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
BISSHOPP, DorothyMackney, Brightwell1558D/A1/167/104MF96000
BISSHOPPE, ChristopherEasthampstead1612D/A1/42/093 D/A1/15/278MF463 MF10065
BISSLEE, AnthonyCholseyHusbandman1646D/A1/45/015MF465
BISSLEY, JohnAshburyHusbandman1604D/A1/41/186MF463
BISSLEY, JohnAshbury1604D/A1/13/1341MF10049
BITTELL, WilliamSpeenGardener1693D/A1/179/97MF96017
BIZLEY, ClementBucklandYeoman1680D/A1/47/49MF466
BLACK, GeorgeW. Compton, ComptonCarpenter1683D/A1/179/25MF96016
BLACK, PhilipBucklebury1594D/A1/41/050 D/A1/12/208MF462 MF10048
BLACKALL , John JnrCholseyYeoman1823D/A1/145/117MF557
BLACKALL , John SnrCholseyYeoman1805D/A1/145/20MF557
BLACKALL , William SnrNorth MoretonVictualler1822D/A1/145/106MF557
BLACKALL, AnneLondon1721D/A1/49/52MF468
BLACKALL, AnneCholsey1749D/A1/50/33MF469
BLACKALL, ElizabethCholsey1751D/A1/180/192MF96020
BLACKALL, HenryWargraveHusbandman1667D/A1/178/105MF96015
BLACKALL, ThomasCholseyYeoman1739D/A1/49/207MF468
BLACKALLER, MaryEast Ilsley1737D/A1/49/197MF468
BLACKBERY, HenrySpeenhamland, Speen1697D/A1/179/123MF96017
BLACKE, FrancisReading St MaryClothier1632D/A1/177/041 D/A1/168/234MF96013 MF96001
BLACKE, JohnCrookham, Thatcham1602D/A1/41/159 D/A1/13/797MF463 MF10049
BLACKE, RichardBuckleburyYeoman1604D/A1/41/190 D/A1/13/1370MF463 MF10049
BLACKEGROVE, ThomasWest Shefford1567D/A1/39/231MF462
BLACKEMAN, AndrewShinfieldYeoman1597D/A1/41/088 D/A1/13/173MF462 MF10049
BLACKEMAN, JamesNewburyTailor1586D/A1/175/106MF96010
BLACKEMAN, JohnCumnorBlacksmith1651D/A1/178/45MF96015
BLACKEMAN, JohnCumnorBlacksmith1651D/A1/178/045MF96015
BLACKEMAN, ThomasTilehurst1568D/A1/39/232 D/A1/9/120MF462 MF10046
BLACKEMAN, WilliamTilehurst1591D/A1/11/376MF10047B
BLACKEMAN, WilliamShinfieldYeoman, Wheelwright1626D/A1/43/150MF464
BLACKESTONE, AldworthVicar1557D/A1/233/052MF96132
BLACKHALL, RobertReadingHusbandman1585D/A1/175/102MF96010
BLACKHALL, RobertReading1585D/A1/11/013MF10047B
BLACKLEDGE, HenryReading St LaurenceLabourer1583D/A1/40/115 D/A1/10/413MF462 MF10047A
BLACKMAN, Northcourt, Abingdon St Helen1591D/A1/175/126MF96010
BLACKMAN, Agnes1564D/A1/167/124MF96000
BLACKMAN, AgnesSulhamstead Abbots1591D/A1/11/377MF10047B
BLACKMAN, AliceTilehurst1543D/A1/233/022MF96132
BLACKMAN, AnneAbingdon1684D/A1/47/100MF466
BLACKMAN, AnthonyShinfieldYeoman1713D/A1/180/14MF96019
BLACKMAN, BenjaminAston TirroldYeoman1822D/A1/145/110MF557
BLACKMAN, EdwardTilehurstHusbandman1629D/A1/43/187MF464
BLACKMAN, Edward SnrTilehurstHusbandman1692D/A1/48/2MF467
BLACKMAN, ElizabethStratfield Mortimer1711D/A1/180/3MF96019
BLACKMAN, HenryBurghfieldHusbandman1730D/A1/49/137MF468
BLACKMAN, JamesNewbury1586D/A1/11/051MF10047B
BLACKMAN, JamesAldermaston1616D/A1/176/056MF96012
BLACKMAN, JamesAldermaston1616D/A1/168/135MF96001
BLACKMAN, JamesAldermastonYeoman1661D/A1/45/77MF465
BLACKMAN, JoanTilehurst1553D/A1/7/003MF10040
BLACKMAN, JoanTilehurst1612D/A1/42/084 D/A1/15/246MF463 MF10065
BLACKMAN, JoanTilehurst1670D/A1/178/126MF96015
BLACKMAN, JoannaAston Tirrold1822D/A1/145/109MF557
BLACKMAN, JohnTilehurst1551D/A1/5/122MF10043A
BLACKMAN, JohnHoney End, TilehurstYeoman1591D/A1/41/014 D/A1/11/404MF462 MF10047B
BLACKMAN, JohnShinfieldYeoman1594D/A1/41/051 D/A1/12/214MF462 MF10048
BLACKMAN, JohnSwallowfieldWeaver1604D/A1/41/183 D/A1/13/1278MF463 MF10049
BLACKMAN, JohnCumnorBlacksmith1644D/A1/178/001MF96015
BLACKMAN, JohnShinfieldYeoman1667D/A1/178/107MF96015
BLACKMAN, JohnAbingdonGrocer1710D/A1/48/170MF467
BLACKMAN, JohnAbingdonGrocer1710D/A1/48/170MF467
BLACKMAN, JohnPangbourneLabourer1727D/A1/49/105MF468
BLACKMAN, John JnrCumnorYeoman1629D/A1/43/177MF464
BLACKMAN, John SnrBlands [?], Tilehurst1566D/A1/39/219 D/A1/9/018MF462 MF10046
BLACKMAN, JosiahBesselsleighBlacksmith1731D/A1/49/148MF468
BLACKMAN, MaryReading1673D/A1/46/99MF466
BLACKMAN, MosesTheale, TilehurstBarber1757D/A1/50/76MF469
BLACKMAN, RichardShinfieldHusbandman1608D/A1/176/007MF96012
BLACKMAN, RichardReading St LaurenceShoemaker1615D/A1/42/135 D/A1/15/535MF463 MF10065
BLACKMAN, RichardWokefield, Stratfield MortimerCordwainer1632D/A1/177/042MF96013
BLACKMAN, RichardStratfield Mortimer1632D/A1/168/234MF96001
BLACKMAN, RichardAbingdonCurrier1698D/A1/179/128MF96017
BLACKMAN, RichardReadingCarpenter1748D/A1/50/15MF469
BLACKMAN, Richard SnrAbingdonCurrier1682D/A1/47/74MF466
BLACKMAN, RobertReadingWeaver1733D/A1/180/132MF96020
BLACKMAN, SamuelReading1796D/A1/180/266MF96020
BLACKMAN, ThomasShinfield1559D/A1/39/166 D/A1/6/203MF461 MF10043B
BLACKMAN, ThomasBinfieldHusbandman1598D/A1/41/106 D/A1/13/341MF463 MF10049
BLACKMAN, ThomasAldermastonHusbandman1637D/A1/177/068/2MF96014
BLACKMAN, ThomasStrtfield Saye, HampshireYeoman1663D/A1/45/128MF465
BLACKMAN, ThomasStratfield MortimerWheelwright1694D/A1/179/105MF96017
BLACKMAN, ThomasLong WittenhamBlacksmith1744D/A1/50/1MF469
BLACKMAN, Thomas SnrAbingdonHemp Dresser , Sackcloth Weaver1708D/A1/48/163MF467
BLACKMAN, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1556D/A1/7/135MF10040
BLACKMAN, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1556D/A1/233/032MF96132
BLACKMAN, WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1556D/A1/233/025MF96132
BLACKMAN, WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1579D/A1/40/096 D/A1/10/198MF462 MF10047A
BLACKMAN, WilliamTilehurst1591D/A1/175/123MF96010
BLACKMAN, WilliamTilehurst1596D/A1/175/147MF96010
BLACKMAN, WilliamTilehurst1596D/A1/12/399MF10048
BLACKMAN, WilliamReadingVictualler1739D/A1/49/211MF468
BLACKMAN, WilliamSulhamstead AbbotsMaltster1757D/A1/50/74MF469
BLACKMAN, William SnrReading St LaurenceTailor1670D/A1/46/59MF466
BLACKMOORE, HenryBinfieldYeoman1601D/A1/41/163 D/A1/13/754MF463 MF10049
BLACKMORE, EdwardEasthampsteadYeoman1746D/A1/50/9MF469
BLACKNALL, HenryReading1579D/A1/10/188MF10047A
BLACKNALL, John SnrAbingdon1611D/A1/176/025MF96012
BLACKNALL, WilliamAbingdon1585D/A1/11/021MF10047B
BLACKNALL, WilliamAbingdon1585D/A1/11/020MF10047B
BLACKNALL, WilliamReadingCloth Worker1669D/A1/46/49MF466