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
ANDREWES, Robert SnrNorth Fawley, FawleyYeoman1690D/A1/129/3MF548
ANDREWES, ThomasPeasemoreYeoman1671D/A1/128/85MF547
ANDREWES, ThomasGreenham, ThatchamCordwainer1684D/A1/37/100MF460
ANDREWES, WilliamFaringdonShepherd1645D/A1/174/028 D/A1/169/162MF96007 MF96002
ANDREWES, William JnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1635D/A1/36/142MF460
ANDREWS, ElizabethKintbury1663D/A1/37/26MF460
ANDREWS, ElizabethBradfield1720D/A1/174/135MF96008
ANDREWS, FrancesUpton, Blewbury1852D/A1/144/75MF557
ANDREWS, FrancisReadingWeaver1757D/A1/38/142MF461
ANDREWS, JamesReadingWeaver1815D/A1/144/20MF557
ANDREWS, JohnCoxwell, FaringdonGlover1645D/A1/174/027 D/A1/169/162MF96007 MF96002
ANDREWS, JohnGreenham, Thatcham Victualler, Farmer1771D/A1/38/169MF461
ANDREWS, JohnEast Hagbourne, HagbourneLabourer1857D/A1/144/86MF557
ANDREWS, MaryCholsey1682D/A1/199/141MF96057
ANDREWS, RogerBoxfordYeoman1669D/A1/94/42MF568
ANDREWS, SarahAbingdon1842D/A1/144/58MF557
ANDREWS, ThomasBeedon1696D/A1/174/104MF96008
ANDREWS, ThomasKintburyCarpenter1740D/A1/38/107MF461
ANDREWS, ThomasReading St MaryVictualler1747D/A1/174/168MF96009
ANDREWS, ThomasEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1839D/A1/144/52MF557
ANDREWS, WilliamShaw Cum Donnington1737D/A1/38/97MF461
ANDREWS, WilliamShaw Cum Donnington1834D/A1/226/16MF96122
ANDROES, AnneCholsey1609D/A1/168/048MF96001
ANDROES, EleanorHoe Benham, Welford1566D/A1/173/020 D/A1/167/129MF96006 MF96000
ANDROES, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1586D/A1/11/049MF10047B
ANDROES, RobertAbingdon1608D/A1/168/043MF96001
ANDROS, MargaretFawley1634D/A1/127/109MF547
ANDROS, MargerySutton Courtenay1635D/A1/36/167MF460
ANDROS, ThomasCholsey1556D/A1/35/057MF459
ANDROS, WilliamBotley, CumnorHusbandman1557D/A1/2/028MF603
ANDROSE, EleanorBotley, Cumnor1612D/A1/36/026 D/A1/15/227MF459 MF10065
ANDROSE, RichardCholsey1594D/A1/35/231 D/A1/12/153MF459 MF10048
ANDROSE, ThomasCholsey1556D/A1/7/338dMF10040
ANDROSE, ThomasCholsey1556D/A1/173/005MF96006
ANDROUSE, William1552D/A1/35/025MF459
ANDROW, ElizabethLong Wittenham1567D/A1/173/023MF96006
ANDROW, ElizabethLong Wittenham1567D/A1/167/136MF96000
ANDROW, RobertMaidenhead, Cookham1597D/A1/35/249 D/A1/13/120MF459 MF10049
ANDROWES, AgnesBotley, Cumnor1584D/A1/35/181 D/A1/10/444MF459 MF10047A
ANDROWES, AnnAbingdon St Helen1608D/A1/36/016 D/A1/14/455MF459 MF10064
ANDROWES, AnneCholsey1609D/A1/173/085MF96006
ANDROWES, AnnisLong Wittenham1637D/A1/36/146MF460 MF460
ANDROWES, BrianBoxfordTanner1623D/A1/173/109MF96006
ANDROWES, ChristopherBotley, Cumnor1603D/A1/35/268 D/A1/13/1126MF459 MF10049
ANDROWES, DennisCholsey1560D/A1/35/075 D/A1/8/178MF459 MF10043C
ANDROWES, HenryAldermastonYeoman1622D/A1/173/107MF96006
ANDROWES, JamesBotley, North Hinksey, Cumnor1604D/A1/35/278 D/A1/13/1395MF459 MF10049
ANDROWES, JoanDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1612D/A1/36/025 D/A1/15/212MF459 MF10065
ANDROWES, John , Sutton CourtenayHusbandman1557D/A1/35/041MF459
ANDROWES, JohnWest Ilsley1561D/A1/35/089 D/A1/8/209MF459 MF10043C
ANDROWES, JohnBotley, Cumnor1604D/A1/35/277 D/A1/13/1338MF459 MF10049
ANDROWES, LeonardReading St LaurenceFishmonger1583D/A1/35/179 D/A1/10/364MF459 MF10047A
ANDROWES, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1581D/A1/35/170 D/A1/10/288MF459 MF10047A
ANDROWES, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1586D/A1/35/191 D/A1/11/054MF459 MF10047B
ANDROWES, RobertDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1579D/A1/10/312 D/A1/35/162MF10047A MF459
ANDROWES, RobertAbingdon1608D/A1/173/081MF96006
ANDROWES, RobertAbingdon1608D/A1/168/034MF96001
ANDROWES, RobertAbingdon1609D/A1/173/083MF96006
ANDROWES, RobertAbingdon1614D/A1/173/089MF96006
ANDROWES, RobertAbingdon1614D/A1/168/105MF96001
ANDROWES, ThomasStanford DingleyHusbandman1597D/A1/35/248 D/A1/13/228MF459 MF10049
ANDROWES, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1617D/A1/36/050 D/A1/15/721MF459 MF10065
ANDROWES, WilliamSutton Courtenay1548D/A1/35/018MF459
ANDROWES, WilliamSutton Courtenay1581D/A1/173/039MF96006
ANDROWES, WilliamNewburyButcher1602D/A1/173/070MF96006
ANDRUS, JohnAston TirroldLabourer1692D/A1/174/99MF96008
ANDRUS, RichardAston TirroldShepherd1660D/A1/37/8MF460
ANGEL, JohnBuckleburyTailor1698D/A1/174/109MF96008
ANGELL, EdwardAston Tirrold1527D/A1/1/099MF10041
ANGELL, ElizabethEaton, Appleton1598D/A1/35/250 D/A1/13/247MF459 MF10049
ANGELL, FrancisWelfordYeoman1742D/A1/174/161MF96009
ANGELL, JohnBarkham1589D/A1/35/205 D/A1/11/303MF459 MF10047B
ANGELL, JohnMarchamBlacksmith1847D/A1/144/66MF557
ANGELL, KatharineNewbury1840D/A1/144/56MF557
ANGELL, NicholasWoolhamptonInnholder1668D/A1/174/51MF96007
ANGELL, RichardCurridge, ChieveleyTailor1675D/A1/174/63MF96008
ANGELL, RichardSpeenhamland, SpeenTailor1701D/A1/174/114MF96008
ANGELL, ThomasMarchamBlacksmith1745D/A1/144/59MF557
ANGELL, WilliamAppletonCarpenter1596D/A1/35/240 D/A1/12/355MF459 MF10048
ANGELL, WilliamIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1694D/A1/174/102MF96008
ANGER, AliceShellingford1618D/A1/36/054 D/A1/15/778MF459 MF10065
ANGER, AliceShrivenham1695D/A1/37/128MF460
ANGER, AnthonyWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1609D/A1/36/019 D/A1/15/008MF459 MF10065
ANGER, ArthurWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1677D/A1/37/72MF460
ANGER, ElizabethIdstone, Ashbury1681D/A1/37/92MF460
ANGER, JohnWatchfield, Shrivenham1582D/A1/10/333MF10047A
ANGER, JohnWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1807D/A1/144/7MF557
ANGER, JohnWatchfield, ShrivenhamFarmer1840D/A1/144/54MF557
ANGER, MargaretIdstone, Ashbury1702D/A1/38/9MF461
ANGER, MarianWatchfield, Shrivenham1688D/A1/37/112MF460
ANGER, RichardWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1582D/A1/35/172 D/A1/10/310MF459 MF10047A
ANGER, RichardMidgham, ThatchamYeoman1698D/A1/37/136MF460
ANGER, RobertWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1564D/A1/35/097 D/A1/8/319MF459 MF10043C
ANGER, RobertWatchfield, ShrivenhamBlacksmith1679D/A1/37/80MF460
ANGER, ThomasHagbourne1557D/A1/7/143aMF10040
ANGER, ThomasHagbourneYeoman1662D/A1/174/40MF96007
ANGER, ThomasShrivenhamYeoman1687D/A1/37/110MF460
ANGER, WilliamWatchfield, Shrivenham1617D/A1/173/096 D/A1/168/142MF96006 MF96001
ANGER, WilliamIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1636D/A1/36/140 D/A1/36/143MF460 MF460
ANGER, WilliamCookhamHusbandman1639D/A1/36/163 D/A1/169/001MF460 MF96002