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
VACHELL, JaneTheale, Tilehurst1668D/A1/131/91MF549
VACHELL, JohnWarfield1641D/A1/131/080MF549
VAGHEN, DavidShottesbrooke1553D/A1/131/027 D/A1/7/004MF549 MF10040
VALANTINE, HenryWarfieldHusbandman1611D/A1/131/065 D/A1/15/183MF549 MF10065
VANNER, RichardBuckleburyYeoman1682D/A1/69/14MF519
VANNER, RobertBray1574D/A1/131/040/1 D/A1/9/392MF549 MF10046
VANSBIE, JohnReading St LaurenceDraper1544D/A1/3/252MF604
VANSE, JohnSwallowfield1587D/A1/131/049 D/A1/11/263MF549 MF10047B
VAPRICE, JohnCookham1532D/A1/1/186MF10042
VARNEY, AndrewWest HendredHusbandman1681D/A1/131/99MF549
VARNEY, JosephStanford In The ValeClerk1807D/A1/164/42MF584
VARNEY, ThomasStanford In The ValeHarness Maker1719D/A1/219/126MF96109
VAUGHAN AP JOHN AP DAVUD AP GRYFFITH, ThomasAbergele, DenbighshireYeoman1583D/A1/131/045 D/A1/10/374MF549 MF10047A
VAUGHAN, HenryWelford1613D/A1/219/091 D/A1/168/100MF96109 MF96001
VAUGHAN, HenryOld WindsorInnholder1684D/A1/131/100MF549
VAUGHAN, JamesNewburyTailor1614D/A1/131/066 D/A1/15/417MF549 MF10065
VEALE, JohnReadingCloth Worker1715D/A1/131/122MF549
VEALL, RuthReading1728D/A1/131/127MF549
VEASY, JohnRemenham1603D/A1/13/1020MF10049
VECHAM, RobertThatchamSmith1572D/A1/131/038 D/A1/9/319MF549 MF10046
VEISEY, ChristianAbingdon St Helen1719D/A1/219/125MF96109
VEISEY, MaryAbingdon1719D/A1/219/127MF96109
VENDE, WilliamWest Hendred1557D/A1/3/251MF604
VENNER, JohnKintburyLabourer1574D/A1/219/079MF96109
VENNIMORE, ThomasHarwellButcher1714D/A1/219/122MF96109
VENSENT, GabrielHamstead MarshallHusbandman1665D/A1/219/107MF96109
VENTON, ElizabethSouth Moreton1589D/A1/219/085 D/A1/11/186MF96109 MF10047B
VERIMAN, JohnKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1640D/A1/131/079MF549
VERNELL, Humfrey SnrFinchampsteadFarrier1661D/A1/131/88MF549
VERNELL, JohnBinfieldHusbandman1699D/A1/131/111MF549
VERNELL, RalphFinchampsteadYeoman1661D/A1/219/103MF96109
VERNELL, ThomasFinchampsteadYeoman1662D/A1/131/89MF549
VERNEY, HenryYattendon1576D/A1/131/042 D/A1/10/107MF549 MF10047A
VERNEY, JohnReading St Mary1555D/A1/7/106MF10040
VERNEY, ThomasStanford In The Vale Harness Dresser1709D/A1/219/120MF96109
VERNILL, JamesFinchampsteadBlacksmith1641D/A1/219/098 D/A1/169/111MF96109 MF96002
VERNON, ElizabethWallingford1695D/A1/219/116MF96109
VERNON, JohnCookhamClerk1629D/A1/219/092MF96109
VERNON, JohnWallingford1694D/A1/131/107MF549
VERTEW, JohnNewbury1543D/A1/3/250MF604
VERTUE, EdwardNewbury1583D/A1/219/081MF96109
VERTUE, EdwardNewbury1583D/A1/10/418MF10047A
VERTUE, JohnNewburyCloth Worker1585D/A1/219/082MF96109
VERTUE, MargeryNewbury1632D/A1/131/077MF549
VERTUE, ThomasNewburyCloth Worker1666D/A1/131/90MF549
VERTUE, WilliamNewburyWeaver1724D/A1/131/126MF549
VERYMAN, ThomasWest Challow, Letcombe RegisHusbandman1599D/A1/131/059 D/A1/13/367MF549 MF10049
VESTMENT, JohnNew Windsor, WindsorInnholder1673D/A1/219/108MF96109
VIAN, EzekialMidgham, Thatcham1634D/A1/168/263 D/A1/219/094MF96001 MF96109
VICARS, JohnSparsholt1589D/A1/219/084MF96109
VICARS, JohnSparsholt1589D/A1/11/184MF10047B
VICARS, RichardCumnorHusbandman1643D/A1/219/099MF96109
VICARS, ThomasBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1559D/A1/131/032 D/A1/8/164MF549 MF10043C
VICARS, WilliamWoottonYeoman1718D/A1/131/123MF549
VICAS, JohnAldworth1546D/A1/6/004MF10043B
VICAS, JohnAldworth1546D/A1/3/249MF604
VICAS, JohnAldworth1547D/A1/131/025MF549
VICK, JohnBishamYeoman1706D/A1/131/116MF549
VICKARIE, MaryAbingdon1643D/A1/131/083MF549
VICKERES, RogerBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1647D/A1/131/085MF549
VICKERY, JamesReadingChair Maker1772D/A1/131/135MF549
VICKERY, ThomasAbingdonYeoman1627D/A1/131/073MF549
VICKERY, WilliamBinfieldBricklayer1747D/A1/219/129MF96109
VICKIS, JohnPangbourneYeoman1629D/A1/131/075MF549
VIDLER (ALIAS HURST), Joseph WilliamBarking, EssexMariner1857D/A1/228/166MF96125
VIGARS, JohnReadingClothier1694D/A1/131/105MF549
VILLIER, EdwardNewburyMercer1631D/A1/16/223MF10066
VINASSHE, JohnNewburyJoiner1578D/A1/219/080MF96109
VINCE, JohnShaw Cum DonningtonLabourer1831D/A1/164/43MF584
VINCE, John SnrInkpenYeoman, Gardener1661D/A1/219/102MF96109
VINCENT, ElizabethNewbury1837D/A1/232/43MF96131
VINCENT, JohnBrimpton1558D/A1/7/340bMF10040
VINCENT, JohnBrimpton1558D/A1/167/098MF96000
VINCENT, JohnBrimpton1560D/A1/219/078MF96109
VINCENT, JosephBenham, SpeenHusbandman1710D/A1/131/120MF549
VINCENT, JosephSpeenHusbandman1710D/A1/131/120MF549
VINCENT, RichardNewburyBroad Weaver1642D/A1/131/081MF549
VINCENT, SusannaNewbury1837D/A1/232/44MF96131
VINDGE, RalphReadingShoemaker1625D/A1/131/071MF549
VINEASHE, AgnesNewbury1581D/A1/131/044 D/A1/10/267MF549 MF10047A
VINER, AdamArdingtonHusbandman1586D/A1/131/046 D/A1/11/054MF549 MF10047B
VINER, AnnPurley1758D/A1/131/132MF549
VINER, AnneFoxcombe Hill, Cumnor1707D/A1/131/117MF549
VINER, ChristopherSunningwellYeoman1666D/A1/131/086MF549
VINER, ChristopherAshburyYeoman1705D/A1/219/119MF96109
VINER, ChristopherSunningwellYeoman1733D/A1/131/129MF549
VINER, HelenWest Hendred1567D/A1/9/104MF10046
VINER, JaneArdington1597D/A1/131/058 D/A1/13/244MF549 MF10049
VINER, JaneSunningwell1666D/A1/131/87MF549
VINER, JohnWest HendredYeoman1609D/A1/131/062 D/A1/14/515MF549 MF10064
VINER, JohnAshburyHusbandman1636D/A1/131/078MF549
VINER, MaryPurley1784D/A1/131/137MF549
VINER, ThomasAshburyHusbandman1715D/A1/219/123MF96109
VINER, WilliamFoxcombe Hill, Cumnor1707D/A1/131/118MF549
VINER, William SnrFoxcombe Hill, Cumnor1688D/A1/131/102MF549
VING, WilliamReading St Laurence1598D/A1/219/089MF96109
VING, WilliamReading St Laurence1598D/A1/13/320MF10049
VINGE, EdwardReadingButcher1685D/A1/131/101MF549
VINGE, RalphReading St LaurenceButcher1712D/A1/219/121MF96109
VININDINE, JohnPangbourneBarber1663D/A1/219/106MF96109