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
CARTER, ThomasBuckleburyHusbandman1607D/A1/53/180 D/A1/14/314MF472 MF10064
CARTER, ThomasWoolhampton1609D/A1/53/200MF472
CARTER, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1610D/A1/53/213 D/A1/15/078MF472 MF10065
CARTER, ThomasBrayHusbandman1619D/A1/54/045 D/A1/15/930MF473 MF10065
CARTER, ThomasAbingdonCarrier1627D/A1/54/142MF473
CARTER, ThomasReading St MaryBroad Weaver1641D/A1/183/009MF96025
CARTER, ThomasEastbury, LambournCloth Worker (Fuller)1665D/A1/56/75MF474
CARTER, ThomasNewburyCloth Worker1667D/A1/56/95MF474
CARTER, ThomasHurleyHusbandman1687D/A1/184/55MF96026
CARTER, ThomasLong WittenhamYeoman1703D/A1/58/68MF476
CARTER, ThomasAldermastonYeoman1712D/A1/58/132MF476
CARTER, ThomasThatcham1727D/A1/185/52MF96028
CARTER, ThomasStanford DingleyYeoman1757D/A1/60/21MF513
CARTER, ThomasNewburySurgeon1855D/A1/149/64MF559
CARTER, Thomas JnrWoolhampton1591D/A1/53/015 D/A1/12/013MF472 MF10048
CARTER, WalterStanford In The Vale Yeoman1685D/A1/57/62MF475
CARTER, WilliamStanford Dingley1553D/A1/181/027MF96021
CARTER, WilliamBeenhamYeoman1587D/A1/52/152 D/A1/11/145aMF472 MF10047B
CARTER, WilliamAbingdonYeoman1604D/A1/53/154 D/A1/13/1375MF472 MF10049
CARTER, WilliamCookham1615D/A1/182/018MF96023
CARTER, WilliamCookham1615D/A1/168/116MF96001
CARTER, WilliamHagbourneYeoman1624D/A1/54/102MF473
CARTER, WilliamKintburyClerk1625D/A1/54/116MF472
CARTER, WilliamStratfield MortimerLabourer1638D/A1/182/129MF96024
CARTER, WilliamBuscotHusbandman1644D/A1/183/026MF90625
CARTER, WilliamAshburyHusbandman1669D/A1/183/94MF96025
CARTER, WilliamLong Wittenham1688D/A1/184/61MF96026
CARTER, WilliamBuckland1743D/A1/59/211MF513
CARTER, WilliamLongworthYeoman1785D/A1/60/132MF513
CARTOR, EphraimEasthampstead1707D/A1/58/102MF476
CARTOR, RichardCrookham, Thatcham1663D/A1/56/58MF474
CARTTER, JohnMaidenhead, Bray1663D/A1/56/52MF474
CARTTER, JohnBrayHusbandman1685D/A1/57/59MF475
CARTTER, NicholasEast Ilsley1552D/A1/233/353MF96132
CARTWRIGHT, JohnWindsor1733D/A1/59/136MF513
CARTWRIGHT, ThomasShrivenham1742D/A1/59/200MF513
CARVAR, ThomasStanford Dingley1563D/A1/51/210 D/A1/8/263MF470 MF10043C
CARVER, IsabelCompton1543D/A1/6/055MF10043B
CARVER, JoanCompton 1577D/A1/181/078MF96021
CARVER, JoanWargrave1637D/A1/182/115MF96024
CARVER, JohnComptonHusbandman1563D/A1/51/202 D/A1/8/234MF470 MF10043C
CARVER, JohnComptonHusbandman1573D/A1/52/044 D/A1/9/352MF471 MF10046
CARVER, MarianMarlston, Bucklebury1610D/A1/53/210 D/A1/15/103MF472 MF10065
CARWOOD, WilliamSutton CourtenayYeoman1790D/A1/60/153MF513
CARY , MarySutton Courtenay1637D/A1/55/072MF473
CARY, AnneSutton Courtenay1702D/A1/58/62MF476
CARY, EdmundMiltonYeoman1728D/A1/59/101MF513
CARY, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1633D/A1/182/094MF96023
CARY, JohnSutton Courtenay1633D/A1/168/239MF96001
CARY, SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1700D/A1/17/14MF10079
CARYE, JohnAbingdon St HelenMercer1559D/A1/51/161 D/A1/8/144MF470 MF10043C
CARYE, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1623D/A1/54/088MF473
CARYE, RichardAbingdonCordwainer1636D/A1/55/050 D/A1/182/108MF473 MF96024
CASBEARD, RichardHagbourneCarpenter1661D/A1/183/61MF96025
CASBERD, JamesKingston BagpuizeYeoman1604D/A1/53/156 D/A1/13/1373MF472 MF10049
CASBERD, JohnLockinge1549D/A1/181/016MF96021
CASBERDE, HesterKingston Bagpuize1616D/A1/54/012 D/A1/15/572MF473 MF10065
CASBERDE, WilliamBrightwellHusbandman1571D/A1/52/037 D/A1/9/274MF471 MF10046
CASBERTT, NicholasKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1573D/A1/52/042 D/A1/9/386MF471 MF10046
CASBIRD, JaneReading1692D/A1/57/112MF475
CASBIRD, WilliamWallingfordGardener1701D/A1/184/131MF96026
CASBORNE, JohnMackney, BrightwellTailor1592D/A1/53/038 D/A1/12/058MF472 MF10048
CASBURIE, ThomasChiltonLabourer1633D/A1/55/022MF473
CASEBERTE, HenryAston TirroldHusbandman1591D/A1/53/020 D/A1/11/386MF472 MF10047B
CASELL, JamesBuscotYeoman1691D/A1/57/100MF475
CASTEL, AliceBenham Valence, Speen1612D/A1/53/232 D/A1/15/266MF472 MF10065
CASTEL, GabrielWest HendredYeoman1684D/A1/57/54MF475
CASTELL, AgnesEast Ginge, West Hendred1567D/A1/52/011 D/A1/9/105MF471 MF10046
CASTELL, EdithBuckland1563D/A1/51/206 D/A1/8/241MF470 MF10043C
CASTELL, EdmundBucklandRaw Mason1582D/A1/52/108 D/A1/10/309MF471 MF10047A
CASTELL, Edward SnrBucklandYeoman1636D/A1/55/043MF473
CASTELL, ElizabethEast Hendred1678D/A1/56/170MF475
CASTELL, JoanBuckland1554D/A1/51/065 D/A1/7/054MF469 MF10040
CASTELL, JohnEast Ginge, West Hendred1541D/A1/2/136MF604
CASTELL, JohnReading St Mary1579D/A1/181/091MF96019
CASTELL, JohnReading St Mary1579D/A1/10/188MF10047A
CASTELL, JohnBrightwellFarmer1846D/A1/148/98MF558
CASTELL, John SnrWest IlsleyShepherd1660D/A1/183/49MF96025
CASTELL, MaryWytham1807D/A1/147/81MF558
CASTELL, PernellDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1605D/A1/181/192 D/A1/14/186MF96022 MF10064
CASTELL, RichardWest Hendred1558D/A1/181/125MF96024
CASTELL, RichardWest Ginge, East Lockinge1558D/A1/167/103MF96000
CASTELL, RichardBenham, SpeenHusbandman1589D/A1/53/004 D/A1/11/220MF472 MF10047B
CASTELL, RichardStanford In The ValeBlacksmith1604D/A1/53/149 D/A1/13/1230MF472 MF10049
CASTELL, RichardReading St LaurenceCordwainer1617D/A1/182/026MF90624
CASTELL, RichardReading1617D/A1/168/146MF96001
CASTELL, RichardUffingtonYeoman1620D/A1/54/057MF473
CASTELL, RichardSandford1644D/A1/183/028MF90625
CASTELL, RichardKingston Bagpuize Yeoman1688D/A1/57/77MF475
CASTELL, RichardUffingtonYeoman1718D/A1/185/11MF96028
CASTELL, RichardWest HendredHusbandman1727D/A1/59/89MF476
CASTELL, RobertBuckland1615D/A1/54/006 D/A1/15/531MF473 MF10065
CASTELL, ThomasBuckland1558D/A1/51/153 D/A1/7/243MF472 MF10040
CASTELL, Thomas1590D/A1/53/013 D/A1/11/342MF472 MF10047B
CASTELL, ThomasEast Hendred1635D/A1/55/028MF473
CASTELL, ThomasEast HendredYeoman1660D/A1/56/14MF474
CASTELL, ThomasUffingtonYeoman1664D/A1/56/63MF474
CASTELL, ThomasBasildonLabourer1674D/A1/183/130MF96025
CASTELL, William1544D/A1/181/008MF90621
CASTELL, WilliamBuckland1553D/A1/7/338bMF10040