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 | Place Name | Occupation | Year | BRO Ref | MF Copy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BENNETT, Thomas | Leckhampstead, Chieveley | Cordwainer | 1721 | D/A1/49/61 | MF468 |
BENNETT, Thomas | Tubney | Yeoman | 1857 | D/A1/147/56 | MF558 |
BENNETT, William | Kingston Bagpuize | Butcher | 1587 | D/A1/11/146 | MF10047B |
BENNETT, William | Bray | Yeoman | 1615 | D/A1/176/052 | MF96012 |
BENNETT, William | Reading St Giles | Yeoman | 1661 | D/A1/45/80 | MF465 |
BENNETT, William | Thatcham | Husbandman | 1682 | D/A1/47/71 | MF466 |
BENNETT, William | Reading | Tailor | 1687 | D/A1/47/124 | MF467 |
BENNETT, William | Bray | 1693 | D/A1/179/98 | MF96017 | |
BENNETT, William | Harwell | Bodice Maker | 1730 | D/A1/49/145 | MF468 |
BENNETT, William | Harwell | Yeoman | 1840 | D/A1/226/105 | MF96123 |
BENNETT, William Jnr | Moulsford, Cholsey | Husbandman | 1634 | D/A1/44/063 | MF464 |
BENNETT, William Snr | Shinfield | Yeoman | 1636 | D/A1/44/089 | MF464 |
BENNIT, Edward | Newbury | Cordwainer | 1635 | D/A1/44/069 | MF464 |
BENSKIN, Charles | Inkpen | Labourer | 1847 | D/A1/147/8 | MF558 |
BENSKIN, Samuel | Inkpen | 1819 | D/A1/226/56 | MF96123 | |
BENSON, Thomas | Hatford | Parson | 1579 | D/A1/175/088 | MF96010 |
BENSON, Thomas | Hatford | Clerk, Rector | 1579 | D/A1/10/182 | MF10047A |
BENSON, William Snr | Hurley (W.), Shottesbrooke | Yeoman | 1682 | D/A1/47/76 | MF466 |
BENT, Henry | White Waltham | Husbandman | 1633 | D/A1/44/047 | MF464 |
BENT, Jane | Sparsholt | 1746 | D/A1/180/179 | MF96020 | |
BENT, Joan | West Ilsley | 1576 | D/A1/40/061 D/A1/10/054 | MF462 MF10047A | |
BENT, John | West Ilsley | Husbandman | 1568 | D/A1/39/233 D/A1/9/125 | MF462 MF10046 |
BENT, John | Church Speen, Speen | Husbandman | 1618 | D/A1/43/019 D/A1/15/833 | MF464 MF10065 |
BENT, John | Burghfield | Yeoman | 1634 | D/A1/44/060 | MF464 |
BENT, Richard | Shurlock Row? (Surley Crow), Waltham St. Lawrence | 1706 | D/A1/179/166 | MF96017 | |
BENT, Thomas | Bisham | Yeoman | 1688 | D/A1/179/64 | MF96017 |
BENTE, Thomas | Fawley | 1590 | D/A1/41/003 D/A1/11/319 | MF462 MF10047B | |
BENTLEY, Elizabeth | Reading St Laurence | 1834 | D/A1/226/82 | MF96123 | |
BENTLEY, Joseph | East Hagbourne, Hagbourne | Cordwainer | 1718 | D/A1/49/29 | MF468 |
BENTLEY, William | Winkfield | Husbandman | 1641 | D/A1/44/146 | MF465 |
BENTLY, Elizabeth | Wallingford | 1774 | D/A1/50/150 | MF469 | |
BENTLY, Mary | Stratfield Mortimer | 1692 | D/A1/179/93 | MF96017 | |
BENWELL, Alice | Bucklebury | 1616 | D/A1/42/151 D/A1/15/589 | MF463 MF10065 | |
BENWELL, Bartholomew | Reading St Giles | Tailor | 1588 | D/A1/40/163 D/A1/11/300 | MF462 MF10047B |
BENWELL, Bridget | Bucklebury | 1615 | D/A1/176/049 | MF96012 | |
BENWELL, Bridget | Bucklebury | 1615 | D/A1/168/116 | MF96001 | |
BENWELL, James | Bucklebury | Husbandman | 1631 | D/A1/44/013 | MF464 |
BENWELL, James | Bucklebury | 1691 | D/A1/47/164 | MF467 | |
BENWELL, John | Bucklebury | Turner | 1556 | D/A1/2/089 | MF604 |
BENWELL, John | Tidmarsh | 1560 | D/A1/39/142 D/A1/6/186 | MF461 MF10043B | |
BENWELL, John | Bucklebury | Husbandman | 1589 | D/A1/175/116 | MF96010 |
BENWELL, John | Bucklebury | 1589 | D/A1/11/368 | MF10047B | |
BENWELL, John | Stratfield Mortimer | Tailor | 1768 | D/A1/50/119 | MF469 |
BENWELL, John Snr | Bucklebury | 1556 | D/A1/233/045 | MF96132 | |
BENWELL, John Snr | Bucklebury | Husbandman | 1628 | D/A1/43/165 | MF464 |
BENWELL, John Snr | Bucklebury | Cooper | 1631 | D/A1/44/001 | MF464 |
BENWELL, Richard | Bucklebury | Tailor | 1612 | D/A1/42/087 D/A1/15/218 | MF463 MF10065 |
BENWELL, Robert | Wallingford | Gardener | 1757 | D/A1/180/201 | MF96020 |
BENWELL, Thomas | Newbury | Fuller | 1565 | D/A1/39/214 D/A1/8/351 | MF462 MF10043C |
BENWELL, William | Bucklebury | 1564 | D/A1/39/021/1 D/A1/8/328 | MF461 MF10043C | |
BENWELL, William | Tidmarsh | 1598 | D/A1/13/425 | MF10049 | |
BENWELL, William | Shinfield | Yeoman | 1648 | D/A1/178/035 | MF96015 |
BERD, Humphrey | Warfield | 1549 | D/A1/39/041 | MF461 | |
BERD, Humphrey | Warfield | 1561 | D/A1/7/344 | MF10040 | |
BERD, John | Donnington, Shaw Cum Donnington | 1610 | D/A1/176/032 | MF96012 | |
BERD, John | Donnington, Shaw Cum Donnington | 1610 | D/A1/168/067 | MF96001 | |
BERD, Roger | Newbury | 1601 | D/A1/175/170 | MF96011 | |
BERD, Roger | Newbury | 1601 | D/A1/13/717 | MF10049 | |
BERD, William | Warfield | 1538 | D/A1/233/037 | MF96132 | |
BERD, William | Warfield | Husbandman | 1539 | D/A1/2/073 | MF604 |
BERDAT, Robert | Cumnor | 1591 | D/A1/41/017 D/A1/12/014 | MF462 MF10048 | |
BERDE, Humphrey | Warfield | Husbandman | 1549 | D/A1/5/083 | MF10043A |
BERELL, Maude | Stanford In The Vale | 1585 | D/A1/175/100 D/A1/11/022 | MF96010 MF10047B | |
BERELL, Robert | Stanford In The Vale | Husbandman | 1578 | D/A1/40/073 D/A1/10/124 | MF462 MF10047A |
BERKESHER, John | Winkfield | 1557 | D/A1/4/013 | MF604 | |
BERKSHERE, John | Winkfield | 1556 | D/A1/233/334 | MF96132 | |
BERKSHIRE, John | Winkfield | 1557 | D/A1/9/313 | MF10046 | |
BERMAN, Richard | New Windsor, Windsor | Tailor | 1588 | D/A1/175/113 | MF96010 |
BERNARD, Beatrice | Shottesbrooke | 1532 | D/A1/1/265 | MF10042 | |
BERNARD, Giles | Leckhampstead, Chieveley | Husbandman | 1660 | D/A1/45/65 | MF465 |
BERNARD, John | Speenhamland, Speen | Drugget Maker | 1727 | D/A1/180/98 | MF96019 |
BERNARD, Richard | Warfield | Husbandman | 1633 | D/A1/44/054 | MF464 |
BERNARD, Richard | Farnborough | Yeoman | 1664 | D/A1/45/139 | MF465 |
BERNARD, Robert | Wargrave | Turner | 1621 | D/A1/43/059 | MF464 |
BERNARD, Robert | Woodhill, Letcombe Regis | Yeoman | 1709 | D/A1/48/158 | MF467 |
BERNARD, Simon | Bray | Yeoman | 1691 | D/A1/37/122 | MF460 |
BERNARD, Simon Snr | Bray | Yeoman | 1662 | D/A1/174/39 | MF96007 |
BERNARDE, John | Warfield | Yeoman | 1621 | D/A1/43/054 | MF464 |
BERNETT, Anne | Abingdon | 1705 | D/A1/48/126 | MF467 | |
BERREY, Anne | Reading St Laurence | 1624 | D/A1/43/113 | MF464 | |
BERREY, Avery | Reading | Butcher | 1626 | D/A1/43/147 | MF464 |
BERREY, William | Woolhampton | Butcher | 1578 | D/A1/10/142 | MF10047A |
BERRIE, Alice | Woolhampton | 1582 | D/A1/10/334 | MF10047A | |
BERRIE, Avery | Reading St Laurence | Butcher | 1589 | D/A1/40/169 D/A1/11/303 | MF462 MF10047B |
BERRIE, John | Woolhampton | Yeoman | 1579 | D/A1/40/085 D/A1/10/188 | MF462 MF10047A |
BERRIMAN, Robert | Speen | Wheeler | 1755 | D/A1/50/68 | MF469 |
BERRIMAN, Robert | Speen | 1822 | D/A1/226/62 | MF96123 | |
BERRIMAN, Roger | Shaw Cum Donnington | Wheelwright | 1778 | D/A1/50/169 | MF469 |
BERRIS, John | Reading St Mary | Horse Dealer | 1807 | D/A1/145/33 | MF557 |
BERRY, Benjamin | Bucklebury | 1787 | D/A1/180/249 | MF96020 | |
BERRY, Elizabeth | Bucklebury | 1782 | D/A1/50/190 | MF469 | |
BERRY, Francis | Kintbury | Yeoman | 1737 | D/A1/180/145 | MF96020 |
BERRY, James | Bucklebury | Yeoman | 1745 | D/A1/50/4 | MF469 |
BERRY, James | Brimpton | Yeoman | 1830 | D/A1/226/80 | MF96123 |
BERRY, Jane | Bucklebury | 1709 | D/A1/48/154 | MF467 | |
BERRY, John | Lambourn | Carpenter | 1623 | D/A1/43/085 | MF464 |
BERRY, John | New Windsor, Windsor | Barber Surgeon | 1707 | D/A1/179/174 | MF96018 |
BERRY, John | Bucklebury | Yeoman | 1739 | D/A1/180/150 | MF96020 |
BERRY, Richard | Bucklebury | Yeoman | 1698 | D/A1/48/46 | MF467 |
BERRY, Sarah | Reading St Giles | 1785 | D/A1/180/244 | MF96020 |