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.

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
SILVESTER, ThomasKnighton, Compton Beauchamp1619D/A1/118/010MF540
SILVESTER, ThomasBray1632D/A1/119/010MF540
SIMENS, JohnShrivenham1570D/A1/9/230MF10046
SIMEON, RichardBuckleburyVicar1702D/A1/215/137MF96099
SIMES , WilliamWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1639D/A1/119/102MF540
SIMES (ALIAS HAWKINS), AnnAbingdon1732D/A1/198/160MF96055
SIMES, Clement SnrSouth Moreton1629D/A1/118/128MF540
SIMES, ConstanceAbingdon1732D/A1/124/46MF544
SIMES, GeorgeAldermastonYeoman1687D/A1/121/171MF542
SIMES, HenryAldermastonYeoman1628D/A1/118/118MF540
SIMES, HughAston TirroldLabourer1623D/A1/118/047MF540
SIMES, JoanSouth Moreton1585D/A1/11/002MF10047B
SIMES, JohnSouth MoretonYeoman1623D/A1/118/044MF540
SIMES, JohnEast Hagbourne, HagbourneVictualler1781D/A1/125/124MF544
SIMES, MarthamWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1822D/A1/231/81MF96129
SIMES, MaryEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1733D/A1/124/51MF544
SIMES, NicholasSouth MoretonJoiner1616D/A1/117/124 D/A1/15/617MF539 MF10065
SIMES, RichardBurghfieldHusbandman1661D/A1/120/83MF541
SIMES, RichardEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1725D/A1/123/136MF543
SIMES, RichardEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1781D/A1/125/122MF544
SIMES, StephenKingston Lisle, SparsholtSchoolmaster1795D/A1/125/173MF546
SIMES, WilliamBeenham1590D/A1/212/142/2MF96092
SIMES, WilliamCharney, Longworth1597D/A1/212/182 D/A1/13/187MF96093 MF10049
SIMES, WilliamKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1736D/A1/124/76MF544
SIMIS, WilliamBeenham1590D/A1/116/012/1 D/A1/11/245MF538 MF10047B
SIMKINS, ThomasBinfieldLabourer1737D/A1/216/146MF96101
SIMKINS, ThomasBinfield1778D/A1/125/114MF544
SIMMES, DavidSpeenHusbandman1604D/A1/116/246 D/A1/13/1352MF539 MF10049
SIMMES, Henry SnrAldermastonYeoman1672D/A1/214/156MF96097
SIMMES, JamesBeenhamHusbandman1661D/A1/214/88MF96097
SIMMES, JohnHagbourneHusbandman1620D/A1/118/023MF540
SIMMES, JohnChurch Speen, SpeenYeoman1672D/A1/121/33MF542
SIMMES, JohnChiltonMaltster1734D/A1/216/131MF96101
SIMMES, WilliamNewburyCutler1627D/A1/118/099MF540
SIMMONDS, BenjaminKintburyLabourer1835D/A1/162/10MF583
SIMMONDS, HenryBurghfieldYeoman1738D/A1/216/153MF96101
SIMMONDS, JohnCholseyYeoman1750D/A1/124/178MF544
SIMMONDS, Thomas SnrChildreyHusbandman1688D/A1/122/8MF542
SIMMONES, MargeryWargrave1623D/A1/213/130MF96095
SIMMONS, Church SnrNewburyBookseller1705D/A1/215/169MF96099
SIMMONS, ElizabethWarfield1709D/A1/122/174MF543
SIMMONS, GeorgeBurghfieldYeoman1749D/A1/124/171MF544
SIMMONS, HenryHenley, OxfordshireVictualler1751D/A1/124/184MF544
SIMMONS, JamesPurleyBlacksmith1839D/A1/231/93MF96129
SIMMONS, JohnPangbourneYeoman1666D/A1/214/127MF96097
SIMMONS, JohnReadingButcher1702D/A1/122/112MF542
SIMMONS, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1771D/A1/125/86MF544
SIMMONS, JosephNewburyBlacksmith1788D/A1/125/143MF544
SIMMONS, RichardWarfieldYeoman1721D/A1/123/87MF543
SIMMONS, SarahPangbourne1764D/A1/125/55MF544
SIMMONS, ThomasReadingMealman1723D/A1/216/71MF96101
SIMMONS, WilliamBasildonBlacksmith1739D/A1/216/155MF96101
SIMMONS, WilliamTilehurst1807D/A1/231/43MF96129
SIMMS , John SnrChiltonMaltster1725D/A1/123/130MF543
SIMMS, FlorenceSouth Moreton1672D/A1/214/154MF96097
SIMMS, John JnrCoscote, HagbourneYeoman1679D/A1/121/104MF542
SIMMS, Thomas LeeReadingCarpenter1782D/A1/125/129MF544
SIMONDES, AgnesCholsey1560D/A1/167/113MF96000
SIMONDES, JamesBuscotLabourer1628D/A1/118/121MF540
SIMONDS, ElizabethTilehurst1803D/A1/231/35MF96129
SIMONDS, FrancisTilehurstBlacksmith1842D/A1/162/85MF583
SIMONDS, JoanHarwell1730D/A1/216/104MF96101
SIMONDS, RalphUfton NervetYeoman1668D/A1/196/162 MF96051
SIMONDS, RichardArdingtonYeoman1727D/A1/123/148MF543
SIMONES, JohnRadley1577D/A1/115/136 D/A1/10/088MF538 MF10047A
SIMONS , William SnrBasildonBlacksmith1726D/A1/216/81MF96101
SIMONS, BarnabyPurley1632D/A1/119/015MF540
SIMONS, Edward SnrArdingtonHusbandman1693D/A1/215/83MF96098
SIMONS, ElizabethBurghfield1718D/A1/216/45MF96100
SIMONS, JohnWarfield, WarfieldYeoman1674D/A1/121/60MF542
SIMONS, JohnUfton NervetYeoman1707D/A1/122/164MF543
SIMONS, MargeryReading St Giles1671D/A1/214/150MF96097
SIMONS, RichardAbingdonMillwright1706D/A1/122/148MF543
SIMONS, ThomasSulham 1574D/A1/212/082MF96092
SIMONS, ThomasWinkfieldUnderkeeper, Yeoman1607D/A1/116/260 D/A1/14/241MF539 MF10064
SIMONS, ThomasSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1643D/A1/214/069 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SIMONS, ThomasPurleyBlacksmith1644D/A1/214/071 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SIMONS, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1611D/A1/168/077MF96001
SIMONS, WilliamAbingdon1614D/A1/168/107MF96001
SIMPKINS, WilliamAbingdon St HelenTanner1575D/A1/115/119 D/A1/10/016MF538 MF10047A
SIMPSON, AvoryDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1651D/A1/120/043MF541
SIMPSON, ElizabethNewbury1631D/A1/213/165 D/A1/168/212MF96095 MF96001
SIMPSON, GeorgeAppletonLabourer1855D/A1/231/120MF96130
SIMPSON, HenryCompton Beauchamp1764D/A1/125/52MF544
SIMPSON, LydiaAbingdon St Helen1834D/A1/231/85MF96129
SIMPSON, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1594D/A1/116/082 D/A1/12/172MF538 MF10048
SIMPSON, RichardSteventonYeoman1668D/A1/120/165MF541
SIMPSON, WilliamAbingdonCordwainer1846D/A1/162/107MF583
SIMPSON, WilliamAbingdonShoemaker1857D/A1/231/127MF96130
SIMS, JamesNewburyPawnbroker1843D/A1/162/92MF583
SIMS, JohnBeenham1728D/A1/123/150MF543
SIMS, JosephSouth Moreton1761D/A1/125/43MF544
SIMS, MargaretBeenham1599D/A1/13/428MF10049
SIMS, MarthaHagbourne1721D/A1/216/55MF96101
SIMS, RichardSpeen1787D/A1/216/256MF96102
SIMS, SilasSparsholt1833D/A1/231/84MF96129
SIMS, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1684D/A1/215/24MF96098
SIMS, WilliamHungerfordStonemason1854D/A1/163/33MF584
SIMSON, AnneTilehurst1730D/A1/216/112MF96101
SIMSON, EleanorDrayton1676D/A1/121/80MF542