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
SHERWOOD, RalphSotwellYeoman1697D/A1/122/74MF542
SHERWOOD, RalphShippon, Abingdon (Shippon)Yeoman1711D/A1/123/3MF543
SHERWOOD, RichardSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1645D/A1/214/074MF96096
SHERWOOD, RichardGilbornes, Sutton CourtenaySurgeon1699D/A1/122/83MF542
SHERWOOD, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1587D/A1/212/133 D/A1/11/121MF96092 MF10047B
SHERWOOD, ThomasSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1648D/A1/120/038MF541
SHERWOOD, ThomasAbingdonTanner1665D/A1/214/119MF96097
SHERWOOD, Thomas SnrDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1606D/A1/116/257 D/A1/14/202MF539 MF10064
SHERWOOD, WilliamSwallowfield1608D/A1/168/030MF96001
SHERWOOD, WilliamSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayYeoman1700D/A1/122/99MF542
SHETLE, WilliamWest SheffordLabourer1711D/A1/123/10MF543
SHEWARD, JohnShinfieldHusbandman1593D/A1/116/070 D/A1/12/106MF538 MF10048
SHEWARD, ThomasShellingford1601D/A1/213/018MF96094
SHEWARD, ThomasShellingford1601D/A1/13/717MF10049
SHEWRY, AnnBuckland1813D/A1/161/98MF583
SHEWRY, HughDuxford, Hinton WaldristYeoman1662D/A1/120/111MF541
SHEWRY, HughHinton WaldristHusbandman1694D/A1/122/62MF542
SHEWRY, JohnBucklandFarmer1824D/A1/162/55MF583
SHEWRY, JohnBuckland1840D/A1/231/97MF96129
SHEWRY, RichardDuxford, Hinton WaldristHusbandman1666D/A1/214/121MF96097
SHEWRY, RichardHinton WaldristHusbandman1717D/A1/123/54MF543
SHEWRY, ThomasBuckland1806D/A1/231/42MF96129
SHEWRY, Thomas SnrHinton WaldristYeoman1678D/A1/214/189MF96097
SHILBURNE, ThomasPangbourneParson, Rector1595D/A1/116/105 D/A1/12/396MF538 MF10048
SHILER, RichardEast HendredButcher1707D/A1/122/160MF543
SHILTON , John JnrBourton, ShrivenhamSchoolmaster1712D/A1/123/18MF543
SHILTON, AlexanderBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1560D/A1/114/210 D/A1/6/029MF537 MF10043B
SHILTON, AnthonyBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1624D/A1/118/066MF540
SHILTON, BenjaminBoxfordYeoman1828D/A1/162/39MF583
SHILTON, ElizabethBourton, Shrivenham1625D/A1/118/080MF540
SHILTON, ElizabethBourton, Shrivenham1723D/A1/123/103MF543
SHILTON, JamesCarswell, BucklandYeoman1673D/A1/214/159MF96097
SHILTON, JohnBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1640D/A1/119/122MF541
SHILTON, JohnUffington1680D/A1/121/106MF542
SHILTON, JohnLetcombe RegisWheeler1742D/A1/216/168MF96101
SHILTON, JohnStanford In The ValeYeoman1769D/A1/125/78MF544
SHILTON, JohnBradfieldYeoman1799D/A1/125/186MF546
SHILTON, John SnrBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1623D/A1/213/129MF96095
SHILTON, JonathanUffingtonHusbandman1728D/A1/216/90MF96101
SHILTON, MaryUffington1741D/A1/124/115MF544
SHILTON, RichardBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1626D/A1/118/096MF540
SHILTON, ThomasBourton, Shrivenham1587D/A1/115/238 D/A1/11/269MF538 MF10047B
SHILTON, WilliamStanford In The ValeYeoman1754D/A1/124/198MF544
SHILTON, William SnrStanford In The Vale Husbandman1681D/A1/121/122MF542
SHINE, WilliamRadley1563D/A1/114/268MF537
SHINGLETON, JohnKennington, RadleyLabourer1694D/A1/215/92MF96098
SHINGLTON, HenryWest Lockinge, WantageLabourer, Husbandman1629D/A1/118/127MF540
SHIPMAN, SolomonAbingdonGlover1614D/A1/213/083 D/A1/168/105MF96094 MF96001
SHIPPERY, CharlesLetcombe BassettYeoman1761D/A1/125/44MF544
SHIPPERY, EdwardFrilford, MarchamYeoman1660D/A1/120/70MF541
SHIPPERY, EdwardChildreyYeoman1771D/A1/125/91MF544
SHIPPERY, ElizabethSparsholt1799D/A1/125/191MF546
SHIPPREIVE , William SnrLetcombe BassettYeoman1727D/A1/123/154MF543
SHIPPREY, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1662D/A1/120/116aMF541
SHIPREVE, RobertLetcombe BassettYeoman1671D/A1/121/24MF542
SHIPTON, DanielWood Speen, SpeenTanner1680D/A1/121/108MF542
SHIPTON, EleanorShaw Cum Donnington1679D/A1/214/190MF96097
SHIPTON, HenryShaw Cum DonningtonTanner1607D/A1/116/261 D/A1/14/260MF539 MF10064
SHIPTON, JaneShaw Cum Donnington1614D/A1/117/096 D/A1/15/409MF539 MF10065
SHIPTON, JosephShaw Bridge, SpeenTanner1669D/A1/120/176MF541
SHIPTON, MorrisShaw Cum DonningtonYeoman1612D/A1/213/077MF96094
SHIPTON, MorrisShaw Cum Donnington1612D/A1/168/085MF96001
SHIPTON, RichardShaw Cum DonningtonHusbandman1677D/A1/214/180MF96097
SHIPTON, SimonShaw Cum DonningtonYeoman1683D/A1/215/16MF96098
SHIPTON, ThomasShaw Cum DonningtonTanner1661D/A1/120/91MF541
SHIRLEY, JamesReadingPublican1852D/A1/231/117MF96130
SHIRVILL, AlexanderReading St LaurenceWeaver1722D/A1/216/68MF96101
SHIRVILL, ThomasWinkfieldHusbandman1731D/A1/216/113MF96101
SHONK, SusanBinfield1681D/A1/121/118MF542
SHONKE , JohnMidgham, ThatchamTurner1661D/A1/214/91MF96097
SHONKE , JohnWarfieldWeaver1685D/A1/121/151MF542
SHONKE , JohnAbingdonVictualler1688D/A1/215/57MF96098
SHORBROKE, JohnFyfield1545D/A1/114/105 D/A1/5/022MF537 MF10043A
SHORD, ElizabethAbingdon1751D/A1/216/197MF96102
SHORDE, Thomas1557D/A1/114/158MF537
SHORDE, Thomas JnrLetcombe RegisTailor1591D/A1/116/046 D/A1/12/014MF538 MF10048
SHORE, WilliamWantageBuilder1845D/A1/162/106MF583
SHORLAND, RichardBurghfield1570D/A1/115/069 D/A1/9/231MF538 MF10046
SHORLAND, WilliamBurghfield1598D/A1/212/179 D/A1/13/318MF96093 MF10049
SHORT , EmmaGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1618D/A1/117/169 D/A1/15/847MF539 MF10065
SHORT , LawrenceGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1612D/A1/117/075 D/A1/15/252MF539 MF10065
SHORT, AnneArdington1661D/A1/214/90MF96097
SHORT, JohnSparsholt'S-Court, West HendredMiller1682D/A1/121/127MF542
SHORT, ThomasWest HendredMiller1658D/A1/120/57MF541
SHORTE, GraceArdington1610D/A1/213/065 D/A1/168/066MF96094 MF96001
SHORTE, JoanWarfield1610D/A1/117/047 D/A1/15/082MF539 MF10065
SHORTE, RichardWarfieldBaker1609D/A1/117/025 D/A1/14/550MF539 MF10064
SHORTE, RobertLambourn1562D/A1/167/120MF96000
SHORTE, ThomasGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1570D/A1/115/067 D/A1/9/225MF538 MF10046
SHORTE, WilliamGoosey, Stanford In The Vale1561D/A1/114/236 D/A1/8/207MF537 MF10043C
SHORTER , Henry SnrDraytonYeoman1723D/A1/123/96MF543
SHORTER, HannahSutton Courtenay1819D/A1/161/93MF583
SHORTER, HenryDraytonYeoman1726D/A1/123/144MF543
SHORTER, JohnSutton Courtenay1813D/A1/231/50MF96129
SHORTER, JosephSteventon1804D/A1/231/37MF96129
SHORTER, ThomasGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1570D/A1/115/067 D/A1/9/225MF538 MF10046
SHORTER, UrsulaReading St LaurenceGentlewoman1643D/A1/120/003MF541
SHORTER, WilliamReading1640D/A1/16/567MF10066
SHORTER, WilliamGarford, Marcham Labourer1854D/A1/163/30MF584
SHORY, HughAbingdonHusbandman1684D/A1/121/145MF542