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
RICARDS, RogerInkpen1558D/A1/110/140 D/A1/7/230MF535 MF10040
RICE, MaryWindsor1719D/A1/211/123MF96091
RICH, JohnCrookham, ThatchamBellows Maker1630D/A1/112/076MF536
RICH, John SnrBrimptonBellows Maker1617D/A1/112/019 D/A1/15/700MF536 MF10065
RICH, PeterNewburyWeaver1643D/A1/211/022MF96090
RICHARD, WilliamInkpenYeoman1716D/A1/113/146MF537
RICHARDES , JohnPusey1562D/A1/167/119MF96000
RICHARDES, ChristianEast Hanney, Hanney1632D/A1/112/089MF536
RICHARDES, EdmundWallingford St LeonardYeoman1632D/A1/112/088MF536
RICHARDES, EdwardShellingfordYeoman1607D/A1/111/150 D/A1/14/253MF536 MF10064
RICHARDES, JohnInkpen1543D/A1/5/219MF10043A
RICHARDES, JohnPusey1562D/A1/210/172MF96088
RICHARDES, JohnPusey1562D/A1/210/171MF96088
RICHARDES, JohnSwallowfieldClothier1571D/A1/111/036 D/A1/9/307MF535 MF10046
RICHARDES, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1589D/A1/111/087 D/A1/11/212MF535 MF10047B
RICHARDES, JohnSwallowfield1600D/A1/210/217MF96088
RICHARDES, MargaretWootton, Cumnor1572D/A1/9/340MF10046
RICHARDES, MargaretWootton, Cumnor1572D/A1/111/041MF535
RICHARDES, MargeryEast Hanney, Hanney1618D/A1/210/248 D/A1/168/157MF96089 MF96001
RICHARDES, NicholasBuscotHusbandman1567D/A1/9/104MF10046
RICHARDES, NicholasBuscotHusbandman1567D/A1/111/023MF535
RICHARDES, RichardChildreyHusbandman1544D/A1/1/229MF10042
RICHARDES, RichardShrivenham1558D/A1/210/156MF96088
RICHARDES, RichardEast Hanney, Hanney1617D/A1/112/022 D/A1/15/714MF536 MF10065
RICHARDES, ThomasWootton, CumnorHusbandman1575D/A1/111/047 D/A1/9/462MF535 MF10046
RICHARDES, ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1576D/A1/111/048 D/A1/10/054MF535 MF10047A
RICHARDES, ThomasWootton, CumnorHusbandman1610D/A1/111/169 D/A1/15/075MF536 MF10065
RICHARDES, ThomasShinfieldYeoman1637D/A1/112/107MF536
RICHARDES, Thomas SnrReading St LaurenceCordwainer1620D/A1/112/036MF536
RICHARDES, Thomas SnrShinfieldYeoman1629D/A1/112/072MF536
RICHARDES, WilliamEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1641D/A1/112/130MF536
RICHARDESON, ThomasReading1559D/A1/167/109MF96000
RICHARDS , JohnInkpen1594D/A1/210/212MF96088
RICHARDS , William SnrWoottonYeoman1723D/A1/113/155MF537
RICHARDS, BenjaminTubneyYeoman1853D/A1/161/62MF583
RICHARDS, EdwardHinton WaldristYeoman1802D/A1/161/1MF583
RICHARDS, EdwardArdingtonFarmer1835D/A1/161/35MF583
RICHARDS, ElizabethNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1684D/A1/211/75MF96091
RICHARDS, ElizabethSpeen1696D/A1/113/97MF31702
RICHARDS, GeorgeReadingButcher1727D/A1/113/165MF537
RICHARDS, HughAldermastonClerk, Vicar1613D/A1/112/001 D/A1/15/357MF536 MF10065
RICHARDS, HughHinton WaldristYeoman1734D/A1/211/137MF96091
RICHARDS, HughHinton WaldristYeoman1788D/A1/114/75MF537
RICHARDS, JamesCumnorHiggler1838D/A1/161/41MF583
RICHARDS, JohnSwallowfield1616D/A1/112/016 D/A1/15/599MF536 MF10065
RICHARDS, JohnHarwellMaltster, Yeoman1675D/A1/113/45MF536
RICHARDS, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1684D/A1/211/73MF96091
RICHARDS, JohnReading St MaryWheelwright1700D/A1/211/104MF96091
RICHARDS, JohnMiltonYeoman1702D/A1/113/109MF31702
RICHARDS, JohnReadingClothier1737D/A1/113/186MF537
RICHARDS, John SnrSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1639D/A1/112/121MF536
RICHARDS, MargaretMilton1708D/A1/113/121MF537
RICHARDS, MaryHinton Waldrist1756D/A1/114/31MF537
RICHARDS, MaryStanford In The Vale1816D/A1/161/15MF583
RICHARDS, Matthew1616D/A1/112/017MF536
RICHARDS, RichardNorthcourt, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1663D/A1/113/11MF536
RICHARDS, RichardEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1703D/A1/113/111MF537
RICHARDS, RichardStanford In The ValeYeoman1819D/A1/161/17MF583
RICHARDS, RichardTubneyYeoman1856D/A1/161/69MF583
RICHARDS, RichardArdingtonYeoman1857D/A1/231/31MF96129
RICHARDS, Richard SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1692D/A1/113/86MF536
RICHARDS, RobertBenham Valence, SpeenYeoman1679D/A1/113/55MF536
RICHARDS, RobertBenham, SpeenYeoman1693D/A1/113/90MF31702
RICHARDS, TheophilusLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1650D/A1/112/148MF536
RICHARDS, ThomasHinton WaldristYeoman1727D/A1/113/162MF537
RICHARDS, ThomasHinton WaldristYeoman1758D/A1/114/33MF537
RICHARDS, ThomasWoottonYeoman1760D/A1/114/36MF537
RICHARDS, ThomasHinton WaldristYeoman1766D/A1/211/159MF96091
RICHARDS, WilliamDraytonHusbandman1665D/A1/113/16MF536
RICHARDS, WilliamReading1689D/A1/113/80MF536
RICHARDS, WilliamWoottonYeoman1724D/A1/113/158MF537
RICHARDS, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1733D/A1/113/181MF537
RICHARDS, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1737D/A1/113/187MF537
RICHARDS, WilliamWoottonYeoman1802D/A1/161/2MF583
RICHARDS, WilliamWoottonYeoman1841D/A1/161/44MF583
RICHARDS, WilliamTubneyYeoman1849D/A1/161/58MF583
RICHARDSON , JohnShrivenhamYeoman1683D/A1/113/67MF536
RICHARDSON, JohnGreat CoxwellHusbandman1582D/A1/10/312MF10047A
RICHARDSON, ThomasReading St Mary1559D/A1/8/173MF10043C
RICHARDSON, ThomasReading St Mary1560D/A1/210/168MF96088
RICHARDSON, ThomasWootton, CumnorYeoman1673D/A1/113/40MF536
RICHARDSON, William SnrWallingfordBasket Maker1644D/A1/112/136MF536
RICHENS, RichardInkpenYeoman1847D/A1/161/53MF583
RICHENS, WilliamWelford1846D/A1/161/51MF583
RICHERD, JohnBurghfield1522D/A1/1/058MF10041
RICHMOND, JohnBeckett, Shrivenham1668D/A1/211/53MF96090
RICHUDS, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1688D/A1/113/77MF536
RICKARDES, JudithLongcot, Shrivenham1665D/A1/211/45MF96090
RICKARDES, Theophilus JnrLongcot, Shrivenham1665D/A1/211/46 MF96090
RICKARDS, Oliver SnrLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1695D/A1/113/96MF31702
RICKBY, MargeryAston Tirrold1615D/A1/112/010 D/A1/15/501MF536 MF10065
RICKETS, HenryMarcham1806D/A1/231/4MF96129
RICKETTES, OliverLongcot, Shrivenham1608D/A1/210/232 D/A1/168/029MF96089 MF96001
RICKETTS, WilliamReadingMiller1689D/A1/211/81MF96091
RICKFORD, CharlesSpeenCarpenter1853D/A1/231/29MF96129
RICKFORD, RichardShaw Cum DonningtonMiller1854D/A1/161/66MF583
RIDEN, RichardLambourn1545D/A1/210/146MF96088
RIDER, AnthonyLambournYeoman1622D/A1/112/047MF536
RIDER, AnthonyChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1691D/A1/113/82MF536
RIDER, AnthonySparsholtYeoman1727D/A1/113/164MF537