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
SEWARD, JohnWhitley, Reading St GilesHusbandman1577D/A1/115/137 D/A1/10/084MF538 MF10047A
SEWARD, JohnWhitley, Reading St GilesHusbandman1609D/A1/117/035 D/A1/14/606MF539 MF10064
SEWARD, RichardBradfield1684D/A1/215/26MF96098
SEWARD, RobertBurghfield1561D/A1/114/252 D/A1/7/337MF537 MF10040
SEWARD, SimonLambwood Hill, ShinfieldHusbandman1559D/A1/114/221 D/A1/8/067MF537 MF10043C
SEWARD, ThomasFinchampsteadHusbandman1701D/A1/122/104MF542
SEWARD, ThomasMidgham, Thatcham Bricklayer1855D/A1/163/39MF584
SEWARD, WalterFinchampsteadHusbandman1668D/A1/120/164MF541
SEWELL, RichardSpeen1544D/A1/114/099MF537
SEWOOD, JoanBradfield1600D/A1/116/174 D/A1/13/518MF539 MF10049
SEXTEN, JohnSteventon1596D/A1/116/125 D/A1/12/328MF539 MF10048
SEXTEN, JoyceGreat Coxwell1631D/A1/118/150MF540
SEXTIN, ThomasGreat CoxwellHusbandman1574D/A1/115/109 D/A1/9/423MF538 MF10046
SEXTON, JamesCatmore1754D/A1/216/203MF96102
SEXTON, MatthewCookham1702D/A1/215/139MF96099
SEXTON, RichardGreat Coxwell1566D/A1/115/012 D/A1/9/001MF538 MF10046
SEXTON, ThomasMarchamYeoman1762D/A1/125/48MF544
SEXTON, WilliamGreat Coxwell1612D/A1/213/080MF96094
SEXTONE, EdwardPuseyYeoman1731D/A1/124/33MF544
SEXTY, RobertAppleton1559D/A1/114/185 D/A1/8/031MF537 MF10043C
SEYKES, FrancisReadingApothecary1619D/A1/118/004MF540
SEYMANE, ThomasLong Wittenham1553D/A1/212/021MF96092
SEYMER, Daniel SnrReading St LaurenceTailor1690D/A1/215/67MF96098
SEYMER, JohnLambournYeoman1610D/A1/117/022 D/A1/15/026MF539 MF10065
SEYMER, John SnrPoughley, East GarstonYeoman1600D/A1/116/182 D/A1/13/621MF539 MF10049
SEYMER, WilliamInholmes, Lambourn1569D/A1/115/043 D/A1/8/357MF538 MF10043C
SEYMOR, AgnesLambourn1594D/A1/116/093 D/A1/12/216MF538 MF10048
SEYMOR, ElizabethLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1603D/A1/116/224 D/A1/13/1061MF539 MF10049
SEYMOR, JohnPoughley, East GarstonYeoman1656D/A1/120/52MF541
SEYMOR, MargaretPoughley, East Garston1661D/A1/120/78MF541
SEYMOR, RobertPoughley, East GarstonYeoman1662D/A1/120/100MF541
SEYMOR, ThomasPoughley Farm, East Garston1663D/A1/120/131MF541
SEYMOR, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1580D/A1/115/156 D/A1/10/209MF538 MF10047A
SEYMORE , Thomas SnrLambourn1713D/A1/216/26MF96100
SEYMORE, ChaddertonWallingford1703D/A1/215/141MF96099
SEYMORE, MargaretEast IlsleyHusbandman1702D/A1/179/145MF96017
SEYMORE, RichardRush Court, Sotwell1675D/A1/121/68MF542
SEYMOUR, AmyEast Garston1856D/A1/163/42MF584
SEYMOUR, DorcasEast Garston1777D/A1/125/111MF544
SEYMOUR, EdmundThatchamMiller1839D/A1/231/95MF96129
SEYMOUR, EdmundThatchamShoemaker1852D/A1/163/23MF584
SEYMOUR, EleanorBuckland1736D/A1/216/137MF96101
SEYMOUR, ElizabethLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1667D/A1/214/133MF96097
SEYMOUR, GeorgeEast GarstonYeoman1854D/A1/163/36MF584
SEYMOUR, JohnLambournYeoman1742D/A1/216/164MF96101
SEYMOUR, JohnKintburyLabourer1831D/A1/162/22MF583
SEYMOUR, John SnrEastbury, Lambourn1569D/A1/115/056 D/A1/9/159MF538 MF10046
SEYMOUR, MargaretEast Garston1743D/A1/124/127MF544
SEYMOUR, MosesShefford1843D/A1/162/93MF583
SEYMOUR, ThomasWest SheffordButcher1670D/A1/214/143MF96097
SEYMOUR, ThomasCurridge, ChieveleySmith1826D/A1/162/48MF583
SEYMOUR, ThomasSpeen1829D/A1/162/38MF583
SEYMOUR, WilliamEast IlsleyVictualler1823D/A1/231/69MF96129
SEYMOUR, WilliamWantageLabourer1843D/A1/231/104MF96130
SHACKEL, JohnReadingVictualler1853D/A1/163/28MF584
SHACKLER, ThomasBurghclere, Hampshire1822D/A1/231/68MF96129
SHACKSPURE, JohnFinchampsteadYeoman1644D/A1/120/019MF541
SHADOW, ThomasLambourn1694D/A1/122/57MF542
SHADWELL, ThomasAbingdon1689D/A1/215/60MF96098
SHADWELL, ThomasEast HendredFarmer1799D/A1/125/188MF546
SHAERD, ThomasLetcombe Regis1557D/A1/6/084MF10043B
SHAIL, JohnLambournCarrier1760D/A1/125/30MF544
SHAILE, CharlesWelfordWheelwright1847D/A1/162/114MF583
SHAILE, GeorgeSpeenShoemaker1840D/A1/231/96MF96129
SHAILE, RichardReading St GilesBroad Weaver1626D/A1/118/089MF540
SHAILER, MaryEast Hendred1718D/A1/123/65MF543
SHAKESHAFT, EdwardNewburyWeaver1724D/A1/123/121MF543
SHAKESHAFTE, AmyGreenham, Thatcham1630D/A1/118/133MF540
SHAKSHAFT, RobertHenwick, ThatchamHusbandman1626D/A1/213/144MF96095
SHANK (ALIAS SAUNDERSON) (ALIAS MAYOR), JaneBinfield1723D/A1/205/61MF96071
SHANK, HumphreyWarfieldWeaver1746D/A1/124/157MF544
SHANK, JohnBinfieldLabourer1724D/A1/216/74MF96101
SHANK, MaryBrimpton1701D/A1/48/83MF467
SHANK, OrlandoAbingdonBarber1743D/A1/216/175MF96101
SHANKE , Thomas SnrBinfieldWeaver1720D/A1/216/51MF96101
SHANKE, HenryBinfield1559D/A1/114/235 D/A1/8/061MF537 MF10043C
SHANKE, JaneBinfield1714D/A1/216/27MF96100
SHANNON, RobertReading St LaurenceCurrier1731D/A1/124/36MF544
SHARD, AnnesLetcombe Regis1558D/A1/6/083MF10043B
SHARD, JohnLetcombe Regis1557D/A1/3/175MF604
SHARD, MarySutton Courtenay1645D/A1/120/023MF541
SHARD, RobertLetcombe RegisHusbandman1558D/A1/3/169MF604
SHARD, ThomasLetcombe RegisYeoman1646D/A1/214/079MF96096
SHARDE, JoanNewbury1685D/A1/215/30MF96098
SHARDE, JohnLetcombe Regis1557D/A1/233/268MF96132
SHARDE, RobertLetcombe Regis1557D/A1/233/264MF96132
SHARDE, ThomasLetcombe RegisHusbandman1571D/A1/115/085 D/A1/9/284MF538 MF10046
SHARP , Henry SnrWaltham St LawrenceFarmer1762D/A1/216/219MF96102
SHARP, AnneAshbury1684D/A1/121/147MF542
SHARP, ElizabethRemenham1758D/A1/125/25MF544
SHARP, JohnSteventon1585D/A1/167/126MF96000
SHARP, JohnWaltham St. LawrenceBrickmaker1684D/A1/215/17MF96098
SHARP, MaryNewbury1844D/A1/162/99MF583
SHARP, ThomasSpeenhamland, SpeenInnholder1628D/A1/118/115MF540
SHARP, WilliamAshburyMiller1682D/A1/215/3MF96098
SHARP, WilliamRemenhamYeoman1751D/A1/216/196MF96102
SHARPE, AnnBinfield1632D/A1/119/014MF540
SHARPE, AnneReading1684D/A1/121/150MF542
SHARPE, Edward (Admon), Edmund (Inv.)Besselsleigh1682D/A1/215/5MF96098
SHARPE, ElizabethWaltham St Lawrence1749D/A1/124/170MF544