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
KNIGHT, JohnThatchamVictualler1842D/A1/156/5MF581
KNIGHT, JosephBrightwaltonYeoman1743D/A1/91/132MF533
KNIGHT, MargaretThatcham1588D/A1/89/014 D/A1/11/251MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHT, MargaretReading1705D/A1/201/46MF96061
KNIGHT, MargeryWest Ginge, East Lockinge1583D/A1/10/365MF10047A
KNIGHT, MarthaReading1698D/A1/90/149MF533
KNIGHT, MaryReading1672D/A1/90/94MF532
KNIGHT, PeterBrightwaltonYeoman1771D/A1/91/165MF533
KNIGHT, PhiladelphiaReading1748D/A1/91/138MF533
KNIGHT, RichardPangbourneWheelwright1587D/A1/89/010 D/A1/11/262MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHT, RichardHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1607D/A1/200/073 D/A1/168/021MF96060 MF96001
KNIGHT, RichardFarnborough1638D/A1/90/016MF532
KNIGHT, RichardBrightwalton1665D/A1/90/74MF532
KNIGHT, RichardBeenhamYeoman1721D/A1/91/83MF533
KNIGHT, RichardPeasemoreCordwainer1739D/A1/91/122MF533
KNIGHT, RichardReadingYeoman1790D/A1/91/192MF533
KNIGHT, RichardReadingYeoman1795D/A1/91/197MF533
KNIGHT, RobertHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1579D/A1/88/101 D/A1/10/282MF532 MF10047A
KNIGHT, RobertHoe Benham, Welford1581D/A1/88/090MF532
KNIGHT, RobertHoe Benham, Welford1594D/A1/89/036 D/A1/12/229MF532 MF10048
KNIGHT, RobertWest WoodhayYeoman1597D/A1/89/044 D/A1/13/082MF532 MF10049
KNIGHT, RobertAbingdonCordwainer1838D/A1/155/87MF580
KNIGHT, RoseColthrop, Thatcham1612D/A1/200/080 D/A1/168/089MF96060 MF96001
KNIGHT, StephenHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1603D/A1/89/069 D/A1/13/1080MF532 MF10049
KNIGHT, ThomasBenham Valence, Speen1560D/A1/8/171MF10043C
KNIGHT, ThomasStanford DingleyTanner1599D/A1/89/047 D/A1/13/384MF532 MF10049
KNIGHT, ThomasWargraveFarrier1625D/A1/89/127MF532
KNIGHT, ThomasStanford DingleyTanner1641D/A1/90/030MF532
KNIGHT, ThomasStanford Dingley1641D/A1/169/049MF96002
KNIGHT, ThomasReadingBell Founder1666D/A1/90/77MF532
KNIGHT, ThomasInkpenHusbandman1679D/A1/201/5MF96061
KNIGHT, ThomasWest WoodhayYeoman1679D/A1/201/3MF96061
KNIGHT, ThomasChurch Speen, SpeenBrewer1702D/A1/90/151MF533
KNIGHT, ThomasIngleleaze, KintburyHusbandman1721D/A1/91/82MF533
KNIGHT, VincentShaw Cum Donnington1560D/A1/88/044 D/A1/3/265MF531 MF604
KNIGHT, VincentThatcham1580D/A1/200/040MF96059
KNIGHT, VincentThatcham1580D/A1/10/235MF10047A
KNIGHT, VincentHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1586D/A1/89/006 D/A1/11/069MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHT, VincentHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1635D/A1/90/007MF532
KNIGHT, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1578D/A1/88/092 D/A1/10/131MF532 MF10047A
KNIGHT, WilliamLongcot, ShrivenhamWeaver1586D/A1/89/008 D/A1/11/068MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHT, WilliamReadingBell Founder1587D/A1/89/009 D/A1/11/139MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHT, WilliamCholseyShepherd1626D/A1/89/130MF532
KNIGHT, WilliamInkpenYeoman1629D/A1/200/106MF96060
KNIGHT, WilliamHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1632D/A1/90/002 D/A1/168/223MF532 MF96001
KNIGHT, WilliamTheale, TilehurstTanner1688D/A1/90/119MF532
KNIGHT, WilliamSwallowfieldBlacksmith1701D/A1/201/40MF96061
KNIGHT, WilliamReading St GilesYeoman1714D/A1/201/60MF96061
KNIGHT, WilliamThatchamLabourer1831D/A1/229/34MF96126
KNIGHTE, HughEnborneYeoman1591D/A1/89/026 D/A1/11/406MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHTE, JohnHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1591D/A1/89/024 D/A1/11/389MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHTE, RichardBurghfieldYeoman1671D/A1/90/92MF532
KNIGHTE, ThomasColthrop, ThatchamYeoman1588D/A1/89/012 D/A1/11/154MF532 MF10047B
KNIGHTE, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1617D/A1/89/105 D/A1/15/722MF532 MF10065
KNIGHTE, VincentThatcham1586D/A1/11/064MF10047B
KNIGHTON, JohnWest HendredYeoman1673D/A1/90/96MF532
KNIGHTON, RichardLambournYeoman1746D/A1/91/136MF533
KNIGHTON, RichardLambournYeoman1769D/A1/91/161MF533
KNIGHTON, Richard SnrChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1703D/A1/90/153MF533
KNIGHTON, WilliamChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1696D/A1/90/144MF533
KNIGHTON, WilliamEast HendredHusbandman1730D/A1/84/92MF529
KNIGHTT, CharityStratfield MortimerServant1619D/A1/200/090MF96060
KNIPE, ElizabethChildrey1850D/A1/156/14MF581
KNIPE, IsaacAldermastonClergyman1836D/A1/229/35MF96126
KNIPE, KeziahChildrey1854D/A1/156/19MF581
KNIPE, RichardBuscot1785D/A1/201/111MF96061
KNOLLYS, LetticeStanford In The Vale1631D/A1/16/263MF10066
KNOTT , James SnrReadingWeaver1718D/A1/90/179MF533
KNOTT, JamesDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1844D/A1/156/11MF581
KNOTT, JohnPadworth1553D/A1/233/386MF96132
KNOTT, JohnCookhamMillwright1682D/A1/90/108MF532
KNOTTES, JohnPadworth1552D/A1/4/102 D/A1/5/157MF604 MF10043A
KNOTTS, OliveReading1719D/A1/90/180MF533
KNOWELLS, RobertFawley1588D/A1/89/018 D/A1/11/291MF532 MF10047B
KNOWLES, AnneLongworth1716D/A1/90/176MF533
KNOWLES, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1688D/A1/90/124MF532
KNOWLES, John SnrWest Lockinge, WantageYeoman1660D/A1/200/129MF96060
KNOWLES, MaryEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1689D/A1/201/21MF96061
KNOWLES, NicholasNorth Moreton1597D/A1/89/045 D/A1/13/220MF532 MF10049
KNOWLES, RichardArdington1578D/A1/200/038MF96059
KNOWLES, RichardNorth MoretonHusbandman1600D/A1/89/052 D/A1/13/522MF532 MF10049
KNOWLES, RobertLongworthMaltster1707D/A1/90/163MF533
KNYGHT, AliceThatcham1544D/A1/3/049 D/A1/233/182MF604 MF96132
KNYGHT, AnneBradfield1587D/A1/89/011 D/A1/11/121MF532 MF10047B
KNYGHT, EdmundBrightwalton1565D/A1/88/061 D/A1/7/378MF531 MF10040
KNYGHT, JohnThatchamFarmer1539D/A1/1/222MF10042
KNYGHT, JohnBenham, SpeenYeoman1558D/A1/88/034 D/A1/7/252MF531 MF10040
KNYGHT, JohnReading St Mary1565D/A1/88/058 D/A1/8/348MF531 MF10043C
KNYGHT, John SnrBeenham1559D/A1/88/039MF531
KNYGHT, MargaretHanney1544D/A1/88/005 D/A1/6/159 D/A1/6/177MF531 MF10043B MF10043B
KNYGHT, MargaretMoor, Longworth1570D/A1/88/069 D/A1/9/209MF531 MF10046
KNYGHT, ReynoldPangbourne1547D/A1/200/008MF96059
KNYGHT, RichardSpeen Hill, Speen1563D/A1/88/053 D/A1/8/276MF531 MF10043C
KNYGHT, RobertReading St Giles1550D/A1/88/011 D/A1/5/114MF531 MF10043A
KNYGHT, ThomasPangbourne1541D/A1/3/041MF604
KNYGHT, ThomasBeenham1559D/A1/88/041MF531
KNYGHT, ThomasFifield, BrayHusbandman1586D/A1/89/007 D/A1/11/105MF532 MF10047B
KNYGHT, WilliamThatcham1578D/A1/88/089 D/A1/10/113MF532 MF10047A
KNYGTH, ThomasSulhamstead Abbots1544D/A1/3/039MF604
KNYTTE, JohnLong Wittenham1557D/A1/3/046MF604