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
ANGIER, WilliamKintburyBlacksmith1681D/A1/174/77MF96008
ANGLE, William SnrPadworthYeoman, Fisherman1663D/A1/37/31MF460
ANJER, StephenShippon, Abingdon St Helen1646D/A1/174/026MF96007
ANKER, JamesKintburyYeoman1666D/A1/37/42MF460
ANKER, JohnKintburyButcher1647D/A1/174/030 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ANNESLEY, HenryMaidenhead, Bray1545D/A1/35/007 D/A1/6/184 D/A1/5/030MF459 MF10043B MF10043A
ANNGELL, JohnReadingYeoman1618D/A1/173/101MF96006
ANNGELL, JohnReading1618D/A1/168/160MF96001
ANNGELL, JohnCourage, ChieveleyWeaver1620D/A1/36/079MF459
ANNGER, John SnrHagbourneYeoman1641D/A1/36/176MF460
ANNS, AnnSteventon1758D/A1/38/144MF461
ANNS, EstherGreat Coxwell1749D/A1/38/125MF461
ANNS, JohnSteventonBlacksmith1724D/A1/38/59MF461
ANNS, JohnGreat Coxwell1727D/A1/38/70MF461
ANNS, JohnEast HendredLabourer1729D/A1/38/79MF461
ANNS, ThomasEast HendredBlacksmith1768D/A1/38/165MF461
ANSCEO, JoanGrandpont, Oxford St. Aldates, Oxfordshire1706D/A1/38/22MF461
ANSCOE, WilliamGrandpont, Oxford St. Aldates, OxfordshireTailor1701D/A1/38/7MF461
ANSELL, ThomasWinkfield1671D/A1/37/54MF460
ANSLEY, ThomasBinfieldYeoman1637D/A1/169/001aMF96002
ANSLOW, JamesWallingfordInnholder1673D/A1/37/62MF460
ANSTEY, JulianTilehurst1600D/A1/35/267 D/A1/13/570MF459 MF10049
ANSTEY, ThomasBinfieldYeoman1637D/A1/174/011MF96007
ANSTIE, ThomasHurleyYeoman1592D/A1/35/218 D/A1/12/028MF459 MF10048
ANSTIE, WilliamBisham1618D/A1/36/064 D/A1/15/805MF459 MF10065
ANSTY, GregoryBradfieldMiller1587D/A1/35/193 D/A1/11/407MF459 MF10047B
ANSTY, MaryEast Lockinge1770D/A1/174/182MF96009
ANSTY, ThomasEast Lockinge1770D/A1/174/183MF96009
ANTENE, RichardSwallowfield1559D/A1/35/060 D/A1/8/080MF459 MF10043C
ANTON, AnneStratfield Mortimer1637D/A1/174/008 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
ANTON, EdwardFinchampstead1677D/A1/37/74MF460
ANTON, GeorgeFinchampsteadHusbandman1623D/A1/36/090MF459
ANTON, RichardSwallowfield1558D/A1/167/104MF96000
ANTON, RichardSwallowfield1559D/A1/173/008MF96006
ANTROM, GraceMidgham, Thatcham 1752D/A1/174/174MF96009
ANYSWORTH, GeorgeInkpenParson1558D/A1/35/052 D/A1/7/231MF459 MF10040
AP JANKYN AP BADY AP HOWELL, DavidDenchworthVicar1543D/A1/86/002MF530
AP THOMAS, RichardMaidenhead, CookhamBargeman1595D/A1/173/055 D/A1/217/069 D/A1/12/395MF96006 MF96104 MF10048
APASCE, JohnInkpen1614D/A1/16/121MF10066
APASSE, JohnInkpen1628D/A1/36/036MF459
APELLETON, JohnWokefield, Stratfield Mortimer1598D/A1/35/254 D/A1/13/379MF459 MF10049
APEREY, JohnInkpenBrick Maker1629D/A1/173/116MF96006
APHOWELL, JohnShrivenham1549D/A1/2/277MF604
APLEBY, WilliamShrivenham1570D/A1/173/026MF96006
APLETON, JohnStanford DingleyHusbandman1689D/A1/174/90MF96008
APLETON, RichardCumnor1601D/A1/35/274MF459
APLETON, WilliamShinfield Husbandman1634D/A1/36/136MF460
APLETON, WilliamStratfield MortimerCarpenter1695D/A1/37/131MF460
APOWELL, JohnAbingdon1565D/A1/173/018MF96006
APOWELL, JohnAbingdon1565D/A1/167/127MF96000
APPELBY, HughChieveleyServant1684D/A1/37/101MF460
APPELGATH, AnnWallingford1728D/A1/38/75MF461
APPELTON, WilliamEast HendredYeoman1794D/A1/38/200MF461
APPLEBEE, ElizabethBeenham1827D/A1/144/34MF557
APPLEBEE, FrederickAbingdon1834D/A1/226/15MF96122
APPLEBEE, John SnrReadingTailor1698D/A1/174/107MF96008
APPLEBEE, RichardBuckleburyYeoman1758D/A1/38/143MF461
APPLEBIE, HenryBray1594D/A1/173/051MF96006
APPLEBIE, HenryBray1594D/A1/12/194MF10048
APPLEBY, AndrewReading St Laurence1600D/A1/13/440MF10049
APPLEBY, MatthewWhitley, Reading St GilesHusbandman1637D/A1/36/152MF460
APPLEBY, WilliamSpeenhamland, Speen1570D/A1/167/142MF96000
APPLEBYE, AndrewReading St Laurence1600D/A1/173/065MF96006
APPLEBYE, JoanReading St Laurence1603D/A1/35/271 D/A1/13/1049MF459 MF10049
APPLEFORD, AnnSpeen1777D/A1/174/187MF96009
APPLEFORD, DanielSpeen1777D/A1/174/186MF96009
APPLEFORD, MargaretAbingdon1621D/A1/173/103MF96006
APPLEFORD, WilliamWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1793D/A1/38/199MF461
APPLEGATH, RichardWallingfordBaker1715D/A1/38/39MF461
APPLEGATH, ThomasAbingdonInnholder1630D/A1/36/117MF460
APPLEGATH, WilliamWallingfordBaker1711D/A1/38/31MF461
APPLETON , Thomas SnrEast HendredYeoman1741D/A1/38/111MF461
APPLETON, CharlesSulhamstead BannisterFarmer1803D/A1/144/3MF557
APPLETON, ElizabethEast Hendred1818D/A1/226/9MF96122
APPLETON, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenInnholder1600D/A1/173/066MF96006
APPLETON, JohnSpeen1600D/A1/13/441MF10049
APPLETON, JohnStratfield MortimerDay Labourer1620D/A1/173/104MF96006
APPLETON, MaryEast Hendred1719D/A1/174/133MF96008
APPLETON, RichardCumnorHusbandman1601D/A1/13/708MF10049
APPLETON, RichardReadingYeoman1607D/A1/36/012 D/A1/14/364MF459 MF10064
APPLETON, RichardSpeenhamland, SpeenInnholder1612D/A1/15/196MF10065
APPLETON, RobertBrimpton1563D/A1/173/016MF96006
APPLETON, RobertBrimpton1563D/A1/167/035MF96000
APPLETON, ThomasStratfield MortimerHusbandman1639D/A1/36/157 D/A1/169/001aMF460 MF96002
APPLETON, ThomasEast HendredYeoman1771D/A1/38/168MF461
APPLETON, ThomasEast HendredVictualler1777D/A1/38/181MF461
APPLETON, WilliamWindsorVictualler1725D/A1/174/142MF96008
APPLETON, WilliamEast HendredYeoman1818D/A1/144/25MF557
APPLETREE, AnthonyAbingdon1599D/A1/173/064 D/A1/13/432MF96006 MF10049
APPULBY, HarryWhitley, Reading St Giles1556D/A1/35/036MF459
APPULBYE, Joan1557D/A1/35/043MF459
APPULTUNE, RobertBrimptonHusbandman1563D/A1/35/092 D/A1/8/266MF459 MF10043C
APRICE AP HARRY, GeorgeEnglefield1553D/A1/173/004MF96006
APRICE, ElizabethWinkfield1563D/A1/35/91 D/A1/8/251MF459 MF10043C
APSLON, JohnStreatleyHusbandman1715D/A1/38/41MF461
APSLON, RichardAston TirroldShepherd1724D/A1/38/63MF461
APSLOND, JohnCholsey1546D/A1/233/013MF96132
APSLOND, JohnCholsey1546D/A1/2/033 D/A1/5/048MF603 MF10043A
APSOLON, JohnCholseyHusbandman1637D/A1/174/012 D/A1/169/001aMF96007 MF96002
APULLFORD, RichardFroxfield, Royge [Rudge], Wiltshire1577D/A1/35/153MF459