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
DEEME, AliceArdington1595D/A1/61/186 D/A1/12/247MF514 MF10048
DEEME, ElizabethArdington1578D/A1/61/125 D/A1/10/120MF514 MF10047A
DEEME, JohnArdingtonHusbandman1620D/A1/62/041MF514
DEEME, WilliamArdington1583D/A1/61/140 D/A1/10/392MF514 MF10047A
DEENE, MargaretSulhamstead Abbots1631D/A1/62/112MF515
DEENE, RichardSutton Courtenay1622D/A1/186/122MF96030
DEENE, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1630D/A1/62/104MF515
DEER, ThomasStanford In The Vale1814D/A1/227/90MF96124
DEERING, RichardWoolhamptonHusbandman1720D/A1/64/63MF516
DELE, JohnNewbury1568D/A1/186/028MF96029
DELE, JohnNewbury1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
DELL, JoanReading1696D/A1/63/129MF515
DELL, JohnOld Windsor1545D/A1/6/006MF10043B
DELL, JohnOld Windsor1545D/A1/233/094MF96132
DELL, JohnOld Windsor1545D/A1/2/172MF604
DELL, MathewReadingBrewer1682D/A1/63/93MF515
DELL, MatthewReading St GilesDraper1714D/A1/187/118MF96031
DELL, WilliamReading St LaurenceBaker1600D/A1/61/211 D/A1/13/603MF514 MF10049
DELLAR, RichardBrayYeoman1637D/A1/62/145MF515
DELLER, ElizabethBray1757D/A1/64/157MF516
DELLER, NathanielSunninghillYeoman1713D/A1/64/50MF516
DELLER, RichardBrayYeoman1748D/A1/64/142MF516
DELLER, Thomas SnrBrayHusbandman1705D/A1/64/21MF516
DELLER, WilliamClewerBargeman, Yeoman1624D/A1/186/125MF96030
DELUKE, MargeryThatcham1659D/A1/63/2MF515
DEME, JohnLetcombe Regis Husbandman1567D/A1/61/085 D/A1/9/063MF514 MF10046
DEME, ThomasMoulsford, Cholsey1557D/A1/7/147MF10040
DEMINGTON, JohnSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1633D/A1/62/132MF515
DEMYNGE, Richard SnrFinchampsteadSawyer1643D/A1/62/170MF515
DENCHFIELD, SarahShinfield1737D/A1/64/115MF516
DENE, WilliamSonning1528D/A1/1/113MF10041
DENEY , John SnrReadingPin Maker1743D/A1/64/130MF516
DENHAM, AgnesSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1604D/A1/186/080MF96029
DENHAM, AgnesSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1604D/A1/14/178MF10064
DENHAM, RichardBisham1772D/A1/187/181MF96032
DENIS , JoshuaWood Speen, SpeenYeoman1707D/A1/64/34MF516
DENISON, JohnReadingDoctor Of Divinity1629D/A1/62/095MF515
DENLEY, JohnEast HendredMiller1603D/A1/61/218 D/A1/13/922MF514 MF10049
DENLEY, JohnSouthridge, StreatleyHusbandman1625D/A1/62/069MF514
DENLEY, ThomasSouthridge, StreatleyPloughwright1646D/A1/186/174MF96030
DENLEYE, ChristianStreatley1629D/A1/62/097MF515
DENLY , JoanSouthridge, Streatley1675D/A1/187/32MF96031
DENLY , JohnSouthridge, StreatleyPlough Maker1670D/A1/187/26MF96031
DENLY , MargaretEast Ginge, West Hendred1664D/A1/187/11MF96031
DENLY , WilliamEast Ginge, West Hendred1665D/A1/63/29MF515
DENLY, BridgetEast Hendred1609D/A1/61/238 D/A1/14/582MF514 MF10064
DENLY, JohnLambournBarber1749D/A1/64/146MF516
DENLYE, PatrickMarcham1541D/A1/186/002MF96029
DENMAN, AlexanderCumnor1609D/A1/186/092 D/A1/168/053MF96029 MF96001
DENMAN, JohnColeshillHusbandman1627D/A1/62/088MF514
DENMAN, JohnCumnorLabourer1645D/A1/186/171MF96030
DENMAN, RichardBucklandYeoman1822D/A1/149/25MF559
DENMAN, WilliamBinfield1556D/A1/186/013/1MF96029
DENNAY, RobertAbingdon1607D/A1/168/020MF96001
DENNAY, RobertAbingdon1608D/A1/168/042MF96001
DENNES, JohnSwallowfield1601D/A1/61/214 D/A1/13/668MF514 MF10049
DENNEY, EdwardAbingdon St HelenGlover1626D/A1/62/080MF514
DENNEY, HenryAbingdon St NicholasTailor1649D/A1/186/182MF96030
DENNEY, HenryAbingdonTailor1649D/A1/186/181MF96030
DENNEY, RobertAbingdonInnholder1607D/A1/186/087MF96029
DENNINGTON, FrancisWallingford1624D/A1/62/066MF514
DENNIS , NathanielBoxford1707D/A1/64/33MF516
DENNIS, FrancisBarkhamButcher1621D/A1/62/043 D/A1/15/965MF514 MF10065
DENNIS, FrancisWokinghamButcher1627D/A1/62/091MF515
DENNIS, JamesBarkhamHusbandman1642D/A1/186/162MF96032
DENNIS, JohnLambournMiller1626D/A1/62/077MF514
DENNIS, JohnUffingtonBlacksmith1736D/A1/187/154MF96032
DENNIS, RichardBarkhamYeoman1610D/A1/15/964MF10065
DENNIS, RichardWoolhamptonYeoman1630D/A1/62/105MF515
DENNS, EdwardSwallowfieldBucket Maker1589D/A1/61/166 D/A1/11/218MF514 MF10047B
DENNY, MargaretAbingdon St HelenInnholder1608D/A1/61/236 D/A1/14/472MF514 MF10064
DENNY, WilliamEast Challow, Letcombe RegisWeaver1694D/A1/187/75MF96031
DENSELL, MaryReading St Laurence1614D/A1/186/103 D/A1/168/106MF96029 MF96001
DENSHEIRE, RebeccaWallingford St Peter1669D/A1/63/44MF515
DENT, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1635D/A1/62/134MF515
DENTON, RichardLong Wittenham1576D/A1/186/045MF96029
DENYS, HenryBarkhamCarpenter1579D/A1/61/123 D/A1/10/149MF514 MF10047A
DENZEY, JohnWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1629D/A1/62/098MF515
DERELL, RichardTilehurstHusbandman1661D/A1/63/9MF515
DERNFORD, HenryOld WindsorYeoman1635D/A1/62/135MF515
DERNFORD, RichardOld WindsorYeoman1667D/A1/187/18MF96031
DERO, RichardNewburyTapster1592D/A1/61/180 D/A1/12/049MF514 MF10048
DERRILL, AnneTilehurst1661D/A1/187/3MF96031
DERWYN, RichardBisham1557D/A1/61/025MF514
DERYCK, WilliamSpeenhamland, Speen1545D/A1/61/011MF514
DESTON, RichardLetcombe Regis1548D/A1/2/171MF604
DETH, JohnWinkfield1531D/A1/1/154MF10042
DETH, ThomasWinkfield1556D/A1/2/175MF604
DETHE, ThomasWinkfield1557D/A1/233/095MF96132
DEUKE, RichardSpeen1531D/A1/1/157MF10042
DEVELL, ChristianWhite Waltham1559D/A1/61/036 D/A1/8/085MF514 MF10043C
DEVERALL , MaryWhite Waltham1681D/A1/187/42MF96031
DEVERELL, JohnHurley1553D/A1/4/060 D/A1/5/201MF604 MF10043A
DEVERELL, JohnHurley1553D/A1/233/363MF96132
DEVERELL, JohnWhite WalthamBrickmaker1682D/A1/63/88MF515
DEVERILL, EdmundHurleyBricklayer1610D/A1/61/242 D/A1/15/081MF514 MF10065
DEVERYLL, WilliamHurleyHusbandman1566D/A1/61/082 D/A1/8/371MF514 MF10043C
DEW, AliceAston Tirrold1556D/A1/7/108MF10040
DEW, EdwardReading St GilesCordwainer1688D/A1/187/59MF96031
DEW, ElizabethSutton Courtenay1645D/A1/62/178MF515