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
RUSSELL, EdwardTubneyYeoman1762D/A1/114/40MF537
RUSSELL, FrideswideShinfield1630D/A1/112/077MF536
RUSSELL, JamesUfton NervetHusbandman1574D/A1/111/044 D/A1/9/425MF535 MF10046
RUSSELL, JamesSulhamstead BannisterHusbandman1685D/A1/113/71MF536
RUSSELL, JoanSulhamstead Abbots1559D/A1/110/149 D/A1/8/091MF535 MF10043C
RUSSELL, JoanHartley, Shinfield1604D/A1/111/139 D/A1/13/1288MF536 MF10049
RUSSELL, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1557D/A1/3/140MF604
RUSSELL, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1558D/A1/233/241MF96132
RUSSELL, JohnNewburyWeaver1608D/A1/111/158 D/A1/14/417MF536 MF10064
RUSSELL, JohnShinfieldYeoman1608D/A1/111/157 D/A1/14/400MF536 MF10064
RUSSELL, JohnAbingdon1788D/A1/114/76MF537
RUSSELL, JosephNewburyCloth Worker1662D/A1/113/3MF536
RUSSELL, RebeccaAbingdon1799D/A1/114/82MF537
RUSSELL, RichardCookham1529D/A1/1/124MF10041
RUSSELL, RichardBradfield1594D/A1/111/103 D/A1/12/134MF535 MF10048
RUSSELL, RichardMaidenheadVictualler1606D/A1/168/025MF96001
RUSSELL, RichardMaidenhead1606D/A1/14/187MF10064
RUSSELL, RobertBerkshire1684D/A1/113/69MF536
RUSSELL, StephenBurghfield1560D/A1/111/003 D/A1/6/150MF535 MF10043B
RUSSELL, ThomasSulhamstead Bannister1566D/A1/111/019 D/A1/9/023MF535 MF10046
RUSSELL, ThomasShinfield1574D/A1/111/042 D/A1/9/400MF535 MF10046
RUSSELL, ThomasBradfield1616D/A1/112/018 D/A1/15/603MF536 MF10065
RUSSELL, WilliamLeckhampstead, ChieveleyHusbandman1605D/A1/111/142 D/A1/14/085MF536 MF10064
RUSSELL, WilliamSunninghillHusbandman1715D/A1/113/143MF537
RUSSELY, Richard SnrUffington1657D/A1/113/1/2MF536
RUSSHELEY, ArthurUffingtonYeoman1557D/A1/3/127MF604
RUSSHELYE, EdithUffington1557D/A1/110/136MF535
RUSSON, JohnReading St Mary1596D/A1/111/110 D/A1/12/426MF535 MF10048
RUSSON, JohnAbingdonTanner1672D/A1/113/38MF536
RUSSON, MaryAbingdon1689D/A1/113/81MF536
RUST, JohnSutton Courtenay1837D/A1/161/37MF583
RUT , RowlandPeascod Street, ClewerMillwright1595D/A1/111/109 D/A1/12/303MF535 MF10048
RUTHE, JohnBuckleburyPriest, Vicar1549D/A1/210/149MF96088
RUTHERFORD, SamuelAbingdonDoctor Of Physic1705D/A1/238/25MF96142
RUTT, JohnInkpenYeoman1725D/A1/113/160MF537
RUTT, PeterHamstead MarshallYeoman1662D/A1/113/5MF536
RUTTE, PeterNew Windsor, WindsorMillwright1592D/A1/210/210MF96088
RUTTE, PeterNew Windsor, Windsor1592D/A1/12/071MF10048
RUTTER, AnthonyBishamWheelwright1580D/A1/111/059 D/A1/10/287MF535 MF10047A
RUTTER, JohnBrayYeoman1545D/A1/5/011MF10043A
RUTTER, John1545D/A1/233/233MF96132
RUTTER, RichardEast Garston1546D/A1/110/117 D/A1/5/033MF535 MF10043A
RUTTER, ThomasBrayYeoman1545D/A1/3/132MF604
RUTTER, ThomasAbingdonWhittawer1678D/A1/113/54MF536
RYCE, AlicePamber, Hampshire1609D/A1/111/166 D/A1/14/562MF536 MF10064
RYCFORD, WilliamWarfieldWheelwright1546D/A1/110/119MF535
RYCHADES, ThomasShinfield1564D/A1/111/015 D/A1/8/308MF535 MF10043C
RYCHAR, JohnReading St LaurenceHaberdasher1578D/A1/111/052 D/A1/10/123MF535 MF10047A
RYCHARD, RichardChildrey1544D/A1/110/109MF535
RYCHARDES, JamesFarnborough1566D/A1/111/018 D/A1/9/022MF535 MF10046
RYCHARDES, JoanSwallowfield1600D/A1/111/126 D/A1/13/557MF536 MF10049
RYCHARDES, JohnWootton, Cumnor1570D/A1/111/030 D/A1/9/340MF535 MF10046
RYCHARDES, John SnrBurghfieldYeoman1589D/A1/111/084 D/A1/11/286MF535 MF10047B
RYCHARDES, ThomasShellingfordHusbandman1583D/A1/111/068 D/A1/10/411MF535 MF10047A
RYCHARDES, WilliamBurghfield1528D/A1/1/051MF10041
RYCHARDES, WilliamShellingfordSlater1563D/A1/111/005 D/A1/7/361MF535 MF10040
RYCHARDS , SimonWootton, CumnorHusbandman1591D/A1/111/095 D/A1/12/014MF535 MF10048
RYCHARDS, WilliamEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1592D/A1/111/096 D/A1/12/019MF535 MF10048
RYCHARDSUN, John1582D/A1/111/067MF535
RYDAR, John SnrNewbury1559D/A1/110/154 D/A1/7/276MF535 MF10040
RYDDERCH, JohnNew Windsor, WindsorMaltster1705D/A1/113/114MF537
RYDER , George SnrLambournYeoman1731D/A1/113/178MF537
RYDER, AnnEast Garston1760D/A1/114/38MF537
RYDER, JamesAbingdon St HelenHaberdasher1585D/A1/111/075 D/A1/11/007MF535 MF10047B
RYDER, RichardReading St LaurenceShoemaker1595D/A1/111/106 D/A1/12/262MF535 MF10048
RYDER, RobertLambourn1564D/A1/111/014 D/A1/7/369MF535 MF10040
RYDER, WilliamReading St LaurenceMercer1594D/A1/210/211 D/A1/12/195MF96088 MF10048
RYFFYNNE, ThomasNorth Hinksey, CumnorYeoman1603D/A1/111/136 D/A1/13/1078MF536 MF10049
RYGBY, ThomasAston Tirrold1563D/A1/210/175MF96088
RYGBYE, JulianAston Tirrold1540D/A1/1/208MF10042
RYGGYNS, AgnesMarcham1557D/A1/6/115MF10043B
RYMAN, Ann1548D/A1/210/148MF96088
RYMAN, ThomasHolt, Kintbury1698D/A1/113/101MF31702
RYME, AliceHinton Waldrist1644D/A1/112/135MF536
RYME, HenryPetwick, ChildreyYeoman1614D/A1/112/009 D/A1/15/482MF536 MF10065
RYME, JohnFawler, SparsholtHusbandman1559D/A1/110/156 D/A1/8/027MF535 MF10043C
RYME, JohnHinton WaldristHusbandman1608D/A1/210/233 D/A1/168/031MF96089 MF96001
RYME, JohnWest Challow, Letcombe RegisHusbandman1627D/A1/210/258 D/A1/16/107MF96089 MF10066
RYME, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1688D/A1/211/80MF96091
RYME, RobertChildreyHusbandman1558D/A1/110/144 D/A1/7/134MF535 MF10040
RYMES, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1761D/A1/114/39MF537
RYNALDE, AgnesWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1548D/A1/110/121MF535
RYNG, JohnCumnorHusbandman1566D/A1/111/021 D/A1/9/106MF535 MF10046
RYNG, RobertCumnorHusbandman1558D/A1/110/143MF535
RYTHER, HenryStratfield Mortimer1617D/A1/112/024 D/A1/15/733MF536 MF10065
RYTHER, WilliamSwallowfieldTurner1612D/A1/111/177 D/A1/15/298MF536 MF10065
RYVARS, Joan SnrKintbury1597D/A1/111/116 D/A1/13/153MF535 MF10049
RYVE, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1563D/A1/111/012 D/A1/8/274MF535 MF10043C
RYVER, JohnLambourn1570D/A1/111/029 D/A1/9/212MF535 MF10046
RYVER, RichardKintbury1580D/A1/111/057 D/A1/10/265MF535 MF10047A
RYVERS, JohnColeshillHusbandman1613D/A1/112/004 D/A1/15/388MF536 MF10065