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
DYER, EdwardLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1705D/A1/64/25MF516
DYER, EdwardEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1711D/A1/187/106MF96031
DYER, EleanorWinkfield1712D/A1/64/48MF516
DYER, ElizabethBuckland1788D/A1/65/199MF517
DYER, GeorgeHinton Waldrist1574D/A1/61/104 D/A1/9/390MF514 MF10046
DYER, HenryHinton WaldristYeoman1760D/A1/187/174MF96032
DYER, Herbert WilliamKintburyFarmer1843D/A1/150/14MF559
DYER, JoanHinton Waldrist1558D/A1/61/055 D/A1/7/254MF514 MF10040
DYER, JoanGarford, Hinton Waldrist1709D/A1/64/39MF516
DYER, JohnHinton WaldristHusbandman1550D/A1/61/019MF514
DYER, JohnThatchamHusbandman1667D/A1/187/19MF96031
DYER, JohnThatchamHusbandman1727D/A1/187/140MF96032
DYER, JohnMarchamWheelwright1757D/A1/64/156MF516
DYER, JohnMarchamWheelwright1794D/A1/65/208MF517
DYER, JohnNewbury1815D/A1/149/17MF559
DYER, JohnUpton, BlewburyRetailer Or Beer1837D/A1/150/2MF559
DYER, JosephAssendon, Oxfordshire1853D/A1/227/115MF96124
DYER, MargaretBurgage, Hinton Waldrist1706D/A1/64/27MF516
DYER, MargeryWinkfield1701D/A1/64/14MF516
DYER, RichardHinton Waldrist1571D/A1/61/099MF514
DYER, RichardHinton WaldristYeoman1708D/A1/187/97MF96031
DYER, SimonBucklandWheelwright1707D/A1/187/91MF96031
DYER, StephenBinfieldHusbandman1636D/A1/62/140MF515
DYER, StephenWinkfieldBlacksmith1683D/A1/187/46MF96031
DYER, ThomasSutton CourtenayHusbandman1580D/A1/61/127 D/A1/10/220MF514 MF10047A
DYER, ThomasWarfieldYeoman1596D/A1/61/194 D/A1/12/429MF514 MF10048
DYER, ThomasHinton Waldrist1617D/A1/62/020 D/A1/15/664MF514 MF10065
DYER, ThomasLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1671D/A1/187/30MF96031
DYER, WilliamAbingdonMaltster1681D/A1/63/87MF515
DYER, WilliamReadingWheelwright1736D/A1/64/114MF516
DYER, WilliamFyfieldLabourer1767D/A1/64/188MF516
DYGWEDE, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1557D/A1/233/086MF96132
DYGWYDE, MargaretDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1579D/A1/186/046MF96029
DYLL, WilliamWallingfordCowper1551D/A1/5/137MF10043A
DYLL, WilliamWallingford St Mary1551D/A1/233/359MF96132
DYLYE, HenryWhite WalthamHusbandman1581D/A1/61/131 D/A1/10/275MF514 MF10047A
DYME, RogerThatcham1557D/A1/61/033MF514
DYPAR, WilliamShalbourn1533D/A1/1/284MF10042
DYRLYNG, ThomasEast Hendred1565D/A1/61/077 D/A1/8/345MF514 MF10043C
DYZON, ThomasLambournLabourer1739D/A1/187/157MF96032
EADES, HenryLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1850D/A1/227/132MF96124
EADWADS, ThomasEast GarstonYeoman1668D/A1/66/11MF517
EADY, GeorgePurleyLabourer1855D/A1/227/134MF96124
EAGLE , John SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1774D/A1/66/125MF517
EAGLE, JohnAbingdonCarrier, Victualler 1827D/A1/150/47MF559
EAGLEFEILD, RobertStanford In The Vale1651D/A1/169/021MF96002
EAGLES, EustaceGreat CoxwellHusbandman1619D/A1/168/169 D/A1/188/045MF96001 MF96033
EAGLES, SilasBrightwaltonCarpenter1849D/A1/227/131MF96124
EAGLES, ThomasBuckleburyHusbandman1716D/A1/189/46MF96035
EALDRYG, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1550D/A1/5/088MF10043A
EALES, EdwardBuckleburyHusbandman1592D/A1/12/047 D/A1/65/080MF10048 MF516
EALES, HenryGrazeley, Sulhamstead Abbots1610D/A1/15/043 D/A1/65/107MF10065 MF516
EALES, MaryUffington1651D/A1/65/176MF517
EALLGAR, ThomasClapton, KintburyYeoman1670D/A1/66/17MF517
EAMES, ChristianFinchampstead1632D/A1/65/147MF517
EAMES, GeorgeFinchampsteadCooper1593D/A1/12/117 D/A1/65/082MF10048 MF516
EARES, EleanorHurley1700D/A1/66/50MF517
EARLES, JaneReading1856D/A1/150/73MF559
EARLETT, JohnReadingWire Worker1686D/A1/189/15MF96036
EARLEY, AgnesAldermaston1597D/A1/13/105 D/A1/65/087MF10049 MF516
EARLEY, JoanBradfield1580D/A1/10/277 D/A1/65/064MF10047A MF516
EARLEY, JohnMidgham, Thatcham1606D/A1/188/035MF96034
EARLEY, JohnMidgham, Thatcham1606D/A1/168/004MF96001
EARLEY, RichardMidgham, Thatcham1600D/A1/13/554 D/A1/65/093MF10049 MF516
EARLEY, WilliamAbingdonCarpenter1700D/A1/189/33MF96035
EARLEY, WilliamReading St MaryPatten Maker1779D/A1/66/130MF517
EARLY, HenryMidgham, Thatcham1635D/A1/65/153MF517
EARLY, HenryMidgham, Thatcham1635D/A1/16/378MF10066
EARLY, JohnAldermaston1594D/A1/12/149 D/A1/65/081MF10048 MF516
EARLY, ThomasStanford In The ValeBlacksmith1617D/A1/15/718 D/A1/65/120MF10065 MF517
EARLY, WilliamNewburyWheelwright1738D/A1/189/63MF96035
EARLY, WilliamReading St MaryBlacksmith1738D/A1/189/62MF96035
EASON, AliceLong Wittenham1820D/A1/150/41MF559
EASON, JosephEast LockingeBlacksmith1777D/A1/66/129MF517
EASON, WilliamLong WittenhamBlacksmith1794D/A1/66/135MF517
EAST, ElizabethTheale, Tilehurst1746D/A1/66/100MF517
EAST, JohnUffington1808D/A1/150/37MF559
EAST, Joseph JnrReadingCloth Worker1681D/A1/189/11MF96035
EAST, StephenMarcham1839D/A1/150/61MF559
EAST, ThomasKennington, Radley1842D/A1/227/129MF96124
EAST, WilliamEasthampsteadCarpenter1615D/A1/188/042MF96033
EAST, WilliamEasthampstead1615D/A1/168/120MF96001
EASTMAN, JosephNewburyChapman1733D/A1/66/86MF517
EASTMAN, ThomasStratfield MortimerHusbandman1677D/A1/189/8MF96035
EASTMOND, ThomasNewburyBaker1665D/A1/66/6MF517
EATAR, ThomasWhite WalthamYeoman1551D/A1/4/042MF604
EATEN, ThomasThatchamBlacksmith1639D/A1/188/062MF96034
EATON, EdmundWeek, BuscotHusbandman1644D/A1/65/170MF517
EATON, JohnLongworthYeoman1855D/A1/150/72MF559
EATON, RalphReading St LaurenceVictualler1707D/A1/189/37MF96035
EATON, RichardWinkfieldYeoman1604D/A1/13/1378 D/A1/65/099MF10049 MF516
EATON, RichardBuscotYeoman1687D/A1/66/34MF517
EATON, ThomasWeston, BuscotHusbandman1641D/A1/65/167MF517
EATON, WilliamBuscotHusbandman1640D/A1/188/063MF96034
EATS, WilliamAldermastonYeoman1713D/A1/143/46MF556
EATWELL, ThomasWest SheffordLabourer1727D/A1/66/75MF517
EATWELL, WilliamHighclere, Hampshire1828D/A1/227/127MF96124
EAVENS, RobertReadingCloth Worker1691D/A1/66/38MF517
EAVESDALE, GeorgeBradfieldHusbandman1635D/A1/65/152MF517
EAYRES, Richard SnrShrivenhamGardener1670D/A1/66/16MF517