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
MEAD, NicholasBarkham1630D/A1/204/026MF96068
MEAD, WilliamNew Windsor, Windsor1617D/A1/203/296MF96067
MEADE, JohnNewburyCloth Worker1633D/A1/204/039 D/A1/168/255MF96068 MF96001
MEADE, WilliamNew Windsor, Windsor1617D/A1/168/143MF96001
MEADHAM, MaryNewbury1790D/A1/100/165MF572
MEADLE, JoanCumnor1697D/A1/99/46MF572
MEADMAN, John SnrReadingSawyer1699D/A1/204/177 MF96070
MEADOR, AnnBoxford1709D/A1/205/21MF96071
MEADS, DorothyMoulsford1671D/A1/209/11 MF96082
MEADS, ThomasShrivenham1827D/A1/230/26MF96127
MEALES, AmyAbingdon1696D/A1/204/169MF96070
MEALES, HenryAbingdonBaker1670D/A1/98/96MF571
MEALES, HenryAbingdonBaker1696D/A1/99/38MF572
MEALES, Henry SnrAbingdonBaker1668D/A1/98/85MF571
MEANE, William1548D/A1/96/064MF570
MEANE, William1550D/A1/5/089MF10043A
MEAPHAM, ThomasWarfieldBrickmaker1685D/A1/98/164MF571
MEARES, RichardClewerMason1665D/A1/204/92MF96069
MEARING, CharlesBurghfieldYeoman1813D/A1/230/13MF96127
MEARING, JoelReadingInnkeeper1853D/A1/230/49MF96127
MEARING, JohnShinfieldYeoman1805D/A1/157/73MF581
MEASUM, SusannahBeenham1785D/A1/100/161MF572
MEAWE , ElizabethAshampstead1601D/A1/96/152 D/A1/13/764MF570 MF10049
MEAWES, FrideswideBurghfield1601D/A1/96/142 D/A1/13/671MF570 MF10049
MEDDEN, HenryMaidenheadCordwainer1710D/A1/99/95MF572
MEDDEN, JohnMaidenhead1712D/A1/205/33MF96071
MEDDEN, SarahMaidenhead1812D/A1/230/11MF96127
MEDDIN, HenryMaidenheadCordwainer1710D/A1/99/95MF572
MEDDIN, WilliamCookhamSayer1638D/A1/97/183MF571
MEDLEY, RichardStratfield MortimerHusbandman1640D/A1/204/059MF96069
MEDLEY, RichardStratfield Mortimer1640D/A1/169/060MF96002
MEDLEY, ThomasMaidenhead1608D/A1/203/271MF96067
MEDLEY, ThomasMaidenhead1608D/A1/168/039MF96001
MEDOW, ThomasAbingdon1557D/A1/233/192MF96132
MEDOWE, ThomasAbingdonInnholder1557D/A1/3/066MF604
MEDOWES, JohnAbingdonBarber1580D/A1/96/185 D/A1/96/184 D/A1/10/218MF570 MF570 MF10047A
MEDOWES, Matthew1559D/A1/167/108MF96000
MEDOWES, ThomasAbingdon1559D/A1/167/107MF96000
MEDOWYS, Matthew1559D/A1/203/186MF96067
MEDWIN, JoanEasthampstead1587D/A1/96/218 D/A1/11/139MF570 MF10047B
MEDWIN, NicholasWaltham St Lawrence1574D/A1/96/131 D/A1/9/402MF570 MF10046
MEDWYN, EdwardWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1606D/A1/96/173 D/A1/14/159MF570 MF10064
MEDWYN, ThomasWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1584D/A1/96/202 D/A1/11/026MF570 MF10047B
MEEKS, MaryRadley1719D/A1/99/127MF572
MEELES, JohnReading1583D/A1/203/221MF96067
MEERE (ALIAS ELLIS), BarbaraSwallowfield1710D/A1/189/41MF96035
MEERE, BarbaraSwallowfield1710D/A1/189/41MF96035
MEERE, ElizabethThatcham1713D/A1/99/105MF572
MEERE, RichardSpeenCordwainer1662D/A1/204/76MF96069
MEERE, WilliamStanford DingleyYeoman1707D/A1/99/81MF572
MELLETT, WilliamNewbury1587D/A1/203/230MF96067
MELTON, ThomasNewburyShoemaker1642D/A1/98/017MF571
MEMBRIE, ChristopherChildreyClerk1631D/A1/16/275MF10066
MEPHAM, HannahWarfield1774D/A1/100/134MF572
MEPHAM, ThomasWarfield1728D/A1/205/74MF96071
MERCER, JohnSpeenLabourer1730D/A1/205/78MF96071
MERCER, RalphWhitley, Reading St Giles1609D/A1/97/013 D/A1/14/495MF570 MF10064
MERCHANT, JohnBinfield1556D/A1/203/176 D/A1/7/340a D/A1/167/098MF96067 MF10040 MF96000
MERCHAUNT, ThomasBurghfield1578D/A1/203/209MF96067
MERCY , WilliamBradfieldBrick Burner1702D/A1/99/63MF572
MEREDITH, HumphreyUfton NervetGardener1728D/A1/100/7MF572
MEREVALL, JohnLambourn1558D/A1/203/180MF96067
MERIE, JohnEast Oakley, Bray1582D/A1/96/189 D/A1/10/304MF570 MF10047A
MERIOT, JohnWantageMercer1534D/A1/1/286MF10042
MERIVALE, JohnEast GarstonHusbandman1564D/A1/96/095 D/A1/8/289MF570 MF10043C
MERIVALL, MatthewLambourn Woodlands , LambournHusbandman1648D/A1/98/038MF571
MERIVALL, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1581D/A1/10/283MF10047A
MERRETT, MarySwallowfield1855D/A1/158/76MF581
MERRICK (ALIAS PALMER), ArthurShinfield1731D/A1/205/82MF96072
MERRICK, TobiasReading Cloth Worker1618D/A1/97/064 D/A1/15/787MF570 MF10065
MERRICKE, EdwardReading St Mary1621D/A1/16/026MF10066
MERRIFIELD, ArthurLambournYeoman1747D/A1/205/112MF96072
MERRIFIELD, ArthurLambourn1786D/A1/205/148MF96072
MERRIFIELD, NicholasWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1662D/A1/204/84MF96069
MERRIFIELD, SusanLambourn1745D/A1/100/73MF572
MERRIMAN, EmlinNewbury1725D/A1/99/144MF572
MERRIMAN, HenryNewburyWeaver1703D/A1/205/8MF96071
MERRIMAN, JohnNewbury1746D/A1/100/80MF572
MERRIMAN, JohnNewbury1803D/A1/157/63MF581
MERRIMAN, MaryNewbury1724D/A1/99/142MF572
MERRIMAN, NathanielNewburyDrugget Maker1749D/A1/100/86MF572
MERRITT, StephenBoxfordShoemaker1809D/A1/157/79MF581
MERRITT, ThomasBoxfordVictualler1782D/A1/100/152MF572
MERRIVELL, ArthurLambournPlumber1616D/A1/97/054 D/A1/15/653MF570 MF10065
MERRLOTT, RichardBeedonYeoman1663D/A1/204/90MF96069
MERRY, JohnAbingdon St Nicholas1773D/A1/205/135MF96072
MERRY, JohnAbingdon1805D/A1/230/6MF96127
MERRYE, WilliamBishamYeoman1603D/A1/96/156 D/A1/13/1145MF570 MF10049
MERRYFIELD, ArthurLambournHusbandman1671D/A1/204/108 MF96069
MERRYMAN, HenryNewburyBroad Weaver1642D/A1/98/018MF571
MERRYMAN, HenrySpeenhamland, SpeenTapster1697D/A1/204/174MF96070
MERRYMAN, ThomasNewburyInnholder1641D/A1/98/009MF571
MERSAUNT, BarnardBurghfield1595D/A1/96/252 D/A1/12/245MF570 MF10048
MERSHALL, JohnCrookham, Thatcham1559D/A1/233/200MF96132
MERSHAM, RichardReadingGardener1708D/A1/99/88MF572
MERSOM, MillicentReading St Mary1696D/A1/204/172MF96070
MERSOME, ElizabethReading1668D/A1/98/83MF571
MERSYE, JohnBradfieldTailor1602D/A1/96/154 D/A1/13/883MF570 MF10049
MERTEN, JohnStreatley1566D/A1/96/100 D/A1/9/001MF570 MF10046
MERVYN, WilliamThatchamTailor1600D/A1/96/283 D/A1/13/553MF570 MF10049