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
BAILEY, WilliamStreatleyLabourer1849D/A1/226/128MF96123
BAILIE, JeffreyReading1591D/A1/11/375MF10047B
BAILIE, JudithSouthridge, Streatley1620D/A1/176/073MF96012
BAILLIE, WilliamNewbury1615D/A1/42/141 D/A1/15/550MF463 MF10065
BAILY, LeonardOxford, OxfordshireYeoman1645D/A1/45/009MF465
BAITH, KatherineFyfield1595D/A1/12/393MF10048
BAKECER, WilliamSwallowfield1558D/A1/39/109 D/A1/8/011MF461 MF10043C
BAKEHOWSE, GeorgeEast IlsleyClerk, Curate1550D/A1/39/047 D/A1/39/046 D/A1/5/098MF461 MF461 MF10043A
BAKER , Francis SnrFaringdonGardener1839D/A1/146/47MF557
BAKER , William SnrStanford In The ValeYeoman1722D/A1/49/68MF468
BAKER , William SnrStanford In The ValeYeoman1743D/A1/49/259MF468
BAKER, AgnesSwallowfield1559D/A1/39/165 D/A1/6/202MF461 MF10043B
BAKER, AgnesHagbourne1563D/A1/39/196 D/A1/8/265MF462 MF10043C
BAKER, AliceWinkfield1560D/A1/39/160 D/A1/8/183MF461 MF10043C
BAKER, AliceStratfield Mortimer1567D/A1/39/223 D/A1/9/029MF462 MF10046
BAKER, AnneNorth Moreton1710D/A1/179/200MF96018
BAKER, DorothyStanford In The Vale 1668D/A1/46/42MF466
BAKER, DorothyPusey1668D/A1/46/36MF466
BAKER, EdeWargrave1631D/A1/44/016MF464
BAKER, EdwardSunninghillHusbandman1637D/A1/44/094MF464
BAKER, EdwardReadingTanner1651D/A1/178/47MF96015
BAKER, EdwardNewbury1666D/A1/46/14MF466
BAKER, Edward JnrReadingTanner1641D/A1/44/139MF465
BAKER, ElizabethAbingdon St Nicholas1671D/A1/46/69MF466
BAKER, ElizabethNorth Moreton1791D/A1/50/230MF21170
BAKER, ElizabethAbingdon St Helen1834D/A1/146/10MF557
BAKER, FrancesReading St Laurence1561D/A1/7/331MF10040
BAKER, FrancesReading1561D/A1/39/184 D/A1/167/116MF461 MF96000
BAKER, FrancisReading1561D/A1/175/042MF96010
BAKER, JacobSunninghillYeoman1684D/A1/179/33MF96016
BAKER, JamesPuseyHusbandman1665D/A1/46/6MF466
BAKER, JoanNorth Moreton1543D/A1/1/225MF10042
BAKER, JoanChildrey1546D/A1/5/018MF10043A
BAKER, JoanChildrey1546D/A1/233/047MF96132
BAKER, JoanChildrey1546D/A1/2/093MF604
BAKER, JoanShrivenham1597D/A1/41/080 D/A1/13/220MF462 MF10049
BAKER, JohnEast Garston1558D/A1/7/178MF10040
BAKER, JohnNorth MoretonHusbandman1558D/A1/39/125 D/A1/7/213MF461 MF10040
BAKER, JohnEast Garston1558D/A1/39/095MF461
BAKER, JohnShefford1585D/A1/11/008MF10047B
BAKER, JohnStratfield Mortimer1589D/A1/40/173 D/A1/11/285MF462 MF10047B
BAKER, JohnFarnborough1599D/A1/41/131 D/A1/13/416MF463 MF10049
BAKER, JohnEast GarstonHusbandman1621D/A1/43/073MF464
BAKER, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1624D/A1/176/088MF96012
BAKER, JohnEast IlsleyTailor1644D/A1/178/005MF96015
BAKER, JohnReadingClothier, Broad Weaver1662D/A1/45/116MF465
BAKER, JohnBuscotYeoman1666D/A1/47/111MF466
BAKER, JohnClerkenwell St. James, Middlesex, HagbourneYeoman1667D/A1/48/89MF467
BAKER, JohnIdstone, AshburyLabourer1684D/A1/47/94MF466
BAKER, JohnMoulsfordYeoman1698D/A1/48/61MF467
BAKER, JohnMoulsfordFisherman1716D/A1/49/1MF468
BAKER, JohnShinfield1720D/A1/180/56MF96019
BAKER, JohnAbingdonTallow Chandler1730D/A1/180/116MF96020
BAKER, JohnNewburyCooper1745D/A1/50/2MF469
BAKER, JohnWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1752D/A1/50/53MF469
BAKER, JohnNewbury1806D/A1/226/36MF96123
BAKER, JosephEast Hagbourne, HagbourneCordwainer1757D/A1/50/72MF469
BAKER, MargaretBurghfield1617D/A1/43/005 D/A1/15/694MF464 MF10065
BAKER, MargaretNewbury1762D/A1/180/213MF96020
BAKER, PeterSpeenhamland, SpeenYeoman1643D/A1/178/010MF96015
BAKER, PhilipAshampsteadHusbandman1639D/A1/44/110MF465
BAKER, ReynoldNew Windsor, Windsor1610D/A1/176/028 D/A1/168/063MF96012 MF96001
BAKER, RichardWallingford St Mary1550D/A1/39/048 D/A1/5/099MF461 MF10043A
BAKER, RichardSteventon1564D/A1/39/192 D/A1/7/370MF462 MF10040
BAKER, RichardSteventon1609D/A1/42/033 D/A1/14/509MF463 MF10064
BAKER, RichardNorth MoretonFuller1646D/A1/178/025MF96015
BAKER, RichardSteventon1662D/A1/45/111MF465
BAKER, RichardMaidenheadTallow Chandler1712D/A1/180/7MF96019
BAKER, RichardNorth MoretonYeoman1722D/A1/180/66MF96019
BAKER, RichardReadingGardener1852D/A1/147/30MF558
BAKER, RobertCharney, Longworth1597D/A1/12/405MF10048
BAKER, RobertMoulsfordMaltster1739D/A1/49/206MF468
BAKER, RogerBurghfield1545D/A1/39/026MF461
BAKER, StephenHagbourne1557D/A1/7/144MF10040
BAKER, StephenHagbourne1557D/A1/39/083MF461
BAKER, ThomasSteventon1602D/A1/41/169 D/A1/13/862MF463 MF10049
BAKER, ThomasSnowswick, BuscotHusbandman1641D/A1/44/147MF465
BAKER, ThomasBrightwellWeaver1694D/A1/48/27MF467
BAKER, ThomasSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1700D/A1/184/121MF96026
BAKER, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1718D/A1/49/20MF468
BAKER, ThomasEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1754D/A1/50/58MF469
BAKER, ThomasHungerfordButler1762D/A1/50/99MF469
BAKER, VincentBurghfield1561D/A1/39/179MF461
BAKER, WalterStanford In The ValeYeoman, Woolen Draper1651D/A1/45/053 D/A1/178/047MF465 MF96015
BAKER, WilliamEast GarstonSmith1531D/A1/1/180MF10042
BAKER, WilliamMaidenhead, Bray1554D/A1/39/071 D/A1/7/035MF461 MF10040
BAKER, WilliamShinfield1599D/A1/175/160MF96010
BAKER, WilliamShinfield1599D/A1/13/430MF10049
BAKER, WilliamSunninghillYeoman1613D/A1/42/104 D/A1/15/403MF463 MF10065
BAKER, WilliamNewburyBroad Weaver1638D/A1/177/073MF96014
BAKER, WilliamWest SheffordInnkeeper1663D/A1/45/121MF465
BAKER, WilliamWestcot, SparsholtHusbandman1665D/A1/46/7MF466
BAKER, WilliamLong WittenhamHusbandman1670D/A1/46/54MF466
BAKER, WilliamWest WoodhayYeoman1678D/A1/178/177 MF96015
BAKER, WilliamWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1683D/A1/179/26MF96016
BAKER, WilliamNorth MoretonCloth Worker1691D/A1/179/90MF96017
BAKER, WilliamBuscotYeoman1706D/A1/179/170MF96017
BAKER, WilliamShinfieldHusbandman1721D/A1/49/54MF468
BAKER, WilliamArdingtonYeoman1721D/A1/49/53MF468
BAKER, WilliamBrimptonShoemaker1742D/A1/49/245MF468