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
DOWLE, JohnBinfieldHoop Maker1743D/A1/64/131MF516
DOWLEY, RichardSpeenhamland, Speen Victualler1717D/A1/187/122MF96031
DOWLEY, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorGardener1632D/A1/62/123MF515
DOWLING , John SnrBuckland1751D/A1/64/150MF516
DOWLING , William SnrPuseyYeoman1745D/A1/64/139MF516
DOWLING, ElizabethMaidenhead1828D/A1/149/34MF559
DOWLING, JohnCarswell Marsh, BucklandYeoman1709D/A1/64/41MF516
DOWLING, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe RegisLabourer1769D/A1/65/177MF517
DOWLING, JohnBuckland1810D/A1/149/11MF559
DOWLING, ThomasEast Hanney, West HanneyServant1731D/A1/187/149MF96032
DOWLING, Thomas SnrPuseyHusbandman1658D/A1/63/1MF515
DOWLING, WilliamBuckland1781D/A1/187/187MF96032
DOWLINGE, ThomasPuseyYeoman1673D/A1/63/56MF515
DOWLMAN, WilliamNewbury1531D/A1/1/172MF10042
DOWNE, JohnFyfield Wick, FyfieldTailor1580D/A1/61/128 D/A1/10/228MF514 MF10047A
DOWNE, MargaretFyfield1585D/A1/61/148 D/A1/11/004MF514 MF10047B
DOWNE, RobertFyfield Wick, Fyfield1565D/A1/61/078 D/A1/8/338MF514 MF10043C
DOWNE, RobertKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1641D/A1/62/167MF515
DOWNE, WalterAbingdonTailor1605D/A1/61/229 D/A1/13/1398MF514 MF10049
DOWNE, WilliamFyfield Wick, Fyfield1582D/A1/61/134 D/A1/10/305MF514 MF10047A
DOWNE, WilliamChiltonHusbandman1633D/A1/62/133MF515
DOWNER, JohnReading1566D/A1/186/026MF96029
DOWNER, MaryReading St Laurence1575D/A1/61/114 D/A1/9/462MF514 MF10046
DOWNES, JohnReading1566D/A1/167/129MF96000
DOWNES, JohnBinfieldYeoman1670D/A1/63/45MF515
DOWNES, JoyceBinfield1668D/A1/63/37MF515
DOWNES, RichardBramshill, Eversley, HampshireCarpenter1620D/A1/15/965MF10065
DOWNES, WilliamWarfieldCarpenter1595D/A1/61/188 D/A1/12/293MF514 MF10048
DOWNHAM, RichardLongworthInnholder1722D/A1/187/131MF96032
DOWNHAM, RichardReadingTanner1731D/A1/64/101MF516
DOWNHAM, RobertReadingTanner1706D/A1/64/26MF516
DOWNS, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenSchoolmaster1682D/A1/187/43MF96031
DOWNTON, HelenBoxford1618D/A1/62/036 D/A1/15/916MF514 MF10065
DOWNTON, RobertBoxford1604D/A1/61/225 D/A1/14/020MF514 MF10064
DOWSE, AvelineBray1648D/A1/186/180MF96030
DOWSE, JohnPeasemoreYeoman1748D/A1/187/162MF96032
DOWSE, John SnrN. Heath, ChieveleyYeoman1674D/A1/63/63MF515
DOWSE, Thomas SnrBrayYeoman1640D/A1/62/162MF515
DOWSING, MargaretAbingdon St Helen1560D/A1/61/066 D/A1/7/330MF514 MF10040
DOWTHAT, WilliamThatchamInnholder1694D/A1/187/73MF96031
DOY, ThomasEast Hanney, Hanney1557D/A1/2/164MF604
DOYLEY, JohnWallingfordLabourer1719D/A1/187/126MF96031
DRACOTTE, FrancisNewburyCutler1630D/A1/62/125MF515
DRAKE, EdwardCookhamBargeman1692D/A1/63/122MF515
DRAPER, AdamNew Windsor, Windsor1609D/A1/186/093 D/A1/168/055MF96029 MF96001
DRAPER, AnnaTheale, Tilehurst1809D/A1/227/86MF96124
DRAPER, EdwardAbingdonHusbandman1643D/A1/186/167MF96030
DRAPER, GeorgeSulhamWheelwright1676D/A1/187/35MF96031
DRAPER, JamesTheale, TilehurstWheelwright1755D/A1/64/155MF516
DRAPER, JamesTilehurstYeoman1760D/A1/64/167MF516
DRAPER, MargaretClewer1616D/A1/62/021 D/A1/15/628MF514 MF10065
DRAPER, MaryAbingdon1643D/A1/62/171MF515
DRAPER, WilliamRadley1540D/A1/61/002MF514
DRAPER, WilliamRadley1540D/A1/6/128 D/A1/6/145 D/A1/6/162aMF10043B MF10043B MF10043B
DRAPER, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1728D/A1/64/89MF516
DRAPER, WilliamReadingInnkeeper1825D/A1/149/29MF559
DRAPER, WilliamReading St GilesBlacksmith1836D/A1/227/102MF96124
DRAYCOT, HenryBinfield1716D/A1/64/61MF516
DRAYCOTT, Francis SnrNewburyCutler1659D/A1/63/3MF515
DREDGE, ElizabethReading1721D/A1/64/65MF516
DREDGE, JamesNewburyVictualler, Basket Maker1803D/A1/149/4MF559
DREDGE, JohnWarfieldBaker1713D/A1/64/52MF516
DREDGE, RichardNewburyVictualler1766D/A1/64/186MF516
DREDGE, WilliamReading1807D/A1/227/83MF96124
DREDGE, WilliamNewburyCarpenter1857D/A1/150/31MF559
DREVAT, JoanWestbrook1558D/A1/61/042MF514
DREW, ElizabethAbingdon1769D/A1/65/179MF517
DREW, ElizabethMarcham1820D/A1/149/23MF559
DREW, GeorgeAbingdonCutler1707D/A1/64/35MF516
DREW, JohnMilton1578D/A1/61/124 D/A1/10/127MF514 MF10047A
DREW, JohnKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1668D/A1/187/25MF96031
DREW, JohnShinfieldHarness Maker1799D/A1/65/215MF517
DREW, JohnColeshill1803D/A1/149/5MF559
DREW, JohnColeshillYeoman1813D/A1/149/15MF559
DREW, WilliamBray1601D/A1/61/213 D/A1/13/652MF514 MF10049
DREWE , SimonReading St Giles1558D/A1/61/037 D/A1/7/163MF514 MF10040
DREWE, EdwardReading St Giles1597D/A1/61/196 D/A1/13/134MF514 MF10049
DREWE, RichardShinfield1624D/A1/62/061MF514
DREWE, WilliamGreat Coxwell1556D/A1/7/126MF10040
DREWET, JoanWestbrook, Faringdon1559D/A1/6/144MF10043B
DREWETE, WilliamGreat Coxwell1556D/A1/61/027MF514
DREWETT , Thomas JnrBuckleburyYeoman1760D/A1/64/166MF516
DREWETT, ElizabethInkpen1648D/A1/186/177MF96030
DREWETT, JamesChildreyBlacksmith1709D/A1/64/40MF516
DREWETT, Stephen1558D/A1/61/056 D/A1/6/081MF514 MF10043B
DREWITT, IsaacCumnor1852D/A1/150/26MF559
DREWRIE, AnnisCholsey1558D/A1/61/049 D/A1/7/219MF514 MF10040
DREWRIE, WilliamCholseyYeoman1558D/A1/61/050 D/A1/7/217MF514 MF10040
DREWRIE, WilliamCholsey1558D/A1/61/038MF514
DREWRY, NicholasCholseyYeoman1599D/A1/61/203 D/A1/13/358MF514 MF10049
DREWYTT, WilliamAbingdon St HelenPriest1550D/A1/2/156MF604
DRINKWATER, Florence1563D/A1/167/036MF96000
DRIVER, ThomasWallingfordCorn Dealer1782D/A1/65/191MF517
DROVER, ElizabethReading1827D/A1/227/98MF96124
DROVER, ElizabethReading1837D/A1/227/103MF96124
DROVER, JamesReadingChina Man1816D/A1/149/19MF559
DROVER, James BarlowReadingChina Man1825D/A1/149/28MF559
DROVER, JosephReading1822D/A1/227/94MF96124
DROVER, JosephReading1837D/A1/227/104MF96124
DRUAT, WilliamAbingdonCurate1550D/A1/186/009MF96029