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
BAKER, WilliamAbingdon1788D/A1/114/76MF537
BAKER, WilliamNorth MoretonYeoman1791D/A1/50/229MF21170
BAKER, WilliamComptonIron Founder1840D/A1/146/51MF557
BAKER, William SnrShinfieldYeoman1688D/A1/47/134MF467
BAKON, William1550D/A1/175/018MF96010
BAKR, VincentBurghfield1561D/A1/3/002MF604
BAKUN, ThomasEasthampsteadCarpenter1559D/A1/39/164 D/A1/6/201MF461 MF10043B
BALDEN, RalphTheale, TilehurstShear Clothier1639D/A1/44/121MF465
BALDEN, RalphTheale, TilehurstVictualler, Clothworker1639D/A1/177/080/1MF96014
BALDEN, RichardAston Tirrold1566D/A1/8/364MF10043C
BALDING, CharityReading1836D/A1/146/25MF557
BALDING, FrancisReadingBricklayer1819D/A1/145/90MF557
BALDING, JohnReadingBricklayer1836D/A1/226/88MF96123
BALDON, AnneAston Tirrold1607D/A1/176/010MF96012
BALDON, AnneAston Tirrold1607D/A1/168/024MF96001
BALDWIN , John JnrWytham1712D/A1/48/193MF467
BALDWIN, BenjaminSouth Hinksey1731D/A1/180/122MF96020
BALDWIN, CecilyMaidenhead, Bray1623D/A1/43/084MF464
BALDWIN, ElizabethWytham1802D/A1/145/6MF557
BALDWIN, JohnAldermastonClerk, Vicar1618D/A1/176/064 D/A1/168/151MF96012 MF96001
BALDWIN, JohnReadingInnholder1660D/A1/45/66MF465
BALDWIN, ThomasReadingCarpenter1643D/A1/178/008MF96015
BALDWIN, ThomasMiltonYeoman1816D/A1/145/81MF557
BALDWIN, WilliamMaidenhead, BrayTailor1621D/A1/43/069MF464
BALDWIN, WilliamGreat CoxwellFarmer1839D/A1/146/48MF557
BALDYN, RobertEnglefieldLabourer1629D/A1/43/181MF464
BALL , GeorgeWokinghamYeoman1644D/A1/178/015MF96015
BALL , SimonWhite Waltham1614D/A1/176/047MF96012
BALL, AgnesBarkham1572D/A1/40/004 D/A1/9/312MF462 MF10046
BALL, AnnReading1838D/A1/146/41MF557
BALL, BenjaminLeckhampstead, ChieveleyCarrier (Retired)1855D/A1/147/47MF558
BALL, EdithReading St Mary1705D/A1/179/154 MF96017
BALL, EdwardBarkham1558D/A1/39/136 D/A1/7/194MF461 MF10040
BALL, HenryLambournDraper1808D/A1/145/41MF557
BALL, HumphreyOld Bracknell, EasthampsteadYeoman1638D/A1/44/105MF465
BALL, JohnClapcot, Wallingford All HallowsTailor, Servant1607D/A1/42/017 D/A1/14/331MF463 MF10064
BALL, JohnShinfieldYeoman1610D/A1/42/064 D/A1/15/036MF463 MF10065
BALL, JohnWarfieldYeoman1615D/A1/42/136 D/A1/15/535MF463 MF10065
BALL, JohnEast GarstonWheelwright1752D/A1/50/52MF469
BALL, JohnReadingGardener1827D/A1/145/126MF557
BALL, JosephReadingPlasterer1838D/A1/146/37MF557
BALL, SimonWhite Waltham1614D/A1/168/111MF96001
BALL, Thomas SnrWhite WalthamYeoman1616D/A1/42/158 D/A1/15/632MF463 MF10065
BALL, WilliamBracknell, Warfield1682D/A1/179/16MF96016
BALL, WilliamNewbury1790D/A1/50/227MF21170
BALL, WilliamWythamMiller1827D/A1/226/70MF96123
BALLAMY, WilliamPadworthCooper1600D/A1/41/147 D/A1/13/615MF463 MF10049
BALLARD , John SnrUfton NervetYeoman, Farmer 1790D/A1/50/228MF21170
BALLARD, BenjaminKingston BagpuizeBlacksmith1854D/A1/147/36MF558
BALLARD, BernardArdingtonFarmer1827D/A1/145/132MF557
BALLARD, EdwardArdingtonFarrier1777D/A1/50/164MF469
BALLARD, FrederickAbingdonIronmonger1846D/A1/146/86MF558
BALLARD, GraceChieveley1728D/A1/180/107MF96020
BALLARD, JamesReadingCloth Worker1628D/A1/43/167MF464
BALLARD, JamesCharney Bassett, Longworth1812D/A1/226/44MF96123
BALLARD, JohnLambourn1562D/A1/39/210MF462
BALLARD, JohnLambourn1563D/A1/7/362MF10040
BALLARD, JohnUfton NervetYeoman1757D/A1/50/77MF469
BALLARD, JohnUfton NervetVictualler1810D/A1/145/51MF557
BALLARD, MarthaArdington1841D/A1/146/61MF557
BALLARD, MaryReading1642D/A1/44/161MF465
BALLARD, StephenUffington1702D/A1/48/92MF467
BALLARD, WilliamEast Garston1585D/A1/40/120 D/A1/11/033MF462 MF10047B
BALLARD, WilliamUffingtonYeoman1725D/A1/180/85MF96019
BALLARD, WilliamSulhamsteadFarmer1817D/A1/145/84MF557
BALLARD, WilliamAbingdonChemist, Druggist 1844D/A1/146/75MF557
BALLDEN, RichardAston Tirrold1566D/A1/39/244MF462
BALLE, RobertBarkham1546D/A1/175/014MF96010
BALLERD, Richard1557D/A1/175/017MF96010
BALLO , John SnrArdingtonBlacksmith1761D/A1/50/97MF469
BALLO, MaryGreat Coxwell1737D/A1/49/190MF468
BALLOCKE, ThomasNewbury1601D/A1/175/173MF96011
BALLOW, EdwardHatfordHusbandman1686D/A1/179/52MF96016
BALLOW, RichardGreat CoxwellYeoman1717D/A1/180/40MF96019
BALLS, WilliamWargrave1842D/A1/226/113MF96123
BALSAM, JohnBarkham1554D/A1/39/069 D/A1/7/061MF461 MF10040
BALY, RichardStratfield MortimerVicar1528D/A1/1/075MF10041
BALY, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1557D/A1/4/058MF604
BALY, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1557D/A1/233/361MF96132
BANBURY, FrancisFrilsham1812D/A1/145/60MF557
BANBURY, ThomasInkpenYeoman1848D/A1/147/10MF558
BANCE (ALIAS WHEELER), MaryPusey1728D/A1/180/106MF96020
BANCE, AliceEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1626D/A1/43/126MF464
BANCE, HenryInkpenHusbandman1621D/A1/43/065MF464
BANCE, JamesPuseyHusbandman1700D/A1/48/73MF467
BANCE, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1615D/A1/42/134 D/A1/15/530MF463 MF10065
BANCE, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1617D/A1/43/004 D/A1/15/707MF464 MF10065
BANCE, JohnInkpenCooper1715D/A1/48/225MF468
BANCE, ThomasPuseyLabourer1723D/A1/180/74MF96019
BAND, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1758D/A1/50/80MF469
BANESTER, JohnFinchampsteadYeoman1597D/A1/41/087 D/A1/13/149MF462 MF10049
BANHAM, JohnFyfieldFarmer1856D/A1/147/52MF558
BANINGE, Robert SnrNewburyWire Drawer1688D/A1/47/127MF467
BANISTER, AndrewWallingfordTailor1614D/A1/42/120 D/A1/15/435MF463 MF10065
BANISTER, AnnFinchampstead1688D/A1/47/129MF467
BANISTER, AnthonyBoxfordMiller1736D/A1/49/182MF468
BANISTER, BridgetAbingdon1621D/A1/43/068MF464
BANISTER, ElizabethReading1685D/A1/179/28MF96016
BANISTER, JohnWallingford St Mary1643D/A1/44/169MF465
BANISTER, JohnWallingford1647D/A1/178/033MF96015