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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
DOWSE, Thomas SnrBrayYeoman1640D/A1/62/162MF515
DOWSING, MargaretAbingdon St Helen1560D/A1/61/066 D/A1/7/330MF514 MF10040
DOWTHAT, WilliamThatchamInnholder1694D/A1/187/73MF96031
DOY, ThomasEast Hanney, Hanney1557D/A1/2/164MF604
DOYLEY, JohnWallingfordLabourer1719D/A1/187/126MF96031
DRACOTTE, FrancisNewburyCutler1630D/A1/62/125MF515
DRAKE, EdwardCookhamBargeman1692D/A1/63/122MF515
DRAPER, AdamNew Windsor, Windsor1609D/A1/186/093 D/A1/168/055MF96029 MF96001
DRAPER, AnnaTheale, Tilehurst1809D/A1/227/86MF96124
DRAPER, EdwardAbingdonHusbandman1643D/A1/186/167MF96030
DRAPER, GeorgeSulhamWheelwright1676D/A1/187/35MF96031
DRAPER, JamesTheale, TilehurstWheelwright1755D/A1/64/155MF516
DRAPER, JamesTilehurstYeoman1760D/A1/64/167MF516
DRAPER, MargaretClewer1616D/A1/62/021 D/A1/15/628MF514 MF10065
DRAPER, MaryAbingdon1643D/A1/62/171MF515
DRAPER, WilliamRadley1540D/A1/61/002MF514
DRAPER, WilliamRadley1540D/A1/6/128 D/A1/6/145 D/A1/6/162aMF10043B MF10043B MF10043B
DRAPER, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1728D/A1/64/89MF516
DRAPER, WilliamReadingInnkeeper1825D/A1/149/29MF559
DRAPER, WilliamReading St GilesBlacksmith1836D/A1/227/102MF96124
DRAYCOT, HenryBinfield1716D/A1/64/61MF516
DRAYCOTT, Francis SnrNewburyCutler1659D/A1/63/3MF515
DREDGE, ElizabethReading1721D/A1/64/65MF516
DREDGE, JamesNewburyVictualler, Basket Maker1803D/A1/149/4MF559
DREDGE, JohnWarfieldBaker1713D/A1/64/52MF516
DREDGE, RichardNewburyVictualler1766D/A1/64/186MF516
DREDGE, WilliamReading1807D/A1/227/83MF96124
DREDGE, WilliamNewburyCarpenter1857D/A1/150/31MF559
DREVAT, JoanWestbrook1558D/A1/61/042MF514
DREW, ElizabethAbingdon1769D/A1/65/179MF517
DREW, ElizabethMarcham1820D/A1/149/23MF559
DREW, GeorgeAbingdonCutler1707D/A1/64/35MF516
DREW, JohnMilton1578D/A1/61/124 D/A1/10/127MF514 MF10047A
DREW, JohnKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1668D/A1/187/25MF96031
DREW, JohnShinfieldHarness Maker1799D/A1/65/215MF517
DREW, JohnColeshill1803D/A1/149/5MF559
DREW, JohnColeshillYeoman1813D/A1/149/15MF559
DREW, WilliamBray1601D/A1/61/213 D/A1/13/652MF514 MF10049
DREWE , SimonReading St Giles1558D/A1/61/037 D/A1/7/163MF514 MF10040
DREWE, EdwardReading St Giles1597D/A1/61/196 D/A1/13/134MF514 MF10049
DREWE, RichardShinfield1624D/A1/62/061MF514
DREWE, WilliamGreat Coxwell1556D/A1/7/126MF10040
DREWET, JoanWestbrook, Faringdon1559D/A1/6/144MF10043B
DREWETE, WilliamGreat Coxwell1556D/A1/61/027MF514
DREWETT , Thomas JnrBuckleburyYeoman1760D/A1/64/166MF516
DREWETT, ElizabethInkpen1648D/A1/186/177MF96030
DREWETT, JamesChildreyBlacksmith1709D/A1/64/40MF516
DREWETT, Stephen1558D/A1/61/056 D/A1/6/081MF514 MF10043B
DREWITT, IsaacCumnor1852D/A1/150/26MF559
DREWRIE, AnnisCholsey1558D/A1/61/049 D/A1/7/219MF514 MF10040
DREWRIE, WilliamCholseyYeoman1558D/A1/61/050 D/A1/7/217MF514 MF10040
DREWRIE, WilliamCholsey1558D/A1/61/038MF514
DREWRY, NicholasCholseyYeoman1599D/A1/61/203 D/A1/13/358MF514 MF10049
DREWYTT, WilliamAbingdon St HelenPriest1550D/A1/2/156MF604
DRINKWATER, Florence1563D/A1/167/036MF96000
DRIVER, ThomasWallingfordCorn Dealer1782D/A1/65/191MF517
DROVER, ElizabethReading1827D/A1/227/98MF96124
DROVER, ElizabethReading1837D/A1/227/103MF96124
DROVER, JamesReadingChina Man1816D/A1/149/19MF559
DROVER, James BarlowReadingChina Man1825D/A1/149/28MF559
DROVER, JosephReading1822D/A1/227/94MF96124
DROVER, JosephReading1837D/A1/227/104MF96124
DRUAT, WilliamAbingdonCurate1550D/A1/186/009MF96029
DRUCE , Thomas SnrWinkfieldBlacksmith1782D/A1/65/193MF517
DRUCE, GeorgeWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1710D/A1/64/43MF516
DRUCE, GeorgeWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1710D/A1/64/43MF516
DRUCE, GeorgeThatchamYeoman1774D/A1/65/184MF517
DRUCE, JaneReading1774D/A1/65/183MF517
DRUE, RichardNewburyBrewer1666D/A1/174/45MF96007
DRUET, WilliamBucklandLabourer1633D/A1/62/127 D/A1/168/250MF515 MF96001
DRURY, ChristopherSunninghill1685D/A1/63/101MF515
DRURY, ElizabethSunninghill1694D/A1/187/74MF96031
DRWYT, ThomasLittle Coxwell, Faringdon1555D/A1/61/024 D/A1/7/099MF514 MF10040
DRY, EdwardShinfieldYeoman1727D/A1/187/139MF96032
DRY, ThomasFyfieldLabourer1705D/A1/187/90MF96031
DRY, WilliamAbingdonCordwainer1797D/A1/65/211MF517
DRYEWOOD, RobertLetcombe Regis Husbandman1580D/A1/61/130 D/A1/10/232MF514 MF10047A
DRYNKEWATAR, RichardAbingdonHusbandman1565D/A1/61/079 D/A1/8/341MF514 MF10043C
DRYNKWATER, WilliamIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1556D/A1/61/028 D/A1/7/120 D/A1/186/023MF514 MF10040 MF96029
DUALL, ThomasWhite Waltham1545D/A1/61/010 D/A1/5/007MF514 MF10043A
DUBAR, AgnesAppleton1630D/A1/62/096MF515
DUBBER, FrancesAppleton1615D/A1/62/014 D/A1/15/524MF514 MF10065
DUBBER, HughKingston BagpuizeYeoman1632D/A1/62/118MF515
DUBBER, JohnCumnor1558D/A1/61/043 D/A1/7/244MF514 MF10040
DUBBER, RalphKingston Bagpuize1578D/A1/61/120MF514
DUBBER, RalphKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1578D/A1/10/157MF10047A
DUBBER, RobertAppleton1612D/A1/62/006 D/A1/15/255MF514 MF10065
DUBBER, ThomasAppletonDay Labourer1623D/A1/186/124MF96030
DUCEMYE, RichardNewburyShepherd1583D/A1/61/138 D/A1/10/400MF514 MF10047A
DUCK , John SnrWest SheffordYeoman1738D/A1/64/119MF516
DUCK , John SnrWest SheffordLabourer1781D/A1/65/189MF517
DUCK , WilliamShinfield1599D/A1/61/204 D/A1/13/364MF514 MF10049
DUCK, BenjaminCliffe Pypard, WiltshireShepherd1842D/A1/150/13MF559
DUCKE, MaudeShinfield1600D/A1/186/072 D/A1/13/595MF96029 MF10049
DUCKER, EmmeSunninghill1611D/A1/61/250 D/A1/15/189MF514 MF10065
DUCKET, GeorgeThatcham1841D/A1/227/108MF96124
DUCKETT, BartholomewThatchamCordwainer1688D/A1/63/113MF515
DUCKETT, BartholomewThatchamShoemaker1721D/A1/64/66MF516
DUCKETT, GeorgeThatchamShoemaker1711D/A1/187/107MF96031
DUCKWORTH , HughSunninghill1607D/A1/61/234 D/A1/14/279MF514 MF10064