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
PENBROOKE, ElizabethChieveley1635D/A1/106/050MF576
PENCOOT, Richard SnrLongworth1558D/A1/103/116 D/A1/7/110MF573 MF10040
PENCOTT, AnnFyfield1797D/A1/110/77MF535
PENCOTT, RichardLongworthYeoman1584D/A1/207/093MF96077
PENCOTT, RichardWootton, Cumnor1614D/A1/208/001 D/A1/168/109MF96079 MF96001
PENDALL, AliceSpeen1731D/A1/109/89MF578
PENDAR, JosephCrookham, ThatchamHusbandman1685D/A1/108/32MF577
PENDAR, RichardCrookham, ThatchamYeoman1697D/A1/108/94MF577
PENDAR, WilliamWoolhampton1799D/A1/210/131MF96086
PENDER, ChristopherNewburyVictualler1720D/A1/109/20MF578
PENE, JeffreyReading St Laurence1559D/A1/103/150MF573
PENN (ALIAS PENNINGTON), HannahYattendon1727D/A1/210/15MF96085
PENN, ZachariahDrayton1711D/A1/209/171MF96084
PENNE, JeffreyReading St Laurence1559D/A1/7/257MF10040
PENNINGTON (ALIAS PENN), HannahYattendon1727D/A1/210/15MF96085
PENNINGTON, GeorgeNew Windsor, WindsorInnholder1675D/A1/209/22MF96082
PENNY, HenryWinkfieldHusbandman1685D/A1/209/66MF96083
PENNY, JohnStanford1509D/A1/1/002MF10041
PENNY, RichardNew Windsor, Windsor1602D/A1/104/153 D/A1/13/787MF575 MF10049
PENSTON , AnnEast Hanney, Hanney1567D/A1/103/190 D/A1/9/060MF573 MF10046
PENSTON , JoanHanney1571D/A1/207/067MF96077
PENSTON, JohnHanney1566D/A1/167/133MF96000
PENSTON, JohnHanney1566D/A1/167/130MF96000
PENSTON, ThomasWest Challow, Letcombe Regis Yeoman1595D/A1/104/105 D/A1/12/275MF575 MF10048
PENSTONE , Henry SnrStanford In The Vale1808D/A1/159/62MF582
PENSTONE , William SnrStanford In The ValeYeoman1743D/A1/109/153MF578
PENSTONE, ElizbethMarcham1831D/A1/230/102MF96128
PENSTONE, GeorgeHanney1562D/A1/103/164 D/A1/7/356MF573 MF10040
PENSTONE, HenryStanford In The ValeYeoman1826D/A1/160/9MF582
PENSTONE, JamesStanford In The ValeFarmer1820D/A1/159/92MF582
PENSTONE, JohnEast Hanney, Hanney1566D/A1/207/057MF96077
PENSTONE, JosephMarcham1830D/A1/230/101MF96128
PENSTONE, Stephen SnrEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1674D/A1/107/126MF577
PENSTONE, TemperanceShellingford1777D/A1/110/29MF535
PENSTONE, WilliamStanford In The ValeYeoman1820D/A1/159/91MF582
PENSTONE, WilliamStanford In The ValeYeoman1849D/A1/160/79MF582
PENTICROFT, JohnDry Sandford, Abingdon St HelenMiller1696D/A1/108/86MF577
PENTIGRASS , JohnDry Sandford, Abingdon St HelenMiller1696D/A1/108/86MF577
PENTLAN, JohnNew Windsor, WindsorServingman1558D/A1/103/127MF573
PENTLAND, JohnNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1558D/A1/7/172MF10040
PENTON, WilliamAldermaston1700D/A1/209/123MF96083
PENVIE, JohnWhite Waltham1574D/A1/207/077MF96077
PENVIE, JohnWhite Waltham1574D/A1/207/076MF96077
PENY, GeorgeSpeenhamland, SpeenYeoman1627D/A1/105/127MF576
PEPPER, JohnMaidenhead1716D/A1/209/191MF96084
PERCE, DanielSouth HinkseyYeoman1693D/A1/108/71MF577
PERCE, ThomasAshbury1561D/A1/103/153 D/A1/8/191MF573 MF10043C
PERCEY, ThomasArdington1642D/A1/208/095 D/A1/169/068MF96080 MF96002
PERCIFALL, JoanAbingdonServant1573D/A1/207/070MF96077
PERCKE, EdwardReadingBarber1580D/A1/207/092MF96077
PERCKE, EdwardReading1580D/A1/10/221MF10047A
PERDUE, JohnNewbury1787D/A1/210/116MF96086
PERE, EmHagbourne1555D/A1/7/338dMF10040
PERE, EmHagbourne1555D/A1/207/020MF96077
PERESON, JoanMoulsford, Cholsey1571D/A1/207/069MF96077
PERESON, John1571D/A1/167/147MF96000
PERESON, RichardHagbourne1557D/A1/7/143aMF10040
PERESON, RobertHagbourneHusbandman1571D/A1/103/207 D/A1/9/268MF575 MF10046
PERESSON, AgnesFyfield1592D/A1/104/085 D/A1/12/035MF575 MF10048
PEREY, JamesMackney, BrightwellYeoman1672D/A1/209/15MF96082
PERFECTE, FrancisStratfield Mortimer1618D/A1/105/044 D/A1/15/896MF576 MF10065
PERFITT, WilliamCookhamHusbandman1664D/A1/208/155MF96081
PERIMAN, NicholasWinkfieldLabourer1617D/A1/208/014MF96079
PERIMAN, NicholasWinkfield1617D/A1/168/143MF96001
PERIMAN, RichardReading1559D/A1/207/044MF96077
PERKE, EdmundReadingBarber1597D/A1/104/124/2MF575
PERKE, EdmundReading St LaurenceButcher1597D/A1/104/124/1 D/A1/13/198MF575 MF10049
PERKE, EdwardReading1597D/A1/207/124MF96078
PERKE, RobertBucklandLabourer1679D/A1/107/161MF577
PERKE, Robert SnrBuckland Marsh, BucklandYeoman1638D/A1/106/071MF576
PERKINS, AbelMaidenheadHusbandman1665D/A1/208/156MF96081
PERKINS, AnnUfton Nervet1678D/A1/107/157MF577
PERKINS, ElizabethLittle Milton, Oxfordshire1856D/A1/160/102MF582
PERKINS, HannahReading1852D/A1/230/128MF96128
PERKINS, JoanAbingdon1549D/A1/233/224MF96132
PERKINS, JohnEast Hendred1572D/A1/103/215 D/A1/9/338MF575 MF10046
PERKINS, JohnNewburyLabourer1805D/A1/159/53MF582
PERKINS, RobertHagbourne1541D/A1/1/300MF10042
PERKINS, ThomasReading1553D/A1/207/018MF96077
PERKINS, ThomasCoxwell, Faringdon1589D/A1/104/070 D/A1/11/244MF575 MF10047B
PERKINS, ThomasLongcot, ShrivenhamShepherd1615D/A1/105/021 D/A1/15/553MF576 MF10065
PERKINS, ThomasSotwellLabourer1718D/A1/109/7MF578
PERKINS, WilliamCholsey1848D/A1/160/76MF582
PERKYNES, Francis1553D/A1/207/019MF96077
PERKYNS, RobertAbingdon St HelenYeoman1546D/A1/6/050 D/A1/5/049MF10043B MF10043A
PERKYNS, RobertAbingdon1546D/A1/103/082MF573
PERMAN, RichardAston TirroldHusbandman1571D/A1/103/208/1 D/A1/9/269MF575 MF10046
PERMAN, RichardAston Tirrold1575D/A1/207/080MF96077
PERN , CecilyChaddleworth1602D/A1/104/168 D/A1/13/884MF575 MF10049
PERNE, JohnInkpenCarpenter1621D/A1/208/025MF96079
PERNE, WilliamChaddleworthHusbandman1596D/A1/104/113 D/A1/12/418MF575 MF10048
PEROTT, FrancisSutton Courtenay1645D/A1/208/112MF96080
PERREY, JoanCumnor1663D/A1/107/41MF577
PERRIE, WilliamMackney, BrightwellYeoman1649D/A1/106/140MF576
PERRIER, NicholasBinfieldLabourer1681D/A1/108/9MF577
PERRIN , Joel JnrThatcham1776D/A1/210/110MF96086
PERRINE, JoanBradfield1717D/A1/108/206MF578
PERRIS, JohnChipping Lambourn, LambournHusbandman1681D/A1/108/7MF577
PERRISE, ThomasKintburyBlacksmith1755D/A1/109/201MF535
PERROTT, RichardSutton Courtenay1637D/A1/16/434MF10066