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, JaneWargrave1597D/A1/212/184MF96093
SMITH, JaneWargrave1597D/A1/13/187MF10049
SMITH, JaneYattendon1633D/A1/214/009MF96096
SMITH, JaneYattendon1633D/A1/168/246MF96001
SMITH, JaneWest Compton, Compton1640D/A1/119/124MF541
SMITH, JaneWest Shefford1695D/A1/122/65MF542
SMITH, JaneDidcot1709D/A1/122/187MF543
SMITH, JaneThatcham1737D/A1/124/86MF544
SMITH, JaneNewbury1801D/A1/161/134MF583
SMITH, JaneAbingdon1844D/A1/231/106MF96130
SMITH, JeromeAldermastonRug Weaver1638D/A1/16/488MF10066
SMITH, JoanEast Lockinge1629D/A1/118/129MF540
SMITH, JoanHolt, Kintbury1640D/A1/119/135MF541
SMITH, JoanBenham, Speen1642D/A1/214/060MF96096
SMITH, JoanSpeen1642D/A1/169/083MF96002
SMITH, JoanAbingdon1646D/A1/214/078MF96096
SMITH, JoanBasildon1662D/A1/214/100MF96097
SMITH, JoanAbingdon1667D/A1/120/154MF541
SMITH, JoanW. Ginge, Lockinge1668D/A1/120/162MF541
SMITH, JoanThatcham1702D/A1/69/78MF519
SMITH, JoanChilton1710D/A1/122/195MF543
SMITH, JoanChilton1710D/A1/122/195MF543
SMITH, Joel FranklandWest Ilsley1831D/A1/162/21MF583
SMITH, JohnChiltonYeoman1659D/A1/120/62MF541
SMITH, JohnHampstead NorrisCarpenter1660D/A1/120/65MF541
SMITH, JohnFifield, BrayYeoman1661D/A1/120/92MF541
SMITH, JohnTitcomb, KintburyYeoman1662D/A1/120/117MF541
SMITH, JohnBurghfield1662D/A1/120/116bMF541
SMITH, JohnFinchampsteadHusbandman1665D/A1/214/117MF96097
SMITH, JohnBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1670D/A1/214/146MF96097
SMITH, JohnArdingtonYeoman1670D/A1/121/9MF542
SMITH, JohnWasingYeoman1670D/A1/121/3MF542
SMITH, JohnEling, Hampstead NorrisYeoman1673D/A1/121/46MF542
SMITH, JohnNewburyChandler1675D/A1/214/170MF96097
SMITH, JohnSlade End, BrightwellYeoman1677D/A1/214/179MF96097
SMITH, JohnBerkshire1682D/A1/190/106MF96038
SMITH, JohnBenham Valence, SpeenTailor1683D/A1/215/13MF96098
SMITH, JohnBuckleburyCarpenter1691D/A1/215/73MF96098
SMITH, JohnWest SheffordHusbandman1693D/A1/215/81MF96098
SMITH, JohnThatchamHusbandman1695D/A1/215/102MF96098
SMITH, JohnBurghfield1697D/A1/215/115MF96098
SMITH, JohnNewburyPhysician1704D/A1/215/159MF96099
SMITH, JohnWythamYeoman1705D/A1/122/139MF543
SMITH, JohnThatchamYeoman1715D/A1/69/127MF519
SMITH, JohnBuckleburyKilnman1715D/A1/216/29MF96100
SMITH, JohnBradfieldYeoman1717D/A1/123/51MF543
SMITH, JohnThatchamMaltster1728D/A1/216/97MF96101
SMITH, JohnFrilford, Marcham Yeoman1729D/A1/124/5MF544
SMITH, JohnBishamHusbandman1730D/A1/124/12MF544
SMITH, JohnEnborne1733D/A1/216/127MF96101
SMITH, JohnEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1733D/A1/216/123MF96101
SMITH, JohnThatchamHusbandman1737D/A1/124/85MF544
SMITH, JohnUffingtonHusbandman1739D/A1/124/99MF544
SMITH, JohnLetcombe RegisYeoman1745D/A1/124/146MF544
SMITH, JohnLambournGlazier1754D/A1/124/196MF544
SMITH, JohnShellingfordLabourer1756D/A1/125/11MF544
SMITH, JohnWindsorCooper1781D/A1/125/121MF544
SMITH, JohnGreenham, Thatcham Gardener1785D/A1/125/134MF544
SMITH, JohnKintburyFarmer1793D/A1/125/162MF546
SMITH, JohnChieveley1797D/A1/125/178MF546
SMITH, JohnBray1799D/A1/125/186MF546
SMITH, JohnTilehurst1803D/A1/231/36MF96129
SMITH, JohnGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Yeoman1810D/A1/161/107MF583
SMITH, JohnReadingGardener1825D/A1/231/72MF96129
SMITH, JohnOare, ChieveleyYeoman1829D/A1/162/37MF583
SMITH, JohnSwallowfield1840D/A1/162/77MF583
SMITH, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1846D/A1/162/110MF583
SMITH, JohnDidcotFarmer1850D/A1/231/112MF96130
SMITH, JohnReading St Giles1855D/A1/163/38MF584
SMITH, JohnBenham Valence, Speen1547D/A1/233/247MF96132
SMITH, JohnBourton, Shrivenham1550D/A1/212/019MF96092
SMITH, JohnHamstead Marshall1556D/A1/3/184MF604
SMITH, JohnHamstead Park, Hamstead Marshall1559D/A1/212/045MF96092
SMITH, JohnBussock, Chieveley1560D/A1/167/112 D/A1/167/114MF96000 MF96000
SMITH, JohnHamstead Marshall1560D/A1/167/110MF96000
SMITH, JohnAshampstead1569D/A1/167/140MF96000
SMITH, JohnThatchamTailor1583D/A1/115/197 D/A1/10/371MF538 MF10047A
SMITH, JohnSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1587D/A1/115/235 D/A1/11/260MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1589D/A1/212/146MF96092
SMITH, JohnSteventonBlacksmith1589D/A1/212/135MF96092
SMITH, JohnSteventon1589D/A1/11/191MF10047B
SMITH, JohnTurville, Compton1590D/A1/212/154MF96092
SMITH, JohnReading St LaurenceClerk, Vicar1597D/A1/212/180 D/A1/13/185MF96093 MF10049
SMITH, JohnTurville, Compton1597D/A1/13/318MF10049
SMITH, JohnThe Parsonage, UffingtonParson, Husbandman1597D/A1/116/123 D/A1/13/075MF538 MF10049
SMITH, JohnHolt, Kintbury1598D/A1/116/156 D/A1/13/336MF539 MF10049
SMITH, JohnBucklandHusbandman1600D/A1/116/190 D/A1/13/580MF539 MF10049
SMITH, JohnSunninghillYeoman1603D/A1/116/226 D/A1/13/1107MF539 MF10049
SMITH, JohnWest Hanney, HanneyCarpenter1608D/A1/117/020 D/A1/14/501MF539 MF10064
SMITH, JohnWest IlsleyYeoman1610D/A1/117/037 D/A1/15/020MF539 MF10065
SMITH, JohnLetcombe RegisHusbandman1612D/A1/117/076 D/A1/15/258MF539 MF10065
SMITH, JohnNewbury1613D/A1/168/100MF96001
SMITH, JohnLangley, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1617D/A1/16/148MF10066
SMITH, JohnBeedonYeoman1617D/A1/117/138 D/A1/15/699MF539 MF10065
SMITH, JohnHampstead NorreysHusbandman1619D/A1/117/156 D/A1/15/898MF539 MF10065
SMITH, JohnBussock, ChieveleyYeoman1620D/A1/213/114MF96095
SMITH, JohnBussock, Chieveley1621D/A1/168/166MF96001
SMITH, JohnEast Lockinge1623D/A1/213/131MF96095
SMITH, JohnTurville, ComptonYeoman1624D/A1/213/135MF96095
SMITH, JohnKintburyYeoman1625D/A1/118/079MF540