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
ALDER, JoanGarford, Marcham1630D/A1/36/115MF459
ALDER, JoanBuckland1660D/A1/37/7MF460
ALDER, JohnStanford In The ValeHusbandman1622D/A1/173/108MF96006
ALDER, JohnFaringdonClerk1704D/A1/38/15MF461
ALDER, JohnDraytonYeoman1706D/A1/38/20MF461
ALDER, JohnBucklandYeoman1717D/A1/38/44MF461
ALDER, JohnGreat CoxwellBaker1742D/A1/174/162MF96009
ALDER, JohnDenchworthYeoman1780D/A1/38/185MF461
ALDER, JohnWest Challow, Letcombe Regis1780D/A1/38/184MF461
ALDER, JosephDrayton1687D/A1/174/85MF96008
ALDER, JosephNewburyYeoman1701D/A1/38/3MF461
ALDER, MargaretAbingdon1749D/A1/38/130MF461
ALDER, MargeryPeasemore1660D/A1/37/9MF460
ALDER, MarthaDenchworth1672D/A1/174/60MF96008
ALDER, MartinComptonHusbandman1607D/A1/173/078MF96006
ALDER, RichardComptonHusbandman1606D/A1/36/002 D/A1/14/140MF459 MF10064
ALDER, RichardAbingdonYeoman1627D/A1/16/107MF10066
ALDER, RichardStanford In The ValeYeoman1633D/A1/36/133MF460
ALDER, RichardEast SheffordYeoman1639D/A1/16/555MF10066
ALDER, RichardBucklandYeoman1676D/A1/37/69MF460
ALDER, RichardFawler, Sparsholt1689D/A1/37/115MF460
ALDER, RichardWhite WalthamHusbandman1690D/A1/174/94MF96008
ALDER, RichardLetcombe BassettSawyer1826D/A1/144/32MF557
ALDER, RobertAldermaston1605D/A1/36/007MF459
ALDER, RobertWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1681D/A1/37/90MF460
ALDER, ThomasChildrey1580D/A1/10/222MF10047A
ALDER, ThomasFawleyHusbandman1619D/A1/36/058 D/A1/15/881MF459 MF10065
ALDER, ThomasStanford In The ValeYeoman1641D/A1/36/170MF460
ALDER, ThomasDrayton1689D/A1/174/92MF96008
ALDER, ThomasWest HanneyYeoman1769D/A1/38/167MF461
ALDER, WilliamDenchworthHusbandman1553D/A1/35/030 D/A1/7/016MF459 MF10040
ALDER, WilliamDenchworthHusbandman1669D/A1/174/54MF96008
ALDER, WilliamDenchworthLabourer1729D/A1/38/81MF461
ALDER, William SnrDenchworthHusbandman1639D/A1/36/155MF460
ALDER, William SnrColeshillYeoman1670D/A1/37/50MF460
ALDERIDGE, JohnSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1637D/A1/36/150MF460
ALDERLY, ArthurOxford, OxfordshireFellow Of New College1559D/A1/173/009MF96006
ALDERMAN, ThomasWoolhamptonGardener1707D/A1/174/129MF96008
ALDERS, RichardSteventonYeoman, Tanner1633D/A1/173/124MF96006
ALDERS, RichardSteventonYeoman1633D/A1/168/250MF96001
ALDEWORTH, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1554D/A1/35/033MF459
ALDEWORTH, WilliamFrilford, Marcham1559D/A1/173/012MF96006
ALDEWORTHE, ThomasUffington1537D/A1/1/229MF10042
ALDRIDG, JohnCookhamYeoman1648D/A1/36/194MF460
ALDRIDGE, BennetAbingdonLinen Draper, Parish Clerk1678D/A1/174/71MF96008
ALDRIDGE, EleanorAbingdon1681D/A1/37/88MF460
ALDRIDGE, GeorgeUfton Nervet1704D/A1/174/120MF96008
ALDRIDGE, JohnSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1637D/A1/16/451MF10066
ALDRIDGE, JohnCookham Dean, CookhamHusbandman1662D/A1/37/20MF460
ALDRIDGE, PhiladelphiaCookham1678D/A1/174/68MF96008
ALDRIDGE, RichardCookham1697D/A1/37/134MF460
ALDRIDGE, RichardBrightwellYeoman1736D/A1/38/93MF461
ALDRIDGE, Richard SnrSlade End, BrightwellYeoman1693D/A1/37/124MF460
ALDRIGE, JohnLongworthHusbandman1689D/A1/37/113MF460
ALDRIGHTE, RichardFinchampsteadHusbandman1605D/A1/36/003 D/A1/14/113MF459 MF10064
ALDSWORTH, JamesBuckland1791D/A1/174/193MF96009
ALDSWORTH, JohnBesselsleigh1781D/A1/174/190MF96009
ALDSWORTH, WilliamMarchamInnholder1748D/A1/174/170/1MF96009
ALDUR, RichardBaulking, Uffington1557D/A1/7/144MF10040
ALDUR, RichardBaulking, Uffington1557D/A1/35/040MF459
ALDWORTH , Francis SnrDrayton1719D/A1/174/134MF96008
ALDWORTH , Thomas SnrBradfieldWheelwright1723D/A1/38/56MF461
ALDWORTH , WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1552D/A1/5/179MF10043A
ALDWORTH , William SnrDrayton1856D/A1/226/27MF96122
ALDWORTH, AliceDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1622D/A1/16/216MF10066
ALDWORTH, AliceAbingdon St Helen1628D/A1/36/109MF459
ALDWORTH, AliceDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1631D/A1/173/119 D/A1/168/201MF96006 MF96001
ALDWORTH, AnnDrayton1698D/A1/174/108MF96008
ALDWORTH, AnnAppleton1715D/A1/38/38MF461
ALDWORTH, AnneLongworth1720D/A1/174/136MF96008
ALDWORTH, DeborahDenchworth1765D/A1/38/159MF461
ALDWORTH, EdwardMarcham1621D/A1/36/081MF459
ALDWORTH, FannyLetcombe Regis1809D/A1/226/5MF96122
ALDWORTH, GeorgeStanford DingleyTailor1704D/A1/38/16MF461
ALDWORTH, JamesReadingCordwainer1667D/A1/174/46MF96007
ALDWORTH, JamesReading St LaurenceCordwainer1704D/A1/174/119MF96008
ALDWORTH, JeanDrayton1682D/A1/37/95MF460
ALDWORTH, JoanUffington1558D/A1/173/010 D/A1/167/101MF96006 MF96000
ALDWORTH, JoanGarford, Marcham1630D/A1/173/120 D/A1/168/191MF96006 MF96001
ALDWORTH, JoanReading1672D/A1/174/59MF96008
ALDWORTH, JohnSutton Courtenay1545D/A1/6/056MF10043B
ALDWORTH, JohnSutton Courtenay1545D/A1/35/008MF459
ALDWORTH, John1562D/A1/167/123MF96000
ALDWORTH, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1601D/A1/173/068 D/A1/13/718MF96006 MF10049
ALDWORTH, JohnChildreyYeoman1678D/A1/37/76MF460
ALDWORTH, JohnDraytonYeoman1706D/A1/38/20MF461
ALDWORTH, JohnMarchamMaltster1737D/A1/38/96MF461
ALDWORTH, JohnHarwell1743D/A1/38/118MF461
ALDWORTH, JohnChildreyYeoman1749D/A1/38/128MF461
ALDWORTH, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1757D/A1/38/141MF461
ALDWORTH, JohnAppletonSchoolmaster1765D/A1/38/157MF461
ALDWORTH, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1797D/A1/38/201MF461
ALDWORTH, MartinComptonHusbandman1607D/A1/173/078MF96006
ALDWORTH, MartinCompton1607D/A1/168/025MF96001
ALDWORTH, NicholasFrilford, MarchamYeoman1624D/A1/36/096MF459
ALDWORTH, RichardSutton Courtenay1562D/A1/167/119MF96000
ALDWORTH, RichardFrilford, Marcham1589D/A1/35/210 D/A1/11/224MF459 MF10047B
ALDWORTH, RichardLetcombe Regis1643D/A1/16/638MF10066
ALDWORTH, RichardLetcombe RegisDoctor Of Law1701D/A1/38/4MF461
ALDWORTH, RobertTilehurstHusbandman1611D/A1/36/024 D/A1/15/195MF459 MF10065