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
BUTCHER , Charles SnrSparsholtCordwainer1755D/A1/50/64MF469
BUTCHER , John SnrBoxfordYeoman1734D/A1/49/178MF468
BUTCHER, AliceColeshill1601D/A1/41/139 D/A1/13/641MF463 MF10049
BUTCHER, AmbroseColeshillYeoman1636D/A1/44/084MF464
BUTCHER, AnnCharney Bassett, Longworth1693D/A1/48/17MF467
BUTCHER, BonifaceColeshillHusbandman1627D/A1/43/134MF464
BUTCHER, FettyplaceKintbury1713D/A1/48/200MF467
BUTCHER, FrancisBurghfieldVictualler1752D/A1/180/193MF96020
BUTCHER, JamesBrightwell1797D/A1/180/267MF96020
BUTCHER, JohnColeshillYeoman1633D/A1/44/043MF464
BUTCHER, JohnBrightwellBlacksmith1733D/A1/49/173MF468
BUTCHER, JohnBrightwellBlacksmith1742D/A1/180/161MF96020
BUTCHER, LawrenceKintburyYeoman1662D/A1/45/89MF465
BUTCHER, LawrenceNorth Moreton1799D/A1/180/269MF96020
BUTCHER, RobertAldermaston1631D/A1/16/232MF10066
BUTCHER, SusannaBoxford1746D/A1/50/8MF469
BUTCHER, ThomasEaton HastingsYeoman1670D/A1/178/130MF96015
BUTCHER, ThomasBoxfordYeoman1698D/A1/48/53MF467
BUTCHER, ThomasBoxfordYeoman1727D/A1/180/99MF96020
BUTCHER, ThomasSparsholtLabourer1856D/A1/226/136MF96123
BUTCHER, WilliamEaton HastingsYeoman1664D/A1/45/133MF465
BUTCHER, WilliamBoxfordYeoman1810D/A1/145/48MF557
BUTELER, HenryTidmarshHusbandman1700D/A1/48/70MF467
BUTLEIR, HenryKingston Lisle, SparsholtHusbandman1597D/A1/41/082 D/A1/13/238MF462 MF10049
BUTLEIR, ThomasKingston Lisle, SparsholtHusbandman1598D/A1/41/101 D/A1/13/296MF462 MF10049
BUTLEIR, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1569D/A1/39/236 D/A1/9/151MF462 MF10046
BUTLER , John JnrDraytonLabourer1753D/A1/50/56MF469
BUTLER, AliceDidcot1545D/A1/233/040MF96132
BUTLER, AliceDidcot1545D/A1/2/082MF604
BUTLER, AliceBurghfield1612D/A1/42/086 D/A1/15/215MF463 MF10065
BUTLER, AnnAston Tirrold1646D/A1/45/016MF465
BUTLER, AnneCumnor1703D/A1/48/112MF467
BUTLER, AnthonySwallowfieldYeoman1721D/A1/49/58MF468
BUTLER, CharlesAshburyYeoman1742D/A1/49/250MF468
BUTLER, CharlesTidmarshFarmer1749D/A1/50/26MF469
BUTLER, ChristianKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1577D/A1/40/064 D/A1/10/097MF462 MF10047A
BUTLER, EdwardWargraveVictualler1807D/A1/145/34MF557
BUTLER, ElizabethLambourn1749D/A1/50/29MF469
BUTLER, ElizabethSteventon1828D/A1/145/138MF557
BUTLER, ElizabethChilton1833D/A1/146/9MF557
BUTLER, ElizabethBinfield1834D/A1/146/16MF557
BUTLER, ElizabethEast Ilsley1841D/A1/226/108MF96123
BUTLER, GeorgeAston TirroldGardener1803D/A1/145/13MF557
BUTLER, GeorgeWantageYeoman1806D/A1/145/32MF557
BUTLER, GeorgeLetcombe Regis1819D/A1/226/60MF96123
BUTLER, HenryRadley1593D/A1/12/192MF10048
BUTLER, HenryLong WittenhamHusbandman1625D/A1/43/121MF464
BUTLER, HenryGreat CoxwellLabourer1733D/A1/180/133MF96020
BUTLER, JacobChilton1785D/A1/50/214MF21170
BUTLER, JamesDedworth, WindsorYeoman1638D/A1/44/106MF465
BUTLER, JamesAbingdonYeoman1663D/A1/178/72 MF96015
BUTLER, JamesReading St MaryBlacksmith1672D/A1/178/133MF96015
BUTLER, JamesUplambourn, LambournYeoman1709D/A1/48/169MF467
BUTLER, JamesHarwellYeoman1855D/A1/147/46MF558
BUTLER, JaneAbingdon1703D/A1/48/107MF467
BUTLER, JoanMoulsford, Cholsey1594D/A1/41/053 D/A1/12/220MF462 MF10048
BUTLER, JoanMoulsford, Cholsey1635D/A1/44/071MF464
BUTLER, JoanSulham1671D/A1/46/85MF466
BUTLER, JoanWallingford St Leonard1685D/A1/47/106MF466
BUTLER, JobReading1810D/A1/226/42MF96123
BUTLER, JohnReading St LaurenceMercer1540D/A1/1/203MF10042
BUTLER, JohnBuscot1548D/A1/39/038 D/A1/5/074MF461 MF10043A
BUTLER, JohnRadley1557D/A1/4/036MF604
BUTLER, JohnRadley1557D/A1/233/347MF96132
BUTLER, JohnDidcot1559D/A1/167/107MF96000
BUTLER, JohnHampstead Norreys1560D/A1/39/162 D/A1/6/193MF461 MF10043B
BUTLER, JohnMoulsford, CholseyHusbandman1570D/A1/39/203 D/A1/9/241MF462 MF10046
BUTLER, JohnKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1580D/A1/40/094MF462
BUTLER, JohnKingston Lisle, SparsholtTailor1580D/A1/10/216MF10047A
BUTLER, JohnBuscot1590D/A1/41/010 D/A1/11/231MF462 MF10047B
BUTLER, JohnBrayHusbandman1592D/A1/41/032MF462
BUTLER, JohnBrayHusbandman1592D/A1/41/028 D/A1/12/040MF462 MF10048
BUTLER, JohnEaton, AppletonYeoman1635D/A1/44/068MF464
BUTLER, JohnAbingdonMaltster, Yeoman1639D/A1/44/120MF465
BUTLER, JohnCumnorVictualler1720D/A1/49/46MF468
BUTLER, JohnWinterbourne, Chieveley1725D/A1/49/85MF468
BUTLER, JohnBeedonYeoman1737D/A1/180/146MF96020
BUTLER, JohnLockingeYeoman1737D/A1/180/141MF96020
BUTLER, JohnBeckett, ShrivenhamFarmer1803D/A1/145/9MF557
BUTLER, JohnChaddleworthFarmer1809D/A1/145/44MF557
BUTLER, JohnTilehurstSurgeon1815D/A1/145/76MF557
BUTLER, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1815D/A1/145/75MF557
BUTLER, JohnReading1836D/A1/146/28MF557
BUTLER, JosephAbingdonSlater1624D/A1/43/099MF464
BUTLER, JosephAbingdon St Helen1630D/A1/168/186MF96001
BUTLER, JosephDedworth, Windsor1721D/A1/49/56MF468
BUTLER, Joseph JnrAbingdon St Helen1630D/A1/177/023MF96013
BUTLER, JoshuaBuscot1733D/A1/49/171MF468
BUTLER, MarthaLong Wittenham1795D/A1/51/3MF469
BUTLER, MarthaSteventon1857D/A1/226/137MF96123
BUTLER, MaryReading1746D/A1/50/10MF469
BUTLER, MaryEast Hendred1775D/A1/180/231MF96020
BUTLER, PhoebeBuscot1778D/A1/50/172MF469
BUTLER, RalphLondonYeoman1712D/A1/48/194MF467
BUTLER, ReynoldBurghfieldYeoman1585D/A1/40/121 D/A1/11/083MF462 MF10047B
BUTLER, RichardBurghfieldYeoman1556D/A1/233/327MF96132
BUTLER, RichardBurghfieldMiller1558D/A1/3/266MF604
BUTLER, RichardCumnor1598D/A1/175/155MF96010
BUTLER, RichardCumnor1598D/A1/13/421MF10049
BUTLER, RichardRadleyHusbandman1608D/A1/42/013 D/A1/14/438MF463 MF10064