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
STOWARDS , Francis SnrNewburyFisherman1734D/A1/124/69MF544
STOWER, JohnNewburyInnkeeper1584D/A1/212/124MF96092
STOWER, JohnNewbury1584D/A1/11/003MF10047B
STOWER, KatherineGreenham, Thatcham1562D/A1/114/257 D/A1/2/021MF537 MF603
STOWER, WilliamGreenham, ThatchamYeoman1561D/A1/8/217 D/A1/114/256MF10043C MF537
STOWERS, JacobThatchamLabourer1676D/A1/214/172MF96097
STOWERS, JohnKintburyMaltster1778D/A1/125/117MF544
STOWERS, MaryThatcham1725D/A1/216/78MF96101
STOWERS, ThomasHamstead MarshallHusbandman1761D/A1/125/42MF544
STOWRE, ChristianNewbury1592D/A1/116/053 D/A1/12/049MF538 MF10048
STOWRE, JohnNewbury1534D/A1/1/262MF10042
STOWRE, ThomasGreenham, ThatchamTanner1546D/A1/3/168 D/A1/233/263MF604 MF96132
STOWTE, RobertWeston, WelfordHusbandman1632D/A1/119/017MF540
STRAING, WilliamArdingtonYeoman1739D/A1/124/90MF544
STRAING, William SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1673D/A1/214/162MF96097
STRAINGE, AnnArdington1760D/A1/125/32MF544
STRAINGE, AnneMoulsford, Cholsey1707D/A1/122/158MF543
STRAINGE, FrancisBucklandHusbandman1675D/A1/121/67MF542
STRAINGE, FrancisLyford, West Hanney1803D/A1/231/33MF96129
STRAINGE, JoanLong Wittenham1625D/A1/118/082MF540
STRAINGE, JohnPuseyHusbandman1647D/A1/120/029MF541
STRAINGE, JohnPuseyHusbandman1661D/A1/120/85MF541
STRAINGE, MaryReading St LaurenceVictualler1703D/A1/215/151MF96099
STRAINGE, RichardLong Wittenham1718D/A1/123/59MF543
STRAINGE, RichardAbingdonButcher1721D/A1/216/57MF96101
STRAINGE, RobertSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1701D/A1/122/105MF542
STRAINGE, ThomasEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1684D/A1/121/149MF542
STRAINGE, ThomasCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1701D/A1/122/101MF542
STRAINGE, ThomasCharney Bassett, LongworthHusbandman1745D/A1/124/135MF544
STRAINGE, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1708D/A1/122/166MF543
STRAITLEY, VincentWelford1585D/A1/115/217 D/A1/11/036MF538 MF10047B
STRANG , RachellSpeenhamland, Speen1635D/A1/214/017MF96096
STRANG, JohnLetcombe Regis1685D/A1/215/36MF96098
STRANGE, AdamLong WittenhamYeoman1752D/A1/216/198MF96102
STRANGE, AdamLong WittenhamHusbandman1769D/A1/125/84MF544
STRANGE, AliceStanford In The Vale1614D/A1/117/108 D/A1/15/478MF539 MF10065
STRANGE, AnnEast Garston1680D/A1/121/112MF542
STRANGE, DorothyCharney, Longworth1600D/A1/116/169 D/A1/13/502MF539 MF10049
STRANGE, ElizabethPusey1662D/A1/120/101MF541
STRANGE, ElizabethTilehurst1842D/A1/231/98MF96129
STRANGE, HenryTheale, TilehurstYeoman1793D/A1/125/163MF546
STRANGE, JoanCharney, Longworth1532D/A1/1/177MF10042
STRANGE, JohnCharney, Longworth1546D/A1/5/004MF10043A
STRANGE, JohnCharney, Longworth1546D/A1/3/181MF604
STRANGE, JohnCharney, Longworth1546D/A1/233/274MF96132
STRANGE, JohnSotwell, Wallingford St LeonardHusbandman1566D/A1/115/013 D/A1/9/011MF538 MF10046
STRANGE, JohnArdington1584D/A1/115/205 D/A1/10/436MF538 MF10047A
STRANGE, JohnStanford In The ValeHusbandman1609D/A1/117/023 D/A1/14/523MF539 MF10064
STRANGE, JohnCharney, LongworthYeoman1612D/A1/213/076 D/A1/168/082MF96094 MF96001
STRANGE, JohnAbingdonBrazier, Pewterer1612D/A1/117/089 D/A1/15/270MF539 MF10065
STRANGE, JohnBurghfieldHusbandman, Labourer1612D/A1/117/079 D/A1/15/289MF539 MF10065
STRANGE, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenPump Maker1634D/A1/119/028MF540
STRANGE, JohnMoulsfordLabourer1705D/A1/215/167MF96099
STRANGE, JohnLong WittenhamYeoman1780D/A1/125/120MF544
STRANGE, KatherineCharney, Longworth1600D/A1/13/596MF10049
STRANGE, KatherineCharney, Longworth1600D/A1/213/013MF96094
STRANGE, RichardArdingtonYeoman1676D/A1/121/76MF542
STRANGE, RobertStanford In The ValeHusbandman1570D/A1/115/061 D/A1/9/211MF538 MF10046
STRANGE, RoseLong Wittenham1800D/A1/216/272MF96102
STRANGE, ThomasCharney, LongworthHusbandman1599D/A1/13/436MF10049
STRANGE, ThomasCharney, Longworth1599D/A1/116/173MF539
STRANGE, ThomasCharney, LongworthYeoman1629D/A1/213/157MF96095
STRANGE, WilliamSotwell, Wallingford St LeonardHusbandman1558D/A1/114/175 D/A1/7/220MF537 MF10040
STRATFORD , ElizabethAldermaston1604D/A1/116/242 D/A1/13/1283MF539 MF10049
STRATFORD , HughAldermastonHusbandman1609D/A1/117/028 D/A1/14/567MF539 MF10064
STRATFORD , RichardAldermaston1600D/A1/116/185 D/A1/13/527MF539 MF10049
STRATFORD, AmeliaKintbury1843D/A1/231/102MF96130
STRATFORD, JaneKintbury1843D/A1/231/103MF96130
STRATFORD, JohnAldermastonHusbandman1575D/A1/115/116 D/A1/10/009MF538 MF10047A
STRATFORD, SamuelShinfieldYeoman1748D/A1/124/168MF544
STRATTEN, Richard SnrWhite WalthamGardener1709D/A1/216/1MF96100
STRATTEN, ThomasWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1641D/A1/214/055 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
STRATTON , Richard SnrWhite WalthamGardener1709D/A1/216/1MF96100
STRATTON , Richard SnrInkpenYeoman1756D/A1/125/6MF544
STRATTON, AlexanderKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1600D/A1/116/172 D/A1/13/513MF539 MF10049
STRATTON, EdwardWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1625D/A1/213/137MF96095
STRATTON, EdwardLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1691D/A1/215/72MF96098
STRATTON, EdwardWatchfield, Shrivenham1743D/A1/124/129MF544
STRATTON, EdwardShrivenhamYeoman1746D/A1/216/188MF96101
STRATTON, EdwardFernham, Shrivenham 1805D/A1/161/122MF583
STRATTON, EdwardLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1815D/A1/161/100MF583
STRATTON, ElizabethWatchfield, Shrivenham1635D/A1/119/040MF540
STRATTON, ElizabethBray1667D/A1/120/157MF541
STRATTON, ElizabethWatchfield, Shrivenham1704D/A1/122/132MF543
STRATTON, ElizabethWatchfield, Shrivenham1721D/A1/123/83MF543
STRATTON, EllenNew Windsor, Windsor1619D/A1/118/005MF540
STRATTON, GraceLongcot, Shrivenham1705D/A1/122/138MF543
STRATTON, JaneWatchfield, Shrivenham1642D/A1/214/058 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
STRATTON, JaneLongcot, Shrivenham 1807D/A1/161/121MF583
STRATTON, JoanWatchfield, Shrivenham1662D/A1/120/115MF541
STRATTON, JohnReading St Laurence1588D/A1/115/231 D/A1/11/259MF538 MF10047B
STRATTON, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1617D/A1/213/104MF96094
STRATTON, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1617D/A1/168/140MF96001
STRATTON, JohnWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1642D/A1/119/154MF541
STRATTON, JohnShrivenham1673D/A1/121/48MF542
STRATTON, JohnWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1699D/A1/122/88MF542
STRATTON, JohnShrivenhamYeoman1702D/A1/122/117MF543
STRATTON, JohnInkpenYeoman1715D/A1/123/38MF543
STRATTON, JohnLetcombe BassettYeoman1731D/A1/124/26MF544
STRATTON, JohnLongcot, Shrivenham 1743D/A1/124/130MF544