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
MERYWEATHER, NicholasWokefield, Stratfield Mortimer1692D/A1/99/18MF572
MESSENGER, RichardWaltham St LawrenceShepherd1821D/A1/157/100MF581
MESSENGER, ThomasWoottonYeoman1765D/A1/100/113MF572
MESSENGER, William SnrReadingHusbandman1674D/A1/98/120MF571
MESSINGER, ThomasTidmarshMiller1630D/A1/97/130MF571
METCALF, AnthonyReading1666D/A1/98/78MF571
METCALFE, JosephBradfieldShoemaker1822D/A1/157/102MF581
MEW, HenryAshampsteadHusbandman1598D/A1/203/250MF96067
MEW, HenryAshampstead1598D/A1/13/425MF10049
MEW, JohnWokefield, Stratfield Mortimer1629D/A1/97/124MF571
MEWS, SylvesterAldworthHusbandman1679D/A1/98/136MF571
MEYEW, WalterBinfield1570D/A1/96/118MF570
MICHAELL, WilliamBinfieldClothier1620D/A1/97/081MF570
MICHALLE, WilliamBinfieldVictualler1621D/A1/97/088MF570
MICHEAL, RowlandSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayLabourer1660D/A1/98/48MF571
MICHEALL, RichardShinfieldCarpenter1629D/A1/204/028MF96068
MICHEL, HenryWest Shefford1663D/A1/98/67MF571
MICHELL , EdwardGrandpont, OxfordshireBoatman1698D/A1/204/179MF96070
MICHELL, AlexanderWest Shefford1640D/A1/98/007MF571
MICHELL, AliceShippon, Abingdon St Helen1618D/A1/97/067 D/A1/15/819MF570 MF10065
MICHELL, AnthonyBurghfield1591D/A1/11/373MF10047B
MICHELL, BarbaraSutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay1660D/A1/204/75MF96069
MICHELL, EmmaShippon, Abingdon St Helen1634D/A1/97/156MF571
MICHELL, JohnNewburyFuller1580D/A1/203/215MF96067
MICHELL, JohnNewbury1580D/A1/10/213MF10047A
MICHELL, JohnMarchamHusbandman1588D/A1/96/219 D/A1/11/153 D/A1/11/161MF570 MF10047B MF10047B
MICHELL, JohnSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayWheelwright1667D/A1/204/96MF96069
MICHELL, JohnMaidenheadVictualler1679D/A1/204/130 MF96070
MICHELL, John SnrNewburyYeoman1673D/A1/204/115MF96070
MICHELL, John SnrEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1707D/A1/99/84MF572
MICHELL, RichardBurghfield1616D/A1/203/300MF96067
MICHELL, RobertCumnorYeoman1720D/A1/99/130MF572
MICHELL, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1668D/A1/204/99 MF96069
MICHELL, ThomasWest SheffordCordwainer1670D/A1/204/107MF96069
MICHELL, WilliamFinchampsteadSadler1628D/A1/16/131MF10066
MICHELL, William SnrOld Windsor1641D/A1/98/010MF571
MICHILL, AnthonyFinchampstead1605D/A1/96/170 D/A1/14/125MF570 MF10064
MICHILL, WilliamFrilshamWheelwright1707D/A1/99/83MF572
MICKLEM, FrancisCookhamHusbandman1725D/A1/99/148MF572
MICKLEM, RobertCookhamYeoman1641D/A1/98/015MF571
MIDDELLTON, JohnAbingdonBarber1710D/A1/205/27MF96071
MIDDELTON, JohnSutton CourtenayCarpenter1603D/A1/96/155 D/A1/13/893MF570 MF10049
MIDDLEBOROUGH, EdwardWythamLabourer1633D/A1/204/040 D/A1/168/254MF96068 MF96001
MIDDLETON, AnnShalbourn1849D/A1/230/42MF96127
MIDDLETON, BenjaminNewburyCordwainer1838D/A1/158/21MF581
MIDDLETON, EdwardSotwellCordwainer1710D/A1/99/97MF572
MIDDLETON, EdwardSotwellCordwainer1710D/A1/99/97MF572
MIDDLETON, ElizabethSlade End, Brightwell1669D/A1/98/91MF571
MIDDLETON, GeorgeSutton CourtenayYeoman1716D/A1/99/115MF572
MIDDLETON, JohnShalbournMiller1838D/A1/230/34MF96127
MIDDLETON, John JnrTilehurstHusbandman1574D/A1/96/133 D/A1/9/435MF570 MF10046
MIDDLETON, John SnrTilehurst1618D/A1/204/003MF96069
MIDDLETON, John SnrTilehurst1618D/A1/168/158MF96001
MIDDLETON, John SnrTilehurstYeoman1638D/A1/97/182MF571
MIDDLETON, John SnrSlade End, BrightwellYeoman1663D/A1/98/66MF571
MIDDLETON, NicholasTilehurstHusbandman1569D/A1/96/111 D/A1/9/205MF570 MF10046
MIDDLETON, PeterReadingBricklayer1642D/A1/204/065 D/A1/169/059MF96069 MF96002
MIDDLETON, RichardAbingdonVictualler1751D/A1/205/117MF96072
MIDDLETON, RobertAbingdon1715D/A1/205/44MF96071
MIDDLETON, Robert SnrSotwellYeoman1698D/A1/99/48MF572
MIDDLETON, SarahAbingdon1768D/A1/100/122MF572
MIDDLETON, WilliamHenwick, ThatchamLabourer1603D/A1/203/259MF96067
MIDDLETON, WilliamTilehurstBricklayer1639D/A1/97/192 D/A1/169/060MF571 MF96002
MIDDLETON, WilliamAbingdonInnkeeper1851D/A1/158/62MF581
MIDELTON, RichardSutton CourtenayYeoman1671D/A1/98/109MF571
MIDLETON, AgnesTilehurst1574D/A1/96/132MF570
MIDLETON, AgnesSteventon1629D/A1/97/123MF571
MIDLETON, JoanWargrave1664D/A1/98/73MF571
MIDLETON, JohnLong WittenhamHusbandman1661D/A1/98/54MF571
MIDLETON, ThomasSteventon1618D/A1/97/063 D/A1/15/786MF570 MF10065
MIDLETON, ThomasSteventon1664D/A1/98/72MF571
MIDLETON, WilliamSutton CourtenayCarpenter1639D/A1/97/199 D/A1/16/522MF571 MF10066
MIDLETONN, ThomasBrightwaltonClerk, Parson1615D/A1/97/046 D/A1/15/524MF570 MF10065
MIDWINTER, AnnShrivenham1663D/A1/98/68MF571
MIDWINTER, JosephAshford, MiddlesexServant1854D/A1/158/70MF581
MIDWINTER, StephenReading St LaurenceHat Maker1827D/A1/158/5MF581
MIDWINTER, Thomas SnrShrivenhamWeaver1662D/A1/204/87MF96069
MIDWINTER, WilliamCumnorYeoman1855D/A1/158/75MF581
MIFLIN, WilliamUffingtonLabourer1830D/A1/158/7MF581
MIGHELS, WilliamBurghfield1560D/A1/167/100MF96000
MIHELL, JoanReading St Mary1661D/A1/204/80MF96069
MIHELL, JohnReading St MaryPin Maker1712D/A1/205/34MF96071
MIHILL, AnnBinfield1636D/A1/16/406MF10066
MIHILL, RichardBrimptonWeaver1683D/A1/204/143MF96070
MIHILL, WilliamBrimpton1685D/A1/204/150MF96070
MILAM, AndrewWinkfieldYeoman1733D/A1/100/32MF572
MILAM, JohnBrayBricklayer1670D/A1/204/105MF96069
MILAM, John SnrWarfieldBricklayer1643D/A1/204/067 D/A1/169/059MF96069 MF96002
MILAM, WilliamWinkfieldBricklayer1591D/A1/96/233 D/A1/12/012MF570 MF10048
MILAND, AnneBray1684D/A1/204/147MF96070
MILAND, RobertDidcot1712D/A1/99/100MF572
MILAND, WilliamDidcotTailor1683D/A1/98/152 MF571
MILDENHALL, AnnDatchet, Buckinghamshire1830D/A1/230/28MF96127
MILDENHALL, RichardLambournShoemaker1840D/A1/230/36MF96127
MILES , William JnrWelfordYeoman1744D/A1/100/68MF572
MILES, AugustineSunningwellHusbandman1639D/A1/204/057 D/A1/169/060MF96069 MF96002
MILES, CressantEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1609D/A1/203/276 D/A1/168/054MF96067 MF96001
MILES, EdwardEnglefieldHusbandman1663D/A1/204/89MF96069
MILES, EdwardReadingCordwainer1698D/A1/99/49MF572
MILES, ElizabethHarwell1796D/A1/100/174MF572