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
BANISTER, JohnFinchampsteadYeoman1728D/A1/180/105MF96020
BANISTER, PaulWallingfordYeoman1645D/A1/45/034MF465
BANISTER, RachelSwallowfield1791D/A1/50/232MF21170
BANISTER, RichardAbingdonMercer, Grocer1632D/A1/44/033MF464
BANISTER, Richard SnrAbingdonMiller1620D/A1/43/051MF464
BANISTER, RobertLambourn1552D/A1/5/154MF10043A
BANISTER, ThomasWhitley, Reading St Giles1590D/A1/175/114MF96010
BANISTER, WilliamEast IlsleyMiller1748D/A1/50/16MF469
BANISTER, William SnrReadingYeoman1619D/A1/43/031MF464
BANKS, BenjaminThatchamYeoman1813D/A1/145/64MF557
BANKS, EleanorAbingdon1678D/A1/47/19MF466
BANKS, MicaiahBeenhamHusbandman1684D/A1/47/101MF466
BANKS, ThomasBotley, North Hinksey, CumnorLabourer1636D/A1/177/060MF96013
BANKS, WilliamThatcham1789D/A1/180/253MF96020
BANNINSTER, RobertKennington, RadleyYeoman1767D/A1/180/220MF96020
BANNISTER , Anthony SnrBoxford1718D/A1/49/23MF468
BANNISTER, AnthonyAbingdon St Helen1674D/A1/178/157MF96015
BANNISTER, AnthonyEast IlsleyMiller1769D/A1/50/123MF469
BANNISTER, HenryAbingdonVictualler1744D/A1/180/172MF96020
BANNISTER, JohnNewburyWeaver1596D/A1/41/071 D/A1/12/414MF462 MF10048
BANNISTER, JohnReading St MaryShopkeeper1788D/A1/50/217MF21170
BANNISTER, JohnKennington, RadleyYeoman1799D/A1/51/13MF469
BANNISTER, WilliamAbingdon St HelenMaltster1621D/A1/16/027MF10066
BANNISTER, WilliamAbingdon St HelenMiller1627D/A1/43/153MF464
BANNISTER, WilliamBoxford1774D/A1/180/228MF96020
BANNYSTER, RobertLambourn1552D/A1/233/336MF96132
BANS, DinahNewbury1771D/A1/50/135MF469
BANTING , James SnrChildreyYeoman1850D/A1/147/22MF558
BANTING, HenryLetcombe RegisBlacksmith1827D/A1/145/131MF557
BANYSTER, RobertLambourn1552D/A1/4/021MF604
BARANAD, Robert SnrWoodhill, Letcombe Regis1688D/A1/179/68 MF96017
BARBAR, AliceGarford, Marcham1546D/A1/39/034 D/A1/2/085 D/A1/5/033 D/A1/5/045MF461 MF604 MF10043A MF10043A
BARBAR, JoanWaltham St Lawrence1550D/A1/2/060MF603
BARBAR, ThomasReading Tanner1624D/A1/43/112MF464
BARBAR, WilliamFaringdon1558D/A1/8/005MF10043C
BARBER, JaneMidgham, Thatcham1695D/A1/179/110MF96017
BARBER, JohnWaltham St Lawrence1574D/A1/40/035 D/A1/9/437MF462 MF10046
BARBER, RichardNewbury1611D/A1/176/022MF96012
BARBER, RichardNewbury1611D/A1/168/070MF96001
BARE, John JnrLetcombe RegisLabourer1593D/A1/41/036 D/A1/12/103MF462 MF10048
BARE, ThomasLetcombe Regis1547D/A1/6/030MF10043B
BARE, ThomasEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1562D/A1/175/047MF96010
BAREFOOT, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1722D/A1/180/68MF96019
BAREFOOT, PeterUfton Nervet1772D/A1/180/227MF96020
BAREFOOT, RichardReadingButcher1702D/A1/179/80 MF96017
BAREFOOT, RichardReadingButcher1702D/A1/179/142 MF96017
BAREFOOT, RichardGreat CoxwellMajor1712D/A1/58/136MF476
BAREFOOTE, HenryReading St Mary1610D/A1/176/019MF96012
BAREFOOTE, HenryReading St Mary1610D/A1/168/062MF96001
BAREFOOTE, JamesPurleyHusbandman1672D/A1/178/148MF96015
BARENES, JamesEast Hanney, Hanney1610D/A1/42/059 D/A1/15/015MF463 MF10065
BARENES, JoanEast Hanney, Hanney1614D/A1/42/145 D/A1/15/441MF463 MF10065
BARET, JohnChieveley1563D/A1/39/194 D/A1/8/259MF462 MF10043C
BARFFOTT, JohnReadingClothier1587D/A1/175/010MF96010
BARFOOT, HenryNewburyInnholder1760D/A1/50/87MF469
BARFOOT, WilliamTilehurstFarmer1749D/A1/50/27MF469
BARFOOTE, Richard SnrBrayHusbandman1636D/A1/44/091MF464
BARFOOTE, ThomasAbingdonBaker1684D/A1/47/95MF466
BARGENT, HenryTilehurstGardener1684D/A1/179/32MF96016
BARGOS, RobertLong WittenhamYeoman1816D/A1/226/51MF96123
BARKDALE, AliceNewbury1552D/A1/5/183MF10043A
BARKER, Charles TuckReadingBreeches Maker1799D/A1/51/12MF469
BARKER, ElizabethShinfield1704D/A1/179/152MF96017
BARKER, HenryAbingdon1583D/A1/40/116MF462
BARKER, HenryAbingdonRough Layer1583D/A1/10/423MF10047A
BARKER, JoelBinfieldCarpenter1731D/A1/180/121MF96020
BARKER, JohnReading St Laurence1542D/A1/6/038MF10043B
BARKER, John1542D/A1/175/005MF96010
BARKER, JohnReading St Laurence1552D/A1/5/217MF10043A
BARKER, JohnAbingdon1590D/A1/175/120MF96010
BARKER, JohnAbingdon St Nicholas1590D/A1/11/372MF10047B
BARKER, JohnSpeenClerk1661D/A1/178/59 MF96015
BARKER, JohnCholsey1700D/A1/179/134MF96017
BARKER, ThomasEasthampsteadYeoman1670D/A1/178/129MF96015
BARKER, WilliamReadingBarber1728D/A1/180/101MF96020
BARKER, WilliamBinfield1822D/A1/226/63MF96123
BARKESDALE, AliceNewbury1552D/A1/4/028MF604
BARKESDALE, AliceNewbury1553D/A1/233/340MF96132
BARKESDALE, AliceHamstead Marshall1630D/A1/168/183MF96001
BARKESDALE, JoanNewbury1596D/A1/41/069MF462
BARKESDALE, JohnShaw Bridge, SpeenTanner1612D/A1/42/076 D/A1/15/201MF463 MF10065
BARKESDALE, JohnNewbury1629D/A1/16/205MF10066
BARKESDALE, John JnrNewbury1626D/A1/176/110MF96012
BARKESDALE, ThomasSpenhamland, SpeenYeoman1591D/A1/41/016 D/A1/11/253MF462 MF10047B
BARKESDALE, WilliamSpeenhamland, Speen1616D/A1/16/053MF10066
BARKESDALL, WilliamShaw Bridge, Speen1605D/A1/175/180 D/A1/14/181MF96011 MF10064
BARKSDALE, AnthonyShaw Bridge, SpeenTanner1666D/A1/46/9MF466
BARKSDALE, HenryNewburyClothier1635D/A1/177/055MF96013
BARKSDALE, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenInnholder1544D/A1/39/018 D/A1/1/281MF461 MF10042
BARKSDALE, JohnShaw Bridge, SpeenTanner1563D/A1/39/193 D/A1/8/253MF462 MF10043C
BARLEY, MaryReading1819D/A1/226/59MF96123
BARLEY, WilliamWhite Waltham1571D/A1/167/147MF96000
BARLOE, GeorgeClewerHusbandman1618D/A1/43/026 D/A1/15/874MF464 MF10065
BARLOW, ChristianBray1692D/A1/48/3MF467
BARLOW, DavidAldermastonFarmer1847D/A1/147/9MF558
BARLOW, JoanClapton, Kintbury1663D/A1/45/117MF465
BARLOW, JohnWhite WalthamCarpenter1688D/A1/47/142MF467
BARLOW, LawrenceStreatleyYeoman1683D/A1/47/81MF466
BARLOW, ThomasWhite WalthamBlacksmith1685D/A1/179/44MF96016
BARLOW, WilliamSwallowfieldLabourer1772D/A1/50/145MF469