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
PEARSE, ThomasNewbury1598D/A1/13/321MF10049
PEARSE, WilliamSouth Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1599D/A1/104/130 D/A1/13/489MF575 MF10049
PEARSE, WilliamWoodend, CumnorShepherd1612D/A1/104/241 D/A1/15/249MF575 MF10065
PEARSE, WilliamLong Wittenham1615D/A1/208/007MF96079
PEARSE, WilliamLong Wittenham1615D/A1/168/125MF96001
PEARSE, WilliamSouth Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1642D/A1/106/111MF576
PEARSE, WilliamChaddleworth1719D/A1/209/198MF96084
PEARSEE, RichardInkpenHusbandman1693D/A1/108/69MF577
PEARSON, AgnesWallingford1621D/A1/16/012 D/A1/105/074MF10066 MF576
PEARSON, ElizabethReading St Giles1778D/A1/210/112MF96086
PEARSON, RobertWallingfordInnholder1665D/A1/208/161MF96081
PEARSON, ThomasWallingfordTailor1724D/A1/210/4MF96085
PEARSON, WilliamSteventon1603D/A1/207/143MF96078
PEARSON, WilliamSteventon1603D/A1/13/1022MF10049
PEARSON, WilliamInkpenYeoman1676D/A1/107/147MF577
PEAS, JohnEastwell, Kent1654D/A1/107/4MF577
PEASE, HenryNewburyWeaver1574D/A1/207/075MF96077
PEASMORE, JohnBrayYeoman1648D/A1/208/122MF96080
PEATE, RichardFrilford, Marcham1576D/A1/104/005 D/A1/10/036MF575 MF10047A
PEATEY, JamesReadingShopkeeper1776D/A1/110/25MF535
PEATY, JohnDraytonCordwainer1687D/A1/209/71MF96083
PEBWORTH, WilliamAbingdonVictualler1760D/A1/109/213MF535
PECHE, WilliamShrivenham1557D/A1/103/104 D/A1/7/255MF573 MF10040
PECK , SilvesterRemenham1598D/A1/104/132MF575
PECK, CatherineAbingdon1709D/A1/108/162MF578
PECK, GregoryRadleyYeoman1745D/A1/109/161MF535
PECK, JohnReadingFreemason1691D/A1/209/88MF96083
PECK, JohnHungerfordEstate Agent1847D/A1/160/71MF582
PECK, StephenAbingdonTallow Chandler1703D/A1/108/131MF578
PECK, ThomasMarcham1531D/A1/1/159MF10042
PECK, ThomasShinfield1603D/A1/104/178 D/A1/13/1032MF575 MF10049
PECK, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1714D/A1/209/183MF96084
PECK, ThomasAbingdonBaker1715D/A1/209/178MF96084
PECK, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1735D/A1/210/47MF96085
PECK, Thomas SnrBradfieldHusbandman1684D/A1/209/60MF96083
PECKE, AgnesGarford, Marcham1598D/A1/104/138 D/A1/13/327MF575 MF10049
PECKE, JohnGarford, Marcham1559D/A1/103/138 D/A1/7/260MF573 MF10040
PECKE, PernellGarford, Marcham1613D/A1/105/004 D/A1/15/394MF576 MF10065
PECKE, RichardGarford, MarchamYeoman1630D/A1/105/142MF576
PECKE, SimonAbingdonMaltster1672D/A1/107/110MF577
PECOCK, JoanYattendon1577D/A1/207/083MF96077
PEDDER, HesterNew Windsor, Windsor1667D/A1/107/7bMF577
PEDE, RobertFrilford, Marcham1603D/A1/207/140MF96078
PEDE, RobertFrilford, Marcham1603D/A1/13/1018MF10049
PEDGION, JoanThatcham1626D/A1/105/110MF576
PEDLINGAM, RichardLongcot, Shrivenham1560D/A1/207/048 D/A1/167/113MF96077 MF96000
PEERS , WilliamBurghfield1561D/A1/103/154 D/A1/8/201MF573 MF10043C
PEERS, ElizabethAshbury1570D/A1/167/143MF96000
PEERS, JohnSouth Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1557D/A1/3/263 D/A1/233/325MF604 MF96132
PEERS, JohnAshbury1560D/A1/167/110MF96000
PEERS, JohnAbingdon St HelenSerjeant1571D/A1/103/208/2 D/A1/9/270MF575 MF10046
PEERS, MaryAbingdon1765D/A1/109/228MF535
PEERS, ThomasWest SheffordLabourer1606D/A1/104/195 D/A1/14/150MF575 MF10064
PEERSE, ElizabethIdstone, Ashbury1563D/A1/103/171 D/A1/111/011 D/A1/8/258MF573 MF535 MF10043C
PEERSE, ElizabethIdstone, Ashbury1570D/A1/103/204 D/A1/9/182MF575 MF10046
PEERSON, HenryCholseyHusbandman1557D/A1/6/137MF10043B
PEERSON, HenryCholsey1557D/A1/103/109MF573
PEERSON, JoanCholsey1558D/A1/103/115 D/A1/7/167MF573 MF10040
PEERSON, JohnHagbourne1619D/A1/105/049MF576
PEERSON, MargaretHagbourne1570D/A1/103/205 D/A1/9/188MF575 MF10046
PEESLEY, JohnAppletonFarmer1834D/A1/160/26MF582
PEESLEY, JohnAppletonFarmer1845D/A1/230/122MF96128
PEETERS, RobertShrivenhamBlacksmith1697D/A1/108/95MF577
PEGG, ThomasNewburyVictualler1818D/A1/159/84MF582
PEGOTT, RobertShinfield1593D/A1/104/097/1 D/A1/104/095/2 D/A1/12/120MF575 MF575 MF10048
PEGYN, JohnBoxford1533D/A1/1/256MF10042
PEINE, John SnrThatchamSmith1591D/A1/104/082/2 D/A1/11/383 D/A1/12/072MF575 MF10047B MF10048
PEIRCE, BenjaminBray Wick, BrayButcher1707D/A1/209/152 MF96084
PEIRCE, MaryNewbury1702D/A1/108/118MF578
PEIRCY (ALIAS HOLLIDAY), MaryReading St Mary1733D/A1/210/41MF96085
PEIRPOINT, MillicentShaw Cum Donnington1623D/A1/105/084MF576
PEIRSE, MarySouth Hinksey1657D/A1/107/7MF577
PEKOCK, MargaretBray1597D/A1/104/127 D/A1/13/122MF575 MF10049
PELLAM, WilliamClewerYeoman1622D/A1/105/078MF576
PELLEN, EdithKintbury1615D/A1/105/016 D/A1/15/516MF576 MF10065
PELPE, R'rShinfield1538D/A1/103/064MF573
PEMBERTON, AnnAbingdon1845D/A1/230/121MF96128
PEMBERTON, HenryBeckett Lease, ShrivenhamYeoman1682D/A1/108/12MF577
PEMBERTON, Henry JnrBeckett, ShrivenhamYeoman1681D/A1/209/46MF96082
PEMBRIDGE, EleanorNewbury1616D/A1/208/010MF96079
PEMBRIGE, JohnAldermaston1577D/A1/104/009 D/A1/10/097MF575 MF10047A
PEMBROKE, JohnBrimptonHusbandman1561D/A1/103/160 D/A1/7/342MF573 MF10040
PEMBROOK, NicholasEnglefieldHusbandman1730D/A1/210/26MF96085
PEMBROOKE, JohnBrimptonTurner1630D/A1/208/055 D/A1/168/182MF96080 MF96001
PEMBROOKE, NicholasSutton CourtenayHusbandman1646D/A1/208/113MF96080
PEMBROOKE, RichardBrimptonTurner1642D/A1/208/096 D/A1/169/068MF96080 MF96002
PEMBROOKE, WilliamBrimptonTurner1597D/A1/104/117 D/A1/13/088MF575 MF10049
PEMERTON, ElizabethGrazeley, Sulhamstead Abbots1670D/A1/107/97MF577
PEMERTON, RichardBisham1554D/A1/103/097 D/A1/7/031MF573 MF10040
PEMMERTON, JohnReading St GilesMiller1643D/A1/208/102 D/A1/169/068MF96080 MF96002
PEMMERTON, ThomasReading1716D/A1/209/190MF96084
PEN, JohnFarnboroughHusbandman1563D/A1/8/256MF10043C
PEN, JohnFarnboroughHusbandman1563D/A1/103/177MF573
PEN, WilliamMaidenhead, Cookham1545D/A1/5/043MF10043A
PEN, WilliamMaidenhead1545D/A1/103/074MF573
PENBROCKE, ThomasSwallowfieldHusbandman1621D/A1/105/066MF576
PENBROKE, GeorgeSutton CourtenayYeoman1630D/A1/106/011MF576
PENBROKE, HenryBrimpton1558D/A1/207/034MF96077
PENBROKE, WilliamBrimpton1557D/A1/207/025 D/A1/167/099MF96077 MF96000
PENBROKE, WilliamBrimptonHusbandman1558D/A1/103/111MF573