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
BIDE, RichardAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1573D/A1/40/021 D/A1/9/359MF462 MF10046
BIDE, RichardReading St GilesMiller1603D/A1/175/175 D/A1/13/1020MF96011 MF10049
BIDLE, DanielNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1633D/A1/177/044MF96013
BIDLE, DanielNew Windsor, Windsor1633D/A1/168/245MF96001
BIDLE, JohnWarfieldHusbandman1675D/A1/178/161MF96015
BIE, JohnReading1597D/A1/175/152MF96010
BIE, JohnReading St Mary1597D/A1/13/189MF10049
BIEDYLL, WilliamEasthampstead1541D/A1/39/005MF461
BIGGE, BridgetReading St Laurence1623D/A1/43/093MF464
BIGGE, MatthewWallingford All Hallows1610D/A1/176/031 D/A1/168/066MF96012 MF96001
BIGGS, Alexander SnrReadingYeoman1642D/A1/44/155MF465
BIGGS, EdwardBinfield1815D/A1/145/79MF557
BIGGS, HenryReading St Laurence1596D/A1/13/179MF10049
BIGGS, HenryFyfieldWarrener1607D/A1/176/012 D/A1/168/028MF96012 MF96001
BIGGS, JohnWelfordLabourer1704D/A1/48/116MF467
BIGGS, MarthaWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1765D/A1/180/216MF96020
BIGGS, ThomasWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1730D/A1/180/112MF96020
BIGHTON, EdwardWallingford St MaryAlderman1591D/A1/41/022 D/A1/11/362MF462 MF10047B
BIGHTON, RichardBeech Hill, Stratfield Saye, Hampshire1590D/A1/11/371MF10047B
BIGNALL, JohnNewbury1570D/A1/167/142MF96000
BIGNELL, HenryHamstead Marshall1682D/A1/179/15MF96016
BIGNELL, ThomasKintbury1530D/A1/1/126MF10041
BIGS, WilliamWaltham St. LawrenceHusbandman1695D/A1/48/34MF467
BIGWOOD, RichardTilehurstYeoman1740D/A1/49/222MF468
BILBEY, AgnesShinfield1612D/A1/42/094 D/A1/15/299MF463 MF10065
BILGER, DanielBracknell, EasthampsteadCommissary In Hm Goverment1818D/A1/145/89MF557
BILLIE, JaneAbingdon1644D/A1/45/013MF465
BILLINGLY, RichardDraytonWheelwright1739D/A1/49/215MF468
BILLINGSLEY, AgnesDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1606D/A1/176/004 D/A1/168/010MF96012 MF96001
BILLINGSLEY, AnneMarcham1691D/A1/47/165MF467
BILLINGSLEY, JamesSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1641D/A1/44/148MF465
BILLINGSLEY, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1592D/A1/41/027 D/A1/12/023MF462 MF10048
BILLINGSLEY, JohnAbingdonCloth Worker1666D/A1/46/24MF466
BILLINGSLEY, JosephReadingWhitesmith1813D/A1/145/63MF557
BILLINGSLEY, MaryReading1830D/A1/145/141MF557
BILLINGSLY, JamesSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1708D/A1/179/182MF96018
BILLINGSLY, JohnReading St LaurenceBroadcloth Weaver1724D/A1/180/83MF96019
BILLINGSLY, RichardDraytonBlacksmith1663D/A1/45/129MF465
BILLITHE, JamesAbingdon St HelenClerk1618D/A1/176/058 D/A1/168/153MF96012 MF96001
BILLMORE, ThomasBuckleburyHusbandman1664D/A1/45/135MF465
BILSON , Avery SnrReadingLabourer1732D/A1/49/159MF468
BILSON, AnthonyDraytonTailor1663D/A1/178/75MF96015
BILSON, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1644D/A1/44/174MF465
BILSON, MaryReading1732D/A1/180/129MF96020
BILSON, RichardSutton CourtenayTailor1670D/A1/46/56MF466
BILSON, RobertDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1638D/A1/16/480MF10066
BILSON, RobertDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1640D/A1/44/118MF465
BILSON, RobertAbingdonLabourer1688D/A1/179/67MF96017
BILSON, WinifredAbingdon1643D/A1/44/119MF465
BIMROSE, JohnReadingGlover1702D/A1/48/97MF467
BINAM, ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1648D/A1/45/025MF465
BINFEILD, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman1683D/A1/47/86MF466
BINFIELD, FrancesWinkfield1705D/A1/48/125MF467
BINFIELD, JohnReading St MarySawyer1714D/A1/48/213MF468
BINFIELD, MarthaReading1728D/A1/49/120MF468
BINFIELD, RichardReadingTallow Chandler1815D/A1/145/77MF557
BINFIELD, RichardReadingCabinet Maker1833D/A1/146/6MF557
BINT , Charles SnrLambournCooper1851D/A1/147/25MF558
BINT , ChristopherWestcot, SparsholtHusbandman1684D/A1/179/30MF96016
BINT , KatherineWestcot, Sparsholt1684D/A1/179/34 MF96016
BINT, AnnReading1848D/A1/147/11MF558
BINT, CharlesLambournLabourer1852D/A1/147/29MF558
BINT, ChristopherSparsholt1684D/A1/179/35MF96016
BINT, EdithWest Ilsley1627D/A1/43/155MF464
BINT, JohnWest Ilsley1620D/A1/43/056MF464
BINT, MagdalenChipping Lambourn, Lambourn1687D/A1/47/117MF466
BINT, MaudeWest Ilsley1614D/A1/42/119 D/A1/15/473MF463 MF10065
BINT, RobertSparsholtYeoman1706D/A1/179/164MF96017
BIOUNT, ElizabethReading1670D/A1/46/60MF466
BIOUNT, JamesReadingInnholder1668D/A1/46/35MF466
BIOUNT, MaryBucklebury1687D/A1/47/116MF466
BIRCH, AnnHoe Benham, Welford1682D/A1/179/12 MF96016
BIRCH, ElizabethEaton Hastings1689D/A1/47/139MF467
BIRCH, GratianSotwell1755D/A1/180/198MF96020
BIRCH, HenryWest HanneyYeoman1706D/A1/179/165MF96017
BIRCH, HenrySotwellYeoman1734D/A1/180/138MF96020
BIRCH, HenryWallingfordCorn Dealer1838D/A1/226/95MF96123
BIRCH, JohnPuseyYeoman1724D/A1/180/77MF96019
BIRCH, LushSotwellYeoman1765D/A1/50/109MF469
BIRCH, MaryWest Hanney1681D/A1/178/185 MF96015
BIRCH, MaryWest Hanney1682D/A1/179/11MF96016
BIRCH, MaryPusey1755D/A1/50/63MF469
BIRCH, RogerCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1677D/A1/47/15MF466
BIRCHALL, William1551D/A1/175/020MF96010
BIRCHE, AgnesEast Garston1564D/A1/167/124MF96000
BIRCHE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1566D/A1/167/128MF96000
BIRCHE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1626D/A1/43/149MF464
BIRCHETT, AgnesWinkfieldServant1577D/A1/40/063 D/A1/10/096MF462 MF10047A
BIRD , ThomasBrimptonVicar1644D/A1/178/017MF96015
BIRD, AlicePurley1617D/A1/43/009 D/A1/15/726MF464 MF10065
BIRD, AnneCookham1683D/A1/47/83MF466
BIRD, ElizabethReading1643D/A1/44/171MF465
BIRD, ElizabethEast Hanney, West Hanney1837D/A1/226/91MF96123
BIRD, JohnShaw Cum Donnington1566D/A1/167/132MF96000
BIRD, JohnEast HendredWheelwright1737D/A1/49/194MF468
BIRD, JohnShefford Woodlands, East Shefford1743D/A1/49/257MF468
BIRD, JohnCookhamCordwainer, Shopkeeper 1749D/A1/50/20MF469
BIRD, John SnrSpeen1665D/A1/46/5MF466
BIRD, John SnrKintburyHusbandman1670D/A1/178/131MF96015
BIRD, MarthaSpeen1725D/A1/49/93MF468