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
BADNOLL, AlexanderShellingfordYeoman1600D/A1/41/143 D/A1/13/580MF463 MF10049
BADNOLL, EdwardCarswell Marsh, BucklandHusbandman1625D/A1/43/124MF464
BADNOLL, ThomasBuckland1549D/A1/233/024MF96132
BADNOLL, ThomasBucklandYeoman1549D/A1/2/055MF603
BADWAYNE, JohnEaton, AppletonHusbandman1577D/A1/40/068 D/A1/10/112MF462 MF10047A
BAGES, GeorgeDuxford, Hinton WaldristYeoman1597D/A1/41/072 D/A1/13/049MF462 MF10049
BAGES, PeterLongworth1543D/A1/39/010 D/A1/1/226MF461 MF10042
BAGG, MarianHinton Waldrist1601D/A1/175/167MF96011
BAGGES, ElizabethDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1666D/A1/46/22MF466
BAGGES, MargaretDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1636D/A1/44/070MF464
BAGGES, RichardDuxford, Hinton WaldristHusbandman1599D/A1/41/129 D/A1/13/502MF463 MF10049
BAGGES, Robert SnrDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1644D/A1/178/003MF96015
BAGGS, HenryArdingtonBlacksmith1609D/A1/42/052 D/A1/14/590MF463 MF10064
BAGGS, HenryStanford In The Vale Husbandman1689D/A1/47/147MF467
BAGGS, MarianHinton Waldrist1600D/A1/13/714MF10049
BAGGS, MarySutton Courtenay1680D/A1/178/190MF96015
BAGGS, RichardDuxford, Hinton WaldristHusbandman1665D/A1/178/82MF96015
BAGGS, RobertHinton WaldristHusbandman1682D/A1/179/17MF96016
BAGGS, ThomasArdingtonBlacksmith1640D/A1/177/094MF96014
BAGGUS, LawrenceArdington1804D/A1/145/15MF557
BAGHURST, JoanStratfield Mortimer1610D/A1/42/065 D/A1/15/044MF463 MF10065
BAGLEY, AnneReading St Laurence1640D/A1/44/127MF465
BAGLEY, CecilyReading St Laurence1628D/A1/43/171MF464
BAGLEY, CecilyReading St Laurence1628D/A1/16/130MF10066
BAGLEY, JobReading St LaurenceFishmonger1649D/A1/45/045MF465
BAGLEY, John SnrReadingFishmonger1630D/A1/43/180MF464
BAGLY, RichardPurleyHusbandman1688D/A1/179/63 MF96017
BAGLY, RichardUfton NervetTallow Chandler1719D/A1/49/37MF468
BAGLY, ThomasUfton NervetYeoman1720D/A1/49/44MF468
BAGNOUR, RichardNewbury1565D/A1/167/127MF96000
BAGUS, ElizabethSwallowfield1740D/A1/49/218MF468
BAGUST, RobertStratfield MortimerYeoman1675D/A1/46/109MF466
BAGUST, Robert SnrBrimptonWheelwright1675D/A1/178/164 MF96015
BAIGENT, ElizabethShinfield1820D/A1/145/99MF557
BAILE, BennetStreatley1550D/A1/5/118 D/A1/39/045 D/A1/4/034MF10043A MF461 MF604
BAILEY , William SnrWaltham St LawrenceFarmer1815D/A1/145/78MF557
BAILEY, EdwardAbingdonButcher1835D/A1/146/21MF557
BAILEY, FrederickReadingBachelor In Physic1836D/A1/146/27MF557
BAILEY, GeorgeAbingdonMaltster1668D/A1/46/39MF466
BAILEY, GeorgeStreatleyYeoman1788D/A1/50/216MF21170
BAILEY, GeorgeNewburyCorn Porter1842D/A1/146/64MF557
BAILEY, JohnStreatleyYeoman1743D/A1/49/254MF468
BAILEY, JohnStreatleyYeoman1769D/A1/50/127MF469
BAILEY, RichardShinfield1770D/A1/180/225MF96020
BAILEY, StephenEast IlsleyTailor1819D/A1/145/93MF557
BAILEY, WilliamLetcombe RegisYeoman1837D/A1/226/92MF96123
BAILEY, WilliamStreatleyLabourer1849D/A1/226/128MF96123
BAILIE, JeffreyReading1591D/A1/11/375MF10047B
BAILIE, JudithSouthridge, Streatley1620D/A1/176/073MF96012
BAILLIE, WilliamNewbury1615D/A1/42/141 D/A1/15/550MF463 MF10065
BAILY, LeonardOxford, OxfordshireYeoman1645D/A1/45/009MF465
BAITH, KatherineFyfield1595D/A1/12/393MF10048
BAKECER, WilliamSwallowfield1558D/A1/39/109 D/A1/8/011MF461 MF10043C
BAKEHOWSE, GeorgeEast IlsleyClerk, Curate1550D/A1/39/047 D/A1/39/046 D/A1/5/098MF461 MF461 MF10043A
BAKER , Francis SnrFaringdonGardener1839D/A1/146/47MF557
BAKER , William SnrStanford In The ValeYeoman1722D/A1/49/68MF468
BAKER , William SnrStanford In The ValeYeoman1743D/A1/49/259MF468
BAKER, AgnesSwallowfield1559D/A1/39/165 D/A1/6/202MF461 MF10043B
BAKER, AgnesHagbourne1563D/A1/39/196 D/A1/8/265MF462 MF10043C
BAKER, AliceWinkfield1560D/A1/39/160 D/A1/8/183MF461 MF10043C
BAKER, AliceStratfield Mortimer1567D/A1/39/223 D/A1/9/029MF462 MF10046
BAKER, AnneNorth Moreton1710D/A1/179/200MF96018
BAKER, DorothyStanford In The Vale 1668D/A1/46/42MF466
BAKER, DorothyPusey1668D/A1/46/36MF466
BAKER, EdeWargrave1631D/A1/44/016MF464
BAKER, EdwardSunninghillHusbandman1637D/A1/44/094MF464
BAKER, EdwardReadingTanner1651D/A1/178/47MF96015
BAKER, EdwardNewbury1666D/A1/46/14MF466
BAKER, Edward JnrReadingTanner1641D/A1/44/139MF465
BAKER, ElizabethAbingdon St Nicholas1671D/A1/46/69MF466
BAKER, ElizabethNorth Moreton1791D/A1/50/230MF21170
BAKER, ElizabethAbingdon St Helen1834D/A1/146/10MF557
BAKER, FrancesReading St Laurence1561D/A1/7/331MF10040
BAKER, FrancesReading1561D/A1/39/184 D/A1/167/116MF461 MF96000
BAKER, FrancisReading1561D/A1/175/042MF96010
BAKER, JacobSunninghillYeoman1684D/A1/179/33MF96016
BAKER, JamesPuseyHusbandman1665D/A1/46/6MF466
BAKER, JoanNorth Moreton1543D/A1/1/225MF10042
BAKER, JoanChildrey1546D/A1/5/018MF10043A
BAKER, JoanChildrey1546D/A1/233/047MF96132
BAKER, JoanChildrey1546D/A1/2/093MF604
BAKER, JoanShrivenham1597D/A1/41/080 D/A1/13/220MF462 MF10049
BAKER, JohnEast Garston1558D/A1/7/178MF10040
BAKER, JohnNorth MoretonHusbandman1558D/A1/39/125 D/A1/7/213MF461 MF10040
BAKER, JohnEast Garston1558D/A1/39/095MF461
BAKER, JohnShefford1585D/A1/11/008MF10047B
BAKER, JohnStratfield Mortimer1589D/A1/40/173 D/A1/11/285MF462 MF10047B
BAKER, JohnFarnborough1599D/A1/41/131 D/A1/13/416MF463 MF10049
BAKER, JohnEast GarstonHusbandman1621D/A1/43/073MF464
BAKER, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1624D/A1/176/088MF96012
BAKER, JohnEast IlsleyTailor1644D/A1/178/005MF96015
BAKER, JohnReadingClothier, Broad Weaver1662D/A1/45/116MF465
BAKER, JohnBuscotYeoman1666D/A1/47/111MF466
BAKER, JohnClerkenwell St. James, Middlesex, HagbourneYeoman1667D/A1/48/89MF467
BAKER, JohnIdstone, AshburyLabourer1684D/A1/47/94MF466
BAKER, JohnMoulsfordYeoman1698D/A1/48/61MF467
BAKER, JohnMoulsfordFisherman1716D/A1/49/1MF468
BAKER, JohnShinfield1720D/A1/180/56MF96019
BAKER, JohnAbingdonTallow Chandler1730D/A1/180/116MF96020
BAKER, JohnNewburyCooper1745D/A1/50/2MF469