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
READ, WilliamLongworth1722D/A1/211/127MF96091
READ, WilliamBourton, ShrivenhamCarpenter, Wheelwright1825D/A1/161/24MF583
READE , Henry SnrBaulking, UffingtonYeoman1805D/A1/161/5MF583
READE, AbrahamUffingtonYeoman1762D/A1/211/157MF96091
READE, AlexanderPomney, Abingdon St Helen1681D/A1/211/69MF96091
READE, AliceNewbury1667D/A1/113/22MF536
READE, ElizabethGreat Coxwell1606D/A1/210/229MF96089
READE, FrancisReading St Laurence1638D/A1/112/117MF536
READE, FrancisAbingdonYeoman1640D/A1/112/124MF536
READE, JohnReading St Laurence1557D/A1/7/150MF10040
READE, JohnCompton BeauchampClerk, Parson1581D/A1/111/060 D/A1/10/285MF535 MF10047A
READE, JohnBarton, Abingdon St Helen1605D/A1/210/222 D/A1/14/180MF96088 MF10064
READE, JohnAbingdonSaddler1692D/A1/211/90MF96091
READE, ThomasNewburyFuller1578D/A1/10/145 D/A1/111/051MF10047A MF535
READE, ThomasWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1611D/A1/111/172 D/A1/15/061MF536 MF10065
READE, ThomasClements Inn, Middlesex1626D/A1/16/084MF10066
READE, ThomasCrookham, ThatchamYeoman1701D/A1/113/106MF31702
READE, WilliamColthrop, ThatchamYeoman1702D/A1/211/107MF96091
READE, WilliamCookham1729D/A1/113/171MF537
READING, Reynold SnrSwallowfieldYeoman, Lathe Maker1644D/A1/112/138MF536
READINGS, BenjaminWallingford St LeonardBargemaster1826D/A1/161/26MF583
REAMES, ThomasWarfieldTile Maker, Brickmaker1639D/A1/112/120MF536
REASON, MaryReading St Giles1723D/A1/113/156MF537
REASON, RichardAbingdonLabourer1678D/A1/211/66MF96091
REASON, RobertGreat CoxwellHusbandman1668D/A1/211/54MF96090
REASON, ThomasGreat CoxwellHusbandman1700D/A1/211/102MF96091
REASON, WilliamNewburyYeoman1582D/A1/111/065 D/A1/10/339MF535 MF10047A
REASON, WilliamGreat Coxwell1679D/A1/113/57MF536
REASON, WilliamGreat CoxwellMason1700D/A1/211/103MF96091
REAYD, ThomasHanney1544D/A1/1/004MF10041
RECARDES, CecilyInkpen1546D/A1/110/118 D/A1/5/034MF535 MF10043A
RECARDES, JohnInkpen1543D/A1/110/108MF535
REDBURNE, JohnTidmarshYeoman1675D/A1/211/62MF96091
REDDACH, AliceBinfield1552D/A1/233/399MF96132
REDDACHE, RichardBinfield1541D/A1/3/135MF604
REDDASHE, AliceBinfield1552D/A1/4/131 D/A1/5/176MF604 MF10043A
REDDAT, JoanWhitley, Reading St Giles1558D/A1/110/139 D/A1/7/166MF535 MF10040
REDDAT, JohnWhitley, Reading St GilesTailor1590D/A1/111/091 D/A1/11/320MF535 MF10047B
REDDATTE, RichardReading St LaurenceBlacksmith1618D/A1/210/247MF96089
REDDATTE, RichardReading St Laurence1618D/A1/168/150MF96001
REDDING , ThomasOld WindsorYeoman1620D/A1/112/040MF536
REDDING, ClementClewerYeoman1615D/A1/112/011 D/A1/15/511MF536 MF10065
REDDUDE, RobertWhitley, Reading St Giles1555D/A1/110/131MF535
REDE, AliceReading1562D/A1/210/170MF96088
REDE, Alice1562D/A1/167/119MF96000
REDE, AnneWallingfordDame1550D/A1/5/132MF10043A
REDE, JohnWestmill, Shrivenham1559D/A1/110/155 D/A1/110/138 D/A1/8/037MF535 MF535 MF10043C
REDE, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1569D/A1/210/181MF96088
REDE, JohnSwallowfield1569D/A1/167/140MF96000
REDE, PeterReadingSurgeon, Barber1556D/A1/110/134 D/A1/3/131MF535 MF604
REDE, ThomasAshbury1545D/A1/3/137MF604
REDE, ThomasAshbury1545D/A1/233/238MF96132
REDE, ThomasAshburyHusbandman1572D/A1/111/038 D/A1/9/323MF535 MF10046
REDFERNE, ArthurBaulking, Uffington1558D/A1/8/335MF10043C
REDFERNE, JohnWhite Waltham1617D/A1/112/030MF536
REDFORD, AnneReading1675D/A1/113/44MF536
REDFORD, ChristianNew Windsor, Windsor1607D/A1/111/152 D/A1/14/269MF536 MF10064
REDFORD, EdwardColeshill1664D/A1/211/41MF96090
REDFORD, John JnrReading St MaryFellmonger1672D/A1/211/59MF96091
REDIGE, NicholasCookhamYeoman1545D/A1/110/114 D/A1/5/055MF535 MF10043A
REDING, JohnReading1564D/A1/210/177MF96088
REDING, JohnHawkridge, BuckleburyYeoman1642D/A1/211/019 D/A1/169/078MF96090 MF96002
REDINGE, JamesFinchampsteadYeoman1603D/A1/111/135 D/A1/13/1094MF536 MF10049
REDMAN , SamuelWallingfordGlover1697D/A1/211/100MF96091
REDMAN, JohnWindsor1722D/A1/211/126MF96091
REDVIN, ThomasNewburyWeaver1621D/A1/112/043MF536
REDWAY, SamuelFinchampsteadHusbandman1648D/A1/112/142 D/A1/16/675MF536 MF10066
REDWAYE, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1579D/A1/210/194MF96088
REDWAYE, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1579D/A1/10/178MF10047A
REDWOOD , John SnrWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1834D/A1/161/33MF583
REDWOOD, MarySparsholt1583D/A1/210/198 D/A1/210/200/1 D/A1/10/333MF96088 MF96088 MF10047A
REDWORTH, WilliamCookhamLabourer1617D/A1/210/246 D/A1/168/140MF96001 MF96001
REDYCHE, MargaretBinfield1584D/A1/111/070 D/A1/11/065MF535 MF10047B
REDYNG, GeorgeBrayYeoman1545D/A1/3/128MF604
REDYNG, George1545D/A1/233/230MF96132
REDYSHE, JohnBinfield1565D/A1/111/016 D/A1/8/345MF535 MF10043C
REDYTTY, RobertWhitley1557D/A1/6/087MF10043B
REEDE, JohnIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1562D/A1/8/257 D/A1/111/009MF10043C MF535
REEDE, ThomasCookhamLabourer1632D/A1/112/084MF536
REEMES, ThomasBarkham1610D/A1/210/236 D/A1/168/059MF96089 MF96001
REEVE, AliceReading1637D/A1/112/109MF536
REEVE, AnneShottesbrooke1639D/A1/112/122MF536
REEVE, JohnWallingfordGlover1771D/A1/114/55MF537
REEVE, MaryBurghfield1661D/A1/211/30MF96090
REEVE, RobertBurghfield1658D/A1/113/1/1MF536
REEVE, SarahReading1824D/A1/161/23MF583
REEVE, ThomasWallingfordGlover1736D/A1/113/184MF537
REEVE, WilliamWootton, CumnorHusbandman1590D/A1/111/089 D/A1/11/234MF535 MF10047B
REEVE, WilliamBaulking, UffingtonHusbandman1630D/A1/211/003 D/A1/168/190MF96090 MF96001
REEVE, WilliamBurghfield1704D/A1/113/113MF537
REEVES, EdwardNewburyBaker1785D/A1/114/73MF537
REEVES, ElizabethHailey, Oxfordshire1850D/A1/161/59MF583
REEVES, FrancisEast SheffordGardener1846D/A1/231/25MF96129
REEVES, HannahEast Garston1846D/A1/161/52MF583
REEVES, JohnNewbury1703D/A1/113/110MF537
REEVES, JohnFarnboroughYeoman1846D/A1/161/50MF583
REEVES, MarySpeen1809D/A1/231/8MF96129
REEVES, RichardGreenham, Thatcham Yeoman1758D/A1/114/34MF537
REGGINS, MargaretAbingdon1751D/A1/114/23MF537
REID, CharlesShinfield1849D/A1/161/57MF583