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
BAYLEY, WilliamReadingHusbandman1728D/A1/49/119MF468
BAYLEY, WilliamAldworthYeoman1732D/A1/49/161MF468
BAYLIE, AgnesWhitley, Reading St Giles1581D/A1/10/261MF10047A
BAYLIE, DavidTilehurst1601D/A1/175/172MF96011
BAYLIE, DavidTilehurst1601D/A1/13/719MF10049
BAYLIE, GilesReading St LaurenceBroad Weaver1597D/A1/41/093MF462
BAYLIE, JohnAbingdon St Helen1588D/A1/11/160MF10047B
BAYLIE, JohnStreatleyHusbandman1615D/A1/42/131 D/A1/15/521MF463 MF10065
BAYLIE, JohnAbingdonTanner1615D/A1/176/046MF96012
BAYLIE, JohnAbingdon1615D/A1/168/114MF96001
BAYLIE, JohnStreatleyBlacksmith1619D/A1/43/027 D/A1/15/899MF464 MF10065
BAYLIE, LeonardSouthridge, StreatleyHusbandman1619D/A1/43/029 D/A1/15/952MF464 MF10065
BAYLIE, RichardReading St LaurenceBaker1577D/A1/40/065 D/A1/10/098MF462 MF10047A
BAYLISS, JamesGreat CoxwellYeoman1856D/A1/226/134MF96123
BAYLISS, JosephAbingdon St HelenTailor1857D/A1/147/60MF558
BAYLY, GraceLambourn1675D/A1/178/153MF96015
BAYLY, JohnGreenham, Thatcham Labourer1766D/A1/50/113MF469
BAYLY, MaryInkpen1652D/A1/45/055MF465
BAYLY, RalphLambourn1558D/A1/39/111MF461
BAYLY, RalphLambourn1559D/A1/8/039MF10043C
BAYLY, ThomasBucklebury1642D/A1/44/159MF465
BAYLYE, EdwardReading St Giles1558D/A1/39/105 D/A1/7/191MF461 MF10040
BAYLYE, JoanEast Hanney, Hanney1573D/A1/40/016 D/A1/9/343MF462 MF10046
BAYLYE, JoanBeenham1612D/A1/42/081 D/A1/15/237MF463 MF10065
BAYLYE, JohnWaltham St Lawrence Clerk1573D/A1/40/019 D/A1/9/358MF462 MF10046
BAYLYE, JohnPeasemoreArtificer1587D/A1/40/151 D/A1/11/180MF462 MF10047B
BAYLYE, ThomasChildrey1564D/A1/39/254 D/A1/8/343MF462 MF10043C
BAYNTON, ElizabethReading St Laurence1572D/A1/167/150MF96000
BAYREFOTTE, Joan1540D/A1/175/002MF96010
BAZING (ALIAS SMITH), ElizabethChieveley1738D/A1/216/151MF96101
BAZING, JohnBoxford1666D/A1/46/16MF466
BAZING, RichardNewburyWeaver1703D/A1/48/110MF467
BEACH, JohnLetcombe Bassett1606D/A1/42/007MF463
BEACH, JohnLetcombe BassettHusbandman1606D/A1/42/004 D/A1/15/066MF463 MF10065
BEACH, MargaretLetcombe Bassett1587D/A1/40/147 D/A1/11/125MF462 MF10047B
BEACH, WilliamLetcombe Bassett1601D/A1/175/171MF96011
BEACH, WilliamLetcombe Bassett1601D/A1/13/718MF10049
BEACHE, AgnesLetcombe Bassett1554D/A1/39/065 D/A1/7/025MF461 MF10040
BEACHE, WilliamLetcombe Bassett1586D/A1/11/064MF10047B
BEACHY, JohnCumnorHusbandman1745D/A1/180/178MF96020
BEAKE, WilliamThatcham1529D/A1/1/110MF10041
BEAKER, MaryHagbourne1781D/A1/50/186MF469
BEAKHOUSE, JohnBradfield1775D/A1/180/229MF96020
BEAKHUST, DanielHamstead MarshallYeoman1819D/A1/145/95MF557
BEALDE, ThomasReading1585D/A1/40/131 D/A1/11/028MF462 MF10047B
BEALE , AbrahamWallingfordCurrier1704D/A1/179/148MF96017
BEALE , WilliamWelfordHusbandman1673D/A1/46/93MF466
BEALE, AbrahamWallingfordCurrier1629D/A1/43/179MF464
BEALE, ChristopherTilehurstYeoman1598D/A1/41/112 D/A1/13/294MF463 MF10049
BEALE, IsaacWallingfordCordwainer1629D/A1/177/013MF96013
BEALE, JacobWallingfordCurrier1650D/A1/178/43MF96015
BEALE, JacobWallingfordCurrier1650D/A1/178/043MF96015
BEALE, John SnrSwallowfieldHusbandman1641D/A1/44/140MF463
BEALE, NicholasBurghfieldTailor1614D/A1/42/112 D/A1/15/427MF463 MF10065
BEALE, SusannahSulhamstead Abbots1719D/A1/49/41MF468
BEALE, ThomasBinfield1559D/A1/39/140 D/A1/7/298MF461 MF10040
BEALES, AbrahamWallingford St Mary1668D/A1/178/112MF96015
BEALL, ElizabethSulhamstead Abbots1614D/A1/42/106 D/A1/15/408MF463 MF10065
BEAMES, JohnAbingdonFarmer1828D/A1/226/77MF96123
BEAMONT, JaneWindsor1713D/A1/48/204MF467
BEAMOUNT, PeterNew Windsor, WindsorHusbandman1632D/A1/177/038MF96013
BEAMOUNT, PeterNew Windsor, Windsor1632D/A1/168/223MF96001
BEAN , DulcibellaBuckland1681D/A1/179/2 MF96016
BEAR, ThomasPadworth1597D/A1/175/157MF96010
BEARD, AnneWarfield1597D/A1/15/971MF10065
BEARD, AnneWarfield1623D/A1/176/082MF96012
BEARD, JohnEast Hanney, HanneyShepherd1621D/A1/43/070MF464
BEARD, JohnWarfieldYeoman1648D/A1/45/036MF465
BEARD, SampsonWarfieldYeoman1631D/A1/44/017MF464
BEARD, WilliamNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1583D/A1/40/109 D/A1/10/360MF462 MF10047A
BEARD, WilliamWarfieldYeoman1623D/A1/176/093MF96012
BEARDE, AnneWarfield1597D/A1/16/053MF10066
BEARDE, HumphreyWarfieldYeoman1560D/A1/39/181MF461
BEARDE, JohnWarfieldYeoman1593D/A1/41/038 D/A1/12/122MF462 MF10048
BEARE, ThomasPadworth1598D/A1/13/423MF10049
BEAREMAN, JoanNew Windsor, Windsor1615D/A1/42/125 D/A1/15/514MF463 MF10065
BEASLEY, ElizabethWytham1717D/A1/49/9MF468
BEASLEY, MaryAbingdon1796D/A1/180/265MF96020
BEASLEY, RichardAbingdonBaker1766D/A1/50/111MF469
BEASLEY, RichardAbingdon1781D/A1/180/241MF96020
BEASLEY, RichardAbingdon1810D/A1/226/40MF96123
BEASLEY, ThomasAbingdon1785D/A1/180/251MF96020
BEASLEY, ThomasAbingdon St Helen1788D/A1/114/76MF537
BEASLEY, WilliamWythamYeoman1725D/A1/49/92MF468
BEASLEY, WilliamEast HendredYeoman1800D/A1/51/19MF469
BEATHELL, RobertWargraveHusbandman1630D/A1/177/021MF96013
BEATHELL, RobertWargraveHusbandman1630D/A1/168/181MF96001
BEATTIE, WalterBracknell, EasthampsteadLinen Draper1827D/A1/145/129MF557
BEATTIE, WalterBracknell, EasthampsteadLinen Draper1827D/A1/145/128MF557
BEAUICE, PeterThrupp, FaringdonHusbandman1650D/A1/45/046MF465
BEAVER, RichardBrayYeoman1586D/A1/40/143 D/A1/11/110MF462 MF10047B
BEAVER, RobertStratfield Mortimer1621D/A1/43/061MF464
BEAVER, Robert SnrStratfield Mortimer1586D/A1/40/145 D/A1/11/108MF462 MF10047B
BEAVIS, EdithNewbury1848D/A1/147/14MF558
BECFORD, RalphLong WittenhamYeoman1669D/A1/46/43MF466
BECFORD, WilliamNew Windsor, Windsor1592D/A1/12/071MF10048
BECFORD, WilliamBasildonHusbandman1681D/A1/47/55/2MF466
BECHAM, RichardKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1685D/A1/47/108MF466
BECHE , WilliamLetcombe BassettHusbandman1586D/A1/175/107MF96010
BECHE, JohnWhite WalthamCarpenter1596D/A1/41/066 D/A1/12/332MF462 MF10048