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, RichardWallingford Street, West Compton, ComptonHusbandman1610D/A1/117/043 D/A1/15/054MF539 MF10065
SMITH, RichardBurghfield1614D/A1/168/106MF96001
SMITH, RichardBuckland1626D/A1/118/087MF540
SMITH, RichardSutton CourtenayYeoman1632D/A1/119/004MF540
SMITH, RichardAshampsteadHusbandman1635D/A1/214/015MF96096
SMITH, RichardHamstead MarshallYeoman1637D/A1/119/080MF540
SMITH, RichardArdingtonYeoman1642D/A1/119/161MF541
SMITH, RichardUffingtonYeoman1646D/A1/120/026MF541
SMITH, RichardChiltonYeoman1653D/A1/120/49MF541
SMITH, RichardBasildon1653D/A1/120/166MF541
SMITH, RichardChiltonYeoman1653D/A1/120/049MF541
SMITH, RichardDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonCarpenter1666D/A1/120/146MF541
SMITH, RichardWest Shefford1669D/A1/120/174MF541
SMITH, RichardBenham, SpeenHusbandman1670D/A1/214/144MF96097
SMITH, RichardThatchamHusbandman1676D/A1/190/85MF96037
SMITH, RichardHamstead MarshallYeoman1692D/A1/215/76MF96098
SMITH, RichardHamstead MarshallYeoman1699D/A1/215/124MF96099
SMITH, RichardLetcombe Regis1701D/A1/215/131MF96099
SMITH, RichardLetcombe RegisYeoman1701D/A1/122/103MF542
SMITH, RichardReadingMealman1704D/A1/17/39MF10079
SMITH, RichardNorth Moreton1708D/A1/215/184MF96099
SMITH, RichardWest SheffordYeoman1722D/A1/216/63MF96101
SMITH, RichardThatcham1748D/A1/124/164MF544
SMITH, RichardLetcombe RegisYeoman1754D/A1/216/204MF96102
SMITH, RichardSteventonYeoman1793D/A1/125/161MF546
SMITH, RichardHampstead Norreys1799D/A1/216/270MF96102
SMITH, RichardReading St GilesWeaver1824D/A1/162/54MF583
SMITH, RichardUfton Nervet1826D/A1/231/73MF96129
SMITH, RichardBasildonFarmer1830D/A1/231/76MF96129
SMITH, RichardTheale, Tilehurst1834D/A1/162/12MF583
SMITH, Richard JnrDidcotYeoman1686D/A1/121/159MF542
SMITH, Richard SnrHurleyYeoman1678D/A1/121/92MF542
SMITH, Richard SnrEarley, SonningYeoman1703D/A1/122/129MF543
SMITH, RobertWest Ilsley1559D/A1/8/138MF10043C
SMITH, RobertWargrave1615D/A1/117/116 D/A1/15/513MF539 MF10065
SMITH, RobertFawler, SparsholtHusbandman1616D/A1/213/102MF96094
SMITH, RobertFawler, Sparsholt1616D/A1/168/130MF96001
SMITH, RobertWythamHusbandman1635D/A1/214/019MF96096
SMITH, RobertWythamHusbandman1635D/A1/169/083MF96002
SMITH, RobertOare, Chieveley1662D/A1/120/108MF541
SMITH, RobertHamstead MarshallBrick Burner1664D/A1/120/135MF541
SMITH, RobertCumnorYeoman1760D/A1/125/33MF544
SMITH, RobertStanford DingleyBaker, Grocer 1836D/A1/162/67MF583
SMITH, RogerWest SheffordShepherd1723D/A1/123/98MF543
SMITH, SamuelNewburyClothier1679D/A1/121/103MF542
SMITH, SamuelNewbury1694D/A1/215/95MF96098
SMITH, SamuelComptonCarpenter1706D/A1/122/152MF543
SMITH, SamuelNewburyCordwainer1739D/A1/216/157MF96101
SMITH, SamuelThatchamGlazier1796D/A1/125/177MF546
SMITH, SarahReading St Giles1730D/A1/124/17MF544
SMITH, SarahThatcham1830D/A1/162/28MF583
SMITH, StephenChapel Row, BuckleburyHusbandman1586D/A1/115/226 D/A1/11/080MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, StephenStanford DingleyYeoman1631D/A1/118/151MF540
SMITH, StephenTitcomb, KintburyYeoman1642D/A1/119/157MF541
SMITH, ThomasWaterhouse, WasingHusbandman1564D/A1/114/273 D/A1/8/330MF537 MF10043C
SMITH, ThomasSutton CourtenayHusbandman1566D/A1/115/020 D/A1/9/013MF538 MF10046
SMITH, ThomasLambournLabourer, Husbandman1591D/A1/116/029 D/A1/11/405MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, ThomasDidcot1596D/A1/12/402MF10048
SMITH, ThomasAbingdon1597D/A1/212/171 D/A1/13/180MF96093 MF10049
SMITH, ThomasDidcot1609D/A1/168/046MF96001
SMITH, ThomasAbingdon1616D/A1/168/130MF96001
SMITH, ThomasBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1617D/A1/117/140 D/A1/15/719MF539 MF10065
SMITH, ThomasWhite WalthamLabourer, Husbandman1618D/A1/117/165 D/A1/15/816MF539 MF10065
SMITH, ThomasArdingtonHusbandman1621D/A1/118/025MF540
SMITH, ThomasBuscotHusbandman1625D/A1/118/069MF540
SMITH, ThomasKennington, SunningwellYeoman1626D/A1/213/140MF96095
SMITH, ThomasFrilford, Marcham1635D/A1/119/039MF540
SMITH, ThomasHampstead NorreysYeoman1640D/A1/214/044MF96096
SMITH, ThomasHampstead NorreysYeoman1640D/A1/169/083MF96002
SMITH, ThomasArdingtonYeoman1669D/A1/120/168MF541
SMITH, ThomasEast SheffordYeoman1670D/A1/121/12MF542
SMITH, ThomasE. Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1672D/A1/121/38MF542
SMITH, ThomasHarts Hill, ThatchamYeoman1676D/A1/214/171MF96097
SMITH, ThomasShaw Cum DonningtonHusbandman1682D/A1/215/7MF96098
SMITH, ThomasBenham Valence, SpeenYeoman1686D/A1/121/179MF542
SMITH, ThomasHamstead MarshallYeoman1689D/A1/122/15MF542
SMITH, ThomasLittle Shefford Place1689D/A1/122/13MF542
SMITH, ThomasWellhouse, Hampstead NorrisMaltster1697D/A1/215/114MF96098
SMITH, ThomasComptonHusbandman1700D/A1/215/126MF96099
SMITH, ThomasKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1703D/A1/122/123MF543
SMITH, ThomasShrivenhamLabourer1706D/A1/215/170MF96099
SMITH, ThomasStanford In The ValeYeoman1719D/A1/123/74MF543
SMITH, ThomasAshbury1723D/A1/216/72MF96101
SMITH, ThomasHarwellHusbandman1725D/A1/216/76MF96101
SMITH, ThomasHagbourneYeoman1734D/A1/124/61MF544
SMITH, ThomasKintburyBailiff1742D/A1/124/119MF544
SMITH, ThomasSparsholtGardener1748D/A1/216/191MF96102
SMITH, ThomasHarwellYeoman1754D/A1/124/197MF544
SMITH, ThomasChieveleyYeoman1762D/A1/125/50MF544
SMITH, ThomasSpeenhamland, Speen Butcher1785D/A1/125/133MF544
SMITH, ThomasNewburyVictualler1797D/A1/125/181MF546
SMITH, ThomasEast HendredBlacksmith1845D/A1/162/101MF583
SMITH, Thomas SnrDidcotHusbandman1596D/A1/212/175MF96093
SMITH, Thomas SnrHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1664D/A1/190/68MF96037
SMITH, Thomas SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1678D/A1/121/94MF542
SMITH, Thomas SnrBlagrove, Ascott, Gt. Milton [Thame And  Milton Peculiar] , OxfordshireYeoman1703D/A1/122/127MF543
SMITH, Thomas SnrHately, WinkfieldYeoman1703D/A1/122/124MF543
SMITH, TimothyLockingeGamekeeper1827D/A1/162/45MF583
SMITH, TobiasAshburyTailor1726D/A1/123/139MF543
SMITH, VincentEast Lockinge1587D/A1/212/134 D/A1/11/159MF96092 MF10047B