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
BENBROCK, JohnBrimptonTurner1687D/A1/108/48MF577
BENDALL, ElizabethReading St Mary1795D/A1/51/1MF469
BENED, AnesCumnor1545D/A1/3/018MF604
BENEFEILD, WilliamReadingFelt Maker1678D/A1/47/28MF466
BENEHAM, JohnEnglefieldHusbandman1552D/A1/5/161MF10043A
BENEHAM, JohnEnglefield1552D/A1/4/037MF605
BENET , AliceLetcombe Bassett1557D/A1/4/026MF604
BENET , ThomasCholsey1531D/A1/1/165MF10042
BENET , William SnrCholsey1508D/A1/1/016MF10041
BENET, AliceHolyport, Bray1576D/A1/40/055 D/A1/10/050MF462 MF10047A
BENET, JoanBucklebury1574D/A1/40/044 D/A1/9/430MF462 MF10046
BENET, JoanLetcombe Bassett1604D/A1/41/184 D/A1/13/1316MF463 MF10049
BENET, JohnLetcombe BassettHusbandman1553D/A1/39/059 D/A1/5/209MF461 MF10043A
BENET, JosiahAbingdonClerk1753D/A1/50/46MF469
BENET, KatherineOld Windsor1689D/A1/47/144MF467
BENET, RichardWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1590D/A1/41/009 D/A1/11/339MF462 MF10047B
BENET, ThomasWest SheffordHusbandman1583D/A1/40/110 D/A1/10/363MF462 MF10047A
BENET, WilliamLetcombe BassettHusbandman1632D/A1/44/041MF464
BENETE, JohnHolyport, Bray1560D/A1/39/168 D/A1/6/063MF461 MF10043B
BENETT, EdwardWhitley, Reading St Giles1558D/A1/7/196MF10040
BENETT, EdwardNewburyHaberdasher1605D/A1/41/205 D/A1/14/105MF463 MF10064
BENETT, HenryStanford In The Vale1635D/A1/177/050MF96013
BENETT, JohnNewbury1546D/A1/6/182MF10043B
BENETT, JohnNewburyWeaver1550D/A1/4/023MF604
BENETT, JohnReadingBroad Weaver1643D/A1/44/170MF465
BENETT, RobertNew Windsor, Windsor1546D/A1/175/013MF96010
BENETT, WilliamThatchamCooper1676D/A1/47/8MF466
BENEWELLE, WilliamTidmarsh1598D/A1/175/158MF96010
BENFIELD, JohnThatchamWeaver1635D/A1/177/054MF96013
BENGE, NicholasWeaver1558D/A1/175/029 D/A1/167/102MF96010 MF96000
BENGE, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1740D/A1/49/220MF468
BENGER, ArthurLongcot, Shrivenham1580D/A1/40/097 D/A1/10/269MF462 MF10047A
BENGER, HarryLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1597D/A1/41/073 D/A1/13/069MF462 MF10049
BENGER, JohnFernham, Shrivenham1603D/A1/175/174 D/A1/13/1016MF96011 MF10049
BENGER, ThomasLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1589D/A1/40/174 D/A1/11/194MF462 MF10047B
BENHAM, AnnGreenham, Thatcham 1733D/A1/180/131MF96020
BENHAM, ElizabethSouth Moreton1629D/A1/177/014MF96013
BENHAM, GeorgeSouth MoretonHusbandman1600D/A1/41/144 D/A1/13/607MF463 MF10049
BENHAM, GeorgeSouth MoretonJoiner1700D/A1/48/74MF467
BENHAM, JohnWest WoodhayYeoman1731D/A1/180/120MF96020
BENHAM, JonathanShinfield1705D/A1/179/163MF96017
BENHAM, MargaretSouth Moreton1671D/A1/46/71MF466
BENHAM, ThomasPeasemoreCarpenter1838D/A1/146/40MF557
BENHAUM, JohnBrimpton1570D/A1/39/250 D/A1/9/194MF462 MF10046
BENNAT, EdwardWhitley1557D/A1/39/134MF461
BENNAT, RichardBrayMason1602D/A1/41/171 D/A1/13/824MF463 MF10049
BENNET , John SnrShellingford1787D/A1/49/208MF468
BENNET , Richard SnrAppletonYeoman1805D/A1/145/23MF557
BENNET, AliceLetcombe Bassett1557D/A1/233/339MF96132
BENNET, AnneAbingdonCooper1664D/A1/214/113MF96097
BENNET, EleanorReading1695D/A1/48/32MF467
BENNET, ElizabethBinfield1593D/A1/41/040 D/A1/12/127MF462 MF10048
BENNET, ElizabethCookham1685D/A1/179/43MF96016
BENNET, GregoryEnglefield1594D/A1/12/193MF10048
BENNET, JohnStanford In The Vale Miller1680D/A1/47/46MF466
BENNET, JohnBasildonHusbandman1699D/A1/48/62MF467
BENNET, Joseph SnrKintburyLabourer1702D/A1/179/139MF96017
BENNET, MaryBuckland1667D/A1/178/108 MF96015
BENNET, StephenKingstone Winslow, AshburyYeoman1637D/A1/44/099MF465
BENNET, ThomasAppleton1787D/A1/180/245MF96020
BENNET, WilliamMoulsford, Cholsey1572D/A1/40/008 D/A1/9/334MF462 MF10046
BENNET, WilliamBray1615D/A1/168/120MF96001
BENNET, William SnrBucklandHusbandman1608D/A1/42/015 D/A1/14/454MF463 MF10064
BENNETT , John SnrShellingfordYeoman1738D/A1/49/202MF468
BENNETT, AliceNewbury1635D/A1/44/072MF464
BENNETT, EdwardReadingInnholder1670D/A1/178/116MF96015
BENNETT, EdwardStanford In The Vale Yeoman1693D/A1/48/12MF467
BENNETT, EdwardYattendonYeoman1758D/A1/180/205MF96020
BENNETT, ElizabethMoulsford, Cholsey1627D/A1/43/158MF464
BENNETT, ElizabethReading St Giles1696D/A1/169/12MF96002
BENNETT, HenryThatchamVintner1658D/A1/45/60MF465
BENNETT, IsabelWhitley, Reading St Giles1615D/A1/42/137 D/A1/15/541MF463 MF10065
BENNETT, JacobDraytonYeoman1783D/A1/50/201MF469
BENNETT, JamesAppletonFarmer1850D/A1/147/21MF558
BENNETT, JohnNewbury1544D/A1/233/039MF96132
BENNETT, JohnNewbury1547D/A1/2/077MF604
BENNETT, JohnThatcham1581D/A1/175/094MF96010
BENNETT, JohnReading St LaurenceLabourer1626D/A1/176/109MF96012
BENNETT, JohnLetcombe BassettYeoman1686D/A1/128/153MF548
BENNETT, JohnCookhamGlazier1689D/A1/47/145MF467
BENNETT, JohnWallingfordCordwainer1740D/A1/49/232MF468
BENNETT, JohnKingston BagpuizeSchoolmaster1850D/A1/147/24MF558
BENNETT, John SnrStanford In The Vale Miller, Yeoman1658D/A1/45/62MF465
BENNETT, John SnrShifford, Bampton, Oxfordshire1688D/A1/47/133MF467
BENNETT, JosephThatchamCollar Maker1801D/A1/145/2MF557
BENNETT, Margaret SnrSouth Moreton1683D/A1/47/84MF466
BENNETT, MaryWallingford1742D/A1/49/251MF468
BENNETT, MaryThatcham1784D/A1/50/208MF469
BENNETT, PeterBarkhamHusbandman1764D/A1/180/215MF96020
BENNETT, RichardPangbourneInnkeeper1826D/A1/145/125MF557
BENNETT, RichardTubney1832D/A1/146/4MF557
BENNETT, RobertLetcombe Bassett1571D/A1/39/256 D/A1/9/263MF462 MF10046
BENNETT, RobertAppletonYeoman1842D/A1/146/67MF557
BENNETT, Robert SnrBrayYeoman1612D/A1/42/079 D/A1/15/235MF463 MF10065
BENNETT, SarahHarwell1820D/A1/145/100MF557
BENNETT, SarahNewbury1836D/A1/146/30MF557
BENNETT, ThomasNewbury1573D/A1/9/382 D/A1/40/025MF10046 MF462
BENNETT, ThomasNewbury1629D/A1/43/178MF464
BENNETT, ThomasBurghfieldYeoman1678D/A1/178/178MF96015
BENNETT, ThomasBuckland1693D/A1/179/96MF96017