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
KENT, JohnBradfieldHusbandman1648D/A1/200/126MF96060
KENT, JohnPuseyHusbandman1684D/A1/90/111MF532
KENT, John SnrSheffield, Burghfield1555D/A1/88/020 D/A1/7/101MF531 MF10040
KENT, MaryHinton Waldrist1664D/A1/90/71 MF532
KENT, MaryStanford In The Vale 1692D/A1/90/130MF533
KENT, MaryStreatley, Streatley1702D/A1/90/152MF533
KENT, ReynoldBurghfieldYeoman1678D/A1/90/101MF532
KENT, ReynoldBurghfieldYeoman1697D/A1/201/36MF96061
KENT, RichardWhite WalthamHusbandman1579D/A1/88/094 D/A1/10/170MF532 MF10047A
KENT, RichardPadworth1602D/A1/89/070/2MF532
KENT, SusanSulhamstead Bannister1713D/A1/90/168MF533
KENT, ThomasSouthcote, Reading St MaryYeoman1554D/A1/88/018 D/A1/7/077MF531 MF10040
KENT, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1584D/A1/88/103 D/A1/11/113 D/A1/11/001bMF532 MF10047B MF10047B
KENT, ThomasReadingBlacksmith1676D/A1/200/148MF96060
KENT, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1692D/A1/201/27MF96061
KENT, ThomasMarchamYeoman1695D/A1/90/141MF533
KENT, ThomasThatcham1775D/A1/201/108MF96061
KENT, Thomas SnrAbingdonBaker1601D/A1/89/059 D/A1/13/694MF532 MF10049
KENT, Thomas SnrAvington1682D/A1/90/107MF532
KENT, WalterStratfield MortimerYeoman1624D/A1/89/125MF532
KENT, WalterWargraveHusbandman1673D/A1/200/146MF96060
KENT, WalterWargraveLabourer1712D/A1/201/57MF96061
KENT, Walter SnrStratfield South, Stratfield Mortimer1583D/A1/88/102 D/A1/10/405MF532 MF10047A
KENT, WilliamAldermastonHusbandman1574D/A1/88/078 D/A1/9/434MF531 MF10046
KENT, WilliamStratfield MortimerYeoman1603D/A1/89/067 D/A1/13/1025MF532 MF10049
KENT, WilliamBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1667D/A1/90/79MF532
KENT, WilliamWhite WalthamHusbandman1704D/A1/201/44MF96061
KENT, WilliamTilehurstLabourer1712D/A1/201/58MF96061
KENT, WilliamBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1746D/A1/91/135MF533
KENT, WilliamAbingdonCarrier1842D/A1/229/38MF96126
KENT, William SnrAbingdon St HelenBaker1638D/A1/90/015MF532
KENTE, AndrewWhitley, Reading St Giles1571D/A1/88/070 D/A1/9/268 D/A1/167/148MF531 MF10046 MF96000
KENTE, EdwardSulhamstead Bannister1603D/A1/89/068 D/A1/13/905MF532 MF10049
KENTE, JohnAldermastonYeoman1567D/A1/88/068 D/A1/9/079MF531 MF10046
KENTE, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1589D/A1/89/019/1 D/A1/11/206MF532 MF10047B
KENTE, JohnAbingdon St HelenYeoman1604D/A1/89/074 D/A1/13/1388MF532 MF10049
KENTE, RichardTheale, Tilehurst1603D/A1/89/070/1 D/A1/13/1141MF532 MF10049
KENTE, RobertBrightwellLabourer1569D/A1/200/031MF96059
KENTE, RobertBrightwell1569D/A1/167/141MF96000
KENTE, Robert SnrReadingCordwainer1669D/A1/90/88MF532
KENTE, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1594D/A1/89/037 D/A1/12/208MF532 MF10048
KENTING, JohnReadingBargeman1783D/A1/91/184MF533
KENTON, AndrewReadingClothier1648D/A1/90/051MF532
KENTON, RobertWargraveYeoman1590D/A1/89/023 D/A1/11/233MF532 MF10047B
KENTON, RobertReadingFlax Dresser1690D/A1/90/128MF533
KENTON, ThomasReading St GilesYeoman1611D/A1/200/078MF96060
KENTON, ThomasReading St Giles1611D/A1/168/075MF96001
KENTON, ThomasWargraveLabourer1650D/A1/200/128 D/A1/169/049MF96060 MF96002
KENTT, JohnBurghfield1559D/A1/88/028 D/A1/8/090MF531 MF10043C
KENYON, JuliaWarfield1712D/A1/201/56MF96061
KEPE, AliceWest Hendred1540D/A1/3/040MF604
KEPE, AndrewWest HendredHusbandman1559D/A1/8/069 D/A1/88/040MF10043C MF531
KEPE, JohnAbingdon1545D/A1/88/006MF531
KEPE, JohnAbingdon St Helen1545D/A1/6/060MF10043B
KEPE, JohnWest HendredHusbandman1579D/A1/88/093 D/A1/10/205MF532 MF10047A
KEPE, ThomasGrove, WantageYeoman1530D/A1/1/098MF10041
KEPE, ThomasLyford, HanneyHusbandman1590D/A1/89/020 D/A1/11/226MF532 MF10047B
KEPE, WilliamLittle Coxwell, Faringdon1547D/A1/3/045MF604
KERBE, JohnSotwell, Wallingford St LeonardYeoman1622D/A1/89/119MF532
KERBIE, ElizabethEast Hendred1587D/A1/200/051 D/A1/11/161MF96059 MF10047B
KERBY, EdwardSutton CourtenayCarpenter1727D/A1/201/74MF96061
KERBY, FrancesSotwell1733D/A1/91/118MF533
KERBY, HumphreyNewburyCloth Worker1641D/A1/200/117 D/A1/169/049MF96060 MF96002
KERBY, JohnWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1637D/A1/90/010MF532
KERBY, MaudeSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1570D/A1/88/072 D/A1/9/243MF531 MF10046
KERBY, RichardMoulsfordYeoman1725D/A1/91/101MF533
KERBY, SarahAbingdon1809D/A1/155/52MF580
KERBY, WilliamSotwellCarpenter1729D/A1/91/109MF533
KERBY, WilliamSutton CourtenayLabourer1742D/A1/91/129MF533
KERBY, WilliamAbingdonInnholder1780D/A1/91/178MF533
KERBYE, JamesBrightwellYeoman1645D/A1/90/043MF532
KERFOOT, JoanSutton Courtenay1802D/A1/229/25MF96126
KERK, GeorgeWelfordHusbandman1725D/A1/91/100MF533
KERKMAN, EdwardMaidenheadScrivener1643D/A1/200/123 D/A1/169/049MF96060 MF96002
KERRY, ThomasNewburyCapper1576D/A1/88/086 D/A1/10/033MF532 MF10047A
KERSHAW, AlexanderBeedonVicar1692D/A1/201/26MF96061
KERSWELL, WilliamReadingVictualler1682D/A1/201/12MF96061
KERTBY, EdmundInkpen1591D/A1/89/027 D/A1/11/401MF532 MF10047B
KERTON, RichardAbingdon St NicholasYeoman1625D/A1/89/124MF532
KERTON, William SnrHartley, ShinfieldYeoman1602D/A1/89/060 D/A1/13/722MF532 MF10049
KERWOOD, EdwardReadingCoal Merchant1856D/A1/156/24MF581
KETE, AliceWest Ilsley1546D/A1/5/080 D/A1/88/009/2MF10043A MF531
KETE, AndrewBrightwalton1545D/A1/200/006MF96059
KETE, JohnBrightwalton1545D/A1/88/002MF531
KETE, JohnBrightwalton1545D/A1/1/231 D/A1/1/301MF10042 MF10042
KETE, JohnHampstead Norreys1558D/A1/200/020 D/A1/167/102MF96059 MF96000
KETE, MarianEast Ilsley1537D/A1/1/304MF10042
KETE, Thomas1555D/A1/200/015MF96059
KETE, WilliamHampstead Norreys1544D/A1/200/002MF96059
KETT, RichardHinton Waldrist1546D/A1/88/008MF531
KETTELS, ThomasEnborne1769D/A1/201/103MF96061
KEW, DanielEast Hanney, West Hanney1810D/A1/155/55MF580
KEYE, JoanCookham1553D/A1/88/014 D/A1/7/006MF531 MF10040
KEYLEY, LazarusRemenhamLabourer1688D/A1/90/121MF532
KEYMIS, ElizabethReading St Laurence1587D/A1/89/013 D/A1/11/169 D/A1/11/118aMF532 MF10047B MF10047B
KEYNE, ElizabethNew Windsor, Windsor1635D/A1/16/383MF10066
KEYNE, IsabelBinfield1634D/A1/90/006MF532
KEYS, MarthaWargrave1804D/A1/229/27MF96126
KEYS, RichardBuckleburyYeoman1768D/A1/201/102MF96061
KEYT , GeorgeHarwell1550D/A1/88/012 D/A1/5/095MF531 MF10043A