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
SMITH, GregoryChieveley1599D/A1/13/427MF10049
SMITH, HelenChieveley1639D/A1/214/037MF96096
SMITH, HelenChieveley1639D/A1/169/083MF96002
SMITH, HenryHenwick, Thatcham1612D/A1/168/084MF96001
SMITH, HenryWestbrook, BoxfordBlacksmith1663D/A1/120/128MF541
SMITH, HenryEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1663D/A1/120/124MF541
SMITH, HenryMidgham, Thatcham1666D/A1/120/151MF541
SMITH, HenryAbingdonMaltster1677D/A1/121/85MF542
SMITH, HenryOld WindsorHusbandman1682D/A1/215/2MF96098
SMITH, HenryWaltham St. LawrenceButcher1682D/A1/121/129MF542
SMITH, HenryEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1713D/A1/123/19MF543
SMITH, HenryLongcot, Shrivenham Husbandman1716D/A1/123/45MF543
SMITH, HenryTilehurstHusbandman1719D/A1/216/48MF96100
SMITH, HenryBoxfordYeoman1725D/A1/123/124MF543
SMITH, HenryLambournYeoman1794D/A1/125/169MF546
SMITH, HenryFrilshamGardener1800D/A1/125/196MF546
SMITH, Henry Francis RGreat CoxwellYeoman1826D/A1/162/46MF583
SMITH, Henry JnrWestbrook, BoxfordYeoman1702D/A1/122/122MF543
SMITH, Henry SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1662D/A1/120/96MF541
SMITH, HezekiahBurghfieldHusbandman1711D/A1/216/10MF96100
SMITH, HughReadingClothier1662D/A1/120/97MF541
SMITH, HughReadingYeoman1713D/A1/123/22MF543
SMITH, HughHampstead Norreys1775D/A1/216/237MF96102
SMITH, HumphreyBrayYeoman1593D/A1/116/066 D/A1/12/085MF538 MF10048
SMITH, JacobTheale, TilehurstVictualler1814D/A1/231/53MF96129
SMITH, JamesBucklebury1686D/A1/121/164MF542
SMITH, JamesBasildonLabourer1754D/A1/124/195MF544
SMITH, JamesChiltonCordwainer1764D/A1/216/221MF96102
SMITH, JamesLambournClergyman1814D/A1/231/52MF96129
SMITH, JamesGrandpont, OxfordshireGardener1830D/A1/162/36MF583
SMITH, JamesWaltham St Lawrence1831D/A1/231/78MF96129
SMITH, JamesLambourn1835D/A1/231/87MF96129
SMITH, JamesGreat CoxwellInnkeeper1840D/A1/162/81MF583
SMITH, JaneWargrave1597D/A1/212/184MF96093
SMITH, JaneWargrave1597D/A1/13/187MF10049
SMITH, JaneYattendon1633D/A1/214/009MF96096
SMITH, JaneYattendon1633D/A1/168/246MF96001
SMITH, JaneWest Compton, Compton1640D/A1/119/124MF541
SMITH, JaneWest Shefford1695D/A1/122/65MF542
SMITH, JaneDidcot1709D/A1/122/187MF543
SMITH, JaneThatcham1737D/A1/124/86MF544
SMITH, JaneNewbury1801D/A1/161/134MF583
SMITH, JaneAbingdon1844D/A1/231/106MF96130
SMITH, JeromeAldermastonRug Weaver1638D/A1/16/488MF10066
SMITH, JoanEast Lockinge1629D/A1/118/129MF540
SMITH, JoanHolt, Kintbury1640D/A1/119/135MF541
SMITH, JoanBenham, Speen1642D/A1/214/060MF96096
SMITH, JoanSpeen1642D/A1/169/083MF96002
SMITH, JoanAbingdon1646D/A1/214/078MF96096
SMITH, JoanBasildon1662D/A1/214/100MF96097
SMITH, JoanAbingdon1667D/A1/120/154MF541
SMITH, JoanW. Ginge, Lockinge1668D/A1/120/162MF541
SMITH, JoanThatcham1702D/A1/69/78MF519
SMITH, JoanChilton1710D/A1/122/195MF543
SMITH, JoanChilton1710D/A1/122/195MF543
SMITH, Joel FranklandWest Ilsley1831D/A1/162/21MF583
SMITH, JohnChiltonYeoman1659D/A1/120/62MF541
SMITH, JohnHampstead NorrisCarpenter1660D/A1/120/65MF541
SMITH, JohnFifield, BrayYeoman1661D/A1/120/92MF541
SMITH, JohnTitcomb, KintburyYeoman1662D/A1/120/117MF541
SMITH, JohnBurghfield1662D/A1/120/116bMF541
SMITH, JohnFinchampsteadHusbandman1665D/A1/214/117MF96097
SMITH, JohnBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1670D/A1/214/146MF96097
SMITH, JohnArdingtonYeoman1670D/A1/121/9MF542
SMITH, JohnWasingYeoman1670D/A1/121/3MF542
SMITH, JohnEling, Hampstead NorrisYeoman1673D/A1/121/46MF542
SMITH, JohnNewburyChandler1675D/A1/214/170MF96097
SMITH, JohnSlade End, BrightwellYeoman1677D/A1/214/179MF96097
SMITH, JohnBerkshire1682D/A1/190/106MF96038
SMITH, JohnBenham Valence, SpeenTailor1683D/A1/215/13MF96098
SMITH, JohnBuckleburyCarpenter1691D/A1/215/73MF96098
SMITH, JohnWest SheffordHusbandman1693D/A1/215/81MF96098
SMITH, JohnThatchamHusbandman1695D/A1/215/102MF96098
SMITH, JohnBurghfield1697D/A1/215/115MF96098
SMITH, JohnNewburyPhysician1704D/A1/215/159MF96099
SMITH, JohnWythamYeoman1705D/A1/122/139MF543
SMITH, JohnThatchamYeoman1715D/A1/69/127MF519
SMITH, JohnBuckleburyKilnman1715D/A1/216/29MF96100
SMITH, JohnBradfieldYeoman1717D/A1/123/51MF543
SMITH, JohnThatchamMaltster1728D/A1/216/97MF96101
SMITH, JohnFrilford, Marcham Yeoman1729D/A1/124/5MF544
SMITH, JohnBishamHusbandman1730D/A1/124/12MF544
SMITH, JohnEnborne1733D/A1/216/127MF96101
SMITH, JohnEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1733D/A1/216/123MF96101
SMITH, JohnThatchamHusbandman1737D/A1/124/85MF544
SMITH, JohnUffingtonHusbandman1739D/A1/124/99MF544
SMITH, JohnLetcombe RegisYeoman1745D/A1/124/146MF544
SMITH, JohnLambournGlazier1754D/A1/124/196MF544
SMITH, JohnShellingfordLabourer1756D/A1/125/11MF544
SMITH, JohnWindsorCooper1781D/A1/125/121MF544
SMITH, JohnGreenham, Thatcham Gardener1785D/A1/125/134MF544
SMITH, JohnKintburyFarmer1793D/A1/125/162MF546
SMITH, JohnChieveley1797D/A1/125/178MF546
SMITH, JohnBray1799D/A1/125/186MF546
SMITH, JohnTilehurst1803D/A1/231/36MF96129
SMITH, JohnGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Yeoman1810D/A1/161/107MF583
SMITH, JohnReadingGardener1825D/A1/231/72MF96129
SMITH, JohnOare, ChieveleyYeoman1829D/A1/162/37MF583
SMITH, JohnSwallowfield1840D/A1/162/77MF583
SMITH, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1846D/A1/162/110MF583