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
ELY, RichardAbingdon1559D/A1/188/006MF96033
ELY, RichardAbingdon1559D/A1/167/104MF96000
ELY, RichardAbingdon1739D/A1/189/64MF96035
ELY, ThomasWallingford St MaryCooper1662D/A1/188/75MF96034
ELYET, WilliamAbingdon1552D/A1/4/068MF604
ELYNGE, ThomasWhitley, Reading St Giles1536D/A1/2/185MF604
ELYNGER, ElizabethWhitley, Reading St Giles1513D/A1/1/019MF10041
ELYOTT, ThomasBray1559D/A1/65/024 D/A1/7/324MF516 MF10040
ELYOTT, WilliamReading St Mary1540D/A1/1/282MF10042
ELYS, HughSwallowfieldFuller1575D/A1/65/057 D/A1/9/458MF516 MF10046
ELYS, JoanBucklebury1558D/A1/65/029 D/A1/7/248MF516 MF10040
ELYS, JohnAldermastonHusbandman1561D/A1/65/037 D/A1/8/202MF516 MF10043C
ELYS, John SnrBucklebury1558D/A1/65/021 D/A1/7/189MF516 MF10040
ELYS, RobertBrightwell1544D/A1/65/002MF516
ELYS, ThomasSpeen1517D/A1/1/026MF10041
EM'E, JohnCompton1531D/A1/1/183MF10042
EMAN, WilliamWhite Waltham1550D/A1/65/009MF516
EMAND, WilliamWhite WalthamButcher1550D/A1/5/113MF10043A
EMANS (ALIAS DICKS), MaryTilehurst1710D/A1/189/42MF96035
EMANS, AliceCrookham, Thatcham1694D/A1/66/45MF517
EMANS, EdwardGreenham, Thatcham Cowkeeper1856D/A1/150/74MF559
EMANS, GilesCrookham, Thatcham1616D/A1/65/118 D/A1/15/642MF516 MF10065
EMANS, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1721D/A1/189/51MF96035
EMANS, MaryTilehurstCarpenter1710D/A1/189/42MF96035
EMANS, RichardShaw Cum DonningtonHusbandman1604D/A1/65/096 D/A1/13/1196MF516 MF10049
EMANS, RobertCrookham, ThatchamYeoman1648D/A1/188/069MF96034
EMANS, WilliamCrookham, Thatcham 1723D/A1/189/53MF96035
EMBERY, JoanWytham1663D/A1/188/79MF96034
EMBLIN, CharlesBrayYeoman1799D/A1/66/138MF517
EMBLIN, JohnChieveley1845D/A1/227/130MF96124
EMBREY, JohnCompton 1572D/A1/188/015MF96033
EMBRIE, TobyWythamHusbandman1651D/A1/188/071MF96034
EMBRY, RichardComptonYeoman1646D/A1/65/172MF517
EMBRY, TobiasWytham1651D/A1/169/021MF96002
EMERSON, GilesNewburyYeoman1632D/A1/188/055 D/A1/168/232MF96034 MF96001
EMERSON, GilesAbingdonCutler1667D/A1/188/84MF96034
EMERSON, ThomasOld WindsorYeoman1596D/A1/65/085 D/A1/12/361MF516 MF10048
EMERTON, RichardDidcotYeoman1821D/A1/150/42MF559
EMERY , NicholasCompton1558D/A1/7/329MF10040
EMERY , RichardEnglefieldYeoman1681D/A1/66/29MF517
EMERY, AustinAldworthYeoman1558D/A1/65/028 D/A1/7/148MF516 MF10040
EMERY, JohnCompton 1572D/A1/188/015MF96033
EMERY, MargaretSutton Courtenay1771D/A1/66/122MF517
EMERY, NicholasCompton1558D/A1/65/026MF516
EMERY, ThomasCompton1569D/A1/9/151 D/A1/65/048MF10046 MF516
EMERYE, GeorgeStreatleyHusbandman1559D/A1/65/030 D/A1/7/266MF516 MF10040
EMES, WalterNewburyCarpenter1634D/A1/65/151MF517
EMMERE, AliceCompton 1544D/A1/2/176MF604
EMMERY, MatthewReadingClothier1641D/A1/65/165MF517
EMMES, RichardSpeenhamland, SpeenCarpenter1644D/A1/188/064 D/A1/169/021MF96034 MF96002
EMMES, SibylSulham1675D/A1/189/6MF96035
EMMETT, JohnStratfield Saye , Hampshire1785D/A1/189/78MF96035
EMMETT, WilliamReadingServant1803D/A1/150/34MF559
EMMETT, WilliamReadingServant1803D/A1/150/34MF559
EMMOTT, DavidUfton Nervet1539D/A1/2/184MF604
EMMS, ValentineTidmarshHusbandman1639D/A1/65/162MF517
ENDALL, John JnrAldworthHusbandman1662D/A1/188/74MF96034
ENDEN, JohnReading1570D/A1/188/013MF96033
ENDEN, JohnReading1570D/A1/167/143MF96000
ENGERFILD, JohnEnglefield1560D/A1/188/010MF96033
ENGLEFEILD, JohnNewburyJoiner1685D/A1/189/14MF96035
ENGLEFIELD , Thomas JnrBeenhamYeoman1760D/A1/66/110MF517
ENGLEFIELD, JohnWallingford1728D/A1/189/56MF96035
ENGLEFIELD, MarthaWallingford1730D/A1/189/59MF96035
ENGLEFIELD, RichardShinfieldYeoman1718D/A1/66/67MF517
ENGLEFIELD, RobertStanford In The ValeYeoman1651D/A1/188/070MF96034
ENGLEFIELD, RobertStanford In The Vale Husbandman1663D/A1/188/77MF96034
ENGLEFIELD, ThomasEnglefieldYeoman1606D/A1/65/102 D/A1/14/158MF516 MF10064
ENGLISH, WilliamSotwellMason1722D/A1/66/71MF517
ENGLISHE, JohnReading St Mary1554D/A1/7/044 D/A1/65/012MF10040 MF516
ENGLOND, JohnOgbourne Saint George, WiltshireHusbandman1532D/A1/1/249MF10042
ENSTON, SandalEast HendredYeoman1777D/A1/66/127MF517
EPSON, MichaelColnbrook, Horton, BuckinghamshireHusbandman1632D/A1/65/145MF517
EQUAL, WilliamInkpenLabourer1819D/A1/150/39MF559
ERELLES, ThomasReading St Giles1564D/A1/8/292 D/A1/65/040MF10043C MF516
ERLE, ThomasAbingdonWoollen Draper1549D/A1/5/072MF10043A
ERLL, ThomasAbingdon1549D/A1/65/005MF516
ERNALL, AgnesHarwell1557D/A1/3/241a D/A1/9/320MF604 MF10046
ERNALL, AgnesHarwell1557D/A1/233/315MF96132
ERNALL, WilliamHarwell1550D/A1/5/115 D/A1/65/008MF10043A MF516
ERNOLDE, JoanSwallowfield1558D/A1/35/062MF459
ERWOOD, RobertBinfieldHusbandman1694D/A1/66/43MF517
ERWOOD, ThomasBinfieldYeoman1699D/A1/66/49MF517
ESCOTT, RobertAbingdonLabourer1671D/A1/188/89MF96034
ESMEAD, WilliamStanford In The Vale Tailor1671D/A1/188/88MF96034
ESSEX, HumphreyLambourn1589D/A1/11/368 D/A1/188/026MF10047B MF96033
ESSEX, HumphreyLambourn1612 D/A1/168/089 D/A1/188/040MF96002 MF96033
EST, JohnBuscot1521D/A1/1/053MF10041
EST, JohnBrimpton1552D/A1/5/155MF10043A
EST, JohnBrimpton1552D/A1/188/003MF96033
EST, RichardRemenham1578D/A1/10/296 D/A1/65/062MF10047A MF516
ESTGATE, RobertHamstead Marshall1547D/A1/5/063 D/A1/65/007MF10043A MF516
ESTMOND, AudreyNewburyButcher1566D/A1/8/365 D/A1/65/042MF10043C MF516
ESTMOND, EdwardWest Shefford1592D/A1/12/070MF10048
ESTMOND, JeromeBenham, SpeenFisherman1661D/A1/188/73MF96034
ESTMOND, JoanNewbury1671D/A1/66/19MF517
ESTMOND, JulianWest Shefford1602D/A1/13/1015MF10049
ESTMOND, ThomasReadingTanner1716D/A1/189/45MF96035
ESTMOND, ThomasKintbury1781D/A1/189/77MF96035
ESTMONDE, EdwardWest Shefford1592D/A1/188/028MF96033