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
FOORD, AbrahamBuckleburyYeoman1666D/A1/68/110/2MF519
FOORD, AnnWhite Waltham1736D/A1/70/118MF519
FOORD, AnneSlade End, Brightwell1705D/A1/69/94MF519
FOORD, ElizabethFord House, Wargrave1640D/A1/190/042MF96037
FOORD, Hannah SnrWhite Waltham1707D/A1/69/97MF519
FOORD, HenryEasthampsteadHusbandman1634D/A1/68/009MF518
FOORD, JohnEast Hendred1617D/A1/168/141MF96001
FOORD, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1630D/A1/190/024MF96037
FOORD, JohnBrightwellYeoman1670D/A1/68/121MF519
FOORD, JohnWargraveYeoman1672D/A1/190/77MF96037
FOORD, JohnWhite WalthamYeoman1706D/A1/69/95MF519
FOORD, RichardWhite WalthamYeoman1730D/A1/70/97MF519
FOORD, ThomasWarfieldYeoman1710D/A1/69/110MF519
FOORD, ThomasWarfieldYeoman1710D/A1/69/110MF519
FOORD, WilliamWhite WalthamHusbandman1697D/A1/69/60MF519
FOORDE, AliceWallingford St Mary1553D/A1/66/158 D/A1/7/009MF517 MF10040
FOORDE, AndrewWhite WalthamHusbandman1562D/A1/66/207 D/A1/7/356MF517 MF10040
FOOSTAR, MaryWaltham St. Lawrence1689D/A1/69/40MF519
FORD , William JnrTheale, TilehurstYeoman1718D/A1/69/131MF519
FORD, AliceWargrave1553D/A1/4/069 D/A1/5/188MF604 MF10043A
FORD, AndrewHinton WaldristYeoman1713D/A1/69/124MF519
FORD, ChristopherSouth Hinksey, CumnorTanner1644D/A1/68/063MF518
FORD, EdwardReadingMaltster1702D/A1/69/77MF519
FORD, ElizabethWargrave1641D/A1/190/044MF96037
FORD, ElizabethEasthampstead1695D/A1/190/141MF96038
FORD, HenryClewerVictualler1724D/A1/190/184MF96038
FORD, JamesAbingdonShopkeeper1768D/A1/190/226MF96039
FORD, JamesBrightwell1781D/A1/70/205MF520
FORD, JohnWargraveYeoman1595D/A1/67/073 D/A1/12/264MF518 MF10048
FORD, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1630D/A1/168/196MF96001
FORD, JohnFord House, WargraveYeoman1633D/A1/68/007 D/A1/168/249MF518 MF96001
FORD, JohnWargraveYeoman1633D/A1/68/005MF518
FORD, JohnEast LockingeHusbandman1637D/A1/68/023MF518
FORD, JohnFord House, WargraveYeoman1640D/A1/68/037MF518
FORD, JohnWeaks [Wakes Farm], White WalthamYeoman1642D/A1/68/053MF518
FORD, JohnWhite WalthamHusbandman1642D/A1/190/047MF96037
FORD, JohnWarfieldYeoman1740D/A1/70/131MF519
FORD, JohnBrightwellYeoman1781D/A1/70/204MF520
FORD, John SnrLittlewick, White WalthamTailor1616D/A1/67/173 D/A1/15/633MF518 MF10065
FORD, KatherineWhite Waltham1558D/A1/66/189MF517
FORD, MaryBrightwell1725D/A1/69/155MF519
FORD, MaryThatcham1725D/A1/69/154MF519
FORD, RalphSlade End, BrightwellYeoman1633D/A1/16/340 D/A1/68/010MF10066 MF518
FORD, RichardWargrave1550D/A1/189/088MF96036
FORD, RichardBrightwell1554D/A1/7/081MF10040
FORD, RichardReadingHarness Maker1681D/A1/69/11MF519
FORD, RichardBeenhamYeoman1704D/A1/190/157MF96038
FORD, RichardWhite WalthamCarpenter1760D/A1/70/177MF520
FORD, RobertSunningwellHusbandman1552D/A1/66/156MF517
FORD, RobertSunningwell1552D/A1/5/165MF10043A
FORD, StephenNewburyLinen Weaver1639D/A1/68/032MF518
FORD, ThomasWhite Waltham1557D/A1/4/015 D/A1/7/155MF604 MF10040
FORD, ThomasCookham1743D/A1/190/208MF96039
FORD, ThomasNewburyDissenting Minister1850D/A1/227/160MF96124
FORD, WilliamEnglefield1713D/A1/190/173MF96038
FORD, William SnrEnglefield1683D/A1/69/19MF519
FORDE, JamesWallingford St Mary1544D/A1/2/195MF604
FORDE, JohnEast Hendred1617D/A1/189/162MF96036
FORDE, KatherineWhite Waltham1558D/A1/7/165MF10040
FORDE, MargeryWargrave1618D/A1/67/188 D/A1/15/906MF518 MF10065
FORDE, RichardBrightwell1529D/A1/1/127MF10041
FORDE, ThomasWargrave1546D/A1/2/210MF604
FORDE, ThomasHeywood, White Waltham1556D/A1/66/174MF517
FORDE, WilliamStratfield MortimerYeoman1691D/A1/190/133MF96038
FORESTER, RichardNewburyCloth Worker1693D/A1/190/137MF96038
FORMAN, JohnReading1555D/A1/66/164MF517
FORMAN, JohnReadingYeoman1556D/A1/7/107MF10040
FORNIFALL, RobertChaddleworthAlmsman1609D/A1/67/132 D/A1/14/534MF518 MF10064
FORRD, JohnEasthampsteadYeoman1558D/A1/67/026MF518
FORREST, JoanShaw Cum Donnington1630D/A1/190/022MF96037
FORSHUE, JohnBucklandWeaver1682D/A1/190/104MF96038
FORSTER , EleanorThatcham1676D/A1/69/2MF519
FORSTER , RichardThatchamHusbandman1676D/A1/190/85MF96037
FORSTER, EmmNewbury1636D/A1/68/020MF518
FORSTER, JoanReading St Laurence1602D/A1/67/105 D/A1/13/890MF518 MF10049
FORSTER, JohnAldermaston1576D/A1/189/118MF96036
FORSTER, MarySparsholtDame1661D/A1/190/62MF96037
FORSTER, RichardCrookham, ThatchamYeoman1616D/A1/189/161MF96036
FORSTER, RichardCrookham, Thatcham1616D/A1/168/135MF96001
FORSTER, RichardMaidenheadVictualler1628D/A1/190/019MF96037
FORSTER, RichardThatcham1748D/A1/124/164MF544
FORSTER, WilliamReading St LaurenceHusbandman1574D/A1/67/004 D/A1/9/434MF518 MF10046
FORSTER, WilliamAbingdon St Helen1587D/A1/189/126MF96036
FORSTER, WilliamAbingdon St Helen1587D/A1/11/184MF10047B
FORSTER, WilliamSouth Moreton1600D/A1/13/714MF10049
FORSTER, WilliamWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1730D/A1/70/96MF519
FORTE, HenryNewburyCloth Worker1623D/A1/67/218MF518
FORTE, JohnNewbury1560D/A1/167/110MF96000
FORTE, NicholasWestbrook, Boxford1555D/A1/66/162 D/A1/7/099MF517 MF10040
FORTE, RichardEnborne1549D/A1/189/091MF96036
FORTESCUE, ElizabethLetcombe Regis1802D/A1/150/78MF559
FORTESCUE, ElizabethUffington1845D/A1/227/158MF96124
FORTESCUE, MariaLambourn1823D/A1/150/105MF559
FORTESCUE, WilliamHungerfordYeoman1845D/A1/151/16MF559
FORTIE, ElizabethNewbury1591D/A1/67/055 D/A1/11/402 D/A1/11/375MF518 MF10047B MF10047B
FORTIE, JohnNewbury1561D/A1/189/102MF96036
FORTISCUE, JohnBucklandLabourer1768D/A1/70/190MF520
FORTUNE, JohnStratfield MortimerCarpenter1584D/A1/189/122MF96036
FORTUNE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1584D/A1/11/003MF10047B
FORTUNE, ThomasTilehurstHusbandman1638D/A1/68/026MF518