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
SMITH, MaryChilton1849D/A1/231/109MF96130
SMITH, Mary AnnReading1856D/A1/163/40MF584
SMITH, NathanielWoolhampton1701D/A1/122/98MF542
SMITH, NicholasChiltonHusbandman1593D/A1/116/049 D/A1/12/058MF538 MF10048
SMITH, NicholasSutton CourtenayHarness Maker1667D/A1/214/130MF96097
SMITH, NicholasSteventonTailor1765D/A1/125/63MF544
SMITH, NicholasWoolhamptonGrocer1842D/A1/162/87MF583
SMITH, Nicholas SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1635D/A1/119/038MF540
SMITH, NoahReading St GilesCooper1696D/A1/215/106MF96098
SMITH, PeterReadingMiller1693D/A1/122/46MF542
SMITH, PhilipKintbury1577D/A1/115/139 D/A1/10/093MF538 MF10047A
SMITH, PhilipEast Lockinge1607D/A1/117/001 D/A1/14/372MF539 MF10064
SMITH, PriscillaThatcham1653D/A1/68/79MF518
SMITH, RalphWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1634D/A1/214/013/1 D/A1/168/265MF96096 MF96001
SMITH, RalphWythamFisherman , Yeoman1687D/A1/215/49MF96098
SMITH, RichardMaidenhead, Bray1541D/A1/5/218MF10043A
SMITH, RichardChieveley1553D/A1/7/011MF10040
SMITH, RichardWallingford1558D/A1/167/101MF96000
SMITH, RichardNetherton, Fyfield1571D/A1/9/259MF10046
SMITH, RichardDidcotLabourer1572D/A1/115/095/1 D/A1/9/335MF538 MF10046
SMITH, RichardAbingdon1583D/A1/10/417MF10047A
SMITH, RichardChilton1598D/A1/212/197MF96093
SMITH, RichardChilton1598D/A1/13/426MF10049
SMITH, RichardUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1598D/A1/116/151 D/A1/13/312MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1599D/A1/116/164 D/A1/13/461MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardBradfield1600D/A1/213/011 D/A1/13/595MF96094 MF10049
SMITH, RichardGoosey, Stanford In The ValeHusbandman1603D/A1/213/025MF96094
SMITH, RichardClapton, Kintbury1604D/A1/116/244 D/A1/13/1349MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardFernham, ShrivenhamShepherd1604D/A1/116/241 D/A1/13/1310MF539 MF10049
SMITH, RichardWest IlsleyHusbandman1608D/A1/117/014 D/A1/14/458MF539 MF10064
SMITH, RichardHawkridge, BuckleburyHusbandman1608D/A1/117/009 D/A1/14/408MF539 MF10064
SMITH, RichardLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1609D/A1/117/031 D/A1/14/587MF539 MF10064
SMITH, RichardColthrop, ThatchamYeoman1610D/A1/117/049 D/A1/15/102MF539 MF10065
SMITH, RichardWallingford Street, West Compton, ComptonHusbandman1610D/A1/117/043 D/A1/15/054MF539 MF10065
SMITH, RichardBurghfield1614D/A1/168/106MF96001
SMITH, RichardBuckland1626D/A1/118/087MF540
SMITH, RichardSutton CourtenayYeoman1632D/A1/119/004MF540
SMITH, RichardAshampsteadHusbandman1635D/A1/214/015MF96096
SMITH, RichardHamstead MarshallYeoman1637D/A1/119/080MF540
SMITH, RichardArdingtonYeoman1642D/A1/119/161MF541
SMITH, RichardUffingtonYeoman1646D/A1/120/026MF541
SMITH, RichardChiltonYeoman1653D/A1/120/49MF541
SMITH, RichardBasildon1653D/A1/120/166MF541
SMITH, RichardChiltonYeoman1653D/A1/120/049MF541
SMITH, RichardDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonCarpenter1666D/A1/120/146MF541
SMITH, RichardWest Shefford1669D/A1/120/174MF541
SMITH, RichardBenham, SpeenHusbandman1670D/A1/214/144MF96097
SMITH, RichardThatchamHusbandman1676D/A1/190/85MF96037
SMITH, RichardHamstead MarshallYeoman1692D/A1/215/76MF96098
SMITH, RichardHamstead MarshallYeoman1699D/A1/215/124MF96099
SMITH, RichardLetcombe Regis1701D/A1/215/131MF96099
SMITH, RichardLetcombe RegisYeoman1701D/A1/122/103MF542
SMITH, RichardReadingMealman1704D/A1/17/39MF10079
SMITH, RichardNorth Moreton1708D/A1/215/184MF96099
SMITH, RichardWest SheffordYeoman1722D/A1/216/63MF96101
SMITH, RichardThatcham1748D/A1/124/164MF544
SMITH, RichardLetcombe RegisYeoman1754D/A1/216/204MF96102
SMITH, RichardSteventonYeoman1793D/A1/125/161MF546
SMITH, RichardHampstead Norreys1799D/A1/216/270MF96102
SMITH, RichardReading St GilesWeaver1824D/A1/162/54MF583
SMITH, RichardUfton Nervet1826D/A1/231/73MF96129
SMITH, RichardBasildonFarmer1830D/A1/231/76MF96129
SMITH, RichardTheale, Tilehurst1834D/A1/162/12MF583
SMITH, Richard JnrDidcotYeoman1686D/A1/121/159MF542
SMITH, Richard SnrHurleyYeoman1678D/A1/121/92MF542
SMITH, Richard SnrEarley, SonningYeoman1703D/A1/122/129MF543
SMITH, RobertWest Ilsley1559D/A1/8/138MF10043C
SMITH, RobertWargrave1615D/A1/117/116 D/A1/15/513MF539 MF10065
SMITH, RobertFawler, SparsholtHusbandman1616D/A1/213/102MF96094
SMITH, RobertFawler, Sparsholt1616D/A1/168/130MF96001
SMITH, RobertWythamHusbandman1635D/A1/214/019MF96096
SMITH, RobertWythamHusbandman1635D/A1/169/083MF96002
SMITH, RobertOare, Chieveley1662D/A1/120/108MF541
SMITH, RobertHamstead MarshallBrick Burner1664D/A1/120/135MF541
SMITH, RobertCumnorYeoman1760D/A1/125/33MF544
SMITH, RobertStanford DingleyBaker, Grocer 1836D/A1/162/67MF583
SMITH, RogerWest SheffordShepherd1723D/A1/123/98MF543
SMITH, SamuelNewburyClothier1679D/A1/121/103MF542
SMITH, SamuelNewbury1694D/A1/215/95MF96098
SMITH, SamuelComptonCarpenter1706D/A1/122/152MF543
SMITH, SamuelNewburyCordwainer1739D/A1/216/157MF96101
SMITH, SamuelThatchamGlazier1796D/A1/125/177MF546
SMITH, SarahReading St Giles1730D/A1/124/17MF544
SMITH, SarahThatcham1830D/A1/162/28MF583
SMITH, StephenChapel Row, BuckleburyHusbandman1586D/A1/115/226 D/A1/11/080MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, StephenStanford DingleyYeoman1631D/A1/118/151MF540
SMITH, StephenTitcomb, KintburyYeoman1642D/A1/119/157MF541
SMITH, ThomasWaterhouse, WasingHusbandman1564D/A1/114/273 D/A1/8/330MF537 MF10043C
SMITH, ThomasSutton CourtenayHusbandman1566D/A1/115/020 D/A1/9/013MF538 MF10046
SMITH, ThomasLambournLabourer, Husbandman1591D/A1/116/029 D/A1/11/405MF538 MF10047B
SMITH, ThomasDidcot1596D/A1/12/402MF10048
SMITH, ThomasAbingdon1597D/A1/212/171 D/A1/13/180MF96093 MF10049
SMITH, ThomasDidcot1609D/A1/168/046MF96001
SMITH, ThomasAbingdon1616D/A1/168/130MF96001
SMITH, ThomasBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1617D/A1/117/140 D/A1/15/719MF539 MF10065
SMITH, ThomasWhite WalthamLabourer, Husbandman1618D/A1/117/165 D/A1/15/816MF539 MF10065
SMITH, ThomasArdingtonHusbandman1621D/A1/118/025MF540
SMITH, ThomasBuscotHusbandman1625D/A1/118/069MF540
SMITH, ThomasKennington, SunningwellYeoman1626D/A1/213/140MF96095
SMITH, ThomasFrilford, Marcham1635D/A1/119/039MF540