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
JAMES, WilliamBucklandHusbandman1561D/A1/199/015MF96056
JAMES, WilliamBuckland1561D/A1/167/117MF96000
JAMES, WilliamAbingdon1566D/A1/167/132MF96000
JAMES, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1569D/A1/86/030 D/A1/9/158MF530 MF10046
JAMES, WilliamBurghfieldLabourer1614D/A1/199/073MF96057
JAMES, WilliamBurghfield1614D/A1/168/111MF96001
JAMES, WilliamBarkhamWeaver1631D/A1/86/164MF530
JAMES, WilliamSteventonHusbandman1644D/A1/86/187MF531
JAMES, WilliamReadingBeer Brewer1672D/A1/199/130MF96057
JAMES, WilliamFernham, Shrivenham1674D/A1/87/36MF531
JAMES, WilliamLetcombe RegisFellmonger1695D/A1/87/72MF531
JAMES, WilliamAbingdon1779D/A1/199/227MF96058
JAMMES, JohnLetcombe Regis 1588D/A1/86/060 D/A1/11/259MF530 MF10047B
JAMYS, JohnBucklandHusbandman1546D/A1/86/004/1 D/A1/5/034MF530 MF10043A
JANAWAY, LydiaLetcombe Bassett1728D/A1/199/195MF96058
JAQUES , George JnrReading St MaryButcher1713D/A1/87/101MF531
JAQUES, MarthaReading1715D/A1/87/105MF531
JAQUES, RichardReading St MaryButcher1650D/A1/199/116MF96057
JAQUES, RobertReading St MaryButcher1650D/A1/169/044MF96002
JARAT, Robert SnrNewburyFuller1570D/A1/86/033 D/A1/9/241MF530 MF10046
JARDINE, AndrewEast Ilsley1811D/A1/155/4MF580
JARMAN (ALIAS GARMAN), JacobMarcham1791D/A1/193/130MF96044
JARMAN, JohnMartimer West End (Mortmur Hants.), HampshireYeoman1698D/A1/74/9MF522
JARRAT, WilliamAbingdon1603D/A1/199/057 D/A1/13/1018MF96057 MF10049
JARRET, FrancisAbingdon1586D/A1/199/037MF96056
JARRET, MarkSutton CourtenayBoat Builder1729D/A1/87/130MF531
JARRET, RobertAbingdon St Helen1620D/A1/86/131MF530
JARRETT, JohnAbingdon St HelenCooper1646D/A1/199/110 D/A1/169/044MF96056 MF96002
JARRETT, ThomasMaidenhead, CookhamInnholder1624D/A1/86/142MF530
JARRETT, TitusAbingdonBoatmaker1674D/A1/87/37MF531
JARVILD, ThomasEast Oakley, Bray1602D/A1/199/055MF96057
JARVILD, ThomasBray1602D/A1/13/859MF10049
JARVILL, AliceBray1648D/A1/199/114MF96057
JARVILL, AliceBray1648D/A1/169/044MF96002
JARVIS, AnnEast Ilsley1819D/A1/155/8MF580
JARVIS, MarthaAbingdon1848D/A1/229/17MF96126
JARVIS, RichardStratfield MortimerVictualler1743D/A1/199/213MF96058
JARVIS, ThomasReadingDyer1706D/A1/199/172MF96058
JARVIS, Thomas HawkesEast Ilsley1855D/A1/155/36MF580
JARVIS, WalterMaidenhead, BrayYeoman1621D/A1/86/134MF530
JARVIS, WalterHurleyYeoman1712D/A1/87/98MF531
JARVYS, RichardMaidenhead, CookhamTanner1580D/A1/86/046 D/A1/10/245MF530 MF10047A
JASIE, JohnNewbury1594D/A1/199/049MF96057
JASIE, JohnNewbury1594D/A1/12/195MF10048
JAYE, JohnReading St GilesYeoman1564D/A1/86/022/1 D/A1/8/331MF530 MF10043C
JAYES , Richard SnrStanford In The ValeYeoman1728D/A1/199/193MF96058
JEAFFERYS, JosephSwallowfieldCordwainer1695D/A1/199/158MF96058
JEAKMAN, WilliamWarfieldCarpenter1725D/A1/199/190MF96058
JEAMES, John JnrSouth Hinksey, Cumnor1573D/A1/199/026MF96056
JEAMES, RogerSouth Hinksey, Cumnor1593D/A1/86/067 D/A1/12/100MF530 MF10048
JEAMES, WilliamAbingdon1566D/A1/199/020MF96056
JEANANES, ThomasDedworth, WindsorHusbandman1629D/A1/86/157MF530
JEBLET, WilliamSandhurst, SonningYeoman1649D/A1/86/195MF531
JEBLETT, WilliamWarfieldTailor1630D/A1/199/095 D/A1/168/205MF96057 MF96001
JEEKEY, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenInnholder1610D/A1/199/067MF96057
JEEKY, JohnSpeenhamland, Speen1610D/A1/168/058MF96001
JEFFEREY, HenryCookhamHusbandman1663D/A1/87/10MF531
JEFFERIE, EdwardClewerYeoman1664D/A1/87/12MF531
JEFFERIE, RobertShaw Bridge, SpeenWeaver1612D/A1/199/070 D/A1/168/094MF96057 MF96001
JEFFERIE, ThomasThatchamHusbandman1606D/A1/86/100 D/A1/14/151MF530 MF10064
JEFFERIES, JohnCholseyBailiff1855D/A1/155/37MF580
JEFFERRY, MaryPangbourne1682D/A1/87/55MF531
JEFFERY , RichardPangbourneLabourer1625D/A1/86/144MF530
JEFFERY, AliceWhite Waltham1566D/A1/199/021MF96056
JEFFERY, AliceWhite Waltham1566D/A1/167/129MF96000
JEFFERY, EdwardClewerHusbandman1641D/A1/86/184MF531
JEFFERY, JohnChieveley1607D/A1/168/022MF96001
JEFFERY, JohnBurghfield1609D/A1/199/062MF96057
JEFFERY, JohnBurghfield1609D/A1/168/051MF96001
JEFFERY, JohnMaidenheadBlacksmith1715D/A1/199/180MF96058
JEFFERY, JohnWallingfordTailor1856D/A1/155/41MF580
JEFFERY, MaudeBrightwalton1558D/A1/167/100MF96000
JEFFERY, RichardPangbourneHusbandman1680D/A1/87/47MF531
JEFFERY, RobertReading St Laurence1798D/A1/199/233MF96058
JEFFERYE, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1601D/A1/86/092 D/A1/13/650MF530 MF10049
JEFFERYE, MatthewWhitley, Reading St GilesHusbandman1600D/A1/86/089 D/A1/13/619MF530 MF10049
JEFFERYE, WilliamGinge1592D/A1/199/044 D/A1/11/377MF96057 MF10047B
JEFFERYES, ChristianBradfield1665D/A1/87/13MF531
JEFFERYS, AustinReadingMaltster1817D/A1/229/10MF96126
JEFFREY, JohnBeedon1539D/A1/1/224MF10042
JEFFREY, JohnChieveleyHusbandman1607D/A1/199/060MF96057
JEFFREY, JohnChieveleyHusbandman1624D/A1/199/088MF96057
JEFFREY, RichardWarfieldLabourer1578D/A1/86/044 D/A1/10/136MF530 MF10047A
JEFFREY, WilliamDedworth, WindsorHusbandman1623D/A1/86/139MF530
JEFFRY, ChristopherReading1750D/A1/199/219MF96058
JEFFRY, ThomasReading St GilesTanner1665D/A1/87/17MF531
JEFFRY, WilliamBradfieldTanner1684D/A1/199/143MF96057
JEFFS, MarySulham1721D/A1/87/109MF531
JELLIMAN, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1615D/A1/199/075 D/A1/168/122MF96057 MF96001
JELLYJOHN, PhilipAbingdon St Helen1643D/A1/199/107 D/A1/169/044MF96057 MF96002
JELLYMAN, RobertDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1602D/A1/199/056 D/A1/13/860MF96057 MF10049
JELYMAN, EdwardDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1614D/A1/199/074MF96057
JEMATT, WilliamReading St Giles1610D/A1/199/063MF96057
JEMETT, ThomasReading1722D/A1/87/114MF531
JEMITT, PhilipSpeenhamland, Speen1634D/A1/199/101MF96057
JEMMAT, ThomasNewbury1609D/A1/168/052MF96001
JEMMAT, Thomas JnrReading St Giles1710D/A1/199/176MF96058
JEMMAT, WilliamReading St Giles1610D/A1/168/056MF96001
JEMMATT (ALIAS ABERY), ElianorReading1723D/A1/174/139MF96008
JEMMATT, ElizabethReading St Giles1706D/A1/199/173MF96058