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
LAMPORT, WilliamReadingSailcloth Weaver1822D/A1/156/69MF581
LAMPUD, SolomonEastbury, LambournLabourer1627D/A1/93/028MF534
LANCASTER, EdwardNewburyBarber1610D/A1/202/030 D/A1/168/058MF96064 MF96001
LANCASTER, RobertStratfield MortimerYeoman1696D/A1/203/45MF96066
LANCASTER, WilliamArdingtonPriest, Vicar1549D/A1/5/087 D/A1/91/009MF10043A MF533
LANCELLOT, JohnHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1629D/A1/202/076MF96065
LANCHBERY, AmyReading1578D/A1/92/048 D/A1/10/386MF534 MF10047A
LANCHEBURY, RichardReading St MaryBaker1567D/A1/92/006 D/A1/9/038MF31701 MF10046
LANCKFORD, NicholasBrightwellButcher1722D/A1/203/94MF96066
LAND , ChristopherSutton CourtenayBoatman1647D/A1/202/113MF96065
LANDAR, WilliamWestbrook, FaringdonCloth Worker1647D/A1/202/111MF96065
LANDER, CatherineReading1837D/A1/229/79MF96126
LANDMAN, RogerOld Windsor1622D/A1/168/167MF96001
LANE, EdwardCumnorYeoman1626D/A1/202/071MF96065
LANE, EdwardSunninghillYeoman1641D/A1/93/104MF568
LANE, EdwardReading St GilesYeoman1714D/A1/95/45MF568
LANE, Edward JnrSunninghillYeoman1699D/A1/94/134MF568
LANE, GeorgeSutton CourtenayVictualler1837D/A1/157/5MF581
LANE, HenryCoworth, Old WindsorYeoman1642D/A1/16/614 D/A1/93/115MF10066 MF568
LANE, JamesAston TirroldYeoman1789D/A1/95/226MF569
LANE, JaneCumnor1687D/A1/203/21MF96066
LANE, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1591D/A1/201/183MF96063
LANE, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1591D/A1/11/375MF10047B
LANE, JohnWinterbrook, Cholsey1595D/A1/201/190 D/A1/12/392MF96063 MF10048
LANE, JohnReadingBroad Weaver1636D/A1/93/075MF534
LANE, JohnThames Side, Appleton1668D/A1/94/38MF568
LANE, JohnWallingford1686D/A1/203/18MF96066
LANE, JohnCumnorYeoman1691D/A1/203/35MF96066
LANE, JohnAppleton1742D/A1/95/143MF569
LANE, JohnShinfieldYeoman1795D/A1/95/232MF569
LANE, JohnAston TirroldYeoman1827D/A1/156/78MF581
LANE, JosephReading St MaryMaltster1730D/A1/95/103MF569
LANE, NicholasWhitley, Reading St GilesHusbandman1573D/A1/92/025 D/A1/9/381MF534 MF10046
LANE, RichardWinterbrook, Cholsey1627D/A1/202/074MF96065
LANE, RichardRockley, BesselsleighYeoman1662D/A1/202/123MF96065
LANE, Richard SnrWinterbrook, Cholsey1546D/A1/91/007 D/A1/5/040MF533 MF10043A
LANE, SimonStratfield Mortimer1601D/A1/92/132 D/A1/13/734MF534 MF10049
LANE, StephenWhitley, Reading St Giles1558D/A1/91/036 D/A1/7/154MF533 MF10040
LANE, ThomasWinterbrook, CholseyWeaver1619D/A1/92/182 D/A1/15/889MF534 MF10065
LANE, ThomasStratfield MortimerYeoman1667D/A1/202/131MF96065
LANE, ThomasShinfieldYeoman1686D/A1/203/13MF96066
LANE, ThomasThames Side, Appleton1710D/A1/95/33MF568
LANE, ThomasAppleton1710D/A1/95/33MF568
LANE, ThomasWhitley, Reading St Giles1710D/A1/203/69MF96066
LANE, ThomasineReading1662D/A1/202/124MF96065
LANE, WilliamLittleworth, Faringdon1590D/A1/11/390MF10047B
LANE, WilliamLittleworth, Faringdon1591D/A1/92/079MF534
LANE, WilliamSulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1640D/A1/16/584MF10066
LANE, WilliamCumnor1681D/A1/94/93MF568
LANE, WilliamCumnorYeoman1708D/A1/203/66MF96066
LANE, WilliamAppleton1726D/A1/95/82MF568
LANE, WilliamReadingTailor1842D/A1/157/19MF581
LANFORD, JohnChildreyYeoman1588D/A1/92/066 D/A1/11/301MF534 MF10047B
LANGBRIDG, JohnChaddleworthHusbandman1600D/A1/92/125 D/A1/13/540MF534 MF10049
LANGBRYDGE, WilliamChaddleworth1580D/A1/92/044 D/A1/10/256MF534 MF10047A
LANGDON, JohnSpeenSawyer1737D/A1/203/110MF96066
LANGEBRIGE, AliceEast Garston1544D/A1/201/115MF96062
LANGEFIELD, AnthonyAppletonLabourer1619D/A1/92/187 D/A1/15/885MF534 MF10065
LANGFIELD, WilliamWantageCurrier1852D/A1/229/92MF96126
LANGFORD, BridgetStanford In The Vale1635D/A1/93/072MF534
LANGFORD, ElizabethChildrey1597D/A1/202/003MF96064
LANGFORD, ElizabethBrightwell1728D/A1/203/105MF96066
LANGFORD, HannahShefford Woodlands, East Shefford1664D/A1/94/26MF568
LANGFORD, HenryWest Shefford1644D/A1/94/28MF568
LANGFORD, JamesWallingford1742D/A1/203/124MF96066
LANGFORD, JamesDrayton1833D/A1/229/77MF96126
LANGFORD, JohnSotwellYeoman1744D/A1/203/126MF96066
LANGFORD, JohnStanford DingleyButcher1842D/A1/157/16MF581
LANGFORD, MarthaCulham, Oxfordshire1838D/A1/157/9MF581
LANGFORD, NicholasWallingford1778D/A1/203/148MF96066
LANGFORD, NicholasWallingford1778D/A1/203/112MF96066
LANGFORD, NicholasAston Upthorpe, Blewbury1833D/A1/229/76MF96126
LANGFORD, RichardStratfield Mortimer1805D/A1/229/51MF96126
LANGFORD, RichardReading St MaryPainter, Plumber And Glazier1820D/A1/156/63MF581
LANGFORD, ThomasStanford In The ValeYeoman1625D/A1/93/016MF534
LANGHAM, DianaLongworth1837D/A1/157/8MF581
LANGHAM, DorothyArdington1671D/A1/202/141MF96065
LANGHAM, JohnLongworthCordwainer1672D/A1/94/59MF568
LANGHAM, JohnLongworth1699D/A1/94/130MF568
LANGHAM, RobertKingston Bagpuize1831D/A1/156/81MF581
LANGHEST, ThomasReading St LaurenceCooper1542D/A1/201/114MF96062
LANGHORNE, WilliamAldermastonVicar1523D/A1/1/065MF10041
LANGLAY, ThomasEast Hendred1766D/A1/95/184MF569
LANGLEY, HenryCumnorYeoman1582D/A1/92/050 D/A1/10/295MF534 MF10047A
LANGLEY, HenryWhitley, CumnorHusbandman1619D/A1/202/053MF96064
LANGLEY, HenryTubneyD.D.1679D/A1/94/87MF568
LANGLEY, HughShinfield1586D/A1/201/175MF96063
LANGLEY, HughShinfield1586D/A1/11/047MF10047B
LANGLEY, JamesSutton CourtenayLabourer1805D/A1/156/33MF581
LANGLEY, JoanAbingdon St Helen1560D/A1/91/055 D/A1/6/082MF533 MF10043B
LANGLEY, JohnAbingdonMercer1557D/A1/201/132MF96062
LANGLEY, JohnWest Hendred1785D/A1/95/221MF569
LANGLEY, MargaretHill End, Cumnor1593D/A1/92/085 D/A1/12/130MF534 MF10048
LANGLEY, MartinCumnor1562D/A1/201/147 D/A1/167/117MF96062 MF96000
LANGLEY, MaryKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1666D/A1/94/34MF568
LANGLEY, MaryStanford In The Vale1737D/A1/95/128MF569
LANGLEY, RalphWhitley, Cumnor1604D/A1/202/013 D/A1/14/175MF96064 MF10064
LANGLEY, RalphEaton, AppletonHusbandman1618D/A1/202/049 D/A1/168/156MF96064 MF96001
LANGLEY, ThomasAbingdon1632D/A1/16/294 D/A1/93/064MF10066 MF534
LANGLEY, ThomasKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1663D/A1/94/24MF568