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
ALLEN, JamesReadingCarpenter1850D/A1/144/72MF557
ALLEN, JoanAldermaston1633D/A1/36/132MF460
ALLEN, JoannaNewbury1716D/A1/38/43MF461
ALLEN, JohnReadingVintner1690D/A1/37/118MF460
ALLEN, JohnCompton, West1713D/A1/38/35MF461
ALLEN, JohnCumnorHusbandman1722D/A1/174/138MF96008
ALLEN, JohnCompton1727D/A1/38/68MF461
ALLEN, JohnFrilsham1743D/A1/38/114MF461
ALLEN, JohnNorth Farm, KintburyYeoman1834D/A1/144/46MF557
ALLEN, JohnAldermastonYeoman1846D/A1/226/20MF96122
ALLEN, JohnAldworth1557D/A1/35/039MF459
ALLEN, JohnWargraveHusbandman1567D/A1/35/109 D/A1/9/094MF459 MF10046
ALLEN, JohnAbingdon St Helen1605D/A1/36/005 D/A1/14/053MF459 MF10064
ALLEN, JohnChiltonYeoman1619D/A1/36/069MF459
ALLEN, JohnNewbury1626D/A1/173/111/2MF96006
ALLEN, JohnAbingdonCrossbow Maker1637D/A1/16/452MF10066
ALLEN, JohnStreatley1668D/A1/37/46MF460
ALLEN, JohnBasildon1676D/A1/174/65MF96008
ALLEN, John SnrComptonYeoman1591D/A1/35/214 D/A1/12/002MF459 MF10048
ALLEN, JohnathanComptonLabourer1839D/A1/144/49MF557
ALLEN, JosephEast IlsleyServant1800D/A1/38/203MF461
ALLEN, LeonardHarwellLabourer1669D/A1/174/52MF96008
ALLEN, MargaretCompton1627D/A1/36/102MF459
ALLEN, MarthaStreatley1672D/A1/37/57MF460
ALLEN, MaryReading1724D/A1/38/60MF461
ALLEN, MarySandford, Abingdon St Helen 1729D/A1/38/78MF461
ALLEN, MaryWest Compton, Compton1761D/A1/38/149MF461
ALLEN, MaryTheale, Tilehurst1782D/A1/38/190MF461
ALLEN, RichardHarwellHusbandman1564D/A1/35/096 D/A1/8/316MF459 MF10043C
ALLEN, RichardWest Compton, ComptonHusbandman1614D/A1/36/034 D/A1/15/471MF459 MF10065
ALLEN, RichardStreatleyYeoman1631D/A1/36/119MF460
ALLEN, RichardBasildon1634D/A1/173/126MF96006
ALLEN, RichardBuckleburyHusbandman1641D/A1/174/020 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ALLEN, RichardBasildon1643D/A1/169/001bMF96002
ALLEN, RichardW. Compton, ComptonYeoman1673D/A1/37/60MF460
ALLEN, RichardBeedon1687D/A1/174/87MF96008
ALLEN, RichardCompton1728D/A1/38/76MF461
ALLEN, RichardClewerLabourer1733D/A1/174/157MF96008
ALLEN, RichardWargraveParish Clerk1773D/A1/38/174MF461
ALLEN, RichardCumnor1788D/A1/114/76MF537
ALLEN, RichardTheale, Tilehurst Harness Maker1822D/A1/144/28MF557
ALLEN, RichardReadingBaker1854D/A1/144/80MF557
ALLEN, Richard JnrBasildon1643D/A1/174/023MF96007
ALLEN, RobertCumnor1796D/A1/174/201MF96009
ALLEN, Robert SnrWargraveYeoman1615D/A1/36/040 D/A1/15/512MF459 MF10065
ALLEN, RogerAbingdon1585D/A1/11/038MF10047B
ALLEN, RogerAbingdon1586D/A1/173/044MF96006
ALLEN, ThomasWestcot, SparsholtYeoman1587D/A1/35/195 D/A1/11/116MF459 MF10047B
ALLEN, ThomasNear Ilsley, Compton1590D/A1/35/222MF459
ALLEN, ThomasStreatley1617D/A1/168/146MF96001
ALLEN, ThomasSouthridge, StreatleyYeoman1618D/A1/36/044 D/A1/15/766MF459 MF10065
ALLEN, ThomasNewburyBricklayer1648D/A1/174/032 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ALLEN, ThomasWest Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1678D/A1/174/69MF96008
ALLEN, ThomasSheffield, BurghfieldCarpenter1823D/A1/144/29MF557
ALLEN, ThomasWantageClock Maker1845D/A1/144/60MF557
ALLEN, WilliamWargraveVicar1571D/A1/35/132MF459
ALLEN, WilliamNewburyWeaver1602D/A1/173/067MF96006
ALLEN, WilliamNewbury1602D/A1/13/859MF10049
ALLEN, WilliamCholsey1615D/A1/36/038 D/A1/15/498MF459 MF10065
ALLEN, WilliamBasildonLabourer1639D/A1/36/158MF460
ALLEN, WilliamW. Compton, ComptonYeoman1671D/A1/37/52MF460
ALLEN, WilliamAbingdonGrocer1718D/A1/38/46MF461
ALLEN, WilliamEnglefieldYeoman1733D/A1/38/90MF461
ALLEN, WilliamPangbourneInnholder1746D/A1/174/167MF96009
ALLEY , WilliamBeedon1765D/A1/38/158MF461
ALLEY, JohnNew Windsor, WindsorBrewer1599D/A1/173/060MF96006
ALLEY, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1599D/A1/13/427MF10049
ALLEY, MatthewNew Windsor, Windsor1593D/A1/173/052MF96006
ALLEY, MatthewNew Windsor, Windsor1593D/A1/12/191MF10048
ALLEY, WilliamCumnorCarpenter1771D/A1/38/171MF461
ALLFRED, FrancesEasthampstead1619D/A1/36/070MF459
ALLIN, AliceAbingdon1585D/A1/35/184MF459
ALLIN, AnnEast Hendred1672D/A1/37/56MF460
ALLIN, AnnDrayton1840D/A1/144/55MF557
ALLIN, CharlotteAbingdon1848D/A1/226/22MF96122
ALLIN, ChristianAbingdon1854D/A1/144/79MF557
ALLIN, HughReading St MaryBroad Weaver1615D/A1/36/037 D/A1/15/504MF459 MF10065
ALLIN, JohnReading St Mary1597D/A1/13/181MF10049
ALLIN, JohnEast HendredYeoman1689D/A1/37/114MF460
ALLIN, JohnEast IlsleyLabourer1830D/A1/144/37MF557
ALLIN, JosephReadingClerk1632D/A1/36/126MF460
ALLIN, RichardKintburyBricklayer1748D/A1/38/122MF461
ALLIN, RobertTitcomb, Kintbury1780D/A1/38/186MF461
ALLIN, William SnrUffingtonMercer1681D/A1/37/91MF460
ALLINE, EdwardSouth Hinksey, CumnorHusbandman1558D/A1/35/063 D/A1/7/186MF459 MF10040
ALLIXANDER, WilliamFinchampsteadYeoman1705D/A1/38/17MF461
ALLMANTE, RobertAbingdon St HelenChandler1568D/A1/35/110 D/A1/9/133MF459 MF10046
ALLMON, ThomasStratfield MortimerVicar1547D/A1/35/016MF459
ALLMOND, CharlesMaidenheadCurrier1727D/A1/38/67MF461
ALLNUTT , Richard SnrSutton CourtenayMaltster1755D/A1/38/139MF461
ALLNUTT, ElizabethWallingford1742D/A1/38/112MF461
ALLNUTT, MatthewReading1802D/A1/144/1MF557
ALLOM, JohnBradfield1781D/A1/38/187MF461
ALLORTON, RalphBagnor, SpeenYeoman1666D/A1/37/40MF460
ALLOWAY, JohnReading1846D/A1/144/61MF557
ALLOWAY, SarahCheckendon, Oxfordshire1854D/A1/226/25MF96122
ALLOWAY, ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1642D/A1/174/022MF96007
ALLOWAY, ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1642D/A1/169/001bMF96002
ALLOWAY, WilliamEasthampsteadHusbandman1678D/A1/174/70MF96008
ALLRIGHT, JamesBarkhamYeoman1680D/A1/37/84MF460