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
CASTELL, WilliamBucklandHusbandman1553D/A1/181/025MF96021
CASTELL, WilliamEast Ginge, West HendredYeoman1586D/A1/11/003MF10047B
CASTELL, WilliamWest Ginge, East LockingeYeoman1638D/A1/55/078MF474
CASTELL, WilliamReading St LaurenceGrocer1669D/A1/183/95MF96025
CASTELL, WilliamUffingtonYeoman1685D/A1/184/41MF96026
CASTELMAN, RalphWhite Waltham1553D/A1/51/060 D/A1/7/003MF469 MF10040
CASTER, EdmundThatchamShoemaker1544D/A1/2/111MF604
CASTLE , John SnrWallingfordBlacksmith1762D/A1/60/48MF513
CASTLE , ThomasBucklandHusbandman1579D/A1/52/088 D/A1/10/186MF471 MF10047A
CASTLE , Thomas SnrEast HendredYeoman1723D/A1/59/56MF476
CASTLE, AmyWallingford1833D/A1/227/43MF96124
CASTLE, AnnEast Hendred1725D/A1/185/46MF96028
CASTLE, AnnWest Hendred1775D/A1/60/98MF513
CASTLE, AnthonyUffingtonYeoman1644D/A1/183/025MF96025
CASTLE, BenjaminHinton WaldristYeoman1814D/A1/147/104MF558
CASTLE, DavidStanford 1597D/A1/53/071 D/A1/13/068MF472 MF10049
CASTLE, EdmundWest HendredYeoman1855D/A1/149/65MF559
CASTLE, EdwardMarchamHusbandman1654D/A1/183/46MF96025
CASTLE, Edward SnrBucklandYeoman1636D/A1/16/401MF10066
CASTLE, Edward SnrBucklandYeoman1696D/A1/58/22MF476
CASTLE, ElizabethBuckland1723D/A1/59/58MF476
CASTLE, ElizabethBoxford1758D/A1/60/31MF513
CASTLE, ElizabethAbingdon1857D/A1/227/82MF96124
CASTLE, HannahWytham1839D/A1/148/62MF558
CASTLE, JamesAbingdonChemist And Druggist1849D/A1/227/70MF96124
CASTLE, JamesAbingdonChemist1849D/A1/149/45MF559
CASTLE, JaneEast Hendred1645D/A1/55/163MF473
CASTLE, JohnStanford In The ValeHusbandman1608D/A1/53/188 D/A1/14/426MF472 MF10064
CASTLE, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenJoiner1642D/A1/183/016MF96025
CASTLE, JohnWorld'S End, Hampstead NorrisYeoman1698D/A1/58/32MF476
CASTLE, JohnReading St LaurenceTallow Chandler1704D/A1/184/143MF96027
CASTLE, JohnArdington1717D/A1/59/6MF476
CASTLE, JohnWest HendredYeoman1741D/A1/59/186MF513
CASTLE, JohnHampstead NorreysFarmer1751D/A1/185/143MF96028
CASTLE, JohnWest HendredYeoman1788D/A1/60/144MF513
CASTLE, JohnKingston BagpuizeFarmer1828D/A1/148/35MF558
CASTLE, JosephHampstead Norreys1772D/A1/60/81MF513
CASTLE, KatherineStanford In The Vale1620D/A1/54/054MF473
CASTLE, KatherineUffington1727D/A1/185/55MF96028
CASTLE, NicholasAbingdonChapman1608D/A1/53/192 D/A1/14/447MF472 MF10064
CASTLE, RichardBeedonYeoman1686D/A1/57/66MF475
CASTLE, RichardKingston BagpuizeYeoman1739D/A1/59/170MF513
CASTLE, RichardWest HendredYeoman1855D/A1/149/66MF559
CASTLE, Richard SnrKingston BagpuizeYeoman1674D/A1/56/147MF475
CASTLE, SarahGrove, Wantage1842D/A1/227/57MF96124
CASTLE, ThomasEast HendredHusbandman1700D/A1/184/122MF96026
CASTLE, ThomasBoxfordYeoman1745D/A1/59/225MF513
CASTLE, ThomasReading St Giles1797D/A1/185/219MF96028
CASTLE, Thomas SnrHurleyYeoman1623D/A1/54/092MF473
CASTLE, WilliamEast Hendred1599D/A1/181/166MF96022
CASTLE, WilliamEast Hendred1599D/A1/13/429MF10049
CASTLE, WilliamEast HendredMiller1712D/A1/58/131MF476
CASTLE, WilliamBucklandYeoman1719D/A1/59/22MF476
CASTLE, William SnrEast HendredYeoman1697D/A1/184/98MF96026
CASTLEMAN, ThomasLittlewick, White WalthamHusbandman1572D/A1/52/040 D/A1/9/308MF471 MF10046
CASWELL, RichardGrazeley, Sulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1613D/A1/182/012MF90624
CASWELL, RichardSulhamstead Abbots1613D/A1/168/097MF96001
CATCHASIDE, JamesSutton CourtenayHusbandman1640D/A1/55/099MF474
CATCHER, JohnBinfield1639D/A1/16/493MF10066
CATE, RalphBuckleburyHusbandman1682D/A1/201/11MF96061
CATER, AliceWhite Waltham1545D/A1/5/019MF10043A
CATER, DorothyAbingdon1603D/A1/181/183MF90622
CATER, DorothyAbingdon1603D/A1/13/1021MF10049
CATER, JohnBray1559D/A1/51/133MF470
CATER, JohnEasthampsteadTanner1596D/A1/53/066 D/A1/12/430MF472 MF10048
CATER, RalphReading St GilesBrazier1595D/A1/53/060 D/A1/12/296MF472 MF10048
CATER, RichardBray1578D/A1/181/088MF96021
CATER, ThomasWhite WalthamYeoman1551D/A1/5/126MF10043A
CATER, WilliamUffington1546D/A1/51/043 D/A1/5/050MF469 MF10043A
CATES, GraceShaw Cum Donnington1741D/A1/59/184MF513
CATON, EdwardNewburyButcher1648D/A1/183/039MF96025
CATOWE, RichardSwallowfieldHusbandman1631D/A1/54/185MF473
CATTELL, JohnSonningVictualler1803D/A1/147/71MF558
CATTEN, ReynoldAldermastonHusbandman1587D/A1/52/159 D/A1/11/142MF472 MF10047B
CATTERER, ElizabethLong Wittenham1665D/A1/183/82 MF96025
CATTON, JohnStratfield Mortimer1579D/A1/52/086 D/A1/10/168MF471 MF10047A
CATTON, MargaretStratfield Mortimer1580D/A1/52/098 D/A1/10/283MF471 MF10047A
CATTON, Roger SnrStratfield MortimerTailor1624D/A1/182/048MF96023
CATTON, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1554D/A1/51/069MF469
CATTON, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1555D/A1/7/084MF10040
CATUR, ThomasWhite Waltham1545D/A1/51/040MF469
CATYSBE, WilliamMaidenhead, CookhamClerk1549D/A1/51/048 D/A1/5/086MF469 MF10043A
CAUDLEY, IsabelCumnor1585D/A1/11/007MF10047B
CAUDLEY, ThomasCumnorHusbandman1584D/A1/10/425MF10047A
CAUDLEY, WilliamEast Ilsley1598D/A1/181/153MF96022
CAUDRY, JohnGreenham, ThatchamYeoman1540D/A1/2/123MF604
CAUDWELL , William SnrAppleford, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1838D/A1/148/60MF558
CAUDWELL, WilliamMarchamYeoman1791D/A1/60/157MF513
CAULCATT, ThomasPeasemoreHusbandman1581D/A1/52/099 D/A1/10/252MF471 MF10047A
CAULE, IsabelDean Court, Cumnor1585D/A1/52/137MF472
CAULEY, ThomasNewburyCloth Worker1612D/A1/53/233 D/A1/15/316MF472 MF10065
CAULIE, WilliamEast Ilsley1598D/A1/13/191MF10049
CAVE, FrancisReadingBricklayer1812D/A1/147/93MF558
CAVE, JaneReading1814D/A1/147/105MF558
CAVE, NicholasNorth Hinksey, CumnorBlacksmith1602D/A1/53/122 D/A1/13/891MF472 MF10049
CAVE, RichardFaringdonClerk, Chantry Priest1555D/A1/7/103MF10040
CAVE, SimonStratfield Mortimer1577D/A1/52/081 D/A1/10/098MF471 MF10047A
CAVE, SimonStratfield Mortimer1577D/A1/181/085MF96021
CAVE, WilliamReading1827D/A1/148/32MF558
CAVE, WilliamMaidenhead1743D/A1/59/202MF513