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
BAKER, JohnWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1752D/A1/50/53MF469
BAKER, JohnNewbury1806D/A1/226/36MF96123
BAKER, JosephEast Hagbourne, HagbourneCordwainer1757D/A1/50/72MF469
BAKER, MargaretBurghfield1617D/A1/43/005 D/A1/15/694MF464 MF10065
BAKER, MargaretNewbury1762D/A1/180/213MF96020
BAKER, PeterSpeenhamland, SpeenYeoman1643D/A1/178/010MF96015
BAKER, PhilipAshampsteadHusbandman1639D/A1/44/110MF465
BAKER, ReynoldNew Windsor, Windsor1610D/A1/176/028 D/A1/168/063MF96012 MF96001
BAKER, RichardWallingford St Mary1550D/A1/39/048 D/A1/5/099MF461 MF10043A
BAKER, RichardSteventon1564D/A1/39/192 D/A1/7/370MF462 MF10040
BAKER, RichardSteventon1609D/A1/42/033 D/A1/14/509MF463 MF10064
BAKER, RichardNorth MoretonFuller1646D/A1/178/025MF96015
BAKER, RichardSteventon1662D/A1/45/111MF465
BAKER, RichardMaidenheadTallow Chandler1712D/A1/180/7MF96019
BAKER, RichardNorth MoretonYeoman1722D/A1/180/66MF96019
BAKER, RichardReadingGardener1852D/A1/147/30MF558
BAKER, RobertCharney, Longworth1597D/A1/12/405MF10048
BAKER, RobertMoulsfordMaltster1739D/A1/49/206MF468
BAKER, RogerBurghfield1545D/A1/39/026MF461
BAKER, StephenHagbourne1557D/A1/7/144MF10040
BAKER, StephenHagbourne1557D/A1/39/083MF461
BAKER, ThomasSteventon1602D/A1/41/169 D/A1/13/862MF463 MF10049
BAKER, ThomasSnowswick, BuscotHusbandman1641D/A1/44/147MF465
BAKER, ThomasBrightwellWeaver1694D/A1/48/27MF467
BAKER, ThomasSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1700D/A1/184/121MF96026
BAKER, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1718D/A1/49/20MF468
BAKER, ThomasEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1754D/A1/50/58MF469
BAKER, ThomasHungerfordButler1762D/A1/50/99MF469
BAKER, VincentBurghfield1561D/A1/39/179MF461
BAKER, WalterStanford In The ValeYeoman, Woolen Draper1651D/A1/45/053 D/A1/178/047MF465 MF96015
BAKER, WilliamEast GarstonSmith1531D/A1/1/180MF10042
BAKER, WilliamMaidenhead, Bray1554D/A1/39/071 D/A1/7/035MF461 MF10040
BAKER, WilliamShinfield1599D/A1/175/160MF96010
BAKER, WilliamShinfield1599D/A1/13/430MF10049
BAKER, WilliamSunninghillYeoman1613D/A1/42/104 D/A1/15/403MF463 MF10065
BAKER, WilliamNewburyBroad Weaver1638D/A1/177/073MF96014
BAKER, WilliamWest SheffordInnkeeper1663D/A1/45/121MF465
BAKER, WilliamWestcot, SparsholtHusbandman1665D/A1/46/7MF466
BAKER, WilliamLong WittenhamHusbandman1670D/A1/46/54MF466
BAKER, WilliamWest WoodhayYeoman1678D/A1/178/177 MF96015
BAKER, WilliamWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1683D/A1/179/26MF96016
BAKER, WilliamNorth MoretonCloth Worker1691D/A1/179/90MF96017
BAKER, WilliamBuscotYeoman1706D/A1/179/170MF96017
BAKER, WilliamShinfieldHusbandman1721D/A1/49/54MF468
BAKER, WilliamArdingtonYeoman1721D/A1/49/53MF468
BAKER, WilliamBrimptonShoemaker1742D/A1/49/245MF468
BAKER, WilliamAbingdon1788D/A1/114/76MF537
BAKER, WilliamNorth MoretonYeoman1791D/A1/50/229MF21170
BAKER, WilliamComptonIron Founder1840D/A1/146/51MF557
BAKER, William SnrShinfieldYeoman1688D/A1/47/134MF467
BAKON, William1550D/A1/175/018MF96010
BAKR, VincentBurghfield1561D/A1/3/002MF604
BAKUN, ThomasEasthampsteadCarpenter1559D/A1/39/164 D/A1/6/201MF461 MF10043B
BALDEN, RalphTheale, TilehurstShear Clothier1639D/A1/44/121MF465
BALDEN, RalphTheale, TilehurstVictualler, Clothworker1639D/A1/177/080/1MF96014
BALDEN, RichardAston Tirrold1566D/A1/8/364MF10043C
BALDING, CharityReading1836D/A1/146/25MF557
BALDING, FrancisReadingBricklayer1819D/A1/145/90MF557
BALDING, JohnReadingBricklayer1836D/A1/226/88MF96123
BALDON, AnneAston Tirrold1607D/A1/176/010MF96012
BALDON, AnneAston Tirrold1607D/A1/168/024MF96001
BALDWIN , John JnrWytham1712D/A1/48/193MF467
BALDWIN, BenjaminSouth Hinksey1731D/A1/180/122MF96020
BALDWIN, CecilyMaidenhead, Bray1623D/A1/43/084MF464
BALDWIN, ElizabethWytham1802D/A1/145/6MF557
BALDWIN, JohnAldermastonClerk, Vicar1618D/A1/176/064 D/A1/168/151MF96012 MF96001
BALDWIN, JohnReadingInnholder1660D/A1/45/66MF465
BALDWIN, ThomasReadingCarpenter1643D/A1/178/008MF96015
BALDWIN, ThomasMiltonYeoman1816D/A1/145/81MF557
BALDWIN, WilliamMaidenhead, BrayTailor1621D/A1/43/069MF464
BALDWIN, WilliamGreat CoxwellFarmer1839D/A1/146/48MF557
BALDYN, RobertEnglefieldLabourer1629D/A1/43/181MF464
BALL , GeorgeWokinghamYeoman1644D/A1/178/015MF96015
BALL , SimonWhite Waltham1614D/A1/176/047MF96012
BALL, AgnesBarkham1572D/A1/40/004 D/A1/9/312MF462 MF10046
BALL, AnnReading1838D/A1/146/41MF557
BALL, BenjaminLeckhampstead, ChieveleyCarrier (Retired)1855D/A1/147/47MF558
BALL, EdithReading St Mary1705D/A1/179/154 MF96017
BALL, EdwardBarkham1558D/A1/39/136 D/A1/7/194MF461 MF10040
BALL, HenryLambournDraper1808D/A1/145/41MF557
BALL, HumphreyOld Bracknell, EasthampsteadYeoman1638D/A1/44/105MF465
BALL, JohnClapcot, Wallingford All HallowsTailor, Servant1607D/A1/42/017 D/A1/14/331MF463 MF10064
BALL, JohnShinfieldYeoman1610D/A1/42/064 D/A1/15/036MF463 MF10065
BALL, JohnWarfieldYeoman1615D/A1/42/136 D/A1/15/535MF463 MF10065
BALL, JohnEast GarstonWheelwright1752D/A1/50/52MF469
BALL, JohnReadingGardener1827D/A1/145/126MF557
BALL, JosephReadingPlasterer1838D/A1/146/37MF557
BALL, SimonWhite Waltham1614D/A1/168/111MF96001
BALL, Thomas SnrWhite WalthamYeoman1616D/A1/42/158 D/A1/15/632MF463 MF10065
BALL, WilliamBracknell, Warfield1682D/A1/179/16MF96016
BALL, WilliamNewbury1790D/A1/50/227MF21170
BALL, WilliamWythamMiller1827D/A1/226/70MF96123
BALLAMY, WilliamPadworthCooper1600D/A1/41/147 D/A1/13/615MF463 MF10049
BALLARD , John SnrUfton NervetYeoman, Farmer 1790D/A1/50/228MF21170
BALLARD, BenjaminKingston BagpuizeBlacksmith1854D/A1/147/36MF558
BALLARD, BernardArdingtonFarmer1827D/A1/145/132MF557
BALLARD, EdwardArdingtonFarrier1777D/A1/50/164MF469
BALLARD, FrederickAbingdonIronmonger1846D/A1/146/86MF558
BALLARD, GraceChieveley1728D/A1/180/107MF96020
BALLARD, JamesReadingCloth Worker1628D/A1/43/167MF464