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
SYMES, StephenAldermastonHusbandman1559D/A1/212/050MF96092
SYMES, Stephen1559D/A1/167/110MF96000
SYMES, StephenAldermastonYeoman1560D/A1/114/245 D/A1/6/197MF537 MF10043B
SYMES, WilliamBuscot1534D/A1/1/275MF10042
SYMES, WilliamPadworth1553D/A1/212/026MF96092
SYMES, WilliamSouth Moreton1590D/A1/212/142/1 D/A1/116/012/2MF96092 MF538
SYMES, WilliamBeenhamHusbandman1593D/A1/116/072 D/A1/12/113MF538 MF10048
SYMES, WilliamKingstone Winslow, AshburyHusbandman1616D/A1/117/129 D/A1/15/645MF539 MF10065
SYMMES, EleanorAston Tirrold1625D/A1/118/072MF540
SYMMES, JoanMilton1551D/A1/114/125MF537
SYMMES, JohnSouth Moreton1549D/A1/212/014MF96092
SYMMES, JohnAldermastonYeoman1680D/A1/214/200MF96097
SYMMES, MargeryBoxford1540D/A1/212/003MF96092
SYMMES, RichardAldermastonHusbandman1598D/A1/116/143 D/A1/13/280MF539 MF10049
SYMMES, WilliamThatcham1569D/A1/115/054 D/A1/9/198MF538 MF10046
SYMMES, WilliamSouth Moreton1590D/A1/11/369MF10047B
SYMMONDS, FrancisArdingtonYeoman1731D/A1/124/28MF544
SYMMONS, JohnWargrave1595D/A1/116/103 D/A1/12/295MF538 MF10048
SYMMONS, JohnCholseyYeoman1640D/A1/119/126MF541
SYMMS, Edward SnrWallingfordMusician1666D/A1/214/124MF96097
SYMMYS, WilliamMilton1539D/A1/1/227MF10042
SYMNES, JohnSouth MoretonHusbandman1583D/A1/115/202 D/A1/10/414MF538 MF10047A
SYMONDES, ClemenceWallingford St Mary1556D/A1/114/151 D/A1/7/116MF537 MF10040
SYMONDES, JohnRadleyHusbandman1559D/A1/114/205 D/A1/7/306MF537 MF10040
SYMONDS, AdamChildreyYeoman1714D/A1/123/23MF543
SYMONDS, AnnWallingford1728D/A1/216/93MF96101
SYMONDS, ChurchNewburyBookseller1715D/A1/216/34MF96100
SYMONDS, EdwardArdington Mill , ArdingtonYeoman1807D/A1/161/120MF583
SYMONDS, ElizabethWarfield1690D/A1/215/69MF96098
SYMONDS, ElizabethSutton Courtenay1772D/A1/216/233MF96102
SYMONDS, JohnSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1563D/A1/114/267 D/A1/8/273MF537 MF10043C
SYMONDS, JohnOakfield, Stratfield MortimerGardener1670D/A1/121/5MF542
SYMONDS, JohnEast LockingeYeoman1759D/A1/216/216MF96102
SYMONDS, JohnGrove, WantageYeoman1815D/A1/161/101MF583
SYMONDS, JohnGrove, WantageLabourer1857D/A1/163/19MF584
SYMONDS, MaryReading1699D/A1/122/84MF542
SYMONDS, MaryArdington1819D/A1/161/94MF583
SYMONDS, MatthewNewburyBroad Weaver1637D/A1/119/079MF540
SYMONDS, RalphUfton NervetYeoman1687D/A1/197/101MF96052
SYMONDS, ThomasShaw Cum DonningtonWoodman1755D/A1/125/5MF544
SYMONDSON, LeonardNew Windsor, WindsorInnholder1700D/A1/215/128MF96099
SYMONES, MaryReading St Mary1637D/A1/119/073MF540
SYMONS (ALIAS WHITEHORN), AnnLockinge1728D/A1/216/91MF96101
SYMONS, AgnesCholsey1559D/A1/114/220 D/A1/7/265MF537 MF10040
SYMONS, AnnWinkfield1615D/A1/117/117 D/A1/15/511MF539 MF10065
SYMONS, ElizabethReading St Laurence1670D/A1/121/13MF542
SYMONS, JoanSulhamstead Abbots1596D/A1/116/110 D/A1/12/337MF538 MF10048
SYMONS, JoanSulhamstead Abbots1643D/A1/120/017MF541
SYMONS, JohnCholseyHusbandman1554D/A1/114/142 D/A1/7/059MF537 MF10040
SYMONS, JohnCholsey1560D/A1/114/250 D/A1/6/192MF537 MF10043B
SYMONS, JohnShrivenham1570D/A1/115/075MF538
SYMONS, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1599D/A1/116/167 D/A1/13/466MF539 MF10049
SYMONS, JohnReadingSaddler, Bottle Maker1611D/A1/117/053 D/A1/15/129MF539 MF10065
SYMONS, JohnReading St LaurenceButcher1616D/A1/117/127 D/A1/15/635MF539 MF10065
SYMONS, Ralph SnrUfton NervetYeoman1664D/A1/120/129MF541
SYMONS, RichardWallingford St Leonard1554D/A1/114/136 D/A1/7/040MF537 MF10040
SYMONS, RichardCholsey1559D/A1/114/226 D/A1/8/148MF537 MF10043C
SYMONS, ThomasLockingeHusbandman1529D/A1/1/115MF10041
SYMONS, William1545D/A1/212/007MF96092
SYMONS, WilliamCholseyHusbandman1558D/A1/6/099MF10043B
SYMONS, WilliamCholseyPriest1559D/A1/114/227 D/A1/8/148MF537 MF10043C
SYMONS, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1611D/A1/213/071MF96094
SYMONS, WilliamAbingdonGlover1614D/A1/213/085MF96094
SYMONS, WilliamWargraveYeoman1641D/A1/214/054 D/A1/169/083MF96096 MF96002
SYMONS, WilliamAbingdonMillwright1711D/A1/123/11MF543
SYMPKINS, JohnHamstead MarshallHusbandman1573D/A1/212/081MF96092
SYMPSON, BarbaraSteventon1672D/A1/121/44MF542
SYMPSON, ElizabethSteventon1671D/A1/121/22MF542
SYMPSON, JohnAbingdon 1552D/A1/212/023MF96092
SYMS, AnneBeenham1693D/A1/215/82MF96098
SYMS, ClementAbingdonYeoman1719D/A1/216/49MF96100
SYMS, GilesNewburyButcher1595D/A1/116/099 D/A1/12/257MF538 MF10048
SYMS, HenryAldermastonYeoman1691D/A1/122/34MF542
SYMS, JohnEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1743D/A1/124/126MF544
SYMS, John SnrCoscote, HagbourneYeoman1641D/A1/119/142MF541
SYMS, JudithWhitley, Reading St Giles1642D/A1/169/083MF96002
SYMS, Richard SnrCoscote, HagbourneYeoman1670D/A1/121/15MF542
SYMS, ThomasPadworthHusbandman1602D/A1/116/209 D/A1/13/832MF539 MF10049
SYMS, WilliamSouth MoretonHusbandman1573D/A1/212/077MF96092
SYMSON, ElizabethReading St Giles1554D/A1/7/064MF10040
SYMSON, ElizabethReading1554D/A1/114/146MF537
SYMSON, JohnAbingdon 1552D/A1/7/338cMF10040
SYMSON, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1610D/A1/117/044 D/A1/15/062MF539 MF10065
SYNDRIE, ChristopherShellingford1600D/A1/13/440MF10049
SYNDRY, ChristopherShellingford1600D/A1/213/012MF96094
SYNDRY, ChristopherShellingfordShepherd1600D/A1/213/001MF96094
SYRID, RichardShinfieldHusbandman1641D/A1/119/148MF541
SYRSBYE, AgnesThatcham1571D/A1/115/078 D/A1/9/274MF538 MF10046
SYTHE, WilliamIdstone, Ashbury1560D/A1/212/046MF96092