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
MAY, CharlesBurghfield1745D/A1/205/109MF96072
MAY, EdwardChieveleyFarmer1733D/A1/205/87MF96072
MAY, EdwardDraytonFarrier1740D/A1/100/58MF572
MAY, Edward SnrBradfieldCooper1703D/A1/205/10MF96071
MAY, ElizabethNewbury1842D/A1/158/42MF581
MAY, GeorgeHinton Waldrist1594D/A1/96/247 D/A1/12/258MF570 MF10048
MAY, HumphreyEast HendredHusbandman1630D/A1/204/031 D/A1/168/186MF96068 MF96001
MAY, JamesFinchampstead1559D/A1/96/028 D/A1/8/089MF570 MF10043C
MAY, JamesClewerYeoman1639D/A1/97/191MF571
MAY, JamesClewer1639D/A1/169/060MF96002
MAY, JamesBuckleburyBucket Maker1710D/A1/205/28MF96071
MAY, JamesSwallowfieldYeoman1727D/A1/205/72MF96071
MAY, JamesSpeenScribbler1761D/A1/100/107MF572
MAY, JamesTheale, Tilehurst1774D/A1/100/135MF572
MAY, JamesSparsholt1784D/A1/205/144MF96072
MAY, JohnWallingford St PeterFuller1569D/A1/96/109 D/A1/9/136 D/A1/203/201MF570 MF10046 MF96067
MAY, JohnMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1620D/A1/97/073MF570
MAY, JohnBrimpton1627D/A1/97/113MF571
MAY, JohnCholseyHusbandman1638D/A1/204/051MF96069
MAY, JohnCholseyHusbandman1638D/A1/169/059MF96002
MAY, JohnMidgham, Thatcham1640D/A1/98/006MF571
MAY, JohnBradfieldLabourer1661D/A1/98/57MF571
MAY, JohnReadingHusbandman1692D/A1/204/162MF96070
MAY, JohnKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1702D/A1/205/6MF96071
MAY, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1812D/A1/157/83MF581
MAY, JohnEnglefield1825D/A1/230/23MF96127
MAY, JohnLambournMiller1839D/A1/158/29MF581
MAY, JohnReadingMiller1843D/A1/158/45MF581
MAY, John JnrHamstead MarshallHusbandman1682D/A1/204/141MF96070
MAY, John SnrBoxfordHusbandman1667D/A1/204/97MF96069
MAY, JosephReadingBricklayer1856D/A1/230/50MF96127
MAY, MargaretKingston Bagpuize1641D/A1/177/098 D/A1/169/059MF96014 MF96002
MAY, MargaretBrimpton1644D/A1/98/027MF571
MAY, MaryThatcham1734D/A1/205/90MF96072
MAY, MatthewPadworthLabourer1736D/A1/100/42MF572
MAY, Nicholas1558D/A1/203/181MF96067
MAY, NicholasSunninghillYeoman1644D/A1/98/029MF571
MAY, PhyllisDrayton1748D/A1/100/84MF572
MAY, RichardMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1672D/A1/98/111MF571
MAY, RichardReading St LaurenceVictualler1737D/A1/205/96MF96072
MAY, Richard SnrNewburyWaggoner1694D/A1/99/25MF572
MAY, SamuelNewburyLabourer1725D/A1/99/145MF572
MAY, SarahGreenham, Thatcham 1856D/A1/158/79MF581
MAY, ThomasAshampsteadHusbandman1616D/A1/203/293MF96067
MAY, ThomasReadingYeoman1648D/A1/98/040 D/A1/98/035/2MF571 MF571
MAY, ThomasBrimptonYeoman1648D/A1/98/035/1MF571
MAY, ThomasReadingMealman1702D/A1/99/60MF572
MAY, ThomasAbingdonBaker1707D/A1/205/19MF96071
MAY, WilliamSunninghill1542D/A1/3/074MF604
MAY, WilliamCholseyHusbandman1549D/A1/5/079MF10043A
MAY, WilliamStratfield MortimerHusbandman1641D/A1/98/012 D/A1/169/059MF571 MF96002
MAY, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1676D/A1/98/123MF571
MAY, WilliamReadingRug Maker1682D/A1/98/146MF571
MAY, WilliamSpeenhamland, SpeenThatcher1696D/A1/204/171MF96070
MAY, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1713D/A1/99/106MF572
MAY, WilliamAbingdonBaker1730D/A1/205/79MF96071
MAY, WilliamThatchamVictualler1778D/A1/100/142MF572
MAY, WilliamReading1812D/A1/230/10MF96127
MAY, WilliamStratfield MortimerYeoman1816D/A1/230/16MF96127
MAY, William SnrStratfield Mortimer1610D/A1/97/024 D/A1/15/091MF570 MF10065
MAY, William SnrHamstead Marshall1611D/A1/97/027 D/A1/15/162MF570 MF10065
MAY, ZacharyBenham Valence, SpeenYeoman1637D/A1/97/180 D/A1/169/059MF571 MF96002
MAYBANCK , WilliamReading St Giles1590D/A1/203/233MF96067
MAYBANCK, MercyBray1663D/A1/98/64MF571
MAYBANCK, ThomasBrayWheelwright1663D/A1/98/63MF571
MAYBANCKE, ThomasStratfield MortimerButcher1575D/A1/203/206MF96067
MAYCOCKE, WilliamPuseyHusbandman1572D/A1/96/122 D/A1/9/319MF570 MF10046
MAYDEN, ThomasLongworthClerk1583D/A1/96/193 D/A1/10/390MF570 MF10047A
MAYE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1594D/A1/203/242 D/A1/12/192MF96067 MF10048
MAYE, JohnBrimpton1612D/A1/168/084MF96001
MAYE, John JnrBrimptonTurner1612D/A1/203/282MF96067
MAYE, MargaretLongworth1592D/A1/96/240 D/A1/12/037MF570 MF10048
MAYE, MargaretHinton Waldrist1634D/A1/97/158MF571
MAYE, RichardLongworth1541D/A1/96/053MF570
MAYE, RichardLongworthHusbandman1584D/A1/96/200 D/A1/10/443MF570 MF10047A
MAYE, Richard SnrLongworth1541D/A1/1/211MF10042
MAYE, Richard SnrStratfield Mortimer1559D/A1/96/027 D/A1/8/095MF570 MF10043C
MAYE, RobertLongworth1558D/A1/96/036 D/A1/7/246MF570 MF10040
MAYE, StephenCholseyHusbandman1601D/A1/203/253MF96067
MAYE, ThomasDraycott Moor, Longworth1587D/A1/96/215 D/A1/11/260MF570 MF10047B
MAYE, ThomasAshampstead1616D/A1/168/127MF96001
MAYE, WilliamCholsey1549D/A1/96/065MF570
MAYE, WilliamWoolhampton1618D/A1/204/002MF96068
MAYE, WilliamWoolhampton1618D/A1/168/161MF96001
MAYEBANCKE, WilliamReading St Giles1590D/A1/11/370MF10047B
MAYEN, WilliamSutton CourtenayHusbandman1667D/A1/204/93MF96069
MAYEO, SarahWatchfield, Shrivenham1765D/A1/100/116MF572
MAYHALL, ThomasTilehurstLabourer1789D/A1/100/164MF572
MAYHOE, NicholasWootton, CumnorYeoman1679D/A1/98/135MF571
MAYHOWE, JohnEnglefield1558D/A1/96/038 D/A1/8/049MF570 MF10043C
MAYMOR , JohnBrayHusbandman1630D/A1/97/128MF571
MAYMOR, SimonWinterbourne, ChieveleyHusbandman1641D/A1/98/011 D/A1/204/060MF571 MF96069
MAYMORE, RogerBurghfield1610D/A1/97/021 D/A1/15/047MF570 MF10065
MAYNARD, ElizabethBray1598D/A1/96/269 D/A1/13/277MF570 MF10049
MAYNARD, JohnReadingPlate Worker1663D/A1/204/82MF96069
MAYNARD, MaryReading1736D/A1/100/41MF572
MAYNARD, NicholasShinfield1567D/A1/96/105 D/A1/9/070MF570 MF10046
MAYNARD, RichardShinfieldHusbandman1596D/A1/96/254 D/A1/12/427MF570 MF10048
MAYNARD, RichardShinfieldPublican1851D/A1/230/45MF96127
MAYNE , Philip JnrNorth MoretonYeoman1751D/A1/100/88MF572