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.
Name | Place Name | Occupation | Year | BRO Ref | MF Copy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAY, Charles | Burghfield | 1745 | D/A1/205/109 | MF96072 | |
MAY, Edward | Chieveley | Farmer | 1733 | D/A1/205/87 | MF96072 |
MAY, Edward | Drayton | Farrier | 1740 | D/A1/100/58 | MF572 |
MAY, Edward Snr | Bradfield | Cooper | 1703 | D/A1/205/10 | MF96071 |
MAY, Elizabeth | Newbury | 1842 | D/A1/158/42 | MF581 | |
MAY, George | Hinton Waldrist | 1594 | D/A1/96/247 D/A1/12/258 | MF570 MF10048 | |
MAY, Humphrey | East Hendred | Husbandman | 1630 | D/A1/204/031 D/A1/168/186 | MF96068 MF96001 |
MAY, James | Finchampstead | 1559 | D/A1/96/028 D/A1/8/089 | MF570 MF10043C | |
MAY, James | Clewer | Yeoman | 1639 | D/A1/97/191 | MF571 |
MAY, James | Clewer | 1639 | D/A1/169/060 | MF96002 | |
MAY, James | Bucklebury | Bucket Maker | 1710 | D/A1/205/28 | MF96071 |
MAY, James | Swallowfield | Yeoman | 1727 | D/A1/205/72 | MF96071 |
MAY, James | Speen | Scribbler | 1761 | D/A1/100/107 | MF572 |
MAY, James | Theale, Tilehurst | 1774 | D/A1/100/135 | MF572 | |
MAY, James | Sparsholt | 1784 | D/A1/205/144 | MF96072 | |
MAY, John | Wallingford St Peter | Fuller | 1569 | D/A1/96/109 D/A1/9/136 D/A1/203/201 | MF570 MF10046 MF96067 |
MAY, John | Midgham, Thatcham | Husbandman | 1620 | D/A1/97/073 | MF570 |
MAY, John | Brimpton | 1627 | D/A1/97/113 | MF571 | |
MAY, John | Cholsey | Husbandman | 1638 | D/A1/204/051 | MF96069 |
MAY, John | Cholsey | Husbandman | 1638 | D/A1/169/059 | MF96002 |
MAY, John | Midgham, Thatcham | 1640 | D/A1/98/006 | MF571 | |
MAY, John | Bradfield | Labourer | 1661 | D/A1/98/57 | MF571 |
MAY, John | Reading | Husbandman | 1692 | D/A1/204/162 | MF96070 |
MAY, John | Kingston Bagpuize | Husbandman | 1702 | D/A1/205/6 | MF96071 |
MAY, John | East Garston | Yeoman | 1812 | D/A1/157/83 | MF581 |
MAY, John | Englefield | 1825 | D/A1/230/23 | MF96127 | |
MAY, John | Lambourn | Miller | 1839 | D/A1/158/29 | MF581 |
MAY, John | Reading | Miller | 1843 | D/A1/158/45 | MF581 |
MAY, John Jnr | Hamstead Marshall | Husbandman | 1682 | D/A1/204/141 | MF96070 |
MAY, John Snr | Boxford | Husbandman | 1667 | D/A1/204/97 | MF96069 |
MAY, Joseph | Reading | Bricklayer | 1856 | D/A1/230/50 | MF96127 |
MAY, Margaret | Kingston Bagpuize | 1641 | D/A1/177/098 D/A1/169/059 | MF96014 MF96002 | |
MAY, Margaret | Brimpton | 1644 | D/A1/98/027 | MF571 | |
MAY, Mary | Thatcham | 1734 | D/A1/205/90 | MF96072 | |
MAY, Matthew | Padworth | Labourer | 1736 | D/A1/100/42 | MF572 |
MAY, Nicholas | 1558 | D/A1/203/181 | MF96067 | ||
MAY, Nicholas | Sunninghill | Yeoman | 1644 | D/A1/98/029 | MF571 |
MAY, Phyllis | Drayton | 1748 | D/A1/100/84 | MF572 | |
MAY, Richard | Midgham, Thatcham | Husbandman | 1672 | D/A1/98/111 | MF571 |
MAY, Richard | Reading St Laurence | Victualler | 1737 | D/A1/205/96 | MF96072 |
MAY, Richard Snr | Newbury | Waggoner | 1694 | D/A1/99/25 | MF572 |
MAY, Samuel | Newbury | Labourer | 1725 | D/A1/99/145 | MF572 |
MAY, Sarah | Greenham, Thatcham | 1856 | D/A1/158/79 | MF581 | |
MAY, Thomas | Ashampstead | Husbandman | 1616 | D/A1/203/293 | MF96067 |
MAY, Thomas | Reading | Yeoman | 1648 | D/A1/98/040 D/A1/98/035/2 | MF571 MF571 |
MAY, Thomas | Brimpton | Yeoman | 1648 | D/A1/98/035/1 | MF571 |
MAY, Thomas | Reading | Mealman | 1702 | D/A1/99/60 | MF572 |
MAY, Thomas | Abingdon | Baker | 1707 | D/A1/205/19 | MF96071 |
MAY, William | Sunninghill | 1542 | D/A1/3/074 | MF604 | |
MAY, William | Cholsey | Husbandman | 1549 | D/A1/5/079 | MF10043A |
MAY, William | Stratfield Mortimer | Husbandman | 1641 | D/A1/98/012 D/A1/169/059 | MF571 MF96002 |
MAY, William | Burghfield | Yeoman | 1676 | D/A1/98/123 | MF571 |
MAY, William | Reading | Rug Maker | 1682 | D/A1/98/146 | MF571 |
MAY, William | Speenhamland, Speen | Thatcher | 1696 | D/A1/204/171 | MF96070 |
MAY, William | Burghfield | Yeoman | 1713 | D/A1/99/106 | MF572 |
MAY, William | Abingdon | Baker | 1730 | D/A1/205/79 | MF96071 |
MAY, William | Thatcham | Victualler | 1778 | D/A1/100/142 | MF572 |
MAY, William | Reading | 1812 | D/A1/230/10 | MF96127 | |
MAY, William | Stratfield Mortimer | Yeoman | 1816 | D/A1/230/16 | MF96127 |
MAY, William Snr | Stratfield Mortimer | 1610 | D/A1/97/024 D/A1/15/091 | MF570 MF10065 | |
MAY, William Snr | Hamstead Marshall | 1611 | D/A1/97/027 D/A1/15/162 | MF570 MF10065 | |
MAY, Zachary | Benham Valence, Speen | Yeoman | 1637 | D/A1/97/180 D/A1/169/059 | MF571 MF96002 |
MAYBANCK , William | Reading St Giles | 1590 | D/A1/203/233 | MF96067 | |
MAYBANCK, Mercy | Bray | 1663 | D/A1/98/64 | MF571 | |
MAYBANCK, Thomas | Bray | Wheelwright | 1663 | D/A1/98/63 | MF571 |
MAYBANCKE, Thomas | Stratfield Mortimer | Butcher | 1575 | D/A1/203/206 | MF96067 |
MAYCOCKE, William | Pusey | Husbandman | 1572 | D/A1/96/122 D/A1/9/319 | MF570 MF10046 |
MAYDEN, Thomas | Longworth | Clerk | 1583 | D/A1/96/193 D/A1/10/390 | MF570 MF10047A |
MAYE, John | Stratfield Mortimer | 1594 | D/A1/203/242 D/A1/12/192 | MF96067 MF10048 | |
MAYE, John | Brimpton | 1612 | D/A1/168/084 | MF96001 | |
MAYE, John Jnr | Brimpton | Turner | 1612 | D/A1/203/282 | MF96067 |
MAYE, Margaret | Longworth | 1592 | D/A1/96/240 D/A1/12/037 | MF570 MF10048 | |
MAYE, Margaret | Hinton Waldrist | 1634 | D/A1/97/158 | MF571 | |
MAYE, Richard | Longworth | 1541 | D/A1/96/053 | MF570 | |
MAYE, Richard | Longworth | Husbandman | 1584 | D/A1/96/200 D/A1/10/443 | MF570 MF10047A |
MAYE, Richard Snr | Longworth | 1541 | D/A1/1/211 | MF10042 | |
MAYE, Richard Snr | Stratfield Mortimer | 1559 | D/A1/96/027 D/A1/8/095 | MF570 MF10043C | |
MAYE, Robert | Longworth | 1558 | D/A1/96/036 D/A1/7/246 | MF570 MF10040 | |
MAYE, Stephen | Cholsey | Husbandman | 1601 | D/A1/203/253 | MF96067 |
MAYE, Thomas | Draycott Moor, Longworth | 1587 | D/A1/96/215 D/A1/11/260 | MF570 MF10047B | |
MAYE, Thomas | Ashampstead | 1616 | D/A1/168/127 | MF96001 | |
MAYE, William | Cholsey | 1549 | D/A1/96/065 | MF570 | |
MAYE, William | Woolhampton | 1618 | D/A1/204/002 | MF96068 | |
MAYE, William | Woolhampton | 1618 | D/A1/168/161 | MF96001 | |
MAYEBANCKE, William | Reading St Giles | 1590 | D/A1/11/370 | MF10047B | |
MAYEN, William | Sutton Courtenay | Husbandman | 1667 | D/A1/204/93 | MF96069 |
MAYEO, Sarah | Watchfield, Shrivenham | 1765 | D/A1/100/116 | MF572 | |
MAYHALL, Thomas | Tilehurst | Labourer | 1789 | D/A1/100/164 | MF572 |
MAYHOE, Nicholas | Wootton, Cumnor | Yeoman | 1679 | D/A1/98/135 | MF571 |
MAYHOWE, John | Englefield | 1558 | D/A1/96/038 D/A1/8/049 | MF570 MF10043C | |
MAYMOR , John | Bray | Husbandman | 1630 | D/A1/97/128 | MF571 |
MAYMOR, Simon | Winterbourne, Chieveley | Husbandman | 1641 | D/A1/98/011 D/A1/204/060 | MF571 MF96069 |
MAYMORE, Roger | Burghfield | 1610 | D/A1/97/021 D/A1/15/047 | MF570 MF10065 | |
MAYNARD, Elizabeth | Bray | 1598 | D/A1/96/269 D/A1/13/277 | MF570 MF10049 | |
MAYNARD, John | Reading | Plate Worker | 1663 | D/A1/204/82 | MF96069 |
MAYNARD, Mary | Reading | 1736 | D/A1/100/41 | MF572 | |
MAYNARD, Nicholas | Shinfield | 1567 | D/A1/96/105 D/A1/9/070 | MF570 MF10046 | |
MAYNARD, Richard | Shinfield | Husbandman | 1596 | D/A1/96/254 D/A1/12/427 | MF570 MF10048 |
MAYNARD, Richard | Shinfield | Publican | 1851 | D/A1/230/45 | MF96127 |
MAYNE , Philip Jnr | North Moreton | Yeoman | 1751 | D/A1/100/88 | MF572 |