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
BROOKES, JohnAbingdon St HelenMaltster1647D/A1/178/023 D/A1/45/020/2MF96015 MF465
BROOKES, JosephUffingtonMason1751D/A1/50/36MF469
BROOKES, MargaretLew, Bampton, Oxfordshire1637D/A1/177/067MF96014
BROOKES, RobertLockinge1557D/A1/233/035MF96132
BROOKES, RobertWest Ginge, East Lockinge1557D/A1/2/069MF604
BROOKES, RobertAldermaston1629D/A1/43/183MF464
BROOKES, RobertBurghfieldHusbandman1633D/A1/44/045MF464
BROOKES, RobertSutton CourtenayYeoman1708D/A1/48/149MF467
BROOKES, Robert SnrSutton CourtenayHusbandman1676D/A1/47/1MF466
BROOKES, SeymoreEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1710D/A1/48/172MF467
BROOKES, ThomasAldermastonButcher1661D/A1/45/79MF465
BROOKES, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1666D/A1/178/99MF96015
BROOKINS, MaryCumnor1783D/A1/50/198MF469
BROOKLAND, ElizabethAbingdon1688D/A1/47/135MF467
BROOKLAND, JaneNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1670D/A1/46/65MF466
BROOKLAND, JohnSunningwellHusbandman1607D/A1/42/010 D/A1/14/389MF463 MF10064
BROOKLAND, JohnSunningwellYeoman1644D/A1/178/006MF96015
BROOKLAND, JohnAbingdonFarmer1774D/A1/50/152MF469
BROOKLAND, MarySunningwell1712D/A1/48/186MF467
BROOKLAND, RichardSunningwellYeoman1702D/A1/48/96MF467
BROOKMAN, JamesSulhamstead BannisterGardener1821D/A1/145/103MF557
BROOKMAN, JoanTilehurst1688D/A1/47/128MF467
BROOKMAN, MaryReading1695D/A1/48/33MF467
BROOKMAN, ThomasReading1813D/A1/145/62MF557
BROOKMAN, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1679D/A1/47/34MF466
BROOKMAN, WilliamAston TirroldYeoman1714D/A1/48/208MF467
BROOKS, AbrahamBucklandFarmer1815D/A1/145/74MF557
BROOKS, AmbroseUffingtonMason1721D/A1/49/60MF468
BROOKS, AnneEast Hanney, West Hanney1720D/A1/49/42MF468
BROOKS, HenryAldermastonButcher1641D/A1/177/101MF96014
BROOKS, JohnEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1750D/A1/50/55MF469
BROOKS, JohnBrayHusbandman1760D/A1/50/89MF469
BROOKS, John SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1670D/A1/178/118MF96015
BROOKS, JosephUffingtonYeoman1771D/A1/50/131MF469
BROOKS, JosephSteventonYeoman1794D/A1/50/245MF469
BROOKS, JosephKingston BagpuizeYeoman1841D/A1/146/58MF557
BROOKS, KatherineEast Hanney, West Hanney1718D/A1/49/26MF468
BROOKS, MahalaAbingdon1851D/A1/147/26MF558
BROOKS, MaryEast Hanney, West Hanney1733D/A1/180/130MF96020
BROOKS, MarySteventon1814D/A1/145/70MF557
BROOKS, SeymourEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1710D/A1/48/172MF467
BROOKS, ThomasEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1712D/A1/48/198MF467
BROOKS, ThomasWargraveYeoman1743D/A1/180/168MF96020
BROOKS, ThomasFernham, Shrivenham Yeoman1847D/A1/147/2MF558
BROOKS, Thomas SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1662D/A1/45/90MF465
BROOKS, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1666D/A1/46/20MF466
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