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
FRANKLIN, ThomasSutton CourtenayLabourer1766D/A1/70/186MF520
FRANKLIN, ThomasStanfordYeoman1830D/A1/227/148MF96124
FRANKLIN, William EdwardStanford In The ValeMaltster1828D/A1/150/114MF559
FRANKLIN, William EdwardStanford In The ValeMaltster1828D/A1/150/114MF559
FRANKLINE, ThomasUffingtonYeoman1662D/A1/68/100MF519
FRANKLING, JohnLongcot, Shrivenham1528D/A1/1/087MF10041
FRANKLING, JohnReading St Mary1530D/A1/1/133MF10042
FRANKLING, JohnUffingtonYeoman1682D/A1/190/105MF96038
FRANKLING, JohnMarchamYeoman1776D/A1/70/199MF520
FRANKLYN, AliceReading St Laurence1559D/A1/189/101MF96036
FRANKLYN, ElizabethLongcot, Shrivenham 1737D/A1/70/102MF519
FRANKLYN, FrancisLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1679D/A1/190/90MF96037
FRANKLYN, HelenCumnor1600D/A1/67/095 D/A1/13/507MF518 MF10049
FRANKLYN, JosephGreat CoxwellYeoman1700D/A1/69/74MF519
FRANKLYN, RichardAbingdon St HelenYeoman1719D/A1/69/134MF519
FRANKLYN, RichardSandford, Abingdon St Helen Yeoman1741D/A1/190/206MF96039
FRANKLYN, RichardSandford, Abingdon St Helen 1770D/A1/190/228MF96039
FRANKLYN, ThomasSwallowfield1579D/A1/67/015 D/A1/10/189MF518 MF10047A
FRANKLYN, ThomasAbingdon1737D/A1/190/201MF96039
FRANKLYN, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1555D/A1/4/075 D/A1/233/368 D/A1/7/096MF604 MF96132 MF10040
FRANKLYNG, ThomasOld Windsor1520D/A1/1/033MF10041
FRANKS, RichardReadingWharfinger1733D/A1/190/198MF96038
FRANKUM, PeterReading1842D/A1/227/156MF96124
FRANKUM, SarahReading1801D/A1/150/76MF559
FRARYE, JohnWhitley, Reading St GilesHusbandman, Labourer1589D/A1/67/046 D/A1/11/299MF518 MF10047B
FRAUNCES , JohnAbingdon1617D/A1/189/164MF96036
FRAUNCES, JohnAbingdon St Helen1553D/A1/5/186MF10043A
FRAUNCESSE, MargaretBagnor, Speen1571D/A1/189/112MF96036
FRAUNCIS, SarahReading St Laurence1631D/A1/190/025 D/A1/168/207MF96037 MF96001
FRAY , RichardUfton NervetTanner1632D/A1/190/029MF96037
FRAY, GilbertStratfield MortimerYeoman1681D/A1/69/12MF519
FRAY, JohnUfton Nervet1643D/A1/190/049MF96036
FRAY, RichardUfton Nervet1632D/A1/168/227MF96001
FRAY, StephenOakfield, Stratfield MortimerHusbandman1670D/A1/68/124MF519
FRAY, ThomasBradfield1589D/A1/11/192MF10047B
FRAY, WilliamMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1671D/A1/190/75MF96037
FRAYE, EdmundBradfieldYeoman1648D/A1/68/076MF518
FRAYE, JaneAldermaston1670D/A1/68/128MF519
FRAYE, JohnUfton Nervet1584D/A1/67/033 D/A1/10/461MF518 MF10047A
FRAYE, RichardUfton Nervet1604D/A1/67/111 D/A1/13/1275MF518 MF10049
FRAYE, ThomasBradfield1589D/A1/189/129MF96036
FRAYE, WilliamBurghfieldHusbandman1642D/A1/68/049MF518
FRAZELL, GeorgeShinfieldButcher1689D/A1/190/128MF96038
FRAZELL, WilliamSwallowfieldTailor1641D/A1/68/045MF518
FREBORNE, WilliamBrimpton1626D/A1/67/208MF518
FREEBODY, JohnHurleyBargeman1642D/A1/68/054MF518
FREEBORNE, EdwardShinfieldHusbandman1577D/A1/67/005MF518
FREEMAN, AmbroseReadingClothier1714D/A1/190/174MF96038
FREEMAN, AnneTilehurst1643D/A1/68/061/1MF518
FREEMAN, ElizabethReading1722D/A1/69/144MF519
FREEMAN, ElizabethSeacourt1797D/A1/70/222MF520
FREEMAN, HenryReadingCloth Worker1687D/A1/190/118MF96038
FREEMAN, JoanReading St Giles1698D/A1/190/147MF96038
FREEMAN, JohnWantageCarpenter1651D/A1/190/056MF96037
FREEMAN, JohnWantage1651D/A1/169/023MF96002
FREEMAN, JohnEast LockingeYeoman1670D/A1/190/74MF96037
FREEMAN, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1694D/A1/190/138MF96038
FREEMAN, JohnThatchamYeoman1713D/A1/69/123MF519
FREEMAN, MaryWantage1651D/A1/169/023MF96002
FREEMAN, MaryReading St Giles1690D/A1/190/130MF96038
FREEMAN, MaryReading1727D/A1/70/91MF519
FREEMAN, NicholasChiltonHusbandman1597D/A1/67/082 D/A1/13/129MF518 MF10049
FREEMAN, RobertStratfield Mortimer1589D/A1/67/048 D/A1/11/203MF518 MF10047B
FREEMAN, SarahGreenham, Thatcham 1852D/A1/151/23MF559
FREEMAN, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1556D/A1/66/166MF517
FREEMAN, ThomasGreenham, Thatcham Tanner1750D/A1/190/214MF96039
FREEMAN, ThomasGreenham, Thatcham 1843D/A1/151/14MF559
FREESTONE, RichardReading St MaryGlover1582D/A1/67/028 D/A1/10/342MF518 MF10047A
FREINDE, RobertOld WindsorYeoman1612D/A1/67/146 D/A1/15/229MF518 MF10065
FREMAN, AnneEast Lockinge1693D/A1/69/54MF519
FREMAN, ClementAshbury1545D/A1/1/069MF10041
FREMAN, JohnChiltonHusbandman1564D/A1/66/211 D/A1/8/321MF517 MF10043C
FREMAN, John SnrCholsey1558D/A1/66/186 D/A1/7/219MF517 MF10040
FREMAN, ThomasCholsey1556D/A1/7/338dMF10040
FREMAN, ThomasWest Hagbourne, HagbourneHusbandman1582D/A1/67/027MF518
FREMAN, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1558D/A1/66/178 D/A1/7/164MF517 MF10040
FREMOUR, ThomasCholsey1557D/A1/66/170MF517
FRENCH , JoanLittle Wittenham1596D/A1/67/079 D/A1/12/436MF518 MF10048
FRENCH, AliceIdstone, Ashbury1643D/A1/68/056MF518
FRENCH, AnneIdstone, Ashbury1662D/A1/190/64MF96037
FRENCH, Bartholomew1550D/A1/189/090MF96036
FRENCH, EdwardAppletonHusbandman1684D/A1/190/113MF96038
FRENCH, JohnIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1568D/A1/9/113 D/A1/66/216MF10046 MF517
FRENCH, JohnLong WittenhamYeoman1709D/A1/69/106MF519
FRENCH, MargaretLittle Wittenham1675D/A1/68/150MF519
FRENCH, MaryLittle Wittenham1626D/A1/67/207MF518
FRENCH, MaryDrayton1730D/A1/190/192MF96038
FRENCH, PeterPeasemoreTailor1628D/A1/16/118MF10066
FRENCH, RichardIdstone, AshburyYeoman1635D/A1/68/012MF518
FRENCH, SarahReading St Mary1797D/A1/70/221MF520
FRENCH, StephenAston Tirrold1560D/A1/189/105MF96036
FRENCH, SusannahAshbury1715D/A1/69/130MF519
FRENCH, ThomasIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1630D/A1/67/193MF518
FRENCH, WilliamNorth Moreton1599D/A1/13/434MF10049
FRENCH, WilliamLittle WittenhamYeoman1674D/A1/68/144MF519
FRENCH, WilliamAshdown Park, AshburyYeoman1698D/A1/69/62MF519
FRENCH, William JnrLong WittenhamHusbandman1660D/A1/68/86MF519
FRENCH, ZachariahAppletonYeoman1728D/A1/70/94MF519
FRENCHE, ChristopherWallingfordTailor1628D/A1/67/203MF518
FRENCHE, HenryWest Hagbourne, HagbourneHusbandman1594D/A1/67/072 D/A1/12/197MF518 MF10048