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
BURCH, HenryEast GarstonHusbandman1665D/A1/178/86MF96015
BURCH, JoanUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1649D/A1/45/043MF465
BURCH, JoanEast Garston1669D/A1/46/46MF466
BURCH, JohnEastbury, Lambourn1594D/A1/41/057 D/A1/12/250MF462 MF10048
BURCH, JohnEast GarstonHusbandman1610D/A1/42/061 D/A1/15/032MF463 MF10065
BURCH, JohnLongworthHusbandman1652D/A1/178/48MF96015
BURCH, JohnLongworthHusbandman1652D/A1/178/048MF96015
BURCH, JohnEast GarstonYeoman1661D/A1/178/58MF96015
BURCH, JohnEaton HastingsYeoman1689D/A1/179/62MF96017
BURCH, JohnCrookham, ThatchamHusbandman1706D/A1/179/167MF96017
BURCH, JohnEast HendredAle Draper1742D/A1/49/246MF468
BURCH, JosephStanford In The ValeHusbandman1729D/A1/180/108MF96020
BURCH, Richard SnrBinfieldMiller1680D/A1/178/189MF96015
BURCH, RobertEast GarstonHusbandman1615D/A1/42/127 D/A1/15/515MF463 MF10065
BURCH, RobertAbingdonGingerbread Baker1723D/A1/180/76MF96019
BURCH, SimonStratfield Saye, Hampshire1690D/A1/179/86MF96017
BURCH, ThomasEastbury, LambournHusbandman1632D/A1/44/022MF464
BURCH, William SnrStratfield MortimerYeoman1637D/A1/44/096MF464
BURCHARD, RichardAbingdonMaltster1639D/A1/177/079MF96014
BURCHART, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1724D/A1/49/75MF468
BURCHE, JoanEast Garston1633D/A1/44/056MF464
BURCHE, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1618D/A1/43/013 D/A1/15/770MF464 MF10065
BURCHELL, JohnWinkfieldPaler1602D/A1/175/176 D/A1/13/1021MF96011 MF10049
BURCHELL, WilliamNewburySaddler1712D/A1/180/9MF96019
BURCHET, EdwardWinkfieldYeoman1606D/A1/41/199 D/A1/14/162MF463 MF10064
BURCHET, JohnWinkfield1560D/A1/39/183MF461
BURCHET, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman1561D/A1/8/197MF10043C
BURCHET, JohnWinkfield1566D/A1/167/132MF96000
BURCHET, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman1575D/A1/40/046 D/A1/9/457MF462 MF10046
BURCHET, MaudeOld Windsor1558D/A1/167/102MF96000
BURCHET, RogerWinkfieldYeoman1605D/A1/41/206 D/A1/14/106MF463 MF10064
BURCHETT, EdwardNew Windsor, Windsor1593D/A1/175/136MF96010
BURCHETT, HenryWarfieldHusbandman1649D/A1/45/044MF465
BURCHETT, JoanWinkfield1587D/A1/40/146 D/A1/11/140MF462 MF10047B
BURCHETT, John SnrWinkfieldYeoman1672D/A1/46/83MF466
BURCHETT, ThomasWinkfieldHusbandman1610D/A1/42/070 D/A1/15/046MF463 MF10065
BURCHILL, JohnNewburyClothier1727D/A1/49/102MF468
BURD, JohnSpeenLabourer1715D/A1/48/218MF468
BURDAT, GeorgeCumnor1594D/A1/12/195MF10048
BURDEN, Agnes[?]1604D/A1/175/185MF96011
BURDEN, AliceReading St Laurence1630D/A1/177/012MF96013
BURDEN, AmosAbingdonLabourer1722D/A1/49/67MF468
BURDEN, DanielAbingdonBaker, Mealman 1847D/A1/147/6MF558
BURDEN, GeorgeAston TirroldHusbandman1628D/A1/16/165MF10066
BURDEN, GeorgeAston Tirrold1629D/A1/43/174MF464
BURDEN, MaryAbingdon1819D/A1/226/54MF96123
BURDEN, RichardThatcham1698D/A1/179/121MF96017
BURDEN, SimonReading1602D/A1/175/184MF96011
BURDEN, SimonReading1602D/A1/13/1014MF10049
BURDEN, SimonReadingButcher1603D/A1/41/177MF463
BURDEN, SimonReading St Laurence1604D/A1/14/176MF10064
BURDEN, ThomasMiltonYeoman1662D/A1/45/110MF465
BURDETT, JohnCumnorHusbandman, Blacksmith1607D/A1/42/009 D/A1/14/387MF463 MF10064
BURDGMAN, JohnHarwellYeoman1604D/A1/41/181 D/A1/13/1216MF463 MF10049
BURDON, RogerCharney, Longworth1531D/A1/1/171MF10042
BURDON, ThomasHagbourne1530D/A1/1/141MF10042
BURDONE, WilliamAbingdon1539D/A1/1/199MF10042
BURDUN, RichardReading St Giles1545D/A1/39/025 D/A1/5/009MF461 MF10043A
BURFOOT, WillliamWargrave1819D/A1/226/55MF96123
BURFORD, WilliamReading St Mary1612D/A1/176/042MF96012
BURFORD, WilliamReading St Mary1612D/A1/168/083MF96001
BURFORD, WilliamReading St GilesLabourer1705D/A1/179/162MF96017
BURG, AliceEastbury, Lambourn1706D/A1/48/139MF467
BURGE , JohnReading St GilesWare Burner1606D/A1/176/005MF96012
BURGE , JohnReading1606D/A1/168/012MF96001
BURGE , KatherineReading1606D/A1/168/009MF96001
BURGE, ThomasEastbury, LambournHusbandman1616D/A1/16/280MF10066
BURGEMAN, AliceEasthampstead1565D/A1/39/215MF462
BURGEMAN, AliceEast Hendred1566D/A1/8/361MF10043C
BURGES , ElizabethSouth Moreton1669D/A1/178/119/2MF96015
BURGES , FrancisWallingfordMaltster1707D/A1/179/172MF96017
BURGES , Francis SnrBurghfieldYeoman1736D/A1/49/185MF468
BURGES , Ralph SnrBrightwellYeoman1662D/A1/45/93MF465
BURGES , RichardBurghfieldHusbandman1695D/A1/179/113MF96017
BURGES , WilliamHawkridge, BuckleburyCloth Worker1665D/A1/46/4MF466
BURGES , WilliamWest IlsleyYeoman1702D/A1/48/103/2MF467
BURGES, AnnAldermaston1775D/A1/50/159MF469
BURGES, AnthonyWallingfordHusbandman1637D/A1/177/057MF96013
BURGES, DanielSouth MoretonBlacksmith1634D/A1/16/440 D/A1/44/066MF10066 MF464
BURGES, EdwardChieveleyYeoman1733D/A1/49/168MF468
BURGES, ElizabethReading St Mary1605D/A1/41/191 D/A1/13/1376MF463 MF10049
BURGES, ElizabethChieveley1740D/A1/49/227MF468
BURGES, EpaphroditusReadingTanner1580D/A1/175/092MF96010
BURGES, EpaphroditusReading1580D/A1/10/213MF10047A
BURGES, GeorgePadworthYeoman1739D/A1/49/212MF468
BURGES, GeorgeChieveleyYeoman1758D/A1/50/83MF469
BURGES, JamesWest HanneyWeaver1776D/A1/50/163MF469
BURGES, JaneBurghfield1751D/A1/50/40MF469
BURGES, JeffreyBuckleburyCollier1588D/A1/40/160 D/A1/11/155MF462 MF10047B
BURGES, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenShepherd1607D/A1/176/014MF96012
BURGES, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1607D/A1/168/029MF96001
BURGES, JohnClewer1614D/A1/42/109 D/A1/15/420MF463 MF10065
BURGES, JohnLambournYeoman1640D/A1/177/092MF96014
BURGES, JohnAbingdonTailor1647D/A1/45/018MF465
BURGES, JohnChieveleyYeoman1740D/A1/49/226MF468
BURGES, JosephPangbourneBargemaster1722D/A1/49/65MF468
BURGES, KatherineWarfield1559D/A1/6/108MF10043B
BURGES, RalphWarfieldYeoman1578D/A1/40/069 D/A1/10/155MF462 MF10047A
BURGES, RalphBinfieldYeoman1633D/A1/44/030MF464
BURGES, RichardSulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1641D/A1/177/102MF96014