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
BROXTON, JoanCookham1592D/A1/12/072MF10048
BRUAR, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1669D/A1/46/50MF466
BRUCE, RogerReading St LaurenceShoemaker1514D/A1/1/021MF10041
BRUCE, ThomasCumnor1702D/A1/48/101MF467
BRUCHE, JohnSwallowfield1544D/A1/2/094MF604
BRUCKER, WalterEast Ilsley1569D/A1/39/235 D/A1/9/143MF462 MF10046
BRUCKLAND, AliceNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1621D/A1/43/072MF464
BRUCKLAND, ThomasinSunningwell1624D/A1/176/095MF96012
BRUCKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1567D/A1/167/136MF96000
BRUCKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1568D/A1/167/139MF96000
BRUCKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1644D/A1/44/173MF465
BRUER, BartholomewUfton NervetHusbandman1669D/A1/178/120MF96015
BRUER, ElizabethBurghfield1632D/A1/44/021MF464
BRUER, JohnBurghfieldHusbandman1694D/A1/48/25MF467
BRUMFEILD, JohnReading St Mary1680D/A1/178/188MF96015
BRUNSDON , Thomas SnrLambournButcher1713D/A1/48/205MF467
BRUNSDON, AgnesEast Garston1620D/A1/43/050MF464
BRUNSDON, AliceLambourn1720D/A1/49/49MF468
BRUNSDON, AnneKintbury1723D/A1/49/70MF468
BRUNSDON, JohnHermitage, Hampstead Norris1707D/A1/48/142MF467
BRUNSDON, John SnrEast GarstonHusbandman1579D/A1/40/089 D/A1/10/208MF462 MF10047A
BRUNSDON, JosephLambournButcher1751D/A1/50/37MF469
BRUNSDON, KittyNewbury1836D/A1/146/26MF557
BRUNSDON, RichardNewburyBricklayer, Chapman 1811D/A1/145/53MF557
BRUNSDON, RobertEast Garston Woodlands, East GarstonYeoman1620D/A1/43/038MF464
BRUNSDON, SarahLambourn1733D/A1/49/163MF468
BRUNSDON, ThomasHampstead NorreysLabourer1730D/A1/180/117MF96020
BRUNSDON, ThomasLambournYeoman1740D/A1/49/228MF468
BRUNSDON, ThomasHermitage, Hampstead NorreysVictualler1778D/A1/50/170MF469
BRUNSDON, ThomasHermitage, Hampstead NorreysVictualler1794D/A1/50/240MF469
BRUNSDON, ThomasReadingShopkeeper (Retired)1822D/A1/145/108MF557
BRUNSDON, Thomas SnrLambournButcher1681D/A1/47/64MF466
BRUNSDON, WilliamLambourn1784D/A1/50/212MF469
BRUNSDON, WilliamDenchworthYeoman1794D/A1/50/244MF469
BRUSH , ChristopherWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1630D/A1/177/024MF96013
BRUSH , Thomas SnrSwallowfield1687D/A1/179/60MF96016
BRUSH, ChristopherWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1630D/A1/168/194MF96001
BRUSH, ThomasSwallowfieldWeaver1694D/A1/48/28MF467
BRUSHE, GeorgeSwallowfield1612D/A1/176/040MF96012
BRUSHE, GeorgeSwallowfield1612D/A1/168/083MF96001
BRUSHE, JohnShaw Bridge, SpeenYeoman1589D/A1/40/171MF462
BRUSHWOOD, EdwardShaw Cum DonningtonBrick Burner1724D/A1/180/81MF96019
BRUSSE, ClementSwallowfield1540D/A1/2/098MF604
BRUSSHE, NicholasSwallowfieldHusbandman1562D/A1/39/126 D/A1/7/358MF461 MF10040
BRYAN, RichardMarchamHusbandman1623D/A1/43/083MF464
BRYAN, WilliamFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1664D/A1/178/70MF96015
BRYANNE, MargaretMarcham1593D/A1/41/035 D/A1/12/101MF462 MF10048
BRYANT, ElizabethFernham, Shrivenham1670D/A1/178/125MF96015
BRYANT, JohnNewburyFuller1580D/A1/40/092 D/A1/10/265MF462 MF10047A
BRYANT, WilliamFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1620D/A1/43/040MF464
BRYANT, WilliamFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1672D/A1/178/134MF96015
BRYANT, WilliamReadingCarpenter1723D/A1/49/69MF468
BRYGATE, JohnReading St Laurence1521D/A1/1/134MF10042
BRYGHTWELL, RichardBarkham1564D/A1/39/201 D/A1/8/329MF462 MF10043C
BRYGTWELL, RichardPadworth1541D/A1/2/091MF604
BRYNDYE, JoanWatchfield, Shrivenham1610D/A1/42/062 D/A1/15/110MF463 MF10065
BRYNKELO, JohnInglewood, Goldyngfyld, Kintbury1558D/A1/39/129 D/A1/7/311MF461 MF10040
BRYNKLOW, SibylReading1545D/A1/233/026MF96132
BRYNKLOWE, SibylReading St Laurence1542D/A1/1/110MF10041
BRYNKLOWE, SibylReading St Laurence1545D/A1/2/057MF603
BRYNNE, AdrianWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1563D/A1/39/212MF462
BRYT, ConsterNewburyBroad Weaver1629D/A1/43/190MF464
BRYT, JohnShrivenham1521D/A1/1/054MF10041
BUCH, Henry SnrWest HanneyYeoman1678D/A1/47/30MF466
BUCHELL, ThomasTilehurstWheeler1685D/A1/179/45MF96016
BUCHER, RobertAldermastonYeoman1702D/A1/48/103/1MF467
BUCK , ThomasNewbury1633D/A1/177/045MF96013
BUCK, HannahWelford1752D/A1/50/49MF469
BUCK, JoanWelford1709D/A1/48/167MF467
BUCK, Robert JnrWelfordYeoman1632D/A1/44/024MF464
BUCK, ThomasNewburyMiller1633D/A1/168/256MF96001
BUCK, ThomasMaidenheadCarpenter1721D/A1/180/62MF96019
BUCK, WilliamWelfordMiller, Yeoman1707D/A1/48/144MF467
BUCK, WilliamWelford1708D/A1/179/181MF96018
BUCK, WilliamEaston, WelfordHusbandman1755D/A1/50/67MF469
BUCKAREDGE, AgnesBasildon1576D/A1/40/052 D/A1/10/088MF462 MF10047A
BUCKARIDG, RichardPangbourneYeoman1617D/A1/43/007/2MF464
BUCKE, JohnAston TirroldHusbandman1551D/A1/5/131MF10043A
BUCKE, JohnAston TirroldHusbandman1551D/A1/4/017MF604
BUCKE, JohnAston Tirrold1551D/A1/233/335MF96132
BUCKE, WilliamWest Shefford1559D/A1/39/148 D/A1/7/271MF461 MF10040
BUCKELL, WilliamOld WindsorFletcher1622D/A1/43/078MF464
BUCKENER, ThomasWhitley, CumnorYeoman1587D/A1/40/153 D/A1/11/120MF462 MF10047B
BUCKEREDGE, JoanAshampstead1552D/A1/5/162MF10043A
BUCKEREYGE, JoanHartridge Court, Ashampstead1552D/A1/4/019MF604
BUCKERIDGE, AgnesPangbourne1599D/A1/175/161MF96010
BUCKERIDGE, AgnesPangbourne1599D/A1/13/431MF10049
BUCKERIDGE, EdwardPangbourneHusbandman1630D/A1/44/002MF464
BUCKERIDGE, ElizabethChaddleworth1718D/A1/49/18MF468
BUCKERIDGE, ElizabethNewbury1741D/A1/49/237MF468
BUCKERIDGE, FrancesCompton1606D/A1/175/193MF96011
BUCKERIDGE, FrancisComptonYeoman1605D/A1/168/001MF96001
BUCKERIDGE, GeorgePangbourne1643D/A1/44/168MF465
BUCKERIDGE, GeorgeSwallowfieldBrewer1695D/A1/169/11MF96002
BUCKERIDGE, IsaacThatcham1805D/A1/145/19MF557
BUCKERIDGE, IsaacChieveleyYeoman1847D/A1/226/124MF96123
BUCKERIDGE, JoanPangbourne1591D/A1/41/013 D/A1/11/387MF462 MF10047B
BUCKERIDGE, JohnHartridge, Ashampstead1561D/A1/39/167 D/A1/6/205MF461 MF10043B
BUCKERIDGE, JohnBasildonYeoman1574D/A1/40/034 D/A1/9/424MF462 MF10046
BUCKERIDGE, JohnBasildonYeoman1591D/A1/41/006 D/A1/11/307MF462 MF10047B