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
APUSEYE, PhilipPusey1574D/A1/35/140 D/A1/9/396MF459 MF10046
APYSEYE, JohnPusey1548D/A1/103/085MF573
ARANDELL, JamesWest SheffordHusbandman1671D/A1/174/57MF96008
ARCHAR, RobertThatchamYeoman1735D/A1/38/92MF461
ARCHARD (ALIAS STAPELER), MaryCoxwell, Faringdon1731D/A1/216/119MF96101
ARCHARD, CatherineGreat Coxwell1672D/A1/174/58MF96008
ARCHARD, EdwinEastbury, LambournDay Labourer1624D/A1/173/110MF96006
ARCHARD, JohnEastbury, Lambourn1580D/A1/10/246 D/A1/35/168MF10047A MF459
ARCHARD, JohnGreat Coxwell1591D/A1/35/216 D/A1/11/407MF459 MF10047B
ARCHARD, JohnGreat Coxwell1686D/A1/206/106aMF96076
ARCHARD, John SnrGreat CoxwellHusbandman1673D/A1/174/62MF96008
ARCHARD, MalenLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1731D/A1/38/89MF461
ARCHARD, RichardNew Windsor, Windsor1558D/A1/7/173MF10040
ARCHARD, RichardNew Windsor, WindsorBaker1558D/A1/35/054MF459
ARCHARD, ThomasDene, East Garston1586D/A1/35/189 D/A1/11/079MF459 MF10047B
ARCHARD, ThomasLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1670D/A1/174/56MF96008
ARCHARD, WilliamCoxwell, Faringdon1731D/A1/174/154MF96008
ARCHDEACON, WilliamReading1840D/A1/144/53MF557
ARCHER, EdwardCookhamClerk1672D/A1/174/61MF96008
ARCHER, JohnDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1794D/A1/174/196MF96009
ARCHER, MaryShaw Cum Donnington1855D/A1/144/81MF557
ARCHER, RichardThatchamWaggoner1728D/A1/174/145MF96008
ARCHER, ThomasAppleford, Sutton CourtenayShepherd1848D/A1/226/23MF96122
ARCHER, WilliamShaw Cum DonningtonLabourer1805D/A1/144/4MF557
ARCHETT, JohnNewburyGlover1731D/A1/38/88MF461
ARDEN, EdithHampton Turvin, Highworth, Wiltshire1578D/A1/173/038MF96006
ARDEN, EleanorLongcot, Shrivenham1669D/A1/37/47MF460
ARDEN, JoanHarwell1682D/A1/174/80MF96008
ARDIN, RichardChiltonHusbandman1642D/A1/36/174MF460
ARENDELL, JohnBrimptonYeoman1688D/A1/37/117MF460
ARENDELL, SimonWest Shefford1690D/A1/174/96MF96008
ARIS, CatherineAbingdon1724D/A1/38/57MF461
ARIS, EdwardAbingdonBoatman1697D/A1/37/132MF460
ARIS, SamuelAbingdonBoatmaster1664D/A1/37/35MF460
ARIS, SusannaAbingdon1759D/A1/38/145MF461
ARIS, WilliamAbingdon1750D/A1/38/131MF461
ARKELL, RobertAbingdon St NicholasMiller1846D/A1/144/64MF557
ARKILL, AnthonyWythamMiller1703D/A1/174/118MF96008
ARLAD, GeorgePadworth1603D/A1/13/1017MF10049
ARLADDE, George SnrPadworth1603D/A1/173/069MF96006
ARLADE, RichardThatchamHusbandman1558D/A1/35/061 D/A1/7/227MF459 MF10040
ARLARD , AnneSulhamstead Abbots1546D/A1/2/045MF603
ARLARD, EleanorSulhamstead Abbots1609D/A1/36/017 D/A1/14/526MF459 MF10064
ARLARD, JoanWoolhampton1574D/A1/35/143 D/A1/9/451MF459 MF10046
ARLARD, JohnWoolhamptonHusbandman1573D/A1/35/137 D/A1/9/362MF459 MF10046
ARLARD, MilesAldermaston1574D/A1/35/141 D/A1/9/415MF459 MF10046
ARLARDE, RichardSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1593D/A1/35/228 D/A1/12/087MF459 MF10048
ARLARDE, ThomasSulhamstead Abbots1541D/A1/2/034 D/A1/6/048MF603 MF10043B
ARLAT, GeorgeEaston, WelfordHusbandman1661D/A1/37/15MF460
ARLATT, JoanWoolhampton1629D/A1/208/053MF96080
ARLATT, RichardReading St LaurenceHaberdasher1587D/A1/35/198 D/A1/11/270MF459 MF10047B
ARLET, AliceDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1621D/A1/36/082MF459
ARLET, ThomasNewburyCooper1614D/A1/36/033 D/A1/15/418MF459 MF10065
ARLETT, AliceDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1621D/A1/36/083MF459
ARLETT, JohnReading St LaurenceMercer1580D/A1/35/163 D/A1/10/251MF459 MF10047A
ARLETT, JohnTheale, TilehurstInnholder1784D/A1/38/191MF461
ARLETT, RichardShaw Cum DonningtonCooper1618D/A1/173/100MF96006
ARLETT, RichardShaw Cum Donnington1618D/A1/168/155MF96001
ARLOTT, RichardSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1593D/A1/35/228 D/A1/12/087MF459 MF10048
ARLOTT, WalterKintburyHusbandman1702D/A1/38/10MF461
ARMESTED, ElizabethSulhamstead Abbots1601D/A1/35/263 D/A1/13/757MF459 MF10049
ARMESTED, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1596D/A1/35/242 D/A1/12/433MF459 MF10048
ARMESTED, RichardCompton1582D/A1/35/171MF459
ARMESTED, RichardCompton1582D/A1/10/313MF10047A
ARMESTEED, JamesEast HendredHusbandman1623D/A1/36/091MF459
ARMESTEED, KatherineWest Compton, Compton1631D/A1/36/122MF460
ARMESTEED, RichardCompton1616D/A1/173/092 D/A1/168/128MF96006 MF96001
ARMESTEEDE, ThomasWest Compton, Compton1618D/A1/36/062 D/A1/15/837MF459 MF10065
ARMESTRONG, RichardEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1685D/A1/37/103MF460
ARMESTRONGE, ErasmusStanford In The Vale Victualler1706D/A1/38/21MF461
ARMESTRONGE, RogerS. Moreton (W), CholseyYeoman1707D/A1/38/25MF461
ARMSBIE, JoanSouth Hinksey, Cumnor1594D/A1/35/235 D/A1/12/171MF459 MF10048
ARMSEBE, JohnSouth Hinksey, CumnorHusbandman1588D/A1/35/206 D/A1/11/156MF459 MF10047B
ARMSTED, Joan1549D/A1/173/001MF96006
ARMSTRONG , William JnrHagbourneLabourer1751D/A1/38/132MF461
ARMSTRONG , William SnrReading1749D/A1/38/126MF461
ARMSTRONG, AnneWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1743D/A1/38/113MF461
ARMSTRONG, HenryEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1685D/A1/37/106MF460
ARMSTRONG, JoanHagbourne1683D/A1/37/96MF460
ARMSTRONG, JohnEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman, Victualler1768D/A1/38/164MF461
ARMSTRONG, JosephStanford In The ValeInnholder1722D/A1/174/137MF96008
ARMSTRONG, RichardEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1785D/A1/38/196MF461
ARMSTRONG, WilliamEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1805D/A1/226/1MF96122
ARMSTRONG, WilliamWantageShoemaker1850D/A1/144/70MF557
ARMSTRONG, William SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1760D/A1/38/147MF461
ARMSTRONGE, William SnrHagbourneYeoman1681D/A1/174/78MF96008
ARNALE, WilliamAbingdonWeaver1630D/A1/36/110MF459
ARNALL, JohnCholsey1586D/A1/173/046MF96006
ARNALL, JohnCholsey1586D/A1/11/064MF10047B
ARNDELL, JohnEnborne1639D/A1/36/159MF460
ARNDELL, JohnBrimptonYeoman1728D/A1/38/72MF461
ARNDELL, WilliamBrimptonYeoman1719D/A1/38/48MF461
ARNETT, HenryAldermastonInnholder1687D/A1/37/109MF460
ARNETT, PhilipEast Garston1592D/A1/35/219MF459
ARNOL, KatherineDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1695D/A1/37/129MF460
ARNOLD , RalphBuscot1607D/A1/173/079MF96006
ARNOLD , RichardPangbourne1564D/A1/7/374MF10040
ARNOLD, AnneBucklebury1640D/A1/36/168MF460
ARNOLD, BenjaminWest SheffordCordwainer1712D/A1/38/33MF461
ARNOLD, EdwardStanford In The ValeFarmer1764D/A1/174/179MF96009