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
MAINARD, JamesReadingWharfinger1733D/A1/205/85MF96072
MAINE , Philip SnrNorth MoretonYeoman1737D/A1/205/94MF96072
MAINE, IsabelNorth Moreton1638D/A1/204/052 D/A1/169/059MF96069 MF96002
MAIO, JoanStratfield Mortimer1555D/A1/7/093MF10040
MAIO, MarianCumnor1563D/A1/167/120MF96000
MAIOR, GeorgeTidmarsh1598D/A1/96/273 D/A1/13/338MF570 MF10049
MAIOTT, RichardAbingdon1614D/A1/203/298MF96067
MAIRES, AvelineReading St Giles1704D/A1/99/69MF572
MAIRESSE, AnneReading1697D/A1/99/42MF572
MAIS, ThomasBradfield1550D/A1/203/169MF96067
MAISEY , Thomas SnrEast HendredShopkeeper1806D/A1/157/75MF581
MAISEY, JohnAbingdonYeoman1709D/A1/99/89MF572
MAJOR, FrancesWallingford St Peter1789D/A1/205/141MF96072
MAKS, JohnSpeen1712D/A1/99/102MF572
MALAHER, LouisCookhamLanguage Professor1857D/A1/230/53MF96127
MALET, AliciaLetcombe Regis1693D/A1/99/22MF572
MALIN, WilliamPangbourne1616D/A1/203/292 D/A1/168/129MF96067 MF96001
MALKES, Alice1550D/A1/203/166MF96067
MALKES, MargaretHoe Benham, Welford1573D/A1/96/126 D/A1/9/355MF570 MF10046
MALKES, RobertWelford1586D/A1/203/226MF96067
MALKES, ThomasInkpenHusbandman1559D/A1/96/045 D/A1/7/277MF570 MF10040
MALKYS, Isabel1547D/A1/203/163MF96067
MALLAM , Richard SnrMiltonYeoman1764D/A1/100/111MF572
MALLAM, BenjaminEast HendredYeoman1733D/A1/100/35MF572
MALLAM, JohnChiltonYeoman1802D/A1/157/58MF581
MALLAM, JosephChiltonYeoman1765D/A1/100/112MF572
MALLAM, RichardEast HendredYeoman1704D/A1/99/70MF572
MALLAM, RichardMilton1799D/A1/100/180MF572
MALLAM, RichardLongworth1842D/A1/158/40MF581
MALLAM, RichardArdingtonYeoman1843D/A1/158/44MF581
MALLAM, WilliamLongworth1847D/A1/158/51MF581
MALLET, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman1638D/A1/97/185 D/A1/169/059MF571 MF96002
MALLETT, EdwardBinfieldHusbandman1637D/A1/204/049MF96069
MALLETT, EdwardBinfieldHusbandman1637D/A1/169/059MF96002
MALPAS, EdwardKingston BagpuizeYeoman1780D/A1/100/144MF572
MALTHOWSE, ThomasSwallowfield1546D/A1/6/019 D/A1/5/027MF10043B MF10043A
MALTHUS, AnneWoolhampton1666D/A1/98/75MF571
MALTHUS, John SnrBinfield1559D/A1/96/025 D/A1/8/082 D/A1/8/081MF570 MF10043C MF10043C
MALTHUS, StephenWoolhampton1666D/A1/98/76MF571
MALTHUS, WilliamReadingMercer1668D/A1/98/86MF571
MAN, ChristianTilehurst1700D/A1/99/55MF572
MAN, JohnReadingBarber1713D/A1/205/43MF96071
MAN, JohnReading1824D/A1/157/107MF581
MAN, KatherineCholsey1594D/A1/96/248MF570
MAN, ThomasBradfield1550D/A1/203/169MF96067
MANALL, RobertLongworthYeoman1667D/A1/98/82MF571
MANCY, MarciaHeckfield , Hampshire1855D/A1/158/72MF581
MANDER, WilliamHinksey1769D/A1/205/131MF96072
MANES, ThomasCothill, MarchamHusbandman1680D/A1/98/140MF571
MANFEILD, JohnShaw Cum DonningtonTanner1662D/A1/204/83MF96069
MANFIELD, LawrenceBisham1609D/A1/203/275MF96067
MANFORTHE, JohnReading St LaurenceVicar1550D/A1/5/113 D/A1/96/068MF10043A MF570
MANFYLDE, AndrewWargrave1572D/A1/96/125 D/A1/9/384MF570 MF10046
MANHOD, WilliamBrayHusbandman1545D/A1/96/061 D/A1/5/020MF570 MF10043A
MANHOOD, ThomasBraywick, BrayTanner1632D/A1/97/149MF571
MANINGS, TimothyNewburyBeer Brewer1664D/A1/98/70MF571
MANLEY, ElizabethSutton Courtenay1765D/A1/205/130MF96072
MANLEY, SusannahSpeen1847D/A1/230/40MF96127
MANLOVE, TeresaSutton Courtenay1737D/A1/100/52MF572
MANNING, BarbaraReading1709D/A1/99/93MF572
MANNING, ElizabethLondon (W.), Reading 1693D/A1/99/20MF572
MANNING, MaryGreenham, Thatcham 1841D/A1/158/35MF581
MANNS, WilliamWootton1786D/A1/205/149MF96072
MANOR, JohnBurghfield1544D/A1/96/057MF570
MANS, JohnAbingdonCordwainer1695D/A1/99/34MF572
MANS, MaryBradley, Besselsleigh1694D/A1/99/33MF572
MANS, MaryAbingdonSeamstress1702D/A1/99/65MF572
MANS, WilliamWootton1781D/A1/205/142MF96072
MANSELL, Elizabeth SnrAldermaston1639D/A1/97/196MF571
MANSELL, NicholasReading Groom 1596D/A1/96/260 D/A1/12/431MF570 MF10048
MANSEY, ElizaHenley, Oxfordshire1847D/A1/230/41MF96127
MANSFIELD, ElizabethFinchampstead1716D/A1/205/47MF96071
MAPPERLEN, EdwardShinfield1562D/A1/96/087 D/A1/7/357MF570 MF10040
MAPPLETON, John SnrReading St LaurenceBarber Surgeon1614D/A1/97/042 D/A1/15/457MF570 MF10065
MARBROKE, JamesAbingdon St HelenCurate1543D/A1/203/161MF96067
MARCE, JohnMidgham, Thatcham1530D/A1/1/145MF10042
MARCH, AliceSouth Hinksey, Cumnor1631D/A1/97/143MF571
MARCHADINO, RomanoShoemakers Row, Reading St Laurence1611D/A1/97/030 D/A1/15/187MF570 MF10065
MARCHALL, BurienBasildon1604D/A1/96/166 D/A1/13/1290MF570 MF10049
MARCHALL, HenryBasildon1604D/A1/203/262MF96069
MARCHALL, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1563D/A1/203/191MF96067
MARCHALL, JohnBradfieldMiller1710D/A1/99/94MF572
MARCHALL, William SnrReading St LaurenceShearman1601D/A1/203/256MF96067
MARCHAM, AnnesSulhamstead Abbots1557D/A1/3/073MF604
MARCHAM, JoanPangbourne1602D/A1/96/149 D/A1/13/812MF570 MF10049
MARCHAM, JohnSutton Courtenay1614D/A1/168/108MF96001
MARCHAM, JohnEast GarstonHusbandman1624D/A1/97/105MF571
MARCHAM, John JnrSutton CourtenayServant1614D/A1/203/290MF96067
MARCHAM, NicholasAbingdon1602D/A1/203/254MF96067
MARCHAM, NicholasAbingdon1602D/A1/13/860MF10049
MARCHAM, NicholasAbingdon1602D/A1/13/720MF10049
MARCHAM, RichardMarcham1596D/A1/96/251 D/A1/12/319MF570 MF10048
MARCHANT, AgnesReading St Giles1601D/A1/96/151 D/A1/13/773MF570 MF10049
MARCHANT, ElizabethSwallowfield1583D/A1/96/197 D/A1/10/403MF570 MF10047A
MARCHANT, JohnBurghfield1563D/A1/96/096 D/A1/7/368 D/A1/167/036 D/A1/167/035MF570 MF10040 MF96000 MF96000
MARCHANT, JohnBurghfield1584D/A1/96/195 D/A1/10/394MF570 MF10047A
MARCHANT, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1633D/A1/97/152MF571
MARCHANT, JohnLongcot, Shrivenham 1725D/A1/99/151MF572
MARCHANT, JohnAppleton1730D/A1/100/20MF572
MARCHANT, PhiladelphiaAppleton1731D/A1/100/25MF572