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
BOTEN, ThomasBisham1562D/A1/175/043MF96010
BOTHAM, SarahSpeenhamland, Speen 1834D/A1/146/14MF557
BOTHE, NicholasSparsholt1577D/A1/40/058 D/A1/10/066MF462 MF10047A
BOTTELMAKER, JasperColeshillYeoman1676D/A1/178/167MF96015
BOTTELMAKER, RichardBaulking, UffingtonHusbandman1569D/A1/39/246 D/A1/9/204MF462 MF10046
BOTTENDEN, WilliamSunningwellYeoman1639D/A1/177/081MF96014
BOTTENDON, ElizabethAbingdon1675D/A1/178/162MF96015
BOTTENDON, John SnrShippon, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1684D/A1/47/98MF466
BOTTENDON, MarthaColeshill1695D/A1/48/37MF467
BOTTENTON, JohnShippon, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1706D/A1/48/134MF467
BOTTENTON, MargaretShippon, Abingdon St Helen1707D/A1/179/177MF96018
BOTTENTON, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1693D/A1/179/102MF96017
BOTTLEMAKER, ElizabethBaulking, Uffington1593D/A1/41/043 D/A1/12/097MF462 MF10048
BOTTLEMAKER, MarthaColeshill1684D/A1/47/90MF466
BOTTOMLEY, JohnLongworthMason1622D/A1/43/080MF464
BOUGHTON, JohnAbingdonTailor1688D/A1/47/131MF467
BOUGHTON, WilliamReading St Giles1587D/A1/11/049MF10047B
BOULD, AnnBoxford1652D/A1/45/056MF465
BOULD, John JnrBoxfordHusbandman1645D/A1/178/021MF96015
BOULD, RichardSutton CourtenayYeoman1680D/A1/47/47MF466
BOULDS, GilesBarkham1678D/A1/47/27MF466
BOULES, WilliamAbingdonVictualler1771D/A1/50/136MF469
BOULGER, ElizabethReading1838D/A1/226/98MF96123
BOULT, AgnesHanney1609D/A1/42/041 D/A1/15/002MF463 MF10065
BOULT, AliceWarfield1633D/A1/16/343MF10066
BOULT, AnnWarfield1749D/A1/180/189MF96020
BOULT, GeorgeWarfieldYeoman1661D/A1/45/87MF465
BOULT, HenryBrayYeoman1778D/A1/50/168MF469
BOULT, JohnWarfieldYeoman1690D/A1/47/151MF467
BOULT, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1709D/A1/48/161MF467
BOULT, RichardAbingdon St Helen1634D/A1/168/262MF96001
BOULT, RichardWarfieldTailor1699D/A1/48/63MF467
BOULT, RobertWarfieldHusbandman1630D/A1/44/006MF464
BOULT, SarahReading St Laurence1732D/A1/49/160MF468
BOULTER, JohnCholseyWheelwright1714D/A1/48/212MF468
BOULTER, ThomasCholseyPloughwright1608D/A1/176/016MF96012
BOULTER, ThomasCholsey1608D/A1/168/035MF96001
BOULTER, ThomasPeasemoreYeoman1715D/A1/48/219MF468
BOULTER, WilliamDidcotHusbandman1597D/A1/41/065 D/A1/13/041MF462 MF10049
BOULTER, WilliamNewburyCarpenter1731D/A1/180/124MF96020
BOULTON, BrianKnighton, Compton Beauchamp1662D/A1/45/107MF465
BOULTON, ElizabethFawler, Sparsholt1637D/A1/16/496MF10066
BOULTON, ElizabethKnighton, Compton Beauchamp1639D/A1/44/108MF465
BOULTON, HughEast Ilsley1586D/A1/11/048MF10047B
BOULTON, JasperEast Ginge, West HendredHusbandman1612D/A1/42/088 D/A1/15/217MF463 MF10065
BOULTON, JohnKingston BagpuizeFarmer1743D/A1/49/262MF468
BOULTON, John SnrEast IlsleyHusbandman1622D/A1/176/085MF96012
BOULTON, MargaretEast Ilsley1702D/A1/179/145MF96017
BOULTON, RalphStanford DingleyYeoman1624D/A1/176/089MF96012
BOULTON, StephenEast IlsleyLabourer1741D/A1/49/240MF468
BOULTON, ThomasFawler, SparsholtYeoman1616D/A1/42/156 D/A1/15/612MF463 MF10065
BOULTON, WilliamStanford Dingley1669D/A1/46/44MF466
BOUND, JohnShrivenham1529D/A1/1/114MF10041
BOUNE, WalterIdstone, Ashbury1545D/A1/39/023/2MF461
BOURLTON, JohnTilehurst1579D/A1/175/087MF96010
BOURNE, HenryReading1734D/A1/180/136MF96020
BOURNE, LetitiaReading1755D/A1/50/65MF469
BOURTON, ThomasCumnorLabourer1778D/A1/50/171MF469
BOUSHER, ElizabethHurley1769D/A1/50/124MF469
BOUSHER, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1730D/A1/49/141MF468
BOUSKIN, SamuelInkpenTailor1740D/A1/180/153MF96020
BOUTH, HelenUffington1566D/A1/39/220 D/A1/9/007MF462 MF10046
BOWDEN, JeaseWallingford1620D/A1/43/049MF464
BOWDON, RichardWallingford St Peter1579D/A1/40/082MF462
BOWE, ThomasKennington1610D/A1/168/064MF96001
BOWELL, CecilyBrightwalton1618D/A1/42/091 D/A1/15/301MF463 MF10065
BOWELL, EdmundCumnorYeoman1714D/A1/48/209MF468
BOWELL, EdmundWoottonYeoman1717D/A1/49/10MF468
BOWELL, JohnEast Hanney, Hanney1617D/A1/43/006 D/A1/15/725MF464 MF10065
BOWELL, JohnShinfieldYeoman1728D/A1/180/103MF96020
BOWELL, MargeryWest Hanney, Hanney1620D/A1/43/047MF464
BOWELL, RichardWootton, Cumnor1601D/A1/41/150 D/A1/13/634MF463 MF10049
BOWELL, RichardAbingdon1644D/A1/178/002MF96015
BOWELL, RichardWoottonYeoman1681D/A1/47/55/1MF466
BOWELL, RogerBrightwalton1609D/A1/42/037 D/A1/14/522MF463 MF10064
BOWELL, WilliamWootton, CumnorYeoman1640D/A1/44/124MF465
BOWER, JamesBray1530D/A1/1/182MF10042
BOWER, RalfWarfield1553D/A1/39/063MF461
BOWER, RichardLong WittenhamHusbandman1711D/A1/48/178MF467
BOWER, WalterReading1587D/A1/175/110MF96010
BOWER, WalterReading St Giles1587D/A1/11/114MF10047B
BOWERMAN, Helen AmeliaAbingdon1850D/A1/226/129MF96123
BOWERS, SusannaWarfield1746D/A1/180/181MF96020
BOWGHTON, WilliamReading1586D/A1/175/103MF96010
BOWIER, EdwardThatcham1573D/A1/40/026 D/A1/9/384MF462 MF10046
BOWIER, HenryBrayYeoman1624D/A1/43/111MF464
BOWIER, MargaretBray1598D/A1/13/421MF10049
BOWIER, MaryWarfield1602D/A1/175/168 D/A1/13/859MF96011 MF10049
BOWIER, RalphWarfieldLabourer1553D/A1/7/002MF10040
BOWIER, ThomasReading St Giles1552D/A1/5/179MF10043A
BOWIER, ThomasHolyport, Bray 1553D/A1/5/198MF10043A
BOWIER, WilliamBray1597D/A1/13/191MF10049
BOWIN, NicholasCookham1648D/A1/178/040MF96015
BOWINS, NicholasCookham1648D/A1/178/40MF96015
BOWLAND, Edward SnrReadingDyer1673D/A1/46/97MF466
BOWLDRY, WilliamStreatleyYeoman1675D/A1/46/112MF466
BOWLE , WilliamWest Hanney, Hanney1574D/A1/175/067/2MF96010
BOWLE, AgnesLongcot, Shrivenham1627D/A1/43/160MF464
BOWLE, EdwardWest Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1577D/A1/40/060MF462
BOWLE, HenryLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1618D/A1/43/015 D/A1/15/769MF464 MF10065