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
ALDWORTH, RobertDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1617D/A1/173/094 D/A1/168/138MF96006 MF96001
ALDWORTH, RobertWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1620D/A1/173/106MF96006
ALDWORTH, RobertWatchfield, Shrivenham1620D/A1/168/165MF96001
ALDWORTH, RobertDraytonYeoman1707D/A1/38/23MF461
ALDWORTH, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1554D/A1/7/050MF10040
ALDWORTH, ThomasSteventonShepherd1620D/A1/36/072 D/A1/36/071MF459 MF459
ALDWORTH, ThomasFyfieldYeoman1641D/A1/36/177MF460
ALDWORTH, ThomasReading St LaurenceCordwainer1690D/A1/174/95MF96008
ALDWORTH, Thomas SnrReadingCordwainer1667D/A1/37/43MF460
ALDWORTH, WilliamChildreyHusbandman1544D/A1/6/166MF10043B
ALDWORTH, WilliamDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1544D/A1/35/004MF459
ALDWORTH, WilliamMarcham1559D/A1/167/108MF96000
ALDWORTH, WilliamGarford, Marcham1586D/A1/35/186 D/A1/11/046MF459 MF10047B
ALDWORTH, WilliamEast Lockinge1606D/A1/173/076 D/A1/168/013MF96006 MF96001
ALDWORTH, WilliamDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1643D/A1/174/024 D/A1/169/001bMF96007 MF96002
ALDWORTH, WilliamSutton CourtenayTailor1677D/A1/37/71MF460
ALDWORTHE, AliceReading St Giles1586D/A1/35/188 D/A1/11/070MF459 MF10047B
ALDWORTHE, ElizabethTilehurst1552D/A1/5/164 D/A1/35/026MF10043A MF459
ALDWORTHE, PernellGarford, Marcham1563D/A1/35/093 D/A1/8/236MF459 MF10043C
ALDWORTHE, RichardTilehurstCloth Maker1543D/A1/35/003 D/A1/6/156MF459 MF10043B
ALDWORTHE, RichardSutton CourtenayYeoman1557D/A1/6/065MF10043B
ALDWORTHE, RichardSutton Courtenay1557D/A1/35/038MF459
ALDWORTHE, RichardGarford, Marcham1570D/A1/35/121 D/A1/9/177MF459 MF10046
ALDWORTHE, RichardFenn Mill, Marcham1607D/A1/36/009 D/A1/14/296MF459 MF10064
ALDWOURTHE, EdithFenn Mill, Marcham1627D/A1/36/101 D/A1/16/098 D/A1/173/113MF459 MF10066 MF96006
ALEE, JamesCholsey1584D/A1/35/180 D/A1/10/430MF459 MF10047A
ALEE, SimonEnborne1557D/A1/173/006MF96006
ALEE, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1602D/A1/35/266 D/A1/13/866MF459 MF10049
ALEN, AlexanderWaltham St Lawrence1570D/A1/35/119 D/A1/9/234MF459 MF10046
ALEN, JohnHampstead Norreys1529D/A1/1/121MF10041
ALEN, JohnAldworth1557D/A1/3/008MF604
ALEN, JohnWargrave1567D/A1/167/135MF96000
ALEN, MargeryChildrey1577D/A1/173/036MF96006
ALEXANDER, AugustineReading1637D/A1/36/148MF460
ALEXANDER, EdwardKintburyYeoman1824D/A1/144/30MF557
ALEXANDER, Henry1541D/A1/35/006MF459
ALEXANDER, HenryReading St Mary1625D/A1/36/095MF459
ALEXANDER, JoanSwallowfield 1629D/A1/36/113MF459
ALEXANDER, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1628D/A1/36/107MF459
ALEXANDER, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1628D/A1/36/106MF459
ALEXANDER, JohnSwallowfieldHusbandman1635D/A1/174/004 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ALEXANDER, JohnReading St LaurenceButcher1679D/A1/174/72MF96008
ALEXANDER, MargaretFinchampstead1764D/A1/38/156MF461
ALEXANDER, MaryReading St Laurence1703D/A1/38/12MF461
ALEXANDER, RichardReading St Giles1812D/A1/144/14MF557
ALEXANDER, Richard SnrReading St GilesTurner1682D/A1/174/82MF96008
ALEXANDER, Richard SnrReading St GilesBricklayer1785D/A1/38/193MF461
ALEXANDER, SusanSwallowfield1645D/A1/36/187MF460
ALEXANDER, ThomasSwallowfieldYeoman1677D/A1/37/73MF460
ALEXANDER, ThomasReading1788D/A1/174/191MF96009
ALEXANDER, WilliamSwallowfield1743D/A1/38/116MF461
ALEXANDER, WilliamSwallowfieldYeoman1749D/A1/38/123MF461
ALEXSANDER, RichardSwallowfieldYeoman1579D/A1/35/161 D/A1/10/202MF459 MF10047A
ALEY, JoanCholsey1546D/A1/35/010MF459
ALFORD, ThomasUffingtonYeoman1751D/A1/38/135MF461
ALFORD, WilliamFearnham, ShrivenhamYeoman1774D/A1/38/175MF461
ALFRAGE, HumphreyLambourn1546D/A1/35/014 D/A1/5/026MF459 MF10043A
ALGAR, RobertKintbury1543D/A1/35/001MF459
ALHERN, AnnChieveley1740D/A1/38/105MF461
ALIARD, NicholasReading St LaurenceLinen Draper1573D/A1/173/029MF96006
ALIE, JohnEnborne1577D/A1/35/154 D/A1/10/099MF459 MF10047A
ALIE, JohnEnborneHusbandman1587D/A1/35/199 D/A1/11/136MF459 MF10047B
ALISON, AnnEasthampstead1766D/A1/38/160MF461
ALLAM , John SnrAppleford, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1806D/A1/144/6MF557
ALLAM, CharlesAbingdonOmnibus Proprietor1850D/A1/144/69MF557
ALLAM, DavidAppleford, Sutton CourtenayHusbandman1647D/A1/36/191MF460
ALLAM, FrancisAppleford, Sutton Courtenay1755D/A1/38/140MF461
ALLAM, HenryAbingdon St HelenInnkeeper1857D/A1/144/85MF557
ALLAM, JamesAppleford, Sutton Courtenay1808D/A1/226/3MF96122
ALLAWAY, HenryTilehurstYeoman1807D/A1/144/8MF557
ALLAWAY, MichaelBuckleburyYeoman1689D/A1/174/91MF96008
ALLAWAYE, JohnWargraveLabourer1623D/A1/36/089MF459
ALLAYE, BernardNewland, HurstHusbandman1661D/A1/37/11MF460
ALLDER, JeanBuckland1683D/A1/37/99MF460
ALLDER, JohnEast LockingeYeoman1643D/A1/174/025 D/A1/169/001bMF96007 MF96002
ALLDER, PernellFrilford, Marcham1599D/A1/35/257 D/A1/35/252/2 D/A1/13/359MF459 MF459 MF10049
ALLDER, ThomasChildreyHusbandman1580D/A1/35/167MF459
ALLDER, ThomasFawler, SparsholtYeoman1681D/A1/37/93MF460
ALLDERIDGE, Richard JnrBrightwellSmith1638D/A1/36/149MF460
ALLDRIDGE, RobertAbingdon1834D/A1/144/43MF557
ALLDWORTH, ElizabethMarchamHandmaiden1620D/A1/36/077MF459
ALLDWORTH, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe RegisHusbandman1672D/A1/37/55MF460
ALLDWORTHE, WilliamChildreyHusbandman1544D/A1/2/047MF603
ALLDWORTHE, WilliamChildrey1545D/A1/233/019MF96132
ALLEN , John SnrEast Ilsley1779D/A1/38/183MF461
ALLEN, AnthonyReading St MaryInnholder1605D/A1/35/261 D/A1/13/1384MF459 MF10049
ALLEN, AvisEast Hendred1637D/A1/36/151MF460
ALLEN, BartholomewWest Challow, Letcombe Regis1686D/A1/174/84MF96008
ALLEN, ChristopherWinkfieldTailor1620D/A1/173/105MF96006
ALLEN, DorothyWest Challow, Letcombe Regis1628D/A1/36/108MF459
ALLEN, EdwardNorth Street, TilehurstYeoman1710D/A1/38/28MF461
ALLEN, EdwardTilehurstYeoman1710D/A1/38/28MF461
ALLEN, EdwardPangbourne1820D/A1/226/10MF96122
ALLEN, EdwardBrayShoemaker1825D/A1/226/11MF96122
ALLEN, GriffinWest Challow, Letcombe RegisHusbandman1598D/A1/35/247 D/A1/13/240MF459 MF10049
ALLEN, Griffith SnrBasildonYeoman1640D/A1/36/169MF460
ALLEN, HannahNewbury1795D/A1/174/199MF96009
ALLEN, HenryBasildon1665D/A1/37/38MF460
ALLEN, HenryWest Hanney1763D/A1/38/155MF461
ALLEN, HughThe Hyde, Marcham1586D/A1/173/047 D/A1/11/077MF96006 MF10047B