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
SOUTH, JosephShinfieldYeoman1745D/A1/216/180MF96101
SOUTHBIE, HenryDraycott Moor, Longworth1624D/A1/118/071MF540
SOUTHBY , John SnrHinton Waldrist1726D/A1/216/80MF96101
SOUTHBY, AmbroseAppletonYeoman1624D/A1/118/063MF540
SOUTHBY, AndrewBurghfieldHusbandman1597D/A1/116/129 D/A1/13/103MF539 MF10049
SOUTHBY, AnneBourton, Shrivenham1686D/A1/121/167MF542
SOUTHBY, AnneAppleton1698D/A1/215/120MF96099
SOUTHBY, ChristianaOxford, Abingdon1697D/A1/122/77MF542
SOUTHBY, FrancesAppleton1741D/A1/216/161MF96101
SOUTHBY, HenryLongworth1635D/A1/16/373MF10066
SOUTHBY, Henry JnrHinton WaldristYeoman1679D/A1/214/192MF96097
SOUTHBY, JoanBuckland Marsh, Buckland1690D/A1/122/21MF542
SOUTHBY, JoanHinton Waldrist1715D/A1/123/39MF543
SOUTHBY, JohnBuckland Marsh, BucklandYeoman1643D/A1/120/010 D/A1/119/103/2MF541 MF540
SOUTHBY, JohnAbingdon1689D/A1/122/12MF542
SOUTHBY, JohnAppleton1734D/A1/124/68MF544
SOUTHBY, JohnHinton WaldristYeoman1750D/A1/124/175MF544
SOUTHBY, JohnKingston BagpuizeInnholder1794D/A1/125/167MF546
SOUTHBY, John SnrWales, Hinton WaldristYeoman1680D/A1/214/195 MF96097
SOUTHBY, MalianLongcot, Shrivenham1639D/A1/119/103/1MF540
SOUTHBY, MargaretBuckland1613D/A1/213/075MF96094
SOUTHBY, MargaretBuckland1613D/A1/168/095MF96001
SOUTHBY, MarkBuckland Marsh, BucklandYeoman1674D/A1/121/58MF542
SOUTHBY, RichardWales, Hinton Waldrist1572D/A1/9/342MF10046
SOUTHBY, RichardWinterbourne, Chieveley1702D/A1/122/113MF542
SOUTHBY, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1616D/A1/117/128 D/A1/15/636MF539 MF10065
SOUTHBY, ThomasDraycott Moor, LongworthYeoman1628D/A1/118/116MF540
SOUTHBY, ThomasHinton WaldristYeoman1723D/A1/123/104MF543
SOUTHE, MaryWhitley, Reading St Giles1638D/A1/119/086MF540
SOUTHEY, ElizabethBinfield1746D/A1/124/155MF544
SOUTHEY, JohnBrayCarpenter1706D/A1/122/154MF543
SOUTHEY, StephenStratfield Mortimer1601D/A1/13/716MF10049
SOUTHEYE, StephenWokefield, Stratfield Mortimer1601D/A1/213/017MF96094
SOUTHIE, WilliamBinfieldTanner1597D/A1/116/134 D/A1/13/145MF539 MF10049
SOUTHRIDGE, JohnStreatley1608D/A1/168/038MF96001
SOUTHRIGE, JohnStreatley1608D/A1/213/051MF96094
SOUTHWELL, ElizabethNewbury1787D/A1/125/139MF544
SOUTHWELL, JohnNewburyVictualler1785D/A1/125/135MF544
SOUTHWELL, JosephNewburyDyer1771D/A1/125/87MF544
SOUTHY, ThomasBrayLabourer1626D/A1/118/090MF540
SOUTHY, Thomas SnrBinfieldYeoman1686D/A1/121/166MF542
SOUZTEND, JohnTilehurst1565D/A1/115/011MF538
SOWTH , TobyWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1627D/A1/213/143MF96095
SOWTH, JohnAldermaston1558D/A1/212/033 D/A1/7/340a D/A1/167/098MF96092 MF10040 MF96000
SOWTH, JohnHurleyHusbandman1611D/A1/117/060 D/A1/15/186MF539 MF10065
SOWTHALL, HughBurghfieldClerk, Parson1558D/A1/212/043MF96092
SOWTHBIE, AvisNewton, Buckland1603D/A1/116/215 D/A1/13/1089MF539 MF10049
SOWTHBIE, SusanHinton Waldrist1606D/A1/116/263 D/A1/15/070MF539 MF10065
SOWTHBY , RobertNewton, BucklandYeoman1570D/A1/115/091 D/A1/9/327MF538 MF10046
SOWTHBY, RobertBuckland1570D/A1/167/143MF96000
SOWTHBYE, RichardHinton WaldristHusbandman1572D/A1/115/063MF538
SOWTHE , JoanStratfield Mortimer1612D/A1/117/083 D/A1/15/294MF539 MF10065
SOWTHE , JohnFarnboroughHusbandman1558D/A1/114/183 D/A1/8/002MF537 MF10043C
SOWTHE , JohnBinfield1569D/A1/212/071MF96092
SOWTHE, ThomasReading St Laurence1580D/A1/115/170 D/A1/10/254MF538 MF10047A
SOWTHEBYE, RichardBurghfieldHusbandman1599D/A1/116/154 D/A1/13/361MF539 MF10049
SOWTHEN, RobertYattendonYeoman1589D/A1/116/014 D/A1/11/198MF538 MF10047B
SOWTHEND, JohnTilehurst1565D/A1/7/378MF10040
SOWTHEY, AgnesBinfield1572D/A1/115/089 D/A1/9/314MF538 MF10046
SOWTHEY, JoanWarfield1590D/A1/116/019 D/A1/11/334MF538 MF10047B
SOWTHEY, RichardWarfieldHusbandman1556D/A1/114/155MF537
SOWTHEY, RichardCookhamHusbandman1568D/A1/212/068MF96092
SOWTHEY, RichardBinfieldWeaver1592D/A1/116/050 D/A1/12/030MF538 MF10048
SOWTHEY, RichardBinfield1618D/A1/213/112 D/A1/168/155MF96095 MF96001
SOWTHEY, RichardBrayHusbandman1632D/A1/119/013MF540
SOWTHEY, RobertBrayLabourer1638D/A1/119/084MF540
SOWTHEY, SOWTHY, EdwardBinfieldYeoman1663D/A1/120/122MF541
SOWTHEY, WilliamBinfieldHusbandman1634D/A1/119/035MF540
SOWTHEY, WilliamBinfieldYeoman1667D/A1/80/154MF527
SOWTHEYE, JamesBinfield1565D/A1/115/006 D/A1/7/381MF538 MF10040
SOWTHEYE, RobertBinfield1565D/A1/115/007 D/A1/7/381MF538 MF10040
SOWTHIE, HenryBrayHusbandman1609D/A1/117/034 D/A1/14/598MF539 MF10064
SOWTHIE, NicholasBinfieldLathemaker, Hatmaker1602D/A1/116/207 D/A1/13/806MF539 MF10049
SOWTHIE, WilliamBinfieldHusbandman1607D/A1/117/006 D/A1/14/361MF539 MF10064
SOWTHY, JohnBinfield1569D/A1/167/141MF96000
SOWTHY, RichardCookham1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
SPACKMAN, RobertChieveleyWheelwright1747D/A1/124/150MF544
SPACKMAN, TemperanceNewbury1731D/A1/124/41MF544
SPACKMAN, ThomasLambourn1819D/A1/231/64MF96129
SPALDING, CharlesReadingFarrier1830D/A1/162/33MF583
SPANSWICK , Ann SnrLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1739D/A1/124/94MF544
SPANSWICK, HannahEastbury, Lambourn1850D/A1/163/12MF584
SPANSWICK, JaneAshbury1722D/A1/216/67MF96101
SPANSWICK, JohnLambournYeoman1730D/A1/124/20MF544
SPANSWICK, JonathanEastbury, LambournYeoman1790D/A1/125/150MF544
SPANSWICK, JonathanEastbury, Lambourn1838D/A1/162/70MF583
SPANSWICK, RogerLambournYeoman1764D/A1/125/57MF544
SPANSWICK, RogerEastbury, LambournYeoman1803D/A1/161/129MF583
SPANSWICK, StephenEastbury, LambournYeoman1817D/A1/161/90MF583
SPANSWICK, ThomasLynte, ColeshillHusbandman1612D/A1/117/077 D/A1/15/260MF539 MF10065
SPANSWICK, WilliamEastbury, LambournYeoman1844D/A1/162/95MF583
SPAREHAWKE, JohnReading St GilesCarpenter1618D/A1/117/148 D/A1/15/849MF539 MF10065
SPARHAKE, NicholasStratfield Mortimer1558D/A1/114/246 D/A1/6/202MF537 MF10043B
SPARHAUKE, LaurenceYattendon1571D/A1/115/079 D/A1/9/274MF538 MF10046
SPARHAWK, AveryTilehurst1546D/A1/233/246MF96132
SPARHAWKE, AveryTilehurstHusbandman1545D/A1/3/145MF604
SPARHAWKE, JoanWallingford1551D/A1/5/136MF10043A
SPARHAWKE, JoanSaint Johns, Wallingford St Leonard1551D/A1/114/126MF537
SPARHAWKE, ThomasHarwellLabourer1640D/A1/119/121MF540
SPARK, ThomasReadingInnholder1555D/A1/114/144MF537