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
LAWRENCE, Thomas JnrLittle WittenhamHusbandman1647D/A1/202/108MF96065
LAWRENCE, Thomas SnrChiltonClerk1692D/A1/203/37MF96066
LAWRENCE, WilliamNew Windsor, Windsor1584D/A1/92/055 D/A1/10/455MF534 MF10047A
LAWRENCE, WilliamEast GarstonLabourer1630D/A1/93/051MF534
LAWRENCE, WilliamHenwick, Thatcham1648D/A1/202/115MF96065
LAWRENCE, WilliamStreatleyYeoman1689D/A1/94/108MF568
LAWRENCE, WilliamAbingdonVictualler1793D/A1/95/231MF569
LAWRENCE, WilliamChildreyYeoman1836D/A1/156/83MF581
LAWRENCE, WilliamShinfieldServant1837D/A1/157/6MF581
LAWRENCE, William SnrLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1709D/A1/211/113MF96091
LAWRENCE, William YevillySutton CourtenayMaltster1844D/A1/157/25MF581
LAWRENS, AliceAston Tirrold1562D/A1/91/054 D/A1/91/060 D/A1/7/350 D/A1/167/117MF533 MF533 MF10040 MF96000
LAWRENS, WilliamAston TirroldHusbandman1558D/A1/91/042 D/A1/7/350MF533 MF10040
LAY , GeorgeDraycott Moor, Longworth1614D/A1/92/176 D/A1/15/487MF534 MF10065
LAY, AliceSutton Courtenay1857D/A1/157/54MF581
LAY, CharlesAbingdonShoemaker1850D/A1/157/40MF581
LAY, Elizabeth AnnWantage1853D/A1/229/96MF96126
LAY, JamesLongworthYeoman1796D/A1/95/238MF569
LAY, JosephCholseyYeoman1854D/A1/157/46MF581
LAY, WilliamLongworth1744D/A1/95/152MF569
LAYCOCK, AnneReading St Giles1731D/A1/203/108MF96066
LAYCOCK, FrancisReadingVictualler1707D/A1/203/63MF96066
LAYE, ThomasHill End, Cumnor1614D/A1/92/175 D/A1/15/485MF534 MF10065
LAYNE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1553D/A1/4/109 D/A1/5/194MF604 MF10043A
LAYNGLEY, John1550D/A1/201/126MF96062
LAYTON, EleanorStratfield Mortimer1634D/A1/202/086 D/A1/168/264MF96065 MF96001
LAYTON, JohnTilehurstYeoman1740D/A1/203/115MF96066
LAYTON, JohnReadingPlumber, Glazier 1815D/A1/156/47MF581
LAYTON, MaryEnglefield1760D/A1/203/137MF96066
LAZINGBY, WilliamReadingVictualler1741D/A1/203/119MF96066
LEA, RichardDraycott Moor, Longworth1592D/A1/92/084 D/A1/12/026MF534 MF10048
LEACH , MargeryColeshill1619D/A1/202/051MF96064
LEACH , Rose SnrSteventon1715D/A1/95/46MF568
LEACH , WilliamKennington, Radley1597D/A1/92/113 D/A1/13/233MF534 MF10049
LEACH, AnnNewbury1730D/A1/95/102MF569
LEACH, EdwardEast Garston1749D/A1/203/129MF96066
LEACH, EdwardLambourn1806D/A1/156/34MF581
LEACH, ElizabethKennington1611D/A1/92/161 D/A1/15/166MF534 MF10065
LEACH, ElizabethLambourn1825D/A1/156/75MF581
LEACH, FrancisPurleyHusbandman1661D/A1/94/14MF568
LEACH, JamesHurleyLabourer1855D/A1/229/100MF96126
LEACH, JaneEast Garston1754D/A1/95/168MF569
LEACH, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1686D/A1/73/120MF522
LEACH, JohnReading St GilesWaggon Master1815D/A1/156/52MF581
LEACH, JohnReadingTinman1847D/A1/157/32MF581
LEACH, KatherineWallingford St MarySeamster1622D/A1/93/008MF534
LEACH, LeonardNewburyBlacksmith1722D/A1/95/68MF568
LEACH, MagdalenPurley1661D/A1/202/119MF96065
LEACH, MichaelWallingford St MaryWeaver1668D/A1/46/38MF466
LEACH, RichardShefford Woodlands, West SheffordHusbandman1629D/A1/93/040MF534
LEACH, RichardEast GarstonYeoman1698D/A1/94/128MF568
LEACH, ShearmanReading1834D/A1/156/82MF581
LEACH, ThomasBinfieldFarmer1807D/A1/156/37MF581
LEACH, WilliamWallingford St PeterLabourer1660D/A1/178/53 MF96015
LEACH, WilliamColeshillHusbandman1662D/A1/202/125MF96065
LEACH, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1752D/A1/95/160MF569
LEACHE, ChristopherWallingford St MaryTailor1633D/A1/93/065MF534
LEACHE, HenryColeshillHusbandman1610D/A1/202/033MF96064
LEACHE, JohnWallingford St MaryTailor1621D/A1/93/002MF534
LEACHE, MargeryBuckland Marsh, Buckland1596D/A1/92/096 D/A1/12/320MF534 MF10048
LEACHE, MargeryColeshill1619D/A1/168/159MF96001
LEACHE, RichardDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonHusbandman1595D/A1/92/095 D/A1/12/213MF534 MF10048
LEACHE, RobertNew Windsor, Windsor1539D/A1/6/146MF10043B
LEACHE, ThomasWallingford St MaryWeaver1643D/A1/93/117MF568
LEACHE, WinifredWallingford St Mary1643D/A1/93/118MF568
LEADER, WilliamColeshillLabourer1822D/A1/156/70MF581
LEAKE , RogerBoxfordYeoman1668D/A1/94/42MF568
LEAKE, AnneNew Windsor, Windsor1639D/A1/93/096MF534
LEARPIN, JoanSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1601D/A1/92/127 D/A1/13/635MF534 MF10049
LEASYE, JohnBourton, Shrivenham1594D/A1/92/094 D/A1/12/185MF534 MF10048
LEAUCE, ThomasEast HendredHusbandman1699D/A1/94/136MF568
LEAVENS, RichardBotley, Cumnor1665D/A1/202/128MF96065
LEAVER (ALIAS JUSTICE), MarySutton Courtenay1725D/A1/199/191MF96058
LEAVER, AliceFawley1740D/A1/95/137MF569
LEAVER, AnneNorth Moreton1594D/A1/92/090MF534
LEAVER, CharlesReading St Mary1801D/A1/156/26MF581
LEAVER, ChristopherBrightwellHusbandman1629D/A1/93/038MF534
LEAVER, DennisNorth Moreton1626D/A1/202/070MF96065
LEAVER, EdwardCholseyYeoman1660D/A1/94/5MF568
LEAVER, EdwardBinfieldYeoman1727D/A1/95/87MF569
LEAVER, ElizabethNorth Moreton1619D/A1/92/198MF534
LEAVER, ElizabethNorth Moreton1629D/A1/93/041MF534
LEAVER, ElizabethBrightwell1857D/A1/157/55MF581
LEAVER, FrancesNorth MoretonYeoman1644D/A1/93/127MF568
LEAVER, FrancesMarcham1761D/A1/203/138MF96066
LEAVER, FrancisNorth MoretonYeoman1710D/A1/95/35MF568
LEAVER, FrancisNorth MoretonYeoman1710D/A1/95/35MF568
LEAVER, FrancisBrightwell1729D/A1/203/106MF96066
LEAVER, Francis SnrNorth MoretonYeoman1698D/A1/94/127MF568
LEAVER, GeorgeNorth Moreton1588D/A1/92/064 D/A1/11/168MF534 MF10047B
LEAVER, JamesBrightwell1591D/A1/92/082 D/A1/11/399MF534 MF10047B
LEAVER, JamesNorth Moreton1629D/A1/16/166MF10066
LEAVER, JamesMackney, BrightwellYeoman1665D/A1/94/30MF568
LEAVER, JamesBrightwell1730D/A1/95/100MF569
LEAVER, JamesNorth Moreton1754D/A1/95/167MF569
LEAVER, JaneCholsey1670D/A1/94/52MF568
LEAVER, JohnBrightwell1580D/A1/10/245MF10047A
LEAVER, JohnWinterbourne, Chieveley1587D/A1/11/160MF10047B
LEAVER, JohnMoulsford, Cholsey1589D/A1/201/181MF96063
LEAVER, JohnMoulsford, Cholsey1589D/A1/11/185MF10047B