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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
BRODHURST, StephenChieveleyHusbandman1587D/A1/40/141 D/A1/11/096MF462 MF10047B
BRODSHOWE, RobertSwallowfieldHusbandman1599D/A1/41/122 D/A1/13/474MF463 MF10049
BRODSTOCK, HesterArdington Wick, Ardington1814D/A1/145/69MF557
BRODSTOCK, JohnArdingtonYeoman1700D/A1/48/71MF467
BRODSTOCK, JohnArdingtonYeoman1796D/A1/51/5MF469
BRODSTOKE, EdmundSunningwell1544D/A1/39/019MF461
BRODSTOKE, GeorgeSunningwellHusbandman1587D/A1/40/156MF462
BROKE , ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyYeoman1592D/A1/41/026 D/A1/12/019MF462 MF10048
BROKE, GeorgeWargraveHusbandman1620D/A1/43/044MF464
BROKE, HammondSpeenhamland, Speen1545D/A1/175/007MF96010
BROKE, JohnNewburyWeaver1574D/A1/40/050 D/A1/9/440MF462 MF10046
BROKE, LawrenceSpeenhamland, Speen1551D/A1/4/040MF604
BROKE, RobertSpeenhamland, Speen1545D/A1/39/030 D/A1/6/173MF461 MF10043B
BROKE, RobertWest Ginge, East Lockinge1560D/A1/167/113MF96000
BROKE, ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1564D/A1/39/208 D/A1/8/330MF462 MF10043C
BROKE, WilliamHanney1545D/A1/233/043MF96132
BROKE, WilliamHanney1555D/A1/2/086MF604
BROKE, WilliamHanney1561D/A1/39/175 D/A1/8/213MF461 MF10043C
BROKELANDE, ThomasNorthcourt, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1606D/A1/42/001 D/A1/14/190MF463 MF10064
BROKER, JohnChilton1549D/A1/5/077MF10043A
BROKER, JohnChilton1549D/A1/5/076MF10043A
BROKER, JohnChilton1549D/A1/39/042MF461
BROKER, JohnChiltonHusbandman1592D/A1/41/011 D/A1/12/025MF462 MF10048
BROKER, NicholasHagbourneHusbandman1600D/A1/41/128 D/A1/13/515MF463 MF10049
BROKER, SaintesChilton1573D/A1/9/350MF10046
BROKER, SaintesChilton1573D/A1/40/024MF462
BROKES, Agnes1566D/A1/167/132MF96000
BROKES, JamesWest Ginge, East Lockinge1566D/A1/167/133 D/A1/167/130MF96000 MF96000
BROKES, James1567D/A1/167/137MF96000
BROKES, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1716D/A1/49/7MF468
BROKES, WilliamLong WittenhamHusbandman1564D/A1/39/207 D/A1/8/321MF462 MF10043C
BROKES, WilliamWallingford St MaryWeaver1566D/A1/39/217 D/A1/9/018MF462 MF10046
BROKESSE, JohnSnelsmore, Chieveley1597D/A1/175/150MF96010
BROKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1567D/A1/175/059MF96010
BROKS, John SnrEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1647D/A1/45/020/1MF465
BROMALL, ThomasKintbury1559D/A1/167/106MF96000
BROMAN, WilliamDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1580D/A1/10/241MF10047A
BROMBROUGHE, AdamChaddleworth1585D/A1/40/134 D/A1/11/053 D/A1/11/074MF462 MF10047B MF10047B
BROMHALL, RobertNewbury1534D/A1/1/067MF10041
BROMHAM, ElizabethKintbury1574D/A1/175/074MF96010
BROMLEY, FrancisReading St LaurenceSchoolmaster1697D/A1/179/124MF96017
BROMLEY, GerardBalsdon Park, Kintbury1633D/A1/177/043MF96013
BROMLEY, JohnSpeen1596D/A1/12/402MF10048
BROMLEY, RichardSpeenhamland, SpeenShoemaker1589D/A1/40/158 D/A1/11/304MF462 MF10047B
BRONSDON , Benjamin SnrKintbury1774D/A1/50/151MF469
BRONSDON, BenjaminKintbury1824D/A1/226/64MF96123
BRONSDON, MarthaKintbury1803D/A1/145/11MF557
BROOCKE, JohnCookham1540D/A1/2/095MF604
BROOCKER, AnnEast Ilsley1617D/A1/43/008 D/A1/15/745MF464 MF10065
BROODSTOCK, WilliamArdingtonMaltster1740D/A1/49/224MF468
BROOK, JohnThatchamHusbandman1587D/A1/40/154 D/A1/11/250MF462 MF10047B
BROOK, JohnColthrop, ThatchamHusbandman1636D/A1/44/090MF464
BROOKE, AliceSnelsmore, Chieveley1572D/A1/40/013 D/A1/9/316MF462 MF10046
BROOKE, EdmundSulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1631D/A1/44/012MF464
BROOKE, HenrySparsholtCook, Yeoman1638D/A1/44/104MF465
BROOKE, JohnBurghfield1563D/A1/39/195 D/A1/8/263MF462 MF10043C
BROOKE, MaryReading1689D/A1/47/141MF467
BROOKE, RichardSpeenhamland, SpeenYeoman1575D/A1/40/045 D/A1/9/439MF462 MF10046
BROOKE, RichardEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1609D/A1/42/049 D/A1/14/569MF463 MF10064
BROOKE, RichardSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1618D/A1/43/020 D/A1/15/836MF464 MF10065
BROOKE, Robert SnrBurghfieldYeoman1621D/A1/43/060MF464
BROOKE, RogerNorth MoretonShepherd1621D/A1/43/052MF464
BROOKE, Thomas1557D/A1/233/031MF96132
BROOKE, ThomasThatchamHusbandman1557D/A1/2/065MF604
BROOKEMAN, PeterReading St LaurenceBaker1692D/A1/179/91/2MF96017
BROOKEMAN, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1674D/A1/178/159MF96015
BROOKER, AgnesWest Shefford1596D/A1/41/070 D/A1/12/413MF462 MF10048
BROOKER, AnnFawley1769D/A1/50/129MF469
BROOKER, EleanorHagbourne1607D/A1/42/019 D/A1/14/263MF463 MF10064
BROOKER, ElizabethAbingdon1663D/A1/45/131MF465
BROOKER, GeorgeChiltonHusbandman1715D/A1/48/217MF468
BROOKER, JamesWelfordWheelwright1842D/A1/146/68MF557
BROOKER, JamesEast GarstonWheelwright1845D/A1/226/119MF96123
BROOKER, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1609D/A1/176/020MF96012
BROOKER, JohnEast Ilsley1609D/A1/168/045MF96001
BROOKER, JohnHagbourneJoiner1611D/A1/42/072/1 D/A1/15/162MF463 MF10065
BROOKER, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1661D/A1/45/88MF465
BROOKER, JohnBenham Lovell, SpeenYeoman1667D/A1/46/31MF466
BROOKER, JohnAbingdon1671D/A1/46/82MF466
BROOKER, JohnSouth Fawley, Fawley1687D/A1/47/119MF467
BROOKER, JohnChiltonMaltster1702D/A1/179/146MF96017
BROOKER, JohnFawleyBlacksmith1730D/A1/49/146MF468
BROOKER, JohnEast GarstonWheelwright1834D/A1/146/17MF557
BROOKER, JohnShaw Cum Donnington1849D/A1/147/18MF558
BROOKER, LawrenceEast IlsleyHusbandman1584D/A1/40/122 D/A1/11/112MF462 MF10047B
BROOKER, NicholasChiltonYeoman1684D/A1/47/96MF466
BROOKER, Nicholas SnrChiltonHusbandman1647D/A1/178/032MF96015
BROOKER, PeterAbingdonMaltster1648D/A1/45/027MF465
BROOKER, RichardAbingdonVictualler1732D/A1/180/128MF96020
BROOKER, RichardHurleyVictualler1784D/A1/50/206MF469
BROOKER, SusannahNorth Moreton1726D/A1/49/99MF468
BROOKER, ThomasArdington1683D/A1/179/23MF96016
BROOKER, ThomasBradfieldHusbandman1716D/A1/180/35MF96019
BROOKER, WalterEast IlsleyHusbandman1636D/A1/177/061/2MF96013
BROOKER, WilliamWest Shefford1591D/A1/41/021 D/A1/11/369MF462 MF10047B
BROOKER, WilliamNewburyWeaver1718D/A1/180/44MF96019
BROOKES , John SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1678D/A1/47/23MF466
BROOKES , John SnrWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1713D/A1/180/18MF96019
BROOKES, GilesEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1728D/A1/49/124MF468
BROOKES, JoanBurghfield1684D/A1/47/92MF466