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
SAWYER, WilliamPadworthHusbandman1696D/A1/122/69MF542
SAXON, Thomas StockwellNewburySaddler1830D/A1/162/32MF583
SAXON, WilliamNewburySaddler1819D/A1/161/95MF583
SAXTON, JoanAbingdon1758D/A1/125/22MF544
SAXTON, LeonardAppletonYeoman1732D/A1/124/43MF544
SAY, ThomasWallingford1543D/A1/212/005MF96092
SAYER , Peter JnrLetcombe Regis1727D/A1/216/87MF96101
SAYER , Richard SnrGarford, Marcham 1744D/A1/124/137MF544
SAYER , Robert SnrDidcotYeoman1722D/A1/123/135MF543
SAYER, AliceMilton1593D/A1/116/069 D/A1/12/101MF538 MF10048
SAYER, AnnArdington1687D/A1/121/174MF542
SAYER, AnnWallingford1740D/A1/124/106MF544
SAYER, AnneAbingdonCooper1664D/A1/214/113MF96097
SAYER, BridgetReading1718D/A1/123/55MF543
SAYER, DamarisWallingford1767D/A1/125/66MF544
SAYER, DeenesMilton1637D/A1/119/083MF540
SAYER, EdmundCholseyYeoman1705D/A1/122/142MF543
SAYER, EdwardUffingtonRough Mason1678D/A1/214/187MF96097
SAYER, EdwardDidcot1725D/A1/123/134MF543
SAYER, EdwardShrivenhamYeoman1733D/A1/124/64MF544
SAYER, EdwardBrightwellYeoman1742D/A1/216/169MF96101
SAYER, EdwardLambourn1769D/A1/216/228MF96102
SAYER, Edward SnrDidcotHusbandman1663D/A1/214/104MF96097
SAYER, ElizabethHagbourne1552D/A1/114/128MF537
SAYER, ElizabethLong Wittenham1566D/A1/115/016 D/A1/9/032MF538 MF10046
SAYER, ElizabethWallingford1701D/A1/215/136MF96099
SAYER, ElizabethEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1711D/A1/216/12MF96100
SAYER, ElizabethWargrave1729D/A1/124/2MF544
SAYER, FrancisCholsey1661D/A1/120/72MF541
SAYER, FrancisCholsey1678D/A1/121/89MF542
SAYER, HenryReadingInnholder1731D/A1/124/27MF544
SAYER, Henry SnrWinkfield1574D/A1/212/084MF96092
SAYER, JamesArdingtonYeoman1684D/A1/215/22MF96098
SAYER, JamesDrayton1754D/A1/124/199MF544
SAYER, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1569D/A1/115/059 D/A1/9/203MF538 MF10046
SAYER, JohnCookhamYeoman1621D/A1/118/027MF540
SAYER, JohnMarlston, BuckleburyHusbandman1628D/A1/213/151MF96095
SAYER, JohnHagbourneCarrier1673D/A1/214/163MF96097
SAYER, JohnWallingford1702D/A1/215/138MF96099
SAYER, JosephPoughley, ChaddleworthYeoman1677D/A1/121/82MF542
SAYER, JosephWelford1730D/A1/124/15MF544
SAYER, Justinian SnrMiltonHusbandman1683D/A1/215/12MF96098
SAYER, MargaretCholsey1722D/A1/123/110MF543
SAYER, MarthaHampstead Norreys1736D/A1/124/75MF544
SAYER, MaryStreatley1725D/A1/123/133MF543
SAYER, MaryAston Tirrold1735D/A1/216/134MF96101
SAYER, MaryEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1758D/A1/125/20MF544
SAYER, MaryEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1758D/A1/125/20MF544
SAYER, NicholasMidgham, Thatcham1641D/A1/119/146MF541
SAYER, ParsonReadingYeoman1734D/A1/216/130MF96101
SAYER, PeterWallingford1730D/A1/124/14MF544
SAYER, PeterAbingdonApothecary1739D/A1/124/100MF544
SAYER, PhilipStanford DingleyClerk1758D/A1/125/21MF544
SAYER, RichardMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1637D/A1/119/075MF540
SAYER, RichardHagbourneYeoman1740D/A1/216/160MF96101
SAYER, RichardMarchamMiller1753D/A1/216/202MF96102
SAYER, Richard SnrHagbourneYeoman1636D/A1/119/069MF540
SAYER, Robert1554D/A1/212/028MF96092
SAYER, RobertLong Wittenham1557D/A1/3/157MF604
SAYER, RobertHagbourneYeoman1663D/A1/120/127 MF541
SAYER, RobertCoscote, HagbourneYeoman1669D/A1/120/172MF541
SAYER, RobertHagbourneYeoman1673D/A1/121/49MF542
SAYER, RobertWallingfordYeoman1698D/A1/122/82MF542
SAYER, RobertHagbourneMiller1730D/A1/216/103MF96101
SAYER, RobertSotwellYeoman1738D/A1/216/150MF96101
SAYER, SusannaReading1777D/A1/125/110MF544
SAYER, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1546D/A1/3/161MF604
SAYER, ThomasWinkfield1546D/A1/233/258MF96132
SAYER, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1557D/A1/3/261MF604
SAYER, ThomasWinkfield1557D/A1/233/324MF96132
SAYER, ThomasBourton, Shrivenham1585D/A1/115/213 D/A1/11/032MF538 MF10047B
SAYER, ThomasMilton1593D/A1/212/166MF96093
SAYER, ThomasMilton1593D/A1/12/109MF10048
SAYER, ThomasElcot, Kintbury1593D/A1/12/108MF10048
SAYER, ThomasUffingtonYeoman1699D/A1/122/86MF542
SAYER, ThomasEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1700D/A1/122/94MF542
SAYER, ThomasLambournWheelwright1734D/A1/216/129MF96101
SAYER, Thomas SnrElcot, Kintbury1593D/A1/212/164MF96093
SAYER, WilliamChipping Lamborne, LambournYeoman1758D/A1/125/19MF544
SAYERE, RobertHagbourne1557D/A1/212/034MF96092
SAYLE, JohnLetcombe Regis1545D/A1/212/008MF96092
SCAIFE, ThomasLongworth1803D/A1/231/34MF96129
SCALLEA, AnthonyBenham Valence, SpeenYeoman1621D/A1/118/034MF540
SCAPELAND, ThomasSouth Hinksey, CumnorLabourer1637D/A1/214/031 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SCAPES, JohnWest WoodhayHusbandman1618D/A1/117/159 D/A1/15/920MF539 MF10065
SCAPLEHORN, SarahCompton Beauchamp1763D/A1/125/51MF544
SCAPLEHORNE, JohnBradfield1585D/A1/212/122MF96092
SCAPLEHORNE, JohnBradfield1585D/A1/11/002MF10047B
SCAPPES, AnneWoolstone, Uffington1623D/A1/213/128MF96095
SCARLET, MatthewWest Bockhampton, LambournHusbandman1608D/A1/117/015 D/A1/14/464MF539 MF10064
SCARLETT, AliceLambourn1662D/A1/214/94MF96097
SCARLOCKE, ElizabethWest Bockhampton, Lambourn1613D/A1/117/101 D/A1/15/367MF539 MF10065
SCATE, JohnKintburyLabourer1827D/A1/162/43MF583
SCHEPWAY, AgnesReading St Mary1557D/A1/3/176MF604
SCHERDE, JohnKingston Bagpuize1546D/A1/3/147MF604
SCHOCHYN, ThomasReading St Giles1512D/A1/1/019MF10041
SCHOLES, JasperCharlton, Wantage1636D/A1/119/053MF540
SCHORIE, JohnThatcham1601D/A1/213/016 D/A1/13/716MF96094 MF10049
SCOCHY, John1547D/A1/212/012MF96092
SCOLLES, JohnSotwell, Wallingford St LeonardHusbandman1572D/A1/115/088 D/A1/9/313MF538 MF10046