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
ALLRIGHT, MaryShinfield1812D/A1/144/15MF557
ALLRIGHT, WilliamBarkham1597D/A1/173/057MF96006
ALLSEY, WilliamWhitley, Reading St Giles1559D/A1/35/064 D/A1/8/079MF459 MF10043C
ALLSOP, ThomasWallingfordGardener1827D/A1/144/35MF557
ALLUM, AndrewHagbourneHusbandman1632D/A1/36/124MF460
ALLUM, EdwardAbingdonCordwainer1648D/A1/174/031 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ALLUM, JohnKennington1619D/A1/173/098MF96006
ALLUM, JohnKennington1619D/A1/168/159MF96001
ALLUM, JohnBasildonGardener1847D/A1/144/65MF557
ALLWIN, ThomasCompton1590D/A1/173/049MF96006
ALLWIN, ThomasCompton1590D/A1/11/370MF10047B
ALLWRIGHT, ElizaReading1841D/A1/226/19MF96122
ALLWRIGHT, ElizabethReading1755D/A1/174/176MF96009
ALLWRIGHT, MichaelReading St Giles1846D/A1/144/63MF557
ALLWRIGHT, WilliamBarkham1597D/A1/13/182MF10049
ALLYN, CatherineNew Windsor, Windsor1551D/A1/35/022 D/A1/9/403MF459 MF10046
ALLYN, HumphreyNewburyFelt Maker1602D/A1/35/280 D/A1/13/799MF459 MF10049
ALLYN, RogerAbingdon1585D/A1/35/185 D/A1/11/039MF459 MF10047B
ALLYNE, LeonardHarwellHusbandman1614D/A1/36/031 D/A1/15/435MF459 MF10065
ALMAN, IsabelAbingdon1594D/A1/173/053 D/A1/12/194MF96006 MF10048
ALMON, JoanNorth Moreton1541D/A1/2/044MF603
ALMON, JoanNorth Moreton1541D/A1/1/210 D/A1/1/217MF10042 MF10042
ALMOND, AnthonyLong WittenhamYeoman1761D/A1/38/148MF461
ALNET, ThomasBarkham1559D/A1/35/071 D/A1/7/295MF459 MF10040
ALNEWICK, ElizabethAston Tirrold1628D/A1/36/103MF459
ALNUT, JoanBarkham1589D/A1/35/209 D/A1/11/216MF459 MF10047B
ALNUTT, MaryMackney, Brightwell1789D/A1/38/197MF461
ALOW, JoanEnborne1571D/A1/167/148MF96000
ALOWAYE, WalterSulhamstead Abbots1591D/A1/35/213 D/A1/12/008MF459 MF10048
ALRIDGE, BennetAbingdonLinen Draper1603D/A1/173/073MF96006
ALRIDGE, JohnBrightwellSmith1576D/A1/35/149MF459
ALRIGHT, HenryWarfield1567D/A1/173/024MF96006
ALRIGHT, HenryWarfield1567D/A1/167/136MF96000
ALRYGHT, GeorgeReading St Laurence1625D/A1/16/082MF10066
ALSE, JohnShinfield1559D/A1/35/065 D/A1/8/088MF459 MF10043C
ALSEY, JoanShinfield1544D/A1/2/037MF603
ALSEY, JohnShinfield1548D/A1/233/015MF96132
ALSEY, LucyShinfield1622D/A1/36/086MF459
ALSEY, RichardReadingCordwainer1599D/A1/173/063MF96006
ALSEY, RichardReading1599D/A1/13/431MF10049
ALVERT, WilliamStratfield MortimerYeoman1664D/A1/37/34MF460
ALWARD, WilliamWarfield1635D/A1/173/127MF96006
ALWARD, WilliamWarfield1635D/A1/16/366MF10066
ALWAYE, ThomasBurghfield1570D/A1/35/123 D/A1/9/227MF459 MF10046
ALWRIGHT, AnnisHurst, Sonning1624D/A1/36/093MF459
ALWYN, John SnrComptonYeoman1591D/A1/35/214 D/A1/12/002MF459 MF10048
ALYE, JamesCholsey1559D/A1/35/069 D/A1/7/266MF459 MF10040
ALYE, JohnEnborne1587D/A1/11/114MF10047B
ALYE, SimonEnborne1557D/A1/2/029MF603
ALYN, EdithMarcham1559D/A1/35/067 D/A1/8/032MF459 MF10043C
ALYN, JohnHarwellHusbandman1558D/A1/35/050 D/A1/7/214MF459 MF10040
ALYN, WilliamHarwell1542D/A1/2/039MF603
ALYNE, Annis1557D/A1/35/042MF459
ALYSANDER, HenryFinchampstead1540D/A1/1/213MF10042
ALYSON, RichardHarwell1554D/A1/35/028 D/A1/7/043MF459 MF10040
ALYSONNE, JoanHarwell1559D/A1/35/053 D/A1/8/079MF459 MF10043C
AMAN, LucyReading St Mary1550D/A1/35/021 D/A1/5/101MF459 MF10043A
AMAN, ThomasBradfield1550D/A1/5/101MF10043A
AMAN, ThomasBradfield1550D/A1/173/002MF96006
AMBROS, JohnEast IlsleyPlough Maker, Wheeler1676D/A1/37/70MF460
AMBROSE, AnneAldworth1668D/A1/174/50MF96007
AMBROSE, LawrenceEast Ilsley1588D/A1/173/048MF96006
AMBROSE, LawrenceEast Ilsley1588D/A1/11/178MF10047B
AMBROSE, WilliamMaidencott, East GarstonYeoman1730D/A1/38/83MF461
AMEDEW, ThomasEasthampsteadYeoman1581D/A1/35/166 D/A1/10/289MF459 MF10047A
AMES, FrancisAppleton1729D/A1/174/147MF96008
AMIAS, JohnAbingdonBeer Brewer1608D/A1/173/082 D/A1/168/038MF96006 MF96001
AMOR, SarahEnborne1740D/A1/38/110MF461
AMORSON, PaulOxford, OxfordshireSchoolmaster1567D/A1/35/103 D/A1/9/056MF459 MF10046
AMSDEM, ThomasCourage, Chieveley1782D/A1/38/189MF461
AMSDON, TimothyCurridge, Chieveley1809D/A1/144/10MF557
AMYLTEY, JohnSwallowfield1551D/A1/35/023MF459
AMYTTEY, JohnSwallowfield1551D/A1/5/122MF10043A
ANCHOR, JamesKintburyYeoman1730D/A1/38/86MF461
ANCHOR, JohnKintburyButcher1664D/A1/174/41MF96007
ANDERS, ThomasMarchamYeoman1773D/A1/38/173MF461
ANDERSON, AgnesWarfield1575D/A1/173/031MF96006
ANDERSON, JamesAbingdonTailor1815D/A1/144/21MF557
ANDERSON, JamesTilehurstLabourer1849D/A1/144/68MF557
ANDERSON, JohnChalfont Saint Giles, Buckinghamshire1575D/A1/173/032MF96006
ANDERSON, JosephReadingMilkman1800D/A1/38/204MF461
ANDERSON, RichardWarfield1566D/A1/35/101MF459
ANDERSON, RichardWarfield1567D/A1/9/030MF10046
ANDERSON, WilliamBaulking, UffingtonYeoman1785D/A1/38/194MF461
ANDERTON, JohnLambourn1530D/A1/1/164MF10042
ANDERTON, JohnNewbury1681D/A1/174/75MF96008
ANDLATT, WilliamNewburyCowper1581D/A1/173/041MF96006
ANDORUS, RichardLongworth1775D/A1/38/179MF461
ANDREV, JohnBray1529D/A1/1/136MF10042
ANDREW, CecilyStanford Dingley1618D/A1/36/061 D/A1/15/815MF459 MF10065
ANDREW, ThomasCookhamFisherman1648D/A1/174/033 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ANDREWE, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1611D/A1/36/021 D/A1/15/144MF459 MF10065
ANDREWES , HenryAston TirroldTailor1660D/A1/174/37MF96007
ANDREWES, EdwardReadingClothier1665D/A1/37/36MF460
ANDREWES, FrancesReading1857D/A1/226/28MF96122
ANDREWES, JohnLong Wittenham1635D/A1/36/141MF460
ANDREWES, JohnLong WittenhamHusbandman1635D/A1/16/402MF10066
ANDREWES, MaryReading St Giles1632D/A1/173/123MF96006
ANDREWES, MaryReading St Giles1632D/A1/168/224MF96001
ANDREWES, RobertHarwellHusbandman1679D/A1/37/79MF460