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
WILLIAMS, DorothyKingston Bagpuize1630D/A1/16/258MF10066
WILLIAMS, EdmundWythamInnkeeper1681D/A1/223/16MF96116
WILLIAMS, ElizabethWinkfield1745D/A1/224/135MF96120
WILLIAMS, ElizabethAbingdonShopkeeper, Grocer1751D/A1/141/38MF555
WILLIAMS, EstherShrivenham1724D/A1/224/47MF96119
WILLIAMS, EvanUffingtonClerk1691D/A1/138/145MF554
WILLIAMS, FrancisLongcot, Shrivenham Husbandman1716D/A1/224/15MF96119
WILLIAMS, GeorgeReadingVictualler1842D/A1/165/113MF585
WILLIAMS, HannahSilchester , Hampshire1802D/A1/232/116MF96131
WILLIAMS, HannahEast Ilsley1822D/A1/232/77MF96131
WILLIAMS, HenryWantageCloth Worker1651D/A1/222/040 D/A1/169/103MF96114 MF96002
WILLIAMS, JamesRadcot, Langford, OxfordshireYeoman1772D/A1/141/141MF556
WILLIAMS, JamesReading St Mary1845D/A1/166/14MF585
WILLIAMS, JamesFaringdonTailor1855D/A1/166/63MF585
WILLIAMS, Jemima TubbSpeen1844D/A1/166/8MF585
WILLIAMS, JoanAbingdon1727D/A1/224/57MF96119
WILLIAMS, JohnLong WittenhamYeoman1613D/A1/134/088 D/A1/15/328MF551 MF10065
WILLIAMS, JohnBinfield1624D/A1/16/069MF10066
WILLIAMS, JohnDedworth, WindsorHusbandman1625D/A1/221/099MF96113
WILLIAMS, JohnUniversity, Oxford, OxfordshireApothocary1641D/A1/16/607MF10066
WILLIAMS, JohnAbingdonPin Maker1643D/A1/137/013MF553
WILLIAMS, JohnDraytonYeoman1701D/A1/139/70MF554
WILLIAMS, JohnAbingdonHemp Dresser1716D/A1/224/12MF96119
WILLIAMS, JohnAbingdonBargemaster1757D/A1/141/68MF555
WILLIAMS, JohnShrivenhamYeoman1766D/A1/141/109MF555
WILLIAMS, JohnEast IlsleyMason1835D/A1/232/106MF96131
WILLIAMS, JohnAldermaston1848D/A1/166/30MF585
WILLIAMS, JohnStanford In The ValeCarpenter1853D/A1/166/54MF585
WILLIAMS, JosephShrivenham1812D/A1/232/60MF96131
WILLIAMS, MargaretNewbury1628D/A1/135/077MF552
WILLIAMS, MargerySutton Courtenay1742D/A1/140/189MF555
WILLIAMS, MaryLambourn1819D/A1/165/13MF584
WILLIAMS, PaulHurleyWoodmonger1630D/A1/221/120/1 D/A1/168/192MF96113 MF96001
WILLIAMS, PhilipEnborneParish Clerk1585D/A1/133/090 D/A1/11/034MF550 MF10047B
WILLIAMS, RichardEnborne1623D/A1/135/042MF552
WILLIAMS, RichardEnborne1623D/A1/135/007MF552
WILLIAMS, RichardDenchworthVicar1631D/A1/221/127 D/A1/168/213MF96113 MF96001
WILLIAMS, RichardAbingdonBoatman1694D/A1/223/110MF96118
WILLIAMS, RichardBinfieldYeoman1728D/A1/140/89MF555
WILLIAMS, RichardAbingdonShopkeeper, Yeoman1742D/A1/224/126MF96120
WILLIAMS, RobertCourage, ChieveleyLabourer1598D/A1/220/179MF96111
WILLIAMS, RobertChieveley1598D/A1/13/320MF10049
WILLIAMS, RobertChieveleyServant1686D/A1/138/112MF554
WILLIAMS, SamuelReading St Mary1807D/A1/232/54MF96131
WILLIAMS, SamuelKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1830D/A1/165/59MF585
WILLIAMS, SusannaAbingdon1700D/A1/223/141MF96118
WILLIAMS, ThomasThatchamMercer1620D/A1/134/180MF551
WILLIAMS, ThomasWallingford1717D/A1/140/1[?1a]MF555
WILLIAMS, ThomasLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1730D/A1/140/115MF555
WILLIAMS, ThomasEast IlsleyCarpenter1835D/A1/232/105MF96131
WILLIAMS, WilliamSulham 1635D/A1/221/137MF96113
WILLIAMS, WilliamSulhamFarmer1635D/A1/168/266MF96001
WILLIAMS, WilliamWhite WalthamYeoman1694D/A1/139/13MF554
WILLIAMS, WilliamAbingdonSackcloth Weaver1738D/A1/140/161MF555
WILLIAMS, WilliamBrightwell1745D/A1/140/222MF555
WILLIAMS, WilliamWallingfordSalesman1789D/A1/142/112MF556
WILLIAMS, WilliamWelfordYeoman1803D/A1/164/53MF584
WILLIAMSON, JohnSparsholtVicar, Clerk1633D/A1/221/133 D/A1/168/253MF96113 MF96001
WILLIAR, RichardLongcot, Shrivenham1604D/A1/134/019 D/A1/14/323MF551 MF10064
WILLIATT, JohnAbingdonCurrier1717D/A1/140/4MF555
WILLIEAR , Thomas SnrBeenhamCordwainer1769D/A1/141/124MF555
WILLIS , John SnrReadingCutler1729D/A1/140/104MF555
WILLIS , John SnrShinfieldBlacksmith1846D/A1/166/19MF585
WILLIS, AnthonyLongcot, Shrivenham 1807D/A1/164/71MF584
WILLIS, EdmundSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1689D/A1/223/66MF96117
WILLIS, EdwardSouth Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1632D/A1/135/111MF552
WILLIS, EdwardN. Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1684D/A1/138/98MF553
WILLIS, EdwardNorth Hinksey1729D/A1/140/99MF555
WILLIS, EdwardReadingYeoman1751D/A1/141/32MF555
WILLIS, FrancisGoosey, Stanford In The Vale 1704D/A1/223/165MF96118
WILLIS, FrancisSouth MoretonLabourer1811D/A1/164/88MF584
WILLIS, GeorgeStockcross, Speen Carpenter1825D/A1/165/38MF584
WILLIS, JacobTilehurstLabourer1708D/A1/139/138MF554
WILLIS, JamesNewburyCarpenter1575D/A1/132/263 D/A1/9/442MF550 MF10046
WILLIS, JamesBuckleburyLabourer1754D/A1/224/152MF96120
WILLIS, JaneSouth Hinksey1728D/A1/140/92MF555
WILLIS, JoelBurghfield1806D/A1/232/52MF96131
WILLIS, JohnNewburyYeoman1553D/A1/5/205MF10043A
WILLIS, JohnRadley1645D/A1/137/030MF553
WILLIS, JohnWest IlsleyYeoman1714D/A1/139/180MF554
WILLIS, JohnPadworth1720D/A1/224/30MF96119
WILLIS, JohnBray1728D/A1/140/93MF555
WILLIS, John SnrMoulsford, CholseyYeoman1641D/A1/136/102MF552
WILLIS, John SnrBinfieldHusbandman1652D/A1/137/061MF553
WILLIS, John SnrSouth Hinksey1662D/A1/137/95MF553
WILLIS, MagdalenSouth Hinksey, Cumnor1644D/A1/137/020MF553
WILLIS, MargeryNewbury1622D/A1/134/200MF552
WILLIS, MaryLambourn1697D/A1/223/121MF96118
WILLIS, MaryBuckleburyShoemaker1706D/A1/209/147 MF96083
WILLIS, MaryCumnor1771D/A1/141/137MF556
WILLIS, PeterBuckleburyYeoman1755D/A1/141/56MF555
WILLIS, RichardNewburyFelt Maker1662D/A1/222/62MF96114
WILLIS, RichardEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1754D/A1/141/50MF555
WILLIS, RobertReading St LaurenceMaltster1641D/A1/222/005 D/A1/169/103MF96114 MF96002
WILLIS, ThomasSouth Moreton1545D/A1/220/003MF96110
WILLIS, ThomasClapton, Kintbury1615D/A1/221/052MF96112
WILLIS, ThomasKintbury1615D/A1/168/117MF96001
WILLIS, ThomasWest SheffordHusbandman1617D/A1/134/155 D/A1/15/747MF551 MF10065
WILLIS, ThomasNorth HinkseyYeoman1717D/A1/139/197MF554
WILLIS, WalterNew Windsor, WindsorHusbandman1557D/A1/220/028MF96110