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
BARNES, AnneBeedon1662D/A1/45/102MF465
BARNES, AnneAbingdon St Helen1675D/A1/46/110MF466
BARNES, BenjaminWargraveYeoman1752D/A1/50/50MF469
BARNES, BrianNewbury1628D/A1/177/008MF96013
BARNES, CharlesAbingdonYeoman1638D/A1/16/631MF10066
BARNES, DewReadingGardener1846D/A1/146/87MF558
BARNES, EdwardWallingfordHusbandman, Cutler1641D/A1/177/088MF96014
BARNES, ElizabethLittle Wittenham1597D/A1/41/086 D/A1/13/144MF462 MF10049
BARNES, ElizabethCholsey1641D/A1/44/133MF465
BARNES, ElizabethTilehurst1712D/A1/48/196MF467
BARNES, FrancisLong WittenhamYeoman1669D/A1/46/45MF466
BARNES, FrancisAbingdonTailor1682D/A1/47/75MF466
BARNES, GeorgeSunninghillBlacksmith1632D/A1/44/036MF464
BARNES, GeorgeWargraveCarpenter1638D/A1/177/075MF96014
BARNES, GeorgeNewbury1790D/A1/50/224MF21170
BARNES, HenryCrookham, ThatchamHusbandman1641D/A1/44/143MF465
BARNES, IsabelAbingdon1738D/A1/180/148MF96020
BARNES, JamesWargraveShopkeeper1771D/A1/50/133MF469
BARNES, JamesTilehurstLabourer1822D/A1/145/112MF557
BARNES, JesseReading St Giles1842D/A1/146/66MF557
BARNES, JohnEast IlsleyBlacksmith1577D/A1/175/082MF96010
BARNES, JohnLetcombe RegisHusbandman1602D/A1/41/157 D/A1/13/788MF463 MF10049
BARNES, JohnCholsey1606D/A1/176/003MF96012
BARNES, JohnCholsey1606D/A1/168/009MF96001
BARNES, JohnEverington, YattendonYeoman1609D/A1/42/029MF463
BARNES, JohnAbingdon St HelenInnholder1625D/A1/176/103MF96012
BARNES, JohnReadingClothier1661D/A1/45/82MF465
BARNES, JohnSunninghillHusbandman1678D/A1/47/25MF466
BARNES, JohnSteventonHusbandman1690D/A1/179/73MF96017
BARNES, JohnEast Ilsley1762D/A1/180/212MF96020
BARNES, JohnAbingdonServant1788D/A1/50/221MF21170
BARNES, JosephEast IlsleyRector1671D/A1/46/77MF466
BARNES, JosephReading St Giles1713D/A1/48/202MF467
BARNES, LaurenceReading St Laurence1595D/A1/12/397MF10048
BARNES, LaurenceHurley1595D/A1/12/199MF10048
BARNES, LawrenceHurley1569D/A1/39/247 D/A1/9/208MF462 MF10046
BARNES, LawrenceReading1595D/A1/175/145MF96010
BARNES, Lawrence SnrNew Windsor, WindsorCutler1624D/A1/176/096MF96012
BARNES, MargaretLambourn1729D/A1/49/130MF468
BARNES, MargeryBradfield1697D/A1/169/12MF96002
BARNES, MargeryBradfieldYeoman1698D/A1/179/119MF96017
BARNES, MarthaAldermaston1701D/A1/48/91MF467
BARNES, MaryAbingdon1665D/A1/178/87MF96015
BARNES, MarySutton Courtenay1673D/A1/46/94MF466
BARNES, MaryLong Wittenham1712D/A1/48/199MF467
BARNES, MaryAbingdon1730D/A1/49/142MF468
BARNES, MaryCholsey1733D/A1/49/164MF468
BARNES, RalphCholseyHusbandman1670D/A1/46/61MF466
BARNES, RichardLong Wittenham1584D/A1/175/097MF96010
BARNES, RichardLong Wittenham1585D/A1/10/455MF10047A
BARNES, RichardCholsey1610D/A1/42/069 D/A1/15/102MF463 MF10065
BARNES, RichardReadingCloth Worker1661D/A1/45/85MF465
BARNES, RichardBerkshire1706D/A1/179/171MF96017
BARNES, RichardTilehurstYeoman1724D/A1/49/77MF468
BARNES, RichardNewburyCooper1789D/A1/50/223MF21170
BARNES, RobertSutton CourtenayLabourer1648D/A1/45/038MF465
BARNES, RobertLong WittenhamYeoman1661D/A1/45/76MF465
BARNES, RobertEast IlsleyClerk1771D/A1/50/137MF469
BARNES, RogerWatchfield, Shrivenham1529D/A1/1/118MF10041
BARNES, RogerLong WittenhamHusbandman1601D/A1/41/148 D/A1/13/642MF463 MF10049
BARNES, RogerBoxfordHusbandman1645D/A1/178/013MF96015
BARNES, SarahSpeen1853D/A1/226/131MF96123
BARNES, ThomasSpeenhamland, SpeenWoollen Draper1559D/A1/39/120 D/A1/8/113MF461 MF10043C
BARNES, ThomasLong WittenhamHusbandman1560D/A1/39/161 D/A1/6/191MF461 MF10043B
BARNES, ThomasNewbury1576D/A1/175/080MF96010
BARNES, ThomasBrayWeaver1592D/A1/41/018 D/A1/11/352MF462 MF10047B
BARNES, ThomasAbingdonTanner1666D/A1/46/19MF466
BARNES, ThomasEast HendredHusbandman1699D/A1/48/66MF467
BARNES, ThomasLong WittenhamYeoman1715D/A1/48/223MF468
BARNES, ThomasGreenham, Thatcham Weaver1758D/A1/50/79MF469
BARNES, ThomasWarfield1760D/A1/50/88MF469
BARNES, Thomas SnrColthrop, ThatchamHusbandman1671D/A1/46/74MF466
BARNES, Thomas SnrLong WittenhamYeoman1707D/A1/179/178MF96018
BARNES, WilliamLittle Wittenham1578D/A1/40/080MF462
BARNES, WilliamChildrey1579D/A1/10/157MF10047A
BARNES, WilliamLittle WittenhamHusbandman1579D/A1/10/153MF10047A
BARNES, WilliamRadleyLabourer1669D/A1/178/119/1 MF96015
BARNES, WilliamAbingdonTailor1671D/A1/178/136MF96015
BARNES, WilliamHurleyHusbandman1707D/A1/48/143MF467
BARNES, WilliamNewburyWeaver1788D/A1/50/219MF21170
BARNES, WilliamFawleyLabourer1838D/A1/146/43MF557
BARNES, WilliamGreat CoxwellYeoman1854D/A1/147/42MF558
BARNETT, JamesHoe Benham, Welford1722D/A1/49/64MF468
BARNETT, MichaelBrayFarmer1796D/A1/51/4MF469
BARNETT, RichardSandford1616D/A1/42/148 D/A1/15/565MF463 MF10065
BARNETT, WilliamSutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay Boat Builder1805D/A1/145/22MF557
BARNETT, WilliamSutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay Boat Builder1805D/A1/145/16MF557
BARNEWOOD, WilliamReading St LaurenceCutler1609D/A1/176/021MF96012
BARNEY, HenryWindsor1715D/A1/180/25MF96019
BARNEY, JohnAbingdon1811D/A1/226/43MF96123
BARNHAM, JohnDidcotLabourer1758D/A1/180/209MF96020
BARNIS, ThomasNewbury1552D/A1/5/182MF10043A
BARNS, ElizabethLong Wittenham1626D/A1/43/144MF464
BARNS, GeoffreyLittle Wittenham1548D/A1/5/065MF10043A
BARNS, JaneLong Wittenham1673D/A1/56/139MF475
BARNS, JohnLong WittenhamHusbandman1552D/A1/175/021 D/A1/7/338dMF96010 MF10040
BARNS, ThomasLong WittenhamYeoman1703D/A1/58/68MF476
BARNS, Thomas SnrLong WittenhamYeoman1708D/A1/48/148MF467
BARNWOOD, WilliamReading1609D/A1/168/048MF96001
BARNYS, ThomasNewbury1552D/A1/4/030MF604