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
BLANDYE, ThomasLittle Wittenham1606D/A1/42/003 D/A1/14/225MF463 MF10064
BLANE, AnnBurghfield1815D/A1/145/80MF557
BLANFORD, AliceAshbury1556D/A1/39/080 D/A1/7/120MF461 MF10040
BLANFORD, EusebyIdstone, Ashbury1557D/A1/39/085MF461
BLANFORD, WilliamAshbury1533D/A1/1/256MF10042
BLANNFFORD, EusebyIdstone, Ashbury1558D/A1/6/149MF10043B
BLAUNCH, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1610D/A1/168/064MF96001
BLAUNCHE, AnneReading St Giles1633D/A1/44/055MF464
BLAUNCHE, ThomasStratfield MortimerYeoman1558D/A1/39/107 D/A1/7/201MF461 MF10040
BLAUNCHE, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1610D/A1/176/029MF96012
BLAY, JamesBasildonHusbandman1716D/A1/180/34MF96019
BLAY, ThomasStreatleyTailor1792D/A1/50/235MF469
BLAYGROVE, AnneLeckhampstead, Chieveley1691D/A1/47/159MF467
BLAYNCHE, GeorgeStratfield Mortimer1588D/A1/40/162 D/A1/11/288MF462 MF10047B
BLEAY, MartinGrandpont, OxfordshireMaltster1706D/A1/179/168MF96017
BLENCHE, MargaretStratfield Mortimer1550D/A1/39/043MF461
BLESAT , MaryEaston, Welford1692D/A1/48/1MF467
BLESSET, VincentWinterbourne, Chieveley1554D/A1/5/206MF10043A
BLESSETT, Joseph SnrSnelsmore, ChieveleyTailor1707D/A1/48/146MF467
BLESSYT, VincentWinterbourne, Chieveley1553D/A1/39/064MF461
BLICK, ThomasRemenhamYeoman1828D/A1/145/134MF557
BLIETH, ThomasBrimptonYeoman1663D/A1/45/123MF465
BLISET, WilliamEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1584D/A1/40/124 D/A1/10/433MF462 MF10047A
BLISETT, IsabelAbingdon1681D/A1/47/66MF466
BLISSAT, ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyTailor1671D/A1/46/75MF466
BLISSATTE, RichardWest Hanney, Hanney1605D/A1/41/194 D/A1/14/048MF463 MF10064
BLISSESS, WinifredElton, Welford (Inv.) & Welford (W.)1706D/A1/48/136MF467
BLISSET, AliceAbingdon1688D/A1/179/65 MF96017
BLISSET, FrancisSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1609D/A1/42/045 D/A1/14/543MF463 MF10064
BLISSET, JoanChieveley1581D/A1/40/103 D/A1/10/319MF462 MF10047A
BLISSET, JohnChieveleyHusbandman1579D/A1/40/083 D/A1/10/165MF462 MF10047A
BLISSET, JohnChieveleyYeoman1591D/A1/41/024 D/A1/12/010MF462 MF10048
BLISSET, John JnrChieveley1688D/A1/179/70MF96017
BLISSET, MaryHanney1623D/A1/43/100MF464
BLISSET, RobertWinterbourne, ChieveleyHusbandman1573D/A1/40/007MF462
BLISSET, RogerBesselsleigh1617D/A1/168/143MF96001
BLISSET, ThomasEaston, WelfordYeoman1685D/A1/179/41MF96016
BLISSET, Thomas SnrAbingdonWhittawer1683D/A1/179/10MF96016
BLISSET, Thomas SnrSnelsmore, ChieveleyYeoman1690D/A1/47/150MF467
BLISSET, WilliamMiltonClerk1679D/A1/178/184MF96015
BLISSET, WilliamWelfordYeoman1699D/A1/179/126MF96017
BLISSETT , Richard SnrReadingCloth Worker1719D/A1/49/35MF468
BLISSETT, DavidReadingGrocer1744D/A1/180/173MF96020
BLISSETT, JamesWinterbourne, Chieveley1668D/A1/46/33MF466
BLISSETT, JaneNewbury1714D/A1/48/216MF468
BLISSETT, JoanStratfield Mortimer1749D/A1/50/24MF469
BLISSETT, JohnNewburyBroad Weaver1607D/A1/42/022 D/A1/14/342MF463 MF10064
BLISSETT, JohnNorth Heath, Chieveley1621D/A1/43/071MF464
BLISSETT, JohnReadingButcher1706D/A1/179/169MF96017
BLISSETT, MaryWest Hanney, Hanney1622D/A1/176/087MF96012
BLISSETT, RichardHanneyHusbandman1640D/A1/44/125MF465
BLISSETT, RichardNewburyBrewer1704D/A1/48/117MF467
BLISSETT, RichardSouth MoretonYeoman1775D/A1/50/157MF469
BLISSETT, Richard SnrWinterbourne, ChieveleyYeoman1628D/A1/43/173MF464
BLISSETT, RogerBesselsleigh1617D/A1/176/060MF96012
BLISSETT, SarahThatcham1797D/A1/51/8MF469
BLISSETT, SarahWallingford1817D/A1/226/52MF96123
BLISSETT, ThomasWinterbourne, Chieveley1631D/A1/44/009MF464
BLISSETT, ThomasNewburyBrewer1672D/A1/46/87MF466
BLISSETT, ThomasLetcombe Regis1698D/A1/48/58MF467
BLISSETT, ThomasWelfordYeoman1698D/A1/179/129MF96017
BLISSETT, WilliamSouth MoretonYeoman1771D/A1/50/138MF469
BLITH, AliceSotwell1651D/A1/178/44MF96015
BLITH, AliceSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1651D/A1/178/044MF96015
BLIZARD, ThomasAppleton1810D/A1/226/39MF96123
BLIZZARD, SarahAppleton1855D/A1/147/45MF558
BLNGLEY, GilesStanford In The Vale Vicar1670D/A1/46/53MF466
BLOFELD, RachelAbingdon1805D/A1/145/18MF557
BLOUNDELL, JohnCookham1565D/A1/175/055MF96010
BLOUNT, MargaretAltwood, Bray1552D/A1/233/338MF96132
BLOWER, ChristopherSunningwell1727D/A1/49/107MF468
BLOWER, Christopher SnrSunningwell1693D/A1/179/103MF96017
BLOWER, ElizabethAbingdon1712D/A1/48/195MF467
BLOWER, MargaretSunningwell1743D/A1/49/253MF468
BLOWER, SamuelAbingdon1701D/A1/48/93MF467
BLUET, JohnWantage1533D/A1/1/286MF10042
BLUNDELL, FrancisCookhamBasket Maker1607D/A1/42/025 D/A1/14/359MF463 MF10064
BLUNDELL, JohnCookham1565D/A1/167/127MF96000
BLUNDEN, ThomasUfton NervetHusbandman1599D/A1/41/118 D/A1/13/407MF463 MF10049
BLUNDEY, MaryChaddleworth1718D/A1/49/19MF468
BLUNDY, BryantKintburyYeoman1760D/A1/50/93MF469
BLUNDY, JohnElcot, Kintbury1690D/A1/179/79MF96017
BLUNDYE, MaryReading1694D/A1/48/21MF467
BLUNDYE, ThomasReadingInnholder1691D/A1/179/89MF96017
BLUNT , EdwardReadingTanner1705D/A1/179/156MF96017
BLUNT, BartholomewInkpenTailor1626D/A1/16/147MF10066
BLUNT, DorothyLongworth1620D/A1/43/041MF464
BLUNT, GeorgeBuckleburyYeoman1674D/A1/178/160MF96015
BLUNT, George JnrSwallowfieldYeoman1628D/A1/43/169MF464
BLUNT, MargaretAltwood, Bray1552D/A1/4/025MF604
BLUNT, WilliamBray1540D/A1/39/006MF461
BLUNT, WilliamBray1540D/A1/1/207MF10042
BLUNT, WilliamFyfield Wick, FyfieldHusbandman1575D/A1/40/048 D/A1/9/459MF462 MF10046
BLUNT, WilliamSwallowfieldYeoman1579D/A1/40/084 D/A1/10/171MF462 MF10047A
BLUNTE, MargaretAltwood, Bray1552D/A1/5/158MF10043A
BLUNTE, RichardInkpenYeoman1603D/A1/41/174 D/A1/13/1042MF463 MF10049
BLUNTE, WilliamSwallowfield1568D/A1/39/234 D/A1/9/138MF462 MF10046
BLUNTT, RobertInkpen1558D/A1/39/098 D/A1/7/234MF461 MF10040
BLURING, JohnLambournYeoman1835D/A1/146/20MF557
BLY , HenryBrimptonYeoman1687D/A1/47/123MF467