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
SHARPE, Henry SnrReading St GilesBricklayer1674D/A1/121/53MF542
SHARPE, HumphreyWallingfordLabourer1742D/A1/216/163MF96101
SHARPE, JoanWaltham St Lawrence1554D/A1/114/135 D/A1/7/033MF537 MF10040
SHARPE, JoanWallingford St Mary1606D/A1/213/035MF96094
SHARPE, JohnSteventon1557D/A1/233/252 D/A1/233/253MF96132 MF96132
SHARPE, JohnReadingTanner1591D/A1/212/158MF96092
SHARPE, JohnReading1591D/A1/11/378MF10047B
SHARPE, JohnWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1604D/A1/116/245 D/A1/13/1363MF539 MF10049
SHARPE, JohnWallingford1606D/A1/168/008MF96001
SHARPE, JohnBartles, HurleyYeoman1616D/A1/117/114 D/A1/15/601MF539 MF10065
SHARPE, JohnWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1618D/A1/117/154 D/A1/15/890MF539 MF10065
SHARPE, MaryWaltham St Lawrence1636D/A1/119/052MF540
SHARPE, RobertHurley1589D/A1/212/137MF96092
SHARPE, RobertHurley1589D/A1/11/184MF10047B
SHARPE, ThomasWarfield1603D/A1/213/021 D/A1/13/1016MF96094 MF10049
SHARPE, ThomasWallingfordCordwainer1728D/A1/216/95MF96101
SHARPE, WilliamHurley1554D/A1/114/143 D/A1/7/063MF537 MF10040
SHARPE, WilliamHurley1609D/A1/213/061MF96094
SHARPE, WilliamHurley1609D/A1/168/051MF96001
SHARPIS, HenryInkpenCooper1673D/A1/214/161MF96097
SHARPIS, JoanInkpen1698D/A1/122/80/1MF542
SHARPIS, JohnInkpenSerge Weaver, Husbandman1679D/A1/214/194MF96097
SHARPIS, JohnSpeenHusbandman1696D/A1/122/70MF542
SHARPISS , Thomas SnrInkpenYeoman1739D/A1/124/92MF544
SHARPPE, AliceReading St Laurence1511D/A1/1/015MF10041
SHARPS, JohnShrivenhamLabourer1820D/A1/231/65MF96129
SHARPS, JohnColeshillCordwainer1825D/A1/162/49MF583
SHARPUS, JohnInkpenCooper1624D/A1/118/059MF540
SHARSWELL, HenryShrivenham1639D/A1/16/565MF10066
SHARSWELL, HenryFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1639D/A1/119/115MF540
SHAW, BlancheLetcombe RegisServant1568D/A1/115/045 D/A1/9/134MF538 MF10046
SHAW, ChristopherWallingford St Peter1573D/A1/115/100 D/A1/9/368MF538 MF10046
SHAW, IsaacSpeenMaltster1841D/A1/162/82MF583
SHAW, JamesNewburyYeoman, Labourer1733D/A1/216/125MF96101
SHAW, JohnThatcham1728D/A1/216/92MF96101
SHAW, John SnrNewbury1694D/A1/215/94MF96098
SHAW, JosephSpeenBaker1803D/A1/161/131MF583
SHAW, MarthaKingston Bagpuize1693D/A1/215/84MF96098
SHAW, RichardNewbury1679D/A1/121/101MF542
SHAW, RogerNewburyTailor1597D/A1/116/127 D/A1/13/079MF539 MF10049
SHAW, WilliamAshburyMiller1683D/A1/215/19MF96098
SHAWE, AgnesNewbury1597D/A1/116/138 D/A1/13/221MF539 MF10049
SHAWE, ChristopherReadingCook1658D/A1/120/58MF541
SHAWE, John1576D/A1/212/096MF96092
SHAWE, RalphBrimptonVicar1555D/A1/212/029MF96092
SHAWE, RichardNewburyCard Maker1638D/A1/119/098MF540
SHAWE, WilliamNewburyInnholder, Yeoman1615D/A1/117/112 D/A1/15/496MF539 MF10065
SHAWE, WilliamBesselsleighYeoman1661D/A1/120/73MF541
SHAYLER, HenryBotley, OxfordshireBlacksmith1762D/A1/125/49MF544
SHEAKESHAFT, JohnNewburyFelt Maker1667D/A1/214/132MF96097
SHEAPHEARD, FrancisSulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1645D/A1/120/021MF541
SHEARD , William SnrStanford In The ValeYeoman1805D/A1/161/123MF583
SHEARD, JohnWest Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1701D/A1/122/108MF542
SHEARD, JonathanBlewburyLabourer1844D/A1/162/96MF583
SHEARD, JonathanBlewburyShepherd 1854D/A1/231/119MF96130
SHEARD, ThomasNewbury1684D/A1/215/23MF96098
SHEARD, Thomas SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1627D/A1/118/105MF540
SHEDD, HenryShellingfordYeoman1691D/A1/197/132MF96053
SHEEN, JohnLittle WittenhamYeoman1709D/A1/122/189MF543
SHEEN, Margaret ElizWallingford1828D/A1/162/40MF583
SHEEN, NathanielLittle WittenhamYeoman1703D/A1/215/146MF96099
SHEEN, NathanielLittle WittenhamYeoman1712D/A1/216/14MF96100
SHEEN, SamuelAbingdonJoiner1721D/A1/216/56MF96101
SHEEN, ThomasLittle WittenhamYeoman1712D/A1/216/17MF96100
SHEENE, ElizabethWallingford1674D/A1/121/64MF542
SHEENE, ElizabethLittle Wittenham1693D/A1/215/85MF96098
SHEENE, HenryThrupp, RadleyHusbandman1605D/A1/116/252 D/A1/14/135 D/A1/168/001MF539 MF10064 MF96001
SHEENE, JoanLittle Wittenham1614D/A1/117/111 D/A1/15/484MF539 MF10065
SHEENE, JohnThrupp, RadleyHusbandman1578D/A1/115/144 D/A1/10/114MF538 MF10047A
SHEENE, JohnThrupp, RadleyCordwainer1597D/A1/116/133 D/A1/13/135MF539 MF10049
SHEENE, John SnrWallingford St LeonardHusbandman1662D/A1/214/103MF96097
SHEENE, MaryAbingdon1674D/A1/121/55MF542
SHEENE, MaryLittle Wittenham1715D/A1/216/31MF96100
SHEENE, NathanielLittle WittenhamYeoman1676D/A1/121/78MF542
SHEENE, RobertRadleyHusbandman1596D/A1/116/115 D/A1/12/387MF538 MF10048
SHEENE, RobertAbingdonBlacksmith1637D/A1/214/067MF96096
SHEENE, WilliamRadley1563D/A1/8/235MF10043C
SHEENE, WilliamRadleyYeoman1685D/A1/121/157MF542
SHEENE, ZacharyRadleyHusbandman1620D/A1/118/011MF540
SHEEPPERY, StephenKingston BagpuizeYeoman1595D/A1/116/101 D/A1/12/290MF538 MF10048
SHEERE, WilliamCookhamBasket Maker1609D/A1/213/062MF96094
SHEERE, WilliamCookham1609D/A1/168/053MF96001
SHEFFARD, AnnReading St Laurence1707D/A1/215/183MF96099
SHEFFEILD, SawkellBurghfieldLabourer1616D/A1/117/125 D/A1/15/628MF539 MF10065
SHEFFELD, CecilyStratfield Mortimer1618D/A1/117/157 D/A1/15/904MF539 MF10065
SHEFFERD, AnneEarley, Sonning1661D/A1/120/79MF541
SHEFFORD, JohnFriar Street, Reading St LaurenceCloth Worker1644D/A1/120/020MF541
SHEFFORD, ThomasLong Wittenham1570D/A1/115/072 D/A1/9/267 D/A1/167/144MF538 MF10046 MF96000
SHELL, WilliamWallingfordTanner1776D/A1/125/109MF544
SHELTHRAM, RobertAbingdonYeoman1636D/A1/119/071 D/A1/120/027MF540 MF541
SHELTON, AgnesWatchfield, Shrivenham1594D/A1/116/076 D/A1/12/188MF538 MF10048
SHELTON, WalterWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1603D/A1/116/218 D/A1/13/1002MF539 MF10049
SHENE, JohnRadley1558D/A1/7/170MF10040
SHENE, JohnRadley1558D/A1/114/200/1MF537
SHENE, JohnLittle WittenhamHusbandman1597D/A1/116/121 D/A1/13/043MF538 MF10049
SHENE, RichardThrupp, RadleyHusbandman1558D/A1/7/156 D/A1/114/200/2MF10040 MF537
SHENTON, SamuelKingston Bagpuize1754D/A1/124/194MF544
SHEPARD, JohnKennington, Sunningwell1558D/A1/114/188 D/A1/8/007MF537 MF10043C
SHEPARD, WilliamSpeenYeoman1669D/A1/120/178MF541
SHEPERD, ThomasFernham, Shrivenham1521D/A1/1/062MF10041