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
BEALE, SusannahSulhamstead Abbots1719D/A1/49/41MF468
BEALE, ThomasBinfield1559D/A1/39/140 D/A1/7/298MF461 MF10040
BEALES, AbrahamWallingford St Mary1668D/A1/178/112MF96015
BEALL, ElizabethSulhamstead Abbots1614D/A1/42/106 D/A1/15/408MF463 MF10065
BEAMES, JohnAbingdonFarmer1828D/A1/226/77MF96123
BEAMONT, JaneWindsor1713D/A1/48/204MF467
BEAMOUNT, PeterNew Windsor, WindsorHusbandman1632D/A1/177/038MF96013
BEAMOUNT, PeterNew Windsor, Windsor1632D/A1/168/223MF96001
BEAN , DulcibellaBuckland1681D/A1/179/2 MF96016
BEAR, ThomasPadworth1597D/A1/175/157MF96010
BEARD, AnneWarfield1597D/A1/15/971MF10065
BEARD, AnneWarfield1623D/A1/176/082MF96012
BEARD, JohnEast Hanney, HanneyShepherd1621D/A1/43/070MF464
BEARD, JohnWarfieldYeoman1648D/A1/45/036MF465
BEARD, SampsonWarfieldYeoman1631D/A1/44/017MF464
BEARD, WilliamNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1583D/A1/40/109 D/A1/10/360MF462 MF10047A
BEARD, WilliamWarfieldYeoman1623D/A1/176/093MF96012
BEARDE, AnneWarfield1597D/A1/16/053MF10066
BEARDE, HumphreyWarfieldYeoman1560D/A1/39/181MF461
BEARDE, JohnWarfieldYeoman1593D/A1/41/038 D/A1/12/122MF462 MF10048
BEARE, ThomasPadworth1598D/A1/13/423MF10049
BEAREMAN, JoanNew Windsor, Windsor1615D/A1/42/125 D/A1/15/514MF463 MF10065
BEASLEY, ElizabethWytham1717D/A1/49/9MF468
BEASLEY, MaryAbingdon1796D/A1/180/265MF96020
BEASLEY, RichardAbingdonBaker1766D/A1/50/111MF469
BEASLEY, RichardAbingdon1781D/A1/180/241MF96020
BEASLEY, RichardAbingdon1810D/A1/226/40MF96123
BEASLEY, ThomasAbingdon1785D/A1/180/251MF96020
BEASLEY, ThomasAbingdon St Helen1788D/A1/114/76MF537
BEASLEY, WilliamWythamYeoman1725D/A1/49/92MF468
BEASLEY, WilliamEast HendredYeoman1800D/A1/51/19MF469
BEATHELL, RobertWargraveHusbandman1630D/A1/177/021MF96013
BEATHELL, RobertWargraveHusbandman1630D/A1/168/181MF96001
BEATTIE, WalterBracknell, EasthampsteadLinen Draper1827D/A1/145/129MF557
BEATTIE, WalterBracknell, EasthampsteadLinen Draper1827D/A1/145/128MF557
BEAUICE, PeterThrupp, FaringdonHusbandman1650D/A1/45/046MF465
BEAVER, RichardBrayYeoman1586D/A1/40/143 D/A1/11/110MF462 MF10047B
BEAVER, RobertStratfield Mortimer1621D/A1/43/061MF464
BEAVER, Robert SnrStratfield Mortimer1586D/A1/40/145 D/A1/11/108MF462 MF10047B
BEAVIS, EdithNewbury1848D/A1/147/14MF558
BECFORD, RalphLong WittenhamYeoman1669D/A1/46/43MF466
BECFORD, WilliamNew Windsor, Windsor1592D/A1/12/071MF10048
BECFORD, WilliamBasildonHusbandman1681D/A1/47/55/2MF466
BECHAM, RichardKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1685D/A1/47/108MF466
BECHE , WilliamLetcombe BassettHusbandman1586D/A1/175/107MF96010
BECHE, JohnWhite WalthamCarpenter1596D/A1/41/066 D/A1/12/332MF462 MF10048
BECHE, ThomasLetcombe Bassett1559D/A1/39/141 D/A1/7/258MF461 MF10040
BECHEY, EdmundShellingfordLabourer1569D/A1/175/066MF96010
BECHEY, ElizabethCumnor1620D/A1/43/039MF464
BECHEYE, JohnCumnorYeoman1601D/A1/41/164 D/A1/13/648MF463 MF10049
BECHY, Ed'Shellingford1569D/A1/167/141MF96000
BECHYE, JohnCumnor1557D/A1/233/034MF96132
BECHYE, JohnCumnor1557D/A1/2/068MF604
BECINGAM, JamesEast GarstonShepherd1699D/A1/179/131MF96017
BECK , RalphWallingfordCooper1678D/A1/47/20MF466
BECKE, ThomasSwallowfieldLabourer1577D/A1/175/079MF96010
BECKENHAM, Richard1550D/A1/175/016MF96010
BECKENSALL , William SnrAbingdonUpholsterer1840D/A1/226/106MF96123
BECKENSALL, RichardAbingdonSexton1840D/A1/146/53MF557
BECKENSALL, WilliamAbingdonCabinet Maker1841D/A1/226/109MF96123
BECKENSELL, HenrySteventonCarpenter1793D/A1/50/238MF469
BECKET, JaneUffington1639D/A1/44/107MF465
BECKET, RobertColeshill1553D/A1/175/025MF96010
BECKETT (ALIAS CARPENTER), MarthaCumnor1723D/A1/180/75MF96019
BECKETT, AmeliaNewbury1848D/A1/226/127MF96123
BECKETT, JohnCumnorLabourer1708D/A1/179/185MF96018
BECKETT, JohnNewburyDraper1846D/A1/146/81MF557
BECKETT, JohnNewburyDraper1847D/A1/226/125MF96123
BECKETT, ThomasUffingtonYeoman1726D/A1/180/90MF96019
BECKETT, WalterUffingtonYeoman1632D/A1/44/028MF464
BECKETT, WalterUffingtonBlacksmith1705D/A1/179/161MF96017
BECKETT, WilliamAbingdonSurgeon1739D/A1/49/209MF468
BECKFORD, DavidBasildonYeoman1769D/A1/50/125MF469
BECKFORD, DenisBasildon1710D/A1/179/192MF96018
BECKFORD, ElizabethHurley1630D/A1/177/022 D/A1/168/181MF96013 MF96001
BECKFORD, ElizabethBradfield1737D/A1/49/189MF468
BECKFORD, HenryBradfieldHusbandman1722D/A1/180/72MF96019
BECKFORD, JohnBasildonYeoman1721D/A1/180/63MF96019
BECKFORD, JohnEnglefieldBreeches Maker1773D/A1/50/148MF469
BECKFORD, John JnrBasildonYeoman1709D/A1/48/159MF467
BECKFORD, RobertHurleyHusbandman1624D/A1/43/107MF464
BECKFORD, RobertStreatleyTailor1660D/A1/178/52MF96015
BECKFORD, RobertStreatleyTailor1666D/A1/46/13MF466
BECKFORDE, ElizabethStreatley1663D/A1/178/63MF96015
BECKLEY, HenryWest SheffordHusbandman1639D/A1/44/113MF465
BECKLEY, JoanChieveley1595D/A1/41/062 D/A1/12/311MF462 MF10048
BECKLEY, ThomasNorth Heath, ChieveleyYeoman1593D/A1/41/033 D/A1/12/078MF462 MF10048
BECKLY, JohnWargraveTailor1571D/A1/39/255 D/A1/9/253MF462 MF10046
BECKLY, RichardEnborneHusbandman1630D/A1/177/026 D/A1/168/190MF96013 MF96001
BECKLY, SimonNew Windsor, WindsorDraper1662D/A1/178/66 MF96015
BECKLY, ThomasHolyport, BrayYeoman1601D/A1/41/153 D/A1/13/683MF463 MF10049
BECKYNGHAM, AliceNorth Moreton1534D/A1/1/302MF10042
BEDBROUGH, AllenSunninghillWheelwright1719D/A1/49/36MF468
BEDDING, RichardEaling, MiddlesexLabourer1781D/A1/50/183MF469
BEDELL, JohnBinfieldCarpenter1569D/A1/39/239 D/A1/9/158MF462 MF10046
BEDELL, ThomasShottesbrooke1559D/A1/167/106MF96000
BEDFERD, RobertLambourn1558D/A1/8/015MF10043C
BEDFORD , ThomasReading1592D/A1/12/071MF10048
BEDFORD, AliceBaulking, Uffington1597D/A1/41/092 D/A1/13/151MF462 MF10049
BEDFORD, AliceReading St Giles1601D/A1/41/155 D/A1/13/739MF463 MF10049