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
BATH, KatherineFyfield1595D/A1/175/140MF96010
BATH, MaryHarwell1705D/A1/179/157MF96017
BATH, ThomasWinkfieldLabourer1641D/A1/177/099MF96014
BATHERLEY, JohnChiltonHusbandman1636D/A1/44/086MF464
BATILL, ThomasWinkfield1561D/A1/39/178 D/A1/8/222MF461 MF10043C
BATLETT, RobertWinkfield1587D/A1/175/111MF96010
BATMAN, RobertLong WittenhamTailor1728D/A1/49/126MF468
BATT, ElizabethAbingdon1728D/A1/49/122MF468
BATT, NicholasMarchamShoemaker1671D/A1/46/72MF466
BATT, NicholasReading St GilesWeaver1710D/A1/48/175MF467
BATT, NicholasReading St GilesWeaver1710D/A1/48/175MF467
BATT, RogerReadingBroad Weaver1681D/A1/47/65MF466
BATT, RogerReadingWeaver1721D/A1/180/61MF96019
BATT, WilliamSpeenVictualler1748D/A1/50/13MF469
BATTAYLE, HenryWinkfield1570D/A1/39/249 D/A1/9/220MF462 MF10046
BATTAYN, PhilipChildrey1537D/A1/39/004MF461
BATTE , George SnrWargrave1645D/A1/178/014MF96015
BATTEL, AgnesWinkfield1561D/A1/39/180MF461
BATTEL, OliverWinkfield1638D/A1/44/093MF464
BATTELL, JohnWinkfield1600D/A1/41/137 D/A1/13/535MF463 MF10049
BATTELL, RobertWinkfield1587D/A1/175/111MF96010
BATTELL, RobertWinkfield1587D/A1/11/157MF10047B
BATTELL, ThomasWinkfieldWeaver1560D/A1/8/172MF10043C
BATTEN, AliceDidcot1605D/A1/41/201 D/A1/14/073MF463 MF10064
BATTEN, EdwardLambourn1730D/A1/180/102MF96020
BATTEN, ElizabethNorth Street, Tilehurst1641D/A1/44/132MF465
BATTEN, FrancisArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1672D/A1/46/90MF466
BATTEN, HenryWallingfordCooper1646D/A1/178/024MF96015
BATTEN, HenryEast Garston1702D/A1/48/104MF467
BATTEN, JohnBrightwellHusbandman1559D/A1/39/139 D/A1/7/269MF461 MF10040
BATTEN, JohnArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1620D/A1/176/079MF96012
BATTEN, JohnArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1693D/A1/48/14MF467
BATTEN, JohnEast HendredPeruke Maker1753D/A1/180/195MF96020
BATTEN, John SnrArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1670D/A1/46/55MF466
BATTEN, MargaretArdington1708D/A1/18/57MF10080
BATTEN, MaryArdington1671D/A1/46/70MF466
BATTEN, MaryBucklebury1803D/A1/226/33MF96123
BATTEN, RichardChiltonHusbandman1631D/A1/44/008MF464
BATTEN, RichardArdingtonYeoman1667D/A1/46/30MF466
BATTEN, RichardWallingfordMaltster1706D/A1/48/138MF467
BATTEN, RichardWoolstone, UffingtonLabourer1742D/A1/180/165MF96020
BATTEN, Thomas1551D/A1/39/051MF461
BATTEN, ThomasBrightwell1552D/A1/5/144MF10043A
BATTEN, ThomasArdingtonYeoman1742D/A1/49/243MF468
BATTEN, ThomasBucklebury1743D/A1/180/167MF96020
BATTEN, ThomasBuckleburyYeoman1803D/A1/226/34MF96123
BATTEN, WilliamArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1594D/A1/41/052 D/A1/12/217MF462 MF10048
BATTEN, WilliamSpeenhamland, Speen Coal Merchant1855D/A1/147/49MF558
BATTEN, WilliamTwyford, HurstCorn Dealer1857D/A1/147/58MF558
BATTIE, RobertTilehurstCarpenter1603D/A1/41/170 D/A1/13/1037MF463 MF10049
BATTILL, MaryWinkfield1641D/A1/44/138MF465
BATTIN , James JnrBrightwellYeoman1732D/A1/49/162MF468
BATTIN, HenryAppletonHusbandman1698D/A1/179/120MF96017
BATTIN, JohnCumnorYeoman1729D/A1/49/133MF468
BATTIN, JohnWallingfordLabourer1734D/A1/180/139MF96020
BATTIN, John SnrMackney, BrightwellHusbandman1672D/A1/46/89MF466
BATTIN, RichardLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1736D/A1/49/188MF468
BATTIN, RobertArdingtonHusbandman1684D/A1/179/37MF96016
BATTIN, ThomasWoolstone, UffingtonYeoman1710D/A1/48/171MF467
BATTIN, ThomasWoolstone, UffingtonYeoman1710D/A1/48/171MF467
BATTIN, ThomasLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1740D/A1/49/231MF468
BATTIN, WilliamMackney, Brightwell1662D/A1/45/109MF465
BATTINE, JoanDenchworth1634D/A1/44/057MF464
BATTINE, JohnArdington1579D/A1/40/076 D/A1/10/157MF462 MF10047A
BATTINE, ThomasMackney, BrightwellYeoman1684D/A1/47/103MF466
BATTS, JohnHinton WaldristComb Maker1742D/A1/180/160MF96020
BATTS, lsaacNetherton, FyfieldYeoman1664D/A1/45/138MF465
BATTS, MarthaFyfield1671D/A1/178/121 MF96015
BATTS, NicholasMarchamCordwainer1670D/A1/178/132MF96015
BATTS, RichardMarchamTailor1692D/A1/48/6MF467
BATTYN, HumphreyLittle WittenhamHusbandman1598D/A1/41/090 D/A1/13/244MF462 MF10049
BATTYN, JohnMackney, BrightwellYeoman1694D/A1/48/22MF467
BATTYNE, Margaret SnrMackney, Brightwell1636D/A1/44/083MF464
BATYN, JoanMilton1557D/A1/39/094MF461
BAUGUST, ElizabethMidgham, Thatcham 1740D/A1/180/152MF96020
BAUGUST, RobertThatchamWheeler1721D/A1/180/59MF96019
BAVERSTOCK, HenryWantageDruggist1844D/A1/146/74MF557
BAWDEWEN, EdithEaton, Appleton1566D/A1/39/216 D/A1/8/362MF462 MF10043C
BAWLEY, WilliamHagbourne1544D/A1/6/051MF10043B
BAWLEY, WilliamHagbourne1545D/A1/39/021/2MF461
BAWLY, WilliamHagbourne1545D/A1/1/089MF10041
BAXTER, JohnEasthampstead1627D/A1/43/152MF464
BAXTER, ThomasClewerMaltster, Yeoman1681D/A1/179/4MF96016
BAYARD, WilliamNewburyFellmonger1613D/A1/42/101 D/A1/15/371MF463 MF10065
BAYELEY, AnnesWhitley, Reading St Giles1581D/A1/175/093MF96010
BAYLEY, AliceStreatley1709D/A1/48/157MF467
BAYLEY, AnnAbingdon1766D/A1/180/218MF96020
BAYLEY, DavidChildrey1553D/A1/5/207 D/A1/39/058MF10043A MF461
BAYLEY, GladysNewbury1688D/A1/174/89MF96008
BAYLEY, HenryOld WindsorHusbandman1650D/A1/45/047MF465
BAYLEY, JohnReading St Giles1579D/A1/40/086 D/A1/10/190MF462 MF10047A
BAYLEY, JohnAbingdon1588D/A1/175/109MF96010
BAYLEY, JohnNewburyCloth Worker1679D/A1/184/19MF96026
BAYLEY, JohnStainswick, Shrivenham1684D/A1/179/31MF96016
BAYLEY, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1716D/A1/49/7MF468
BAYLEY, John SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1678D/A1/47/23MF466
BAYLEY, ThomasEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1712D/A1/48/198MF467
BAYLEY, WalterReading St LaurenceBaker1626D/A1/176/108MF96012
BAYLEY, WilliamReading St GilesAsh Burner1585D/A1/40/132 D/A1/11/018MF462 MF10047B
BAYLEY, WilliamStreatleyHusbandman1693D/A1/179/95MF96017