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
PURBRICK, MaryAbingdon1827D/A1/230/99MF96128
PURCELL, WilliamSunninghillYeoman1652D/A1/106/146MF576
PURDEN, JohnReadingServant1590D/A1/104/077 D/A1/11/231MF575 MF10047B
PURDON, John SnrWallingford 1564D/A1/103/183MF573
PURDUE, CatherineReading St Mary1661D/A1/208/133MF96080
PURDUE, JohnLambourn1722D/A1/109/31MF578
PURDUE, MaryUplambourn, Lambourn1709D/A1/108/161MF578
PURDUE, NicholasUplambourn, LambournYeoman1695D/A1/108/84MF577
PURDUN, JohnWallingford St Mary1564D/A1/5/222MF10043A
PURDY, JohnMaidenheadVictualler1795D/A1/110/70MF535
PURDY, LucyUplambourn, Lambourn1704D/A1/108/132MF578
PURDY, ThomasReadingVictualler1643D/A1/208/101 D/A1/169/068MF96080 MF96002
PURLAKE, WilliamEnborne1539D/A1/103/065 D/A1/5/216 D/A1/1/201MF573 MF10043A MF10042
PURNELL, JohnNewbury1567D/A1/207/055MF96077
PURNELL, JohnNewbury1567D/A1/167/134MF96000
PURSE, ChristopherReadingHairdresser1825D/A1/160/6MF582
PURSER, WilliamReading St Giles1562D/A1/103/166 D/A1/8/226MF573 MF10043C
PURSONS, WilliamShrivenhamYeoman1664D/A1/107/59MF577
PURTEN, HenryChieveleyHusbandman1720D/A1/109/22MF578
PURTLAKE, JohnHamstead MarshallHusbandman1556D/A1/6/107MF10043B
PURTLAKE, JohnHamstead Marshall1557D/A1/103/102MF573
PURTLOCKE, RichardComptonHusbandman1639D/A1/106/074MF576
PURTLOCKE, ThomasHamstead MarshallHusbandman1568D/A1/103/198 D/A1/9/128MF575 MF10046
PURTON, CharlesShefford Woodlands, East SheffordLabourer1848D/A1/160/77MF582
PURTON, IsraelWoolhamptonButcher1845D/A1/160/62MF582
PURTON, JohnReading St MaryTanner1710D/A1/108/173MF578
PURTON, JohnReadingTanner1710D/A1/108/173MF578
PURVER, BenjaminBuckleburyCooper1754D/A1/109/194MF535
PURVER, SarahNewbury1847D/A1/160/70MF582
PURVER, ThomasNewburyBroker1846D/A1/160/66MF582
PURVEUR, GeorgeStratfield MortimerBricklayer1790D/A1/110/55MF535
PUSE, JohnDenchworth1564D/A1/103/175 D/A1/7/372MF573 MF10040
PUSEY, DavidCaversham, OxfordshireBrick Maker1626D/A1/105/107MF576
PUSEY, DavidReadingYeoman1638D/A1/208/083MF96080
PUSEY, DavidReading St Laurence1638D/A1/208/081MF96080
PUSEY, DavidReadingYeoman1638D/A1/169/069MF96002
PUSEY, DavidReading St Laurence1638D/A1/169/068MF96002
PUSEY, HughHinton Waldrist1665D/A1/208/159MF96081
PUSEY, JoanDenchworth1620D/A1/105/061MF576
PUSEY, JohnDenchworthHusbandman1599D/A1/104/142 D/A1/13/370MF575 MF10049
PUSEY, John SnrDenchworthHusbandman1653D/A1/107/2MF577
PUSEY, MargaretUplambourn, Lambourn1697D/A1/48/49MF467
PUSEY, MarthaPusey1678D/A1/107/153MF577
PUSEY, MaryDenchworth1570D/A1/207/063MF96077
PUSEY, MaryDenchworth1570D/A1/167/145MF96000
PUSEY, MaryPusey1697D/A1/108/58MF577
PUSEY, MaryArdington1833D/A1/230/105MF96128
PUSEY, WilliamHale, SparsholtYeoman1710D/A1/209/164MF96084
PUSIE, ThomasMarcham1656D/A1/107/6MF577
PUSIE, WilliamPusey1585D/A1/207/099MF96077
PUSIE, WilliamUplambourn, LambournYeoman1666D/A1/46/18MF466
PUSSELL, AnnFinchampstead1736D/A1/109/121MF578
PUSY, JohnMarchamYeoman1746D/A1/109/168MF535
PUSY, RichardDenchworthHusbandman1666D/A1/208/165MF96081
PUZEY , John SnrLambournShoemaker1742D/A1/109/148MF578
PUZEY , Thomas SnrAshburyMiller1729D/A1/109/78MF578
PUZEY, JohnLambournMercer1736D/A1/109/120MF578
PUZEY, JohnAppletonLabourer1741D/A1/109/146MF578
PUZEY, JohnChildreyYeoman1794D/A1/110/63MF535
PUZEY, JosephStanford In The ValeBrick Maker1854D/A1/160/98MF582
PUZEY, MaragaretAppleton1730D/A1/210/29MF96085
PUZEY, MaryLambourn1841D/A1/160/47MF582
PUZEY, RobertLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1734D/A1/109/102MF578
PUZEY, RobertAshbury1797D/A1/210/125MF96086
PUZEY, RogerLambournYeoman1757D/A1/210/90MF96086
PUZEY, ThomasChipping Lambourn, LambournCordwainer1704D/A1/108/136MF578
PUZEY, ThomasUffingtonHusbandman1710D/A1/209/167MF96084
PUZEY, WilliamLambourn1685D/A1/209/64MF96083
PUZEY, WilliamLambourn1838D/A1/230/108MF96128
PY, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1558D/A1/167/102MF96000
PY, MarthaAbingdon1737D/A1/109/124MF578
PYCKMAN, JoanTilehurst1579D/A1/10/185MF10047A
PYE , ConstanceDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1624D/A1/208/033 D/A1/208/034 D/A1/168/171 D/A1/168/173MF96079 MF96079 MF96001 MF96001
PYE, ElizabethAbingdon1699D/A1/209/116MF96083
PYE, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1558D/A1/207/036MF96077
PYEKE, EdwardCumnor1587D/A1/207/101MF96077
PYEKE, EdwardCumnor1587D/A1/11/098MF10047B
PYGEON, RogerThatchamYeoman1624D/A1/208/031MF96079
PYGOTT , RobertWargraveHusbandman1583D/A1/104/045 D/A1/10/396MF575 MF10047A
PYGOTT, AgnesWargrave1543D/A1/3/117MF604
PYGOTT, HenryWargraveYeoman1597D/A1/104/116 D/A1/13/066MF575 MF10049
PYGOTT, RichardCompton1521D/A1/1/036MF10041
PYGOTTE, JoanWargrave1574D/A1/103/214 D/A1/9/330MF575 MF10046
PYKE, DorothyCumnor1613D/A1/207/174 D/A1/168/098MF96078 MF96001
PYKE, ElizabethColeshill1676D/A1/107/139MF577
PYKE, JamesColeshillYeoman1734D/A1/109/110MF578
PYKE, SamuelBagnor, SpeenHusbandman1701D/A1/108/109MF578
PYKE, SamuelEastbury, LambournYeoman1713D/A1/108/189MF578
PYKE, SamuelEastbury, LambournYeoman1713D/A1/108/189MF578
PYLDRYM, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1585D/A1/104/048 D/A1/11/017MF575 MF10047B
PYMAN, ThomasWallingfordButcher1727D/A1/109/50MF578
PYME, JohnHurley1576D/A1/104/002 D/A1/10/025MF575 MF10047A
PYNCK , EdmundMiltonYeoman1594D/A1/104/101 D/A1/12/175MF575 MF10048
PYNCKE, ThomasHagbourneYeoman1591D/A1/104/074 D/A1/11/311MF575 MF10047B
PYNELL, JoanStanford In The Vale1564D/A1/103/181 D/A1/8/340MF573 MF10043C
PYNELL, ThomasStanford In The ValeHusbandman1560D/A1/103/148 D/A1/6/020MF573 MF10043B
PYNK, WilliamSwallowfield1559D/A1/103/149MF573
PYNKE, RichardFarley Hill, Swallowfield1581D/A1/104/034 D/A1/10/292MF575 MF10047A
PYNNELL, ElizabethWantage1532D/A1/1/249MF10042
PYNNELL, JoanStanford In The Vale1632D/A1/106/027MF576