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
SMITH, AvisSutton Courtenay1726D/A1/123/142MF543
SMITH, BenjaminBoxfordYeoman1731D/A1/124/38MF544
SMITH, BenjaminEast Lockinge1802D/A1/231/32MF96129
SMITH, CatherineAbingdon1674D/A1/214/166MF96097
SMITH, CecilyChieveley1601D/A1/116/198 D/A1/13/664MF539 MF10049
SMITH, CharityBurghfield1699D/A1/122/91MF542
SMITH, CharlesAshburyLabourer1743D/A1/216/170MF96101
SMITH, CharlesAbingdonCordwainer1853D/A1/163/27MF584
SMITH, ChristianStratfield Mortimer1586D/A1/115/221 D/A1/11/109MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, ChristianKingston Bagpuize1612D/A1/117/068 D/A1/15/208MF539 MF10065
SMITH, ChristianHagbourne1634D/A1/119/030MF540
SMITH, ChristopherBuckhurst, Sussex1635D/A1/16/443MF10066
SMITH, ChristopherHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1667D/A1/120/153MF541
SMITH, CurtisGreenham, ThatchamYeoman1669D/A1/120/173MF541
SMITH, DanielNorth HinkseyYeoman1692D/A1/122/35MF542
SMITH, DavyDrayton, Abingdon St HelenLabourer1595D/A1/116/102 D/A1/12/291MF538 MF10048
SMITH, DorothyNorth Moreton1712D/A1/123/16MF543
SMITH, EdithUffington1619D/A1/117/153 D/A1/15/879MF539 MF10065
SMITH, EdithUffington1632D/A1/168/222MF96001
SMITH, EdithUffington1632D/A1/119/001MF540
SMITH, EdmundWoolstone, UffingtonYeoman1633D/A1/119/023 D/A1/118/154MF540 MF540
SMITH, EdmundSutton Courtenay1659D/A1/120/139MF541
SMITH, EdwardKingston BagpuizeTailor1598D/A1/116/140 D/A1/13/246MF539 MF10049
SMITH, EdwardDunston, Thatcham1632D/A1/214/003MF96096
SMITH, EdwardThatcham1632D/A1/168/236MF96001
SMITH, EdwardWinkfieldHusbandman1638D/A1/119/096MF540
SMITH, EdwardBourton, Shrivenham1768D/A1/125/75MF544
SMITH, EdwardShrivenhamSurveyor1775D/A1/125/100MF544
SMITH, EdwardNewburyGardener1785D/A1/125/136MF544
SMITH, EdwardNewburyGardener1824D/A1/162/57MF583
SMITH, EdwardNewburyWatchmaker, Silversmith1833D/A1/162/16MF583
SMITH, ElizabethWaltham St Lawrence1641D/A1/119/147MF541
SMITH, ElizabethFrilsham1661D/A1/120/80MF541
SMITH, ElizabethChieveley1663D/A1/214/107MF96097
SMITH, ElizabethPangbourne1663D/A1/120/123MF541
SMITH, ElizabethHoe Benham, Welford1667D/A1/214/128MF96097
SMITH, ElizabethDrayton1673D/A1/121/51MF542
SMITH, ElizabethLong Wittenham1701D/A1/122/111MF542
SMITH, ElizabethReadingCorn Chandler1709D/A1/190/166MF96038
SMITH, ElizabethUffington1721D/A1/123/89MF543
SMITH, ElizabethNewbury1721D/A1/123/82MF543
SMITH, ElizabethAbingdon1725D/A1/123/127MF543
SMITH, ElizabethReading St Giles1736D/A1/124/81MF544
SMITH, ElizabethCaversham, Oxfordshire1824D/A1/162/56MF583
SMITH, ElizabethSteventon1833D/A1/162/3MF583
SMITH, EllenFrilford, Marcham1662D/A1/120/113MF541
SMITH, FlorenceUffington1588D/A1/116/009 D/A1/11/173MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, FrancisHenwick, Thatcham1629D/A1/16/152 D/A1/118/136MF10066 MF540
SMITH, FrancisEast Ilsley1751D/A1/124/181MF544
SMITH, FrancisBradfieldLabourer1788D/A1/125/142MF544
SMITH, FrancisReadingGrocer1799D/A1/125/185MF546
SMITH, FrancisThatcham1830D/A1/231/75MF96129
SMITH, FrancisColeshillFarmer, Dairyman 1842D/A1/162/88MF583
SMITH, GeorgeAbingdon1567D/A1/167/137MF96000
SMITH, GeorgeFinchampstead1600D/A1/13/441MF10049
SMITH, GeorgeBarton, Abingdon1603D/A1/213/022 D/A1/13/1018MF96094 MF10049
SMITH, GeorgeBradfieldYeoman1737D/A1/124/83MF544
SMITH, GeorgeKintburyServant1745D/A1/124/144MF544
SMITH, GeorgeEnborneYeoman1752D/A1/124/186MF544
SMITH, GeorgeLong Wittenham1754D/A1/124/193MF544
SMITH, GeorgeReadingDealer, Chapman 1778D/A1/125/115MF544
SMITH, GeorgeTilehurst1791D/A1/216/267MF96102
SMITH, GeorgeThatchamYeoman1824D/A1/161/105MF583
SMITH, GeorgeAbingdonCordwainer1849D/A1/163/8MF584
SMITH, GilesChieveleyHusbandman1575D/A1/115/120 D/A1/10/017MF538 MF10047A
SMITH, GregoryLangley, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1557D/A1/4/139 D/A1/9/014 D/A1/233/405MF604 MF10046 MF96132
SMITH, GregoryChieveleyHusbandman1599D/A1/212/187MF96093
SMITH, GregoryChieveley1599D/A1/13/427MF10049
SMITH, HelenChieveley1639D/A1/214/037MF96096
SMITH, HelenChieveley1639D/A1/169/083MF96002
SMITH, HenryHenwick, Thatcham1612D/A1/168/084MF96001
SMITH, HenryWestbrook, BoxfordBlacksmith1663D/A1/120/128MF541
SMITH, HenryEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1663D/A1/120/124MF541
SMITH, HenryMidgham, Thatcham1666D/A1/120/151MF541
SMITH, HenryAbingdonMaltster1677D/A1/121/85MF542
SMITH, HenryOld WindsorHusbandman1682D/A1/215/2MF96098
SMITH, HenryWaltham St. LawrenceButcher1682D/A1/121/129MF542
SMITH, HenryEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1713D/A1/123/19MF543
SMITH, HenryLongcot, Shrivenham Husbandman1716D/A1/123/45MF543
SMITH, HenryTilehurstHusbandman1719D/A1/216/48MF96100
SMITH, HenryBoxfordYeoman1725D/A1/123/124MF543
SMITH, HenryLambournYeoman1794D/A1/125/169MF546
SMITH, HenryFrilshamGardener1800D/A1/125/196MF546
SMITH, Henry Francis RGreat CoxwellYeoman1826D/A1/162/46MF583
SMITH, Henry JnrWestbrook, BoxfordYeoman1702D/A1/122/122MF543
SMITH, Henry SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1662D/A1/120/96MF541
SMITH, HezekiahBurghfieldHusbandman1711D/A1/216/10MF96100
SMITH, HughReadingClothier1662D/A1/120/97MF541
SMITH, HughReadingYeoman1713D/A1/123/22MF543
SMITH, HughHampstead Norreys1775D/A1/216/237MF96102
SMITH, HumphreyBrayYeoman1593D/A1/116/066 D/A1/12/085MF538 MF10048
SMITH, JacobTheale, TilehurstVictualler1814D/A1/231/53MF96129
SMITH, JamesBucklebury1686D/A1/121/164MF542
SMITH, JamesBasildonLabourer1754D/A1/124/195MF544
SMITH, JamesChiltonCordwainer1764D/A1/216/221MF96102
SMITH, JamesLambournClergyman1814D/A1/231/52MF96129
SMITH, JamesGrandpont, OxfordshireGardener1830D/A1/162/36MF583
SMITH, JamesWaltham St Lawrence1831D/A1/231/78MF96129
SMITH, JamesLambourn1835D/A1/231/87MF96129
SMITH, JamesGreat CoxwellInnkeeper1840D/A1/162/81MF583