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
BASSETT, JoanBucklebury1731D/A1/180/119MF96020
BASSETT, JohnThatchamFletcher1596D/A1/41/067 D/A1/12/341MF462 MF10048
BASSETT, JohnBinfieldYeoman1782D/A1/50/191MF469
BASSETT, JosephHenwick, Thatcham1702D/A1/179/141MF96017
BASSETT, RichardHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1644D/A1/45/008MF465
BASSETT, RichardHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1692D/A1/179/94MF96017
BASSETT, Richard SnrHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1689D/A1/47/143MF467
BASSETT, RobertHenwick, Thatcham1560D/A1/175/041MF96010
BASSETT, RobertStanford In The ValeYeoman1642D/A1/44/157MF465
BASSFORD, ThomasNewburyMaltster1709D/A1/48/164MF467
BASSON, MarthaCumnor1841D/A1/146/57MF557
BASTER, ThomasInkpenYeoman1790D/A1/50/225MF21170
BASTER, WilliamKintburyYeoman1794D/A1/50/242MF469
BASTIAN, RichardBradfield1771D/A1/50/139MF469
BASTIN, EdwardWokefield, Stratfield MortimerYeoman1797D/A1/51/11MF469
BASTIN, EzekielKintburyCollar Maker1807D/A1/145/36MF557
BASTIN, MaryKintbury1745D/A1/50/3MF469
BASTIN, ThomasKintburyCollar Maker1743D/A1/49/255MF468
BASTIN, ThomasKintbury1788D/A1/50/220MF21170
BASTON, JohnArdingtonYeoman1846D/A1/146/80MF557
BASTON, ThomasCompton1598D/A1/175/154MF96010
BASTON, ThomasCompton1598D/A1/13/420MF10049
BASYNG, RalphBoxfordHusbandman1559D/A1/39/150 D/A1/7/287MF461 MF10040
BAT, JohnReading St Mary1551D/A1/4/029MF604
BATCHELER, AliceKintbury1603D/A1/41/167 D/A1/13/1036MF463 MF10049
BATCHELER, JoanColthrop, Thatcham1618D/A1/43/021 D/A1/15/838MF464 MF10065
BATCHELOR, JohnAldermastonGardener1671D/A1/178/123MF96015
BATCHELOR, JohnAldermaston1844D/A1/226/115MF96123
BATCHELOR, MosesNewburyTailor1728D/A1/49/117MF468
BATCHELOR, RobertAppletonHusbandman1713D/A1/180/20MF96019
BATCHELOUR, JaneTidmarsh1661D/A1/178/60MF96015
BATCHILER, SimonWasingHusbandman1629D/A1/177/015MF96013
BATE, JohnReading St Mary1551D/A1/5/134MF10043A
BATE, JohnReadingButcher1551D/A1/233/341MF96132
BATE, ThomasNewburyButcher1615D/A1/42/113MF463
BATE, WilliamReading St LaurenceClerk, Yeoman1607D/A1/42/024 D/A1/14/354MF463 MF10064
BATELL, AgnesWinkfield1561D/A1/3/001MF604
BATELL, AgnesWinkfield1561D/A1/167/116MF96000
BATEMAN, RobertWallingford St Mary1544D/A1/1/235MF10042
BATEMAN, RobertWallingford1545D/A1/39/011MF461
BATEMAN, WalterReading1631D/A1/16/269 D/A1/44/014MF10066 MF464
BATES, JamesReadingCloth Worker1670D/A1/178/127MF96015
BATES, MargaretNewbury1621D/A1/176/080MF96012
BATH, EdwardCharney Bassett, LongworthHusbandman1730D/A1/49/136MF468
BATH, FrancisHarwellBlacksmith1702D/A1/48/102MF467
BATH, JamesRadleyLabourer1614D/A1/42/146 D/A1/15/447MF463 MF10065
BATH, KatherineFyfield1595D/A1/175/140MF96010
BATH, MaryHarwell1705D/A1/179/157MF96017
BATH, ThomasWinkfieldLabourer1641D/A1/177/099MF96014
BATHERLEY, JohnChiltonHusbandman1636D/A1/44/086MF464
BATILL, ThomasWinkfield1561D/A1/39/178 D/A1/8/222MF461 MF10043C
BATLETT, RobertWinkfield1587D/A1/175/111MF96010
BATMAN, RobertLong WittenhamTailor1728D/A1/49/126MF468
BATT, ElizabethAbingdon1728D/A1/49/122MF468
BATT, NicholasMarchamShoemaker1671D/A1/46/72MF466
BATT, NicholasReading St GilesWeaver1710D/A1/48/175MF467
BATT, NicholasReading St GilesWeaver1710D/A1/48/175MF467
BATT, RogerReadingBroad Weaver1681D/A1/47/65MF466
BATT, RogerReadingWeaver1721D/A1/180/61MF96019
BATT, WilliamSpeenVictualler1748D/A1/50/13MF469
BATTAYLE, HenryWinkfield1570D/A1/39/249 D/A1/9/220MF462 MF10046
BATTAYN, PhilipChildrey1537D/A1/39/004MF461
BATTE , George SnrWargrave1645D/A1/178/014MF96015
BATTEL, AgnesWinkfield1561D/A1/39/180MF461
BATTEL, OliverWinkfield1638D/A1/44/093MF464
BATTELL, JohnWinkfield1600D/A1/41/137 D/A1/13/535MF463 MF10049
BATTELL, RobertWinkfield1587D/A1/175/111MF96010
BATTELL, RobertWinkfield1587D/A1/11/157MF10047B
BATTELL, ThomasWinkfieldWeaver1560D/A1/8/172MF10043C
BATTEN, AliceDidcot1605D/A1/41/201 D/A1/14/073MF463 MF10064
BATTEN, EdwardLambourn1730D/A1/180/102MF96020
BATTEN, ElizabethNorth Street, Tilehurst1641D/A1/44/132MF465
BATTEN, FrancisArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1672D/A1/46/90MF466
BATTEN, HenryWallingfordCooper1646D/A1/178/024MF96015
BATTEN, HenryEast Garston1702D/A1/48/104MF467
BATTEN, JohnBrightwellHusbandman1559D/A1/39/139 D/A1/7/269MF461 MF10040
BATTEN, JohnArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1620D/A1/176/079MF96012
BATTEN, JohnArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1693D/A1/48/14MF467
BATTEN, JohnEast HendredPeruke Maker1753D/A1/180/195MF96020
BATTEN, John SnrArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1670D/A1/46/55MF466
BATTEN, MargaretArdington1708D/A1/18/57MF10080
BATTEN, MaryArdington1671D/A1/46/70MF466
BATTEN, MaryBucklebury1803D/A1/226/33MF96123
BATTEN, RichardChiltonHusbandman1631D/A1/44/008MF464
BATTEN, RichardArdingtonYeoman1667D/A1/46/30MF466
BATTEN, RichardWallingfordMaltster1706D/A1/48/138MF467
BATTEN, RichardWoolstone, UffingtonLabourer1742D/A1/180/165MF96020
BATTEN, Thomas1551D/A1/39/051MF461
BATTEN, ThomasBrightwell1552D/A1/5/144MF10043A
BATTEN, ThomasArdingtonYeoman1742D/A1/49/243MF468
BATTEN, ThomasBucklebury1743D/A1/180/167MF96020
BATTEN, ThomasBuckleburyYeoman1803D/A1/226/34MF96123
BATTEN, WilliamArdington Wick, ArdingtonYeoman1594D/A1/41/052 D/A1/12/217MF462 MF10048
BATTEN, WilliamSpeenhamland, Speen Coal Merchant1855D/A1/147/49MF558
BATTEN, WilliamTwyford, HurstCorn Dealer1857D/A1/147/58MF558
BATTIE, RobertTilehurstCarpenter1603D/A1/41/170 D/A1/13/1037MF463 MF10049
BATTILL, MaryWinkfield1641D/A1/44/138MF465
BATTIN , James JnrBrightwellYeoman1732D/A1/49/162MF468
BATTIN, HenryAppletonHusbandman1698D/A1/179/120MF96017
BATTIN, JohnCumnorYeoman1729D/A1/49/133MF468