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
BROOKS, WilliamAbingdonTailor1847D/A1/147/5MF558
BROOKSBANK, RichardBarkham1695D/A1/179/114MF96017
BROOM, JohnRadleyLabourer1823D/A1/145/115MF557
BROOME, AmbroseReading St LaurenceWaterman1620D/A1/176/076MF96012
BROOME, HughFinchampstead1604D/A1/175/186 D/A1/14/177MF96011 MF10064
BROOME, JohnStratfield Mortimer1618D/A1/43/028 D/A1/15/903MF464 MF10065
BROTHERS, EleanorNewbury1826D/A1/145/124MF557
BROTHERS, SophiaEast Ilsley1834D/A1/146/18MF557
BROTHERS, WalterEast IlsleyShopkeeper1834D/A1/146/13MF557
BROTHERS, WilliamBeedonYeoman1816D/A1/226/50MF96123
BROUGHTON , John SnrHampstead NorreysYeoman1721D/A1/49/62MF468
BROUGHTON, AliceDean Court, Cumnor1643D/A1/44/166MF465
BROUGHTON, AnneBradfield1599D/A1/41/115 D/A1/13/393MF463 MF10049
BROUGHTON, FrancesBucklebury1742D/A1/180/162MF96020
BROUGHTON, FrancisHampstead NorreysYeoman1812D/A1/145/59MF557
BROUGHTON, HenryWootton, CumnorHusbandman1586D/A1/40/139 D/A1/11/066MF462 MF10047B
BROUGHTON, Henry SnrDean Court, CumnorHusbandman1648D/A1/178/034MF96013
BROUGHTON, JacobDean Court, CumnorYeoman1627D/A1/43/162MF464
BROUGHTON, JacobWallingfordSackmaker1751D/A1/50/35MF469
BROUGHTON, JoanCumnor1629D/A1/177/006MF96013
BROUGHTON, JoaneAbingdon1687D/A1/179/49MF96016
BROUGHTON, JohnWootton, Cumnor1590D/A1/175/119MF96010
BROUGHTON, JohnWootton, Cumnor1590D/A1/11/371MF10047B
BROUGHTON, JohnBucklebury1665D/A1/46/2MF466
BROUGHTON, JohnHampstead Norreys1743D/A1/180/166MF96020
BROUGHTON, RichardBoars Hill, CumnorHusbandman1675D/A1/178/165MF96015
BROUGHTON, Richard SnrWootton, CumnorHusbandman1633D/A1/44/053MF464
BROUGHTON, SarahWallingford1751D/A1/50/43MF469
BROUGHTON, ThomasEnglefield1615D/A1/176/053MF96012
BROUGHTON, ThomasEnglefield1615D/A1/168/121MF96001
BROUGHTON, ThomasDean Court, CumnorYeoman1635D/A1/44/067MF464
BROUGHTON, ThomasBuckleburyYeoman1724D/A1/180/84MF96019
BROUGHTON, ThomasWallingford1739D/A1/180/151MF96020
BROUGHTON, WilliamFarmoor, CumnorHusbandman1642D/A1/177/096MF96014
BROUGTON, HenryStroud, CumnorYeoman1685D/A1/47/109MF466
BROUN, WilliamBucklebury1561D/A1/39/170 D/A1/7/339MF461 MF10040
BROUNE, AliceBucklebury1558D/A1/39/099 D/A1/7/255MF461 MF10040
BROUNE, AnneHoe Benham, Welford1740D/A1/49/233MF468
BROUNE, GeorgeGreenham, ThatchamYeoman1677D/A1/47/10MF466
BROUNE, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1567D/A1/175/058MF96010
BROUNSOPP, HenryBray1575D/A1/175/075MF96010
BROWEN, AnnHenwick, Thatcham1671D/A1/46/68MF466
BROWGHTON, KatherineAbingdon St Helen1557D/A1/7/155MF10040
BROWGHTON, KatherineAbingdon1557D/A1/39/157MF461
BROWGHTON, WilliamSandford, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1562D/A1/39/187 D/A1/8/225MF462 MF10043C
BROWK, AliceSpeenhamland, Speen1546D/A1/175/008MF96010
BROWMAN, EdwardKingston BagpuizeYeoman1681D/A1/47/68MF466
BROWMAN, ThomasKintbury1544D/A1/175/006MF96010
BROWMAN, WilliamSunningwell1590D/A1/40/095MF462
BROWN , George SnrReadingPorter1771D/A1/50/134MF469
BROWN, AbrahamChieveleyWheelwright1849D/A1/147/19MF558
BROWN, AbrahamChieveleyFarmer1854D/A1/147/37MF558
BROWN, AmbroseReading St MaryLabourer1710D/A1/179/195MF96018
BROWN, AnnBuckleburyServant1749D/A1/50/31MF469
BROWN, AnnBucklebury1758D/A1/50/78MF469
BROWN, AnnReading1834D/A1/146/15MF557
BROWN, AnnReading1846D/A1/146/88MF558
BROWN, Ann HelenaReading1838D/A1/146/39MF557
BROWN, ArthurBasildon1719D/A1/180/46MF96019
BROWN, CharlesBenham, Speen Labourer1741D/A1/180/157MF96020
BROWN, CharlesShinfieldVictualler1838D/A1/146/42MF557
BROWN, CorneliusWelfordYeoman1740D/A1/180/155MF96020
BROWN, DanielBishamFarmer1794D/A1/50/243MF469
BROWN, EdwardShinfieldHusbandman1700D/A1/48/75MF467
BROWN, EdwardReadingBaker1716D/A1/180/32MF96019
BROWN, ElizabethAbingdon1793D/A1/50/237MF469
BROWN, HenryAbingdonBasket Maker, Beerseller 1839D/A1/146/45MF557
BROWN, JamesAbingdonLabourer1726D/A1/180/89MF96019
BROWN, JamesSulhamstead Abbots1814D/A1/226/47MF96123
BROWN, JamesFrilford, Marcham Labourer1820D/A1/145/98MF557
BROWN, JamesThatchamLabourer1835D/A1/226/86MF96123
BROWN, JoanLong Wittenham1722D/A1/49/66MF468
BROWN, JohnAbingdonCowper1548D/A1/5/085MF10043A
BROWN, JohnNewburyYeoman1704D/A1/48/114MF467
BROWN, JohnShaw Cum DonningtonVictualler1742D/A1/49/244MF468
BROWN, JohnBrimptonTurner1762D/A1/180/214MF96020
BROWN, JohnAbingdonDealer In Brandy1794D/A1/50/247MF469
BROWN, JohnBradfield1802D/A1/226/30MF96123
BROWN, JohnHatfordYeoman1814D/A1/145/71MF557
BROWN, JohnHarwell1815D/A1/226/49MF96123
BROWN, JohnBesselsleighPublican1834D/A1/226/84MF96123
BROWN, JohnBradfieldCarrier1838D/A1/146/36MF557
BROWN, JosephMidgham, Thatcham 1829D/A1/145/139MF557
BROWN, KatherineHoe Benham, Welford1728D/A1/49/121MF468
BROWN, LeonardReading St GilesCarpenter1719D/A1/180/52MF96019
BROWN, MariaNewbury1828D/A1/145/135MF557
BROWN, MariaReading1857D/A1/147/54MF558
BROWN, MarthaBrightwalton1802D/A1/226/31MF96123
BROWN, MarthaBesselsleigh1834D/A1/226/83MF96123
BROWN, MaryReading St Mary1709D/A1/179/189MF96018
BROWN, MaryHurst1830D/A1/145/140MF557
BROWN, RichardBucklebury1562D/A1/39/188 D/A1/8/231MF462 MF10043C
BROWN, RichardNewburyTailor1682D/A1/179/20MF96016
BROWN, RichardNewburyBlacksmith1723D/A1/180/73MF96019
BROWN, RichardSpeenHusbandman1729D/A1/180/109MF96020
BROWN, RichardReading1753D/A1/180/194MF96020
BROWN, RichardBoxfordHusbandman1772D/A1/50/142MF469
BROWN, RichardReading St Laurence1778D/A1/180/239MF96020
BROWN, RichardThatcham1797D/A1/180/268MF96020
BROWN, RichardFyfieldShoemaker1833D/A1/146/7MF557