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
PAINTER, WilliamBrightwaltonYeoman1853D/A1/160/91MF582
PAINTON, AnneBotley, Cumnor1672D/A1/107/108MF577
PAINTON, ElizabethYattendon1639D/A1/106/079MF576
PAINTON, JamesLongworthYeoman1852D/A1/160/86MF582
PAINTON, JohnHampstead Norreys1745D/A1/109/159MF535
PAINTON, William ParkerAbingdon St HelenSchoolmaster1814D/A1/230/86MF96128
PAIS, JohnStratfield Mortimer1639D/A1/106/083MF576
PAISE, FrancisStratfield MortimerYeoman1671D/A1/107/104MF577
PAISE, JohnStratfield MortimerHusbandman1685D/A1/108/34MF577
PAISE, John SnrStratfield MortimerYeoman1668D/A1/107/81MF577
PAISE, RichardSulhamstead BannisterHusbandman1679D/A1/107/165MF577
PAISE, WilliamStratfield MortimerHusbandman1679D/A1/209/37MF96082
PAKER, RichardAbingdon1644D/A1/208/111MF96080
PALLING, MargaretShellingford1689D/A1/108/56MF577
PALLMER, EdwardChildrey1579D/A1/207/087MF96077
PALLMER, EdwardChildrey1579D/A1/10/176MF10047A
PALLMER, JohnNorth Hinksey, Cumnor1586D/A1/104/051 D/A1/11/045MF575 MF10047B
PALLMER, ThomasRadleyHusbandman1599D/A1/13/433MF10049
PALLYNG, ThomasCholsey1564D/A1/207/054MF96077
PALMAR, JohnShinfield1572D/A1/103/213 D/A1/9/313MF575 MF10046
PALMAR, StevenWoolstone, Uffington1722D/A1/109/27MF578
PALMAR, WilliamMaidenhead, Cookham1548D/A1/5/020MF10043A
PALMER (ALIAS MERRICK), ArthurShinfield1731D/A1/205/82MF96072
PALMER, AliceBuckland1566D/A1/103/188 D/A1/9/008MF573 MF10046
PALMER, AmyLambourn1810D/A1/159/66MF582
PALMER, AnnNewbury1841D/A1/230/116MF96128
PALMER, AnthonyShinfieldHusbandman1722D/A1/209/201MF96084
PALMER, AnthonyAbingdonYeoman1762D/A1/109/216MF535
PALMER, ChristopherShinfield1618D/A1/105/046 D/A1/15/907MF576 MF10065
PALMER, ChristopherShinfieldYeoman1628D/A1/105/133MF576
PALMER, ChristopherWest SheffordInnholder1642D/A1/208/098 D/A1/169/068MF96080 MF96002
PALMER, ElizabethCumnor1626D/A1/105/115MF576
PALMER, ElizabethReading1846D/A1/230/125MF96128
PALMER, FrederickHarwellBaker1839D/A1/230/112MF96128
PALMER, HannahWallingford1830D/A1/230/107MF96128
PALMER, HannahEast Garston1857D/A1/230/131MF96128
PALMER, HenryNewburyLast Maker1640D/A1/208/091MF96080
PALMER, HenryNewbury1640D/A1/169/068MF96002
PALMER, HenrySunningwellHusbandman1649D/A1/208/125MF96080
PALMER, HenryEast GarstonFarmer1854D/A1/230/130MF96128
PALMER, JeremiahNorth MoretonMaltster1837D/A1/160/28MF582
PALMER, JoanPusey1590D/A1/207/106MF96077
PALMER, JoanPusey1590D/A1/11/369MF10047B
PALMER, JoanShinfield1713D/A1/108/193MF578
PALMER, JohnShinfield1540D/A1/103/066MF573
PALMER, JohnShinfield1540D/A1/1/221MF10042
PALMER, JohnRadleyHusbandman1557D/A1/103/110 D/A1/10/003MF573 MF10047A
PALMER, JohnNewburyYeoman1572D/A1/212/076MF96092
PALMER, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1584D/A1/207/094 D/A1/10/427MF96077 MF10047A
PALMER, JohnSwallowfield1604D/A1/207/146MF96078
PALMER, JohnSwallowfield1604D/A1/14/180MF10064
PALMER, JohnTheale, TilehurstBlacksmith1609D/A1/104/221 D/A1/14/560MF575 MF10064
PALMER, JohnRadley1630D/A1/106/006MF576
PALMER, JohnShinfieldVictualler1640D/A1/106/087MF576
PALMER, JohnShinfieldYeoman1668D/A1/107/83MF577
PALMER, JohnSunningwellHusbandman1678D/A1/107/158MF577
PALMER, JohnReading St GilesYeoman1697D/A1/209/112MF96083
PALMER, JohnShinfieldYeoman1713D/A1/108/191MF578
PALMER, JohnShinfieldYeoman1719D/A1/109/17MF578
PALMER, JohnEast GarstonLabourer1727D/A1/109/51MF578
PALMER, JohnAppletonClergyman1735D/A1/109/112MF578
PALMER, JohnEast Ilsley1822D/A1/159/98MF582
PALMER, John SnrEast Challow, Letcombe RegisHusbandman1678D/A1/107/156MF577
PALMER, JosephWallingfordSchoolmaster1825D/A1/160/5MF582
PALMER, MargaretEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1588D/A1/104/061 D/A1/11/174MF575 MF10047B
PALMER, MargaretEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1683D/A1/108/18MF577
PALMER, MarthaSpeen1853D/A1/160/92MF582
PALMER, MaryReading St Mary1679D/A1/107/162MF577
PALMER, MaudeRadley1576D/A1/103/232 D/A1/10/024MF575 MF10047A
PALMER, MosesBucklandHusbandman1574D/A1/103/220 D/A1/9/394MF575 MF10046
PALMER, RalphColeshillHusbandman1560D/A1/103/147 D/A1/6/070MF573 MF10043B
PALMER, RalphCumnorYeoman1626D/A1/105/116MF576
PALMER, RichardNewbury1540D/A1/207/004MF96077
PALMER, RichardColeshill1544D/A1/1/234MF10042
PALMER, RichardEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1545D/A1/3/116MF604
PALMER, RichardColeshill1545D/A1/103/071MF573
PALMER, RichardEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1546D/A1/233/226MF96132
PALMER, RichardChallow, Letcombe Regis1551D/A1/207/016MF96077
PALMER, RichardEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1560D/A1/207/039MF96077
PALMER, RichardEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1560D/A1/167/110MF96000
PALMER, RichardFinchampstead1594D/A1/104/102 D/A1/12/222MF575 MF10048
PALMER, RichardRadleyYeoman1596D/A1/104/115 D/A1/13/059MF575 MF10049
PALMER, RichardAbingdon Tanner1612D/A1/104/239 D/A1/15/209MF575 MF10065
PALMER, RichardSouth Fawley, FawleyFarmer1757D/A1/210/91MF96086
PALMER, RichardNewburyButcher1837D/A1/160/29MF582
PALMER, Richard SnrReading St LaurenceFarrier1673D/A1/107/112MF577
PALMER, RobertSwallowfield1571D/A1/207/065MF96077
PALMER, RobertSwallowfield1571D/A1/167/149MF96000
PALMER, RobertThatchamJoiner1659D/A1/107/12MF577
PALMER, SimonSwallowfieldYeoman1563D/A1/103/169 D/A1/8/246MF573 MF10043C
PALMER, ThomasShinfield1540D/A1/3/115MF604
PALMER, ThomasRadley1599D/A1/104/144MF575
PALMER, ThomasThatchamBlacksmith1621D/A1/105/068MF576
PALMER, ThomasEnborneBlacksmith1628D/A1/208/049MF96080
PALMER, ThomasShinfieldBlacksmith1668D/A1/208/170MF96081
PALMER, ThomasWoolhamptonBlacksmith1683D/A1/209/49MF96083
PALMER, ThomasWootton, CumnorYeoman1695D/A1/209/108MF96083
PALMER, ThomasBeedonYeoman1772D/A1/110/12MF535
PALMER, WilliamBuckland1546D/A1/207/010MF96077
PALMER, WilliamSwallowfieldFuller1551D/A1/4/125 D/A1/5/141MF604 MF10043A