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
SMYTHE, RobertBeedon1578D/A1/212/100MF96092
SMYTHE, RobertBeedon1579D/A1/10/156MF10047A
SMYTHE, RobertMarchamHusbandman1589D/A1/116/015 D/A1/11/209MF538 MF10047B
SMYTHE, StephenCompton1586D/A1/212/125MF96092
SMYTHE, StephenCompton1586D/A1/11/043MF10047B
SMYTHE, ThomasCulham, WargraveFisher1568D/A1/115/046 D/A1/9/130MF538 MF10046
SMYTHE, ThomasCharney, Longworth1528D/A1/1/085MF10041
SMYTHE, ThomasHurley1551D/A1/5/213fMF10043A
SMYTHE, ThomasSpeenhamland, SpeenFuller1559D/A1/114/244 D/A1/6/195MF537 MF10043B
SMYTHE, WalterBurghfieldHusbandman1615D/A1/117/115 D/A1/15/509MF539 MF10065
SMYTHE, WilliamUffington1556D/A1/233/261MF96132
SMYTHE, WilliamComptonVicar1558D/A1/114/201 D/A1/7/251MF537 MF10040
SMYTHE, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1560D/A1/3/166MF604
SMYTHE, WilliamMaidenhead1575D/A1/212/087MF96092
SMYTHE, WilliamCookham1576D/A1/212/093MF96092
SMYTHE, WilliamIdstone, Ashbury1579D/A1/212/101MF96092
SNADDUMS, ElizabethReading1724D/A1/123/111MF543
SNARE, JohnReadingHardware Man1835D/A1/162/8MF583
SNARE, RobertReading1839D/A1/162/74MF583
SNELL, ClementWinkfieldYeoman1682D/A1/121/123MF542
SNELL, JohnWargrave1529D/A1/1/124MF10041
SNELL, LionelBuckleburyBucket Maker1611D/A1/117/059 D/A1/168/084 D/A1/15/153 D/A1/15/242MF539 MF96001 MF10065 MF10065
SNELL, RichardNewburyAle Brewer1570D/A1/115/070 D/A1/9/248MF538 MF10046
SNELL, RichardTilehurstYeoman1754D/A1/216/205MF96102
SNELL, RobertWinkfieldYeoman1758D/A1/125/26MF544
SNELL, SophiaBrightwell1804D/A1/231/40MF96129
SNELL, WilliamWinkfieldHusbandman1715D/A1/123/35MF543
SNELSGROVE, WilliamAbingdonInnholder1637D/A1/119/074MF540
SNODDAM, EdwardBuckland1582D/A1/115/189 D/A1/10/311MF538 MF10047A
SNODNAM, ElizabethBecket, Shrivenham1559D/A1/114/219 D/A1/8/150MF537 MF10043C
SNODNAM, HenryStanford In The Vale1560D/A1/167/111 D/A1/167/113MF96000 MF96000
SNODNAM, HenryStanford In The Vale1561D/A1/212/049MF96092
SNODNAM, Richard JnrStanford In The Vale1560D/A1/114/208 D/A1/6/016MF537 MF10043B
SNODNAM, Richard SnrStanford In The ValeHusbandman1564D/A1/114/277 D/A1/8/340MF537 MF10043C
SNOOK, StephenHungerford1834D/A1/162/13MF583
SNOOK, WilliamHamstead Marshall1848D/A1/163/7MF584
SNOSWELL, RichardEast IlsleyHusbandman1740D/A1/124/103MF544
SNOSWELL, ThomasEast IlsleyShopkeeper1753D/A1/124/190MF544
SNOSWELL, ThomasEast IlsleyInnholder1778D/A1/125/116MF544
SNOSWELL, WilliamEast IlsleyShopkeeper1748D/A1/124/167MF544
SNOW, ElizabethNewbury1710D/A1/122/192MF543
SNOW, ElizabethNewbury1710D/A1/122/192MF543
SNOW, FrancesNewbury1725D/A1/123/128MF543
SNOW, JohnNewburyMaltster1693D/A1/122/51MF542
SNOW, John SnrNewburyClothier1681D/A1/121/116MF542
SNOW, NicholasNewbury1709D/A1/122/182MF543
SNOW, ThomasNewburyGrocer1701D/A1/215/135MF96099
SNOWESWICK, NathanielEast SheffordMiller1662D/A1/214/99MF96097
SNOWSHILL, IsaacAbingdon1789D/A1/125/147MF544
SNOWSWELL , William SnrEast IlsleyYeoman1727D/A1/123/153MF543
SNOWSWELL, AnneLambourn1690D/A1/122/22MF542
SNOWSWELL, WilliamEast HendredYeoman1725D/A1/123/119MF543
SNOWSWICKE, JohnEast Shefford1687D/A1/215/48MF96098
SNUGGS, MarthaLetcombe Regis1856D/A1/163/45MF584
SOALE, EdwardAbingdonExcise Officer1775D/A1/125/99MF544
SOAN, JosephMoulsfordYeoman1698D/A1/215/119MF96099
SOANE, JohnReadingGardener1640D/A1/119/132MF541
SOANE, JohnAldworthYeoman1671D/A1/121/16MF542
SOANE, JohnSwallowfieldBlacksmith1766D/A1/125/64MF544
SOANE, John SnrSwallowfieldHusbandman1684D/A1/215/21MF96098
SOANE, RobertNorth Hinksey, CumnorMiller1622D/A1/213/122MF96095
SOANE, ThomasWarfield1620D/A1/213/118MF96095
SOANE, WilliamReading St LaurenceButcher1630D/A1/118/135MF540
SOANNE, HenryWhite WalthamHusbandman1676D/A1/121/79 MF542
SOAPER, JohnWindsorHusbandman1733D/A1/124/57MF544
SODIN, JohnBeenham Valence, BeenhamServingman1769D/A1/125/77MF544
SOHYNE, JohnAbingdon1553D/A1/114/131MF537
SOIN, JohnThatcham1761D/A1/125/36MF544
SOLGREENE, JohnBurghfield1576D/A1/115/135MF538
SOLLOMAN, ThomasEast HendredYeoman1723D/A1/123/105MF543
SOLOMAN, JamesEast HendredYeoman1765D/A1/125/58MF544
SOLOMON, JohnEast LockingeYeoman1743D/A1/124/124MF544
SOMERSALL, ThomasBray1580D/A1/115/177 D/A1/10/276MF538 MF10047A
SOMERTON, RichardEnborne1540D/A1/1/212 D/A1/1/221MF10042 MF10042
SOMMER, ThomasLambourn1529D/A1/1/118MF10041
SONE, AvisReading1633D/A1/119/026MF540
SONE, ElizabethSwallowfield1632D/A1/119/007MF540
SONE, JohnReading1593D/A1/12/108MF10048
SONE, ThomasThatchamVictualler1761D/A1/125/35MF544
SONE, WilliamSwallowfield1616D/A1/213/098 D/A1/168/133MF96094 MF96001
SONNE, SusannaKingston Bagpuize1641D/A1/119/119MF540
SONNE, WilliamReading St GilesDyer1576D/A1/115/127 D/A1/10/101MF538 MF10047A
SOOPER, ChristopherNewburyFuller1543D/A1/114/094MF537
SOPER, AliceSaint Nicholas, Newbury1558D/A1/114/180 D/A1/7/328MF537 MF10040
SOPER, ChristopherNewbury1543D/A1/1/223 D/A1/1/225MF10042 MF10042
SOPER, FrancesSulhamstead1836D/A1/162/66MF583
SOPER, JohnPadworth1800D/A1/216/273MF96102
SOPER, JohnAldermastonBlacksmith1821D/A1/161/83MF583
SOPER, JohnReadingGunsmith, Whitesmith 1831D/A1/162/23MF583
SOPER, MosesPadworthSmith, Farrier 1831D/A1/162/25MF583
SOPER, RichardSulhamstead1810D/A1/231/47MF96129
SOPER, WilliamBrayYeoman1787D/A1/125/138MF544
SORSBYE, ThomasThatchamHusbandman1557D/A1/3/172MF604
SOTWELL, WilliamGreenham, Thatcham1639D/A1/16/574MF10066
SOTWELL, WilliamGreenham, Thatcham1639D/A1/119/116MF540
SOUCH, EdmundBuffalo , U.S.A.1836D/A1/231/91MF96129
SOUNDY, WilliamReading St GilesChapman1710D/A1/122/197MF543
SOUNDY, WilliamReading St GilesChapman1710D/A1/122/197MF543
SOUTH, BeatriceCrookham, Thatcham1570D/A1/115/066 D/A1/9/253MF538 MF10046
SOUTH, ElizabethStratfield Mortimer1670D/A1/120/177MF541