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
BOSELL, John JnrHamstead MarshallHusbandman1616D/A1/42/150 D/A1/15/582MF463 MF10065
BOSELY, AliceWelford1683D/A1/179/22MF96016
BOSELY, HenryEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1754D/A1/50/57MF469
BOSELY, JonathanEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1743D/A1/49/252MF468
BOSELY, WilliamNorth MoretonYeoman1714D/A1/48/215MF468
BOSEWELL, JohnBenham Valence, SpeenFarmer1558D/A1/39/127 D/A1/7/228MF461 MF10040
BOSHER, JohnDidcotShopkeeper1848D/A1/147/16MF558
BOSHLEY, WilliamNorth Moreton1615D/A1/42/130 D/A1/15/521MF463 MF10065
BOSIER, JohnUfton Nervet1710D/A1/179/196MF96018
BOSLEY , Jonathan SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneTallow Chandler1742D/A1/49/248MF468
BOSLEY, AgnesNorth Moreton1600D/A1/41/136 D/A1/13/520MF463 MF10049
BOSLEY, AnnBurghfield1780D/A1/50/177MF469
BOSLEY, GriffinWelfordWeaver1681D/A1/47/58MF466
BOSLEY, JohnWest Hagbourne, HagbourneHusbandman1633D/A1/44/051MF464
BOSLEY, JohnNorth MoretonYeoman1726D/A1/49/97MF468
BOSLEY, JohnWargraveShepherd1853D/A1/147/31MF558
BOSLEY, JonathanWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1781D/A1/50/187MF469
BOSLEY, JosephMarcham1768D/A1/50/116MF469
BOSLEY, JosephSteventon1837D/A1/226/93MF96123
BOSLEY, MaryNorth Moreton1682D/A1/47/73MF466
BOSLEY, MaryEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1848D/A1/147/12MF558
BOSLEY, RichardNorth MoretonHusbandman1636D/A1/44/081MF464
BOSLEY, ThomasThatchamBricklayer1715D/A1/180/27MF96019
BOSLEY, WilliamBuckleburyWeaver1708D/A1/48/152MF467
BOSLEY, WilliamSulhamstead BannisterHousekeeper1807D/A1/145/38MF557
BOSLIE, JohnNorth Moreton1604D/A1/41/185/2 D/A1/13/1328MF463 MF10049
BOSLY, John SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneScrivener1671D/A1/46/81MF466
BOSSELL, MargeryBenham, Speen1631D/A1/44/010MF464
BOSSEWELL, SimonBenham Valence, Speen1580D/A1/40/091 D/A1/10/255MF462 MF10047A
BOSTALL, JohnReadingSoldier1663D/A1/45/120MF465
BOSTOCK, BeatriceAbingdon1602D/A1/175/179MF96011
BOSTOCK, BeatriceAbingdon1602D/A1/13/1016MF10049
BOSTOCK, MarthaAbingdon1700D/A1/48/80MF467
BOSTOCK, ThomasMiddle Temple, London1609D/A1/42/056 D/A1/14/615MF463 MF10064
BOSTOCK, WilliamAbingdon1690D/A1/47/153MF467
BOSTOCKE, EdmundAbingdon1643D/A1/44/164MF465
BOSTOKE, JohnAbingdon1550D/A1/5/096MF10043A
BOSTOKE, JohnAbingdonDraper1550D/A1/175/019MF96010
BOSTWICK, EdwardReadingBricklayer1691D/A1/179/87MF96017
BOSUALL, WilliamSpeenhamland, Speen1534D/A1/1/211MF10042
BOSWELL , Thomas SnrReadingCordwainer1735D/A1/49/181MF468
BOSWELL, FrancisReadingBrewer1784D/A1/50/211MF469
BOSWELL, HenryEasthampsteadHusbandman1730D/A1/49/135MF468
BOSWELL, JohnReading St Giles1688D/A1/179/69 MF96017
BOSWELL, JosephAbingdonInnholder1751D/A1/50/42MF469
BOSWELL, JulianBenham Valence, Speen1592D/A1/41/030 D/A1/12/049MF462 MF10048
BOSWELL, MargeryCholsey1617D/A1/43/011 D/A1/15/757MF464 MF10065
BOSWELL, MaryReading St Mary1711D/A1/48/182MF467
BOSWELL, RichardBenham Valence, SpeenHusbandman1616D/A1/42/153 D/A1/15/592MF463 MF10065
BOSWELL, WilliamCholseyYeoman1608D/A1/176/017MF96012
BOSWELL, WilliamReadingVictualler1738D/A1/49/204MF468
BOSWORTH, HenryOxford, OxfordshireAlderman1634D/A1/16/344MF10066
BOSYER, RogerHurleyYeoman1737D/A1/180/142MF96020
BOTELLER, TomasinaAbingdon1628D/A1/43/166MF464
BOTEN, ThomasBisham1562D/A1/175/043MF96010
BOTHAM, SarahSpeenhamland, Speen 1834D/A1/146/14MF557
BOTHE, NicholasSparsholt1577D/A1/40/058 D/A1/10/066MF462 MF10047A
BOTTELMAKER, JasperColeshillYeoman1676D/A1/178/167MF96015
BOTTELMAKER, RichardBaulking, UffingtonHusbandman1569D/A1/39/246 D/A1/9/204MF462 MF10046
BOTTENDEN, WilliamSunningwellYeoman1639D/A1/177/081MF96014
BOTTENDON, ElizabethAbingdon1675D/A1/178/162MF96015
BOTTENDON, John SnrShippon, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1684D/A1/47/98MF466
BOTTENDON, MarthaColeshill1695D/A1/48/37MF467
BOTTENTON, JohnShippon, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1706D/A1/48/134MF467
BOTTENTON, MargaretShippon, Abingdon St Helen1707D/A1/179/177MF96018
BOTTENTON, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1693D/A1/179/102MF96017
BOTTLEMAKER, ElizabethBaulking, Uffington1593D/A1/41/043 D/A1/12/097MF462 MF10048
BOTTLEMAKER, MarthaColeshill1684D/A1/47/90MF466
BOTTOMLEY, JohnLongworthMason1622D/A1/43/080MF464
BOUGHTON, JohnAbingdonTailor1688D/A1/47/131MF467
BOUGHTON, WilliamReading St Giles1587D/A1/11/049MF10047B
BOULD, AnnBoxford1652D/A1/45/056MF465
BOULD, John JnrBoxfordHusbandman1645D/A1/178/021MF96015
BOULD, RichardSutton CourtenayYeoman1680D/A1/47/47MF466
BOULDS, GilesBarkham1678D/A1/47/27MF466
BOULES, WilliamAbingdonVictualler1771D/A1/50/136MF469
BOULGER, ElizabethReading1838D/A1/226/98MF96123
BOULT, AgnesHanney1609D/A1/42/041 D/A1/15/002MF463 MF10065
BOULT, AliceWarfield1633D/A1/16/343MF10066
BOULT, AnnWarfield1749D/A1/180/189MF96020
BOULT, GeorgeWarfieldYeoman1661D/A1/45/87MF465
BOULT, HenryBrayYeoman1778D/A1/50/168MF469
BOULT, JohnWarfieldYeoman1690D/A1/47/151MF467
BOULT, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1709D/A1/48/161MF467
BOULT, RichardAbingdon St Helen1634D/A1/168/262MF96001
BOULT, RichardWarfieldTailor1699D/A1/48/63MF467
BOULT, RobertWarfieldHusbandman1630D/A1/44/006MF464
BOULT, SarahReading St Laurence1732D/A1/49/160MF468
BOULTER, JohnCholseyWheelwright1714D/A1/48/212MF468
BOULTER, ThomasCholseyPloughwright1608D/A1/176/016MF96012
BOULTER, ThomasCholsey1608D/A1/168/035MF96001
BOULTER, ThomasPeasemoreYeoman1715D/A1/48/219MF468
BOULTER, WilliamDidcotHusbandman1597D/A1/41/065 D/A1/13/041MF462 MF10049
BOULTER, WilliamNewburyCarpenter1731D/A1/180/124MF96020
BOULTON, BrianKnighton, Compton Beauchamp1662D/A1/45/107MF465
BOULTON, ElizabethFawler, Sparsholt1637D/A1/16/496MF10066
BOULTON, ElizabethKnighton, Compton Beauchamp1639D/A1/44/108MF465
BOULTON, HughEast Ilsley1586D/A1/11/048MF10047B
BOULTON, JasperEast Ginge, West HendredHusbandman1612D/A1/42/088 D/A1/15/217MF463 MF10065
BOULTON, JohnKingston BagpuizeFarmer1743D/A1/49/262MF468