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
BILSON, RobertDrayton, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1640D/A1/44/118MF465
BILSON, RobertAbingdonLabourer1688D/A1/179/67MF96017
BILSON, WinifredAbingdon1643D/A1/44/119MF465
BIMROSE, JohnReadingGlover1702D/A1/48/97MF467
BINAM, ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1648D/A1/45/025MF465
BINFEILD, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman1683D/A1/47/86MF466
BINFIELD, FrancesWinkfield1705D/A1/48/125MF467
BINFIELD, JohnReading St MarySawyer1714D/A1/48/213MF468
BINFIELD, MarthaReading1728D/A1/49/120MF468
BINFIELD, RichardReadingTallow Chandler1815D/A1/145/77MF557
BINFIELD, RichardReadingCabinet Maker1833D/A1/146/6MF557
BINT , Charles SnrLambournCooper1851D/A1/147/25MF558
BINT , ChristopherWestcot, SparsholtHusbandman1684D/A1/179/30MF96016
BINT , KatherineWestcot, Sparsholt1684D/A1/179/34 MF96016
BINT, AnnReading1848D/A1/147/11MF558
BINT, CharlesLambournLabourer1852D/A1/147/29MF558
BINT, ChristopherSparsholt1684D/A1/179/35MF96016
BINT, EdithWest Ilsley1627D/A1/43/155MF464
BINT, JohnWest Ilsley1620D/A1/43/056MF464
BINT, MagdalenChipping Lambourn, Lambourn1687D/A1/47/117MF466
BINT, MaudeWest Ilsley1614D/A1/42/119 D/A1/15/473MF463 MF10065
BINT, RobertSparsholtYeoman1706D/A1/179/164MF96017
BIOUNT, ElizabethReading1670D/A1/46/60MF466
BIOUNT, JamesReadingInnholder1668D/A1/46/35MF466
BIOUNT, MaryBucklebury1687D/A1/47/116MF466
BIRCH, AnnHoe Benham, Welford1682D/A1/179/12 MF96016
BIRCH, ElizabethEaton Hastings1689D/A1/47/139MF467
BIRCH, GratianSotwell1755D/A1/180/198MF96020
BIRCH, HenryWest HanneyYeoman1706D/A1/179/165MF96017
BIRCH, HenrySotwellYeoman1734D/A1/180/138MF96020
BIRCH, HenryWallingfordCorn Dealer1838D/A1/226/95MF96123
BIRCH, JohnPuseyYeoman1724D/A1/180/77MF96019
BIRCH, LushSotwellYeoman1765D/A1/50/109MF469
BIRCH, MaryWest Hanney1681D/A1/178/185 MF96015
BIRCH, MaryWest Hanney1682D/A1/179/11MF96016
BIRCH, MaryPusey1755D/A1/50/63MF469
BIRCH, RogerCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1677D/A1/47/15MF466
BIRCHALL, William1551D/A1/175/020MF96010
BIRCHE, AgnesEast Garston1564D/A1/167/124MF96000
BIRCHE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1566D/A1/167/128MF96000
BIRCHE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1626D/A1/43/149MF464
BIRCHETT, AgnesWinkfieldServant1577D/A1/40/063 D/A1/10/096MF462 MF10047A
BIRD , ThomasBrimptonVicar1644D/A1/178/017MF96015
BIRD, AlicePurley1617D/A1/43/009 D/A1/15/726MF464 MF10065
BIRD, AnneCookham1683D/A1/47/83MF466
BIRD, ElizabethReading1643D/A1/44/171MF465
BIRD, ElizabethEast Hanney, West Hanney1837D/A1/226/91MF96123
BIRD, JohnShaw Cum Donnington1566D/A1/167/132MF96000
BIRD, JohnEast HendredWheelwright1737D/A1/49/194MF468
BIRD, JohnShefford Woodlands, East Shefford1743D/A1/49/257MF468
BIRD, JohnCookhamCordwainer, Shopkeeper 1749D/A1/50/20MF469
BIRD, John SnrSpeen1665D/A1/46/5MF466
BIRD, John SnrKintburyHusbandman1670D/A1/178/131MF96015
BIRD, MarthaSpeen1725D/A1/49/93MF468
BIRD, MarthaReading1762D/A1/180/211MF96020
BIRD, MaryChieveley1836D/A1/146/29MF557
BIRD, MillicentSonning1661D/A1/45/75MF465
BIRD, RichardReading St Mary1619D/A1/168/162MF96001
BIRD, ThomasShaw Cum Donnington1566D/A1/167/132MF96000
BIRD, WilliamReading St Giles1600D/A1/13/441MF10049
BIRD, WilliamSpeen1800D/A1/51/20MF469
BIRDE, RichardReading St MaryCloth Worker1619D/A1/176/062MF96012
BIREMILL, AvisAbingdon St Helen1510D/A1/1/001MF10041
BIRT, RichardBucklandYeoman1586D/A1/175/108MF96010
BIRT, ThomasBuckland1611D/A1/168/071MF96001
BIRTCHE, RobertEastbury, LambournHusbandman1600D/A1/41/146 D/A1/13/613MF463 MF10049
BIRTE, RichardBucklandHusbandman1598D/A1/41/091 D/A1/13/267MF462 MF10049
BIRTE, WilliamBucklandHusbandman1561D/A1/39/172 D/A1/8/195MF461 MF10043C
BISHOP, AnthonyAbingdonTailor1600D/A1/41/142 D/A1/13/576MF463 MF10049
BISHOP, JohnCookhamHusbandman1733D/A1/49/176MF468
BISHOP, JohnCookhamHusbandman1749D/A1/50/22MF469
BISHOP, JohnSonningMilkman1845D/A1/226/118MF96123
BISHOP, MaryOxford, Oxfordshire1707D/A1/17/94MF10079
BISHOP, RobertHarwell1606D/A1/175/189MF89011
BISHOP, SarahBrightwell1736D/A1/49/186MF468
BISHOP, ThomasNewbury1715D/A1/48/222MF468
BISHOP, WilliamSotwellCordwainer1691D/A1/47/157MF467
BISHOP, WilliamLongcot, Shrivenham 1802D/A1/145/8MF557
BISHOPP, CastellReading1684D/A1/47/88MF466
BISHOPP, JohnCookhamBrickmaker1685D/A1/179/46MF96016
BISHOPP, JohnCholseyBlacksmith1716D/A1/180/31MF96019
BISHOPP, RichardDorchester, Oxfordshire1711D/A1/103/236MF575
BISHOPP, RobertBray1605D/A1/42/040MF463
BISHOPP, ThomasWallingfordInnholder1702D/A1/48/88MF467
BISHOPP, WilliamReading1694D/A1/179/108MF96017
BISHOPP*, JohnOxford, Oxfordshire1699D/A1/48/54MF467
BISLEY, AnthonyCholseyYeoman1734D/A1/180/137MF96020
BISLEY, AnthonyWoottonYeoman1738D/A1/49/203MF468
BISLEY, AnthonyCholseyFarmer1849D/A1/147/20MF558
BISLEY, JohnCholseyYeoman1712D/A1/48/189MF467
BISLEY, JohnCumnor1717D/A1/49/16MF468
BISLEY, MaryCholsey1808D/A1/145/42MF557
BISLEY, RichardAshburyYeoman1626D/A1/176/112MF96012
BISLEY, RichardBayworth, Sunningwell1638D/A1/16/483MF10066
BISLEY, RobertAbingdon1599D/A1/175/163MF96010
BISLEY, RobertAbingdon1599D/A1/13/435MF10049
BISLEY, ThomasCholsey1681D/A1/178/186MF96015
BISLIE, AlexanderAbingdon1621D/A1/43/053MF464
BISLYE, John JnrBayworth, Sunningwell1592D/A1/12/071MF10048
BISSHOP, JohnBray1552D/A1/5/159MF10043A