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
BURREY, JohnSutton CourtenayHusbandman1642D/A1/177/097MF96014
BURRIE, JamesKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1581D/A1/40/099MF462
BURRINE, RichardHagbourneHusbandman1638D/A1/177/071MF96014
BURROUGH, WilliamBasildonYeoman1734D/A1/49/180MF468
BURROUGHS, JohnReading St GilesLabourer1727D/A1/180/94MF96019
BURROUGHS, MaryBasildon1705D/A1/179/159 MF96017
BURROUGHS, RichardBasildonYeoman1702D/A1/179/147MF96017
BURROUGHS, SarahReading1728D/A1/49/127MF468
BURROUGHS, ThomasBasildon1705D/A1/179/160MF96017
BURROW, JohnHamstead Marshall1605D/A1/175/190MF96011
BURROWE, JohnHamstead Marshall1605D/A1/14/184MF10064
BURROWS, WilliamWindsorCheesemonger1718D/A1/180/43MF96019
BURSFEILD, AnneWootton, Cumnor1696D/A1/48/43MF467
BURT , PhilipLetcombe Regis1631D/A1/177/030MF96013
BURT , Philip SnrLetcombe Regis1631D/A1/168/214MF96001
BURT, BarnabyBrayHusbandman1627D/A1/43/161MF464
BURTE, John SnrGreenham, ThatchamBricklayer1589D/A1/40/168 D/A1/11/187MF462 MF10047B
BURTON , William SnrKintbury1719D/A1/180/48MF96019
BURTON , William SnrKintburyBricklayer1743D/A1/49/258MF468
BURTON, AnneLong Wittenham1771D/A1/50/140MF469
BURTON, CatherineKintbury1784D/A1/50/207MF469
BURTON, DanielKintburyBlacksmith1748D/A1/50/14MF469
BURTON, EddySwallowfield1629D/A1/43/184MF464
BURTON, ElizabethGarford, Marcham 1731D/A1/49/154MF468
BURTON, GeorgeBrayYeoman1630D/A1/177/025MF96013
BURTON, GeorgeBrayClerk1630D/A1/168/194MF96001
BURTON, HumphreyWarfieldServant1569D/A1/39/245 D/A1/9/206MF462 MF10046
BURTON, JohnMaidenhead, CookhamDay Labourer, Ostler1622D/A1/176/083MF96013
BURTON, RichardAbingdonMaltster1710D/A1/179/199MF96018
BURTON, RichardGarford, Marcham Yeoman1725D/A1/180/86MF96019
BURTON, Richard SnrGarford, MarchamYeoman1666D/A1/46/26MF466
BURTON, RogerUfton NervetHusbandman1671D/A1/46/78MF466
BURTON, ThomasEnborneBlacksmith1803D/A1/145/10MF557
BURTON, WilliamReading St GilesBrewer1574D/A1/40/042MF462
BURTON, WilliamColeshillClerk, Vicar1599D/A1/175/162 D/A1/13/435MF96010 MF10049
BURTON, WilliamColeshill1611D/A1/168/079 D/A1/176/037MF96001 MF96012
BURTON, WilliamBlossom'S End, TilehurstYeoman1693D/A1/48/16MF467
BURTON, WilliamArdingtonYeoman1714D/A1/180/21MF96019
BURTON, WilliamKintburyBricklayer1794D/A1/50/246MF469
BURTON, WilliamEnborneBlacksmith1819D/A1/145/91MF557
BURTTEN, MargeryWasing1690D/A1/179/78MF96017
BURWEN, MargaretHagbourne1569D/A1/39/238 D/A1/9/154MF462 MF10046
BUSBEY, ThomasWoolhampton1707D/A1/179/176MF96018
BUSBY, ElizabethCumnor1757D/A1/180/202MF96020
BUSBY, ElizabethCumnor1766D/A1/180/219MF96020
BUSBY, JohnAppletonBaker1839D/A1/226/104MF96123
BUSBY, RobertCumnor1746D/A1/180/182MF96020
BUSFEILD, WilliamWoottonYeoman1737D/A1/49/199MF468
BUSFIELD, ElizabethWootton1716D/A1/180/38MF96019
BUSFIELD, WilliamWootton, Cumnor1688D/A1/47/125MF467
BUSH , JohnReading1607D/A1/168/028MF96001
BUSH, CharlesChildreyYeoman1781D/A1/50/182MF469
BUSH, DanielChildreyYeoman1679D/A1/47/41MF466
BUSH, ElizabethReading St Laurence1620D/A1/176/072MF96012
BUSH, JohnChildrey1728D/A1/49/125MF468
BUSH, JohnChildreyYeoman1760D/A1/50/86MF469
BUSH, JohnChildreyFarmer1830D/A1/226/89MF96123
BUSH, MariaSparsholt1852D/A1/147/28MF558
BUSH, NathanielChildreyYeoman1722D/A1/49/63MF468
BUSH, StephenLetcombe BassettYeoman1743D/A1/180/170MF96020
BUSH, ThomasChildreyYeoman1679D/A1/47/37MF466
BUSH, ThomasChildreyYeoman1746D/A1/50/6MF469
BUSH, ThomasChildreyYeoman1762D/A1/50/100MF469
BUSH, Thomas SnrChildreyYeoman1668D/A1/178/113MF96015
BUSH, WalterChildreyYeoman1677D/A1/47/21MF466
BUSH, WilliamChildreyHusbandman1677D/A1/178/171MF96015
BUSHBE, HannahWest Shefford1727D/A1/49/101MF468
BUSHBEE, WilliamWest SheffordHusbandman1724D/A1/49/72MF468
BUSHBY, GraceSpeen1761D/A1/50/96MF469
BUSHE , JohnReading St Giles1607D/A1/176/013MF96012
BUSHE, NicholasNewbury1619D/A1/176/070MF96012
BUSHE, ThomasWinkfield1560D/A1/39/163 D/A1/6/196MF461 MF10043B
BUSHELL, EdmundNewburyTimberman1641D/A1/44/149MF465
BUSHELL, JohnWelfordHusbandman1605D/A1/41/203 D/A1/14/088MF463 MF10064
BUSHELL, MargaretNewbury1582D/A1/40/107 D/A1/10/354MF462 MF10047A
BUSHELL, MaryHampstead Norreys1604D/A1/14/177MF10064
BUSHELL, PhilipNewburyWeaver1582D/A1/40/105 D/A1/10/345MF462 MF10047A
BUSHELL, SamuelReading St Laurence1736D/A1/49/187MF468
BUSHELL, SarahReading1705D/A1/48/127MF467
BUSHENELL, RichardSulham1569D/A1/5/222mMF10043A
BUSHENELL, RichardSulham1583D/A1/10/416 D/A1/10/422MF10047A MF10047A
BUSHENELL, ThomasTilehurst1567D/A1/175/062MF96010
BUSHENELL, WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1564D/A1/39/204 D/A1/8/312MF462 MF10043C
BUSHNELL, AliceSulham1616D/A1/42/152 D/A1/15/596MF463 MF10065
BUSHNELL, AliceSulhamstead Abbots1680D/A1/47/51MF466
BUSHNELL, ChristopherSulham Husbandman1645D/A1/178/018MF96015
BUSHNELL, EdwardSulhamHusbandman1687D/A1/179/61MF96016
BUSHNELL, Francis SnrThatchamYeoman1626D/A1/43/133MF464
BUSHNELL, Gregory SnrHagbourneCarpenter1640D/A1/44/126MF465
BUSHNELL, HenryNewburyCloth Worker1640D/A1/177/091MF96014
BUSHNELL, Henry SnrTidmarsh1679D/A1/47/43MF466
BUSHNELL, JoanHagbourne1641D/A1/177/090MF96014
BUSHNELL, JoanTilehurst1678D/A1/47/24MF466
BUSHNELL, JohnHamstead MarshallYeoman1609D/A1/42/046 D/A1/14/545MF463 MF10064
BUSHNELL, JohnSulham 1632D/A1/44/027MF464
BUSHNELL, JohnSulhamHusbandman1640D/A1/44/156MF465
BUSHNELL, JohnArdingtonYeoman1644D/A1/45/004MF465
BUSHNELL, JohnSulhamParish Clerk1678D/A1/178/176MF96015
BUSHNELL, JohnTilehurst1685D/A1/179/42MF96016
BUSHNELL, JohnStratfield MortimerYeoman1690D/A1/47/155MF467