShinfieldLabourer1634D/A1/214/011 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SPENSER, RichardWargraveVicar1559D/A1/114/191 D/A1/8/082MF537 MF10043C
SPENSER, ThomasSutton CourtenayHusbandman1596D/A1/212/174MF96093
SPENSER, ThomasSutton Courtenay1596D/A1/12/401MF10048
SPENSER, WalterNewburyCordwainer1640D/A1/214/049 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SPENSER, WilliamReading St Mary1550D/A1/114/118 D/A1/5/110MF537 MF10043A
SPENSWICKE, RobertBrayBargeman1619D/A1/117/161 D/A1/15/926MF539 MF10065
SPERHAWKE, RichardTilehurstHusbandman1559D/A1/6/022MF10043B
SPERK, ThomasReading St Mary1555D/A1/7/073MF10040
SPEX, PeterWinkfieldBricklayer1690D/A1/122/23MF542
SPICER , John SnrLetcombe RegisYeoman1723D/A1/123/106MF543
SPICER , John SnrGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Yeoman1734D/A1/124/70MF544
SPICER , Lawrence JnrAbingdonCurrier1791D/A1/125/157MF546
SPICER , Lawrence SnrGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Yeoman1743D/A1/124/132MF544
SPICER (ALIAS PIGOTT), MaryWest Challow, Letcombe Regis1728D/A1/216/89MF96101
SPICER, AnnLambourn1846D/A1/162/109MF583
SPICER, AnneEast Hendred1661D/A1/120/75MF541
SPICER, AnneReading St Laurence1667D/A1/214/129MF96097
SPICER, AugustineGoosey, Stanford In The ValeYeoman1622D/A1/16/070MF10066
SPICER, AugustineGoosey, Stanford In The ValeYeoman1660D/A1/120/69MF541
SPICER, EdithSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1597D/A1/116/136 D/A1/13/165MF539 MF10049
SPICER, EdmundSotwell, Wallingford St LeonardHusbandman1590D/A1/116/021 D/A1/11/234MF538 MF10047B
SPICER, EdwardLeckhampstead, ChieveleyHusbandman1668D/A1/214/135MF96097
SPICER, EdwardBaydon, Wiltshire1670D/A1/121/14MF542
SPICER, ElizabethEast Hendred1716D/A1/123/48MF543
SPICER, GilesLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1613D/A1/117/104 D/A1/15/397MF539 MF10065
SPICER, GilesEastbury, LambournYeoman1664D/A1/120/137MF541
SPICER, GilesLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1678D/A1/121/90MF542
SPICER, GilesDownend, ChieveleyTimber Broker1679D/A1/121/100MF542
SPICER, GilesLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1703D/A1/122/125MF543
SPICER, GilesChildreyYeoman1739D/A1/124/98MF544
SPICER, HenryStanmore, Beedon1632D/A1/213/164MF96095
SPICER, HenryStanmore, Beedon1634D/A1/16/351MF10066
SPICER, HenryLeckhampstead, Chieveley1706D/A1/215/175MF96099
SPICER, Henry JnrStanmore, BeedonYeoman1630D/A1/213/160 D/A1/168/191MF96095 MF96001
SPICER, Henry SnrStanmore, Beedon1632D/A1/168/222MF96001
SPICER, IsaacEast HendredCarpenter1766D/A1/125/65MF544
SPICER, JamesLeckhampstead, Chieveley1748D/A1/124/163MF544
SPICER, James MayGoosey, Stanford In The Vale 1823D/A1/162/63MF583
SPICER, JoanAldermaston1541D/A1/1/226MF10042
SPICER, JohnReading1558D/A1/212/041MF96092
SPICER, JohnReading1560D/A1/167/100MF96000
SPICER, JohnPeasemoreHusbandman1561D/A1/2/020MF603
SPICER, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1586D/A1/115/227 D/A1/11/065MF538 MF10047B
SPICER, JohnGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1604D/A1/116/236 D/A1/13/1236MF539 MF10049
SPICER, JohnSteventon1622D/A1/118/038MF540
SPICER, JohnLeckhampstead, Chieveley1706D/A1/122/150MF543
SPICER, JohnEast HendredCarpenter1732D/A1/124/47MF544
SPICER, JohnChildreyYeoman1745D/A1/124/147MF544
SPICER, JohnYattendonHusbandman, Maltster 1775D/A1/125/103MF544
SPICER, John JnrGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Husbandman1664D/A1/214/110MF96097
SPICER, John JnrLeckhampstead, Chieveley1695D/A1/215/98MF96098
SPICER, John SnrLetcombe RegisMiller1672D/A1/121/37MF542
SPICER, JoyceAppleford, Sutton Courtenay1664D/A1/214/111MF96097
SPICER, KatherineEast HendredYeoman1690D/A1/122/27MF542
SPICER, LaurenceEast HendredYeoman1661D/A1/120/76MF541
SPICER, LawrenceGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1629D/A1/118/132MF540
SPICER, LydiaReading1831D/A1/162/26MF583
SPICER, MargeryGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1597D/A1/212/172 D/A1/13/181MF96093 MF10049
SPICER, MaryEastbury, Lambourn1848D/A1/163/4MF584
SPICER, RichardStanmore, Beedon1684D/A1/121/138MF542
SPICER, RichardMarsh Benham, SpeenYeoman, Servant1688D/A1/122/4MF542
SPICER, RichardChieveleyVicar, Clerk1706D/A1/215/178MF96099