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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
BENNET , John SnrShellingford1787D/A1/49/208MF468
BENNET , Richard SnrAppletonYeoman1805D/A1/145/23MF557
BENNET, AliceLetcombe Bassett1557D/A1/233/339MF96132
BENNET, AnneAbingdonCooper1664D/A1/214/113MF96097
BENNET, EleanorReading1695D/A1/48/32MF467
BENNET, ElizabethBinfield1593D/A1/41/040 D/A1/12/127MF462 MF10048
BENNET, ElizabethCookham1685D/A1/179/43MF96016
BENNET, GregoryEnglefield1594D/A1/12/193MF10048
BENNET, JohnStanford In The Vale Miller1680D/A1/47/46MF466
BENNET, JohnBasildonHusbandman1699D/A1/48/62MF467
BENNET, Joseph SnrKintburyLabourer1702D/A1/179/139MF96017
BENNET, MaryBuckland1667D/A1/178/108 MF96015
BENNET, StephenKingstone Winslow, AshburyYeoman1637D/A1/44/099MF465
BENNET, ThomasAppleton1787D/A1/180/245MF96020
BENNET, WilliamMoulsford, Cholsey1572D/A1/40/008 D/A1/9/334MF462 MF10046
BENNET, WilliamBray1615D/A1/168/120MF96001
BENNET, William SnrBucklandHusbandman1608D/A1/42/015 D/A1/14/454MF463 MF10064
BENNETT , John SnrShellingfordYeoman1738D/A1/49/202MF468
BENNETT, AliceNewbury1635D/A1/44/072MF464
BENNETT, EdwardReadingInnholder1670D/A1/178/116MF96015
BENNETT, EdwardStanford In The Vale Yeoman1693D/A1/48/12MF467
BENNETT, EdwardYattendonYeoman1758D/A1/180/205MF96020
BENNETT, ElizabethMoulsford, Cholsey1627D/A1/43/158MF464
BENNETT, ElizabethReading St Giles1696D/A1/169/12MF96002
BENNETT, HenryThatchamVintner1658D/A1/45/60MF465
BENNETT, IsabelWhitley, Reading St Giles1615D/A1/42/137 D/A1/15/541MF463 MF10065
BENNETT, JacobDraytonYeoman1783D/A1/50/201MF469
BENNETT, JamesAppletonFarmer1850D/A1/147/21MF558
BENNETT, JohnNewbury1544D/A1/233/039MF96132
BENNETT, JohnNewbury1547D/A1/2/077MF604
BENNETT, JohnThatcham1581D/A1/175/094MF96010
BENNETT, JohnReading St LaurenceLabourer1626D/A1/176/109MF96012
BENNETT, JohnLetcombe BassettYeoman1686D/A1/128/153MF548
BENNETT, JohnCookhamGlazier1689D/A1/47/145MF467
BENNETT, JohnWallingfordCordwainer1740D/A1/49/232MF468
BENNETT, JohnKingston BagpuizeSchoolmaster1850D/A1/147/24MF558
BENNETT, John SnrStanford In The Vale Miller, Yeoman1658D/A1/45/62MF465
BENNETT, John SnrShifford, Bampton, Oxfordshire1688D/A1/47/133MF467
BENNETT, JosephThatchamCollar Maker1801D/A1/145/2MF557
BENNETT, Margaret SnrSouth Moreton1683D/A1/47/84MF466
BENNETT, MaryWallingford1742D/A1/49/251MF468
BENNETT, MaryThatcham1784D/A1/50/208MF469
BENNETT, PeterBarkhamHusbandman1764D/A1/180/215MF96020
BENNETT, RichardPangbourneInnkeeper1826D/A1/145/125MF557
BENNETT, RichardTubney1832D/A1/146/4MF557
BENNETT, RobertLetcombe Bassett1571D/A1/39/256 D/A1/9/263MF462 MF10046
BENNETT, RobertAppletonYeoman1842D/A1/146/67MF557
BENNETT, Robert SnrBrayYeoman1612D/A1/42/079 D/A1/15/235MF463 MF10065
BENNETT, SarahHarwell1820D/A1/145/100MF557
BENNETT, SarahNewbury1836D/A1/146/30MF557
BENNETT, ThomasNewbury1573D/A1/9/382 D/A1/40/025MF10046 MF462
BENNETT, ThomasNewbury1629D/A1/43/178MF464
BENNETT, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1678D/A1/178/178MF96015
BENNETT, ThomasBuckland1693D/A1/179/96MF96017
BENNETT, ThomasLeckhampstead, ChieveleyCordwainer1721D/A1/49/61MF468
BENNETT, ThomasTubneyYeoman1857D/A1/147/56MF558
BENNETT, WilliamKingston BagpuizeButcher1587D/A1/11/146MF10047B
BENNETT, WilliamBrayYeoman1615D/A1/176/052MF96012
BENNETT, WilliamReading St GilesYeoman1661D/A1/45/80MF465
BENNETT, WilliamThatchamHusbandman1682D/A1/47/71MF466
BENNETT, WilliamReadingTailor1687D/A1/47/124MF467
BENNETT, WilliamBray1693D/A1/179/98MF96017
BENNETT, WilliamHarwellBodice Maker1730D/A1/49/145MF468
BENNETT, WilliamHarwellYeoman1840D/A1/226/105MF96123
BENNETT, William JnrMoulsford, CholseyHusbandman1634D/A1/44/063MF464
BENNETT, William SnrShinfieldYeoman1636D/A1/44/089MF464
BENNIT, EdwardNewburyCordwainer1635D/A1/44/069MF464
BENSKIN, CharlesInkpenLabourer1847D/A1/147/8MF558
BENSKIN, SamuelInkpen1819D/A1/226/56MF96123
BENSON, ThomasHatfordParson1579D/A1/175/088MF96010
BENSON, ThomasHatfordClerk, Rector1579D/A1/10/182MF10047A
BENSON, William SnrHurley (W.), ShottesbrookeYeoman1682D/A1/47/76MF466
BENT, HenryWhite WalthamHusbandman1633D/A1/44/047MF464
BENT, JaneSparsholt1746D/A1/180/179MF96020
BENT, JoanWest Ilsley1576D/A1/40/061 D/A1/10/054MF462 MF10047A
BENT, JohnWest IlsleyHusbandman1568D/A1/39/233 D/A1/9/125MF462 MF10046
BENT, JohnChurch Speen, SpeenHusbandman1618D/A1/43/019 D/A1/15/833MF464 MF10065
BENT, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1634D/A1/44/060MF464
BENT, RichardShurlock Row? (Surley Crow), Waltham St. Lawrence1706D/A1/179/166MF96017
BENT, ThomasBishamYeoman1688D/A1/179/64MF96017
BENTE, ThomasFawley1590D/A1/41/003 D/A1/11/319MF462 MF10047B
BENTLEY, ElizabethReading St Laurence1834D/A1/226/82MF96123
BENTLEY, JosephEast Hagbourne, HagbourneCordwainer1718D/A1/49/29MF468
BENTLEY, WilliamWinkfieldHusbandman1641D/A1/44/146MF465
BENTLY, ElizabethWallingford1774D/A1/50/150MF469
BENTLY, MaryStratfield Mortimer1692D/A1/179/93MF96017
BENWELL, AliceBucklebury1616D/A1/42/151 D/A1/15/589MF463 MF10065
BENWELL, BartholomewReading St GilesTailor1588D/A1/40/163 D/A1/11/300MF462 MF10047B
BENWELL, BridgetBucklebury1615D/A1/176/049MF96012
BENWELL, BridgetBucklebury1615D/A1/168/116MF96001
BENWELL, JamesBuckleburyHusbandman1631D/A1/44/013MF464
BENWELL, JamesBucklebury1691D/A1/47/164MF467
BENWELL, JohnBuckleburyTurner1556D/A1/2/089MF604
BENWELL, JohnTidmarsh1560D/A1/39/142 D/A1/6/186MF461 MF10043B
BENWELL, JohnBuckleburyHusbandman1589D/A1/175/116MF96010
BENWELL, JohnBucklebury1589D/A1/11/368MF10047B
BENWELL, JohnStratfield MortimerTailor1768D/A1/50/119MF469
BENWELL, John SnrBucklebury1556D/A1/233/045MF96132
BENWELL, John SnrBuckleburyHusbandman1628D/A1/43/165MF464
BENWELL, John SnrBuckleburyCooper1631D/A1/44/001MF464