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
BRICKLAND, ThomasWoottonLabourer1703D/A1/48/109MF467
BRICKLAND, Thomas JnrWootton, Cumnor1700D/A1/48/67MF467
BRICKLETON, AnnReading1698D/A1/179/127MF96017
BRIDGE, JohnEastbury, LambournYeoman1689D/A1/47/140MF467
BRIDGE, JohnEastbury, LambournHusbandman1743D/A1/49/256MF468
BRIDGE, ThomasEastbury, LambournHusbandman1694D/A1/48/20MF467
BRIDGEMAN, FrancisLockingeHusbandman1710D/A1/179/197MF96018
BRIDGEMAN, JohnAbingdonCooper1829D/A1/226/78MF96123
BRIDGEMAN, MaryAbingdon1808D/A1/145/43MF557
BRIDGES, ElizabethBotley, Oxfordshire1806D/A1/145/30MF557
BRIDGES, GabrielLetcombe Regis1650D/A1/178/42MF96015
BRIDGES, GabrielLetcombe Bassett1650D/A1/178/042MF96015
BRIDGEWATER, George SnrShinfieldYeoman1846D/A1/146/85MF558
BRIDGEWATER, HenryBurghfield1599D/A1/13/432MF10049
BRIDGEWATER, JohnShinfieldServant1841D/A1/146/55MF557
BRIDGEWATER, ThomasShinfieldYeoman1839D/A1/226/100MF96123
BRIDGMAN, EdwardHarwellYeoman1687D/A1/47/115MF466
BRIDGMAN, JohnSutton CourtenayShopkeeper1801D/A1/145/1MF557
BRIDGMAN, MaryHarwell1693D/A1/48/18MF467
BRIDGMAN, MaryWallingford St Mary1775D/A1/50/162MF469
BRIDGMAN, RichardDidcotYeoman1699D/A1/48/64MF467
BRIDGWATER, GeorgeShinfieldYeoman1698D/A1/48/59MF467
BRIDGWATER, GeorgeShinfieldYeoman1730D/A1/180/113MF96020
BRIENT, MargaretMarcham1593D/A1/41/035 D/A1/12/101MF462 MF10048
BRIGGS, CulleyUffingtonYeoman1712D/A1/180/11MF96019
BRIGGS, HughRemenhamBrickmaker1677D/A1/178/174MF96015
BRIGHAM, AnneBarkham1640D/A1/177/095MF96014
BRIGHT, IsabelAbingdon St Helen1570D/A1/39/248 D/A1/9/179 D/A1/9/186MF462 MF10046 MF10046
BRIGHTWEL, AnneBurghfield1705D/A1/48/129MF467
BRIGHTWELL , William SnrBurghfieldYeoman1719D/A1/49/34MF468
BRIGHTWELL, AliceS. Stoke, Oxfordshire1698D/A1/48/56MF467
BRIGHTWELL, JoanBurghfield1647D/A1/178/030MF96015
BRIGHTWELL, JohnMidgham, ThatchamTurner1661D/A1/214/91MF96097
BRIGHTWELL, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1686D/A1/179/53MF96016
BRIGHTWELL, JohnBurghfield1704D/A1/48/121MF467
BRIGHTWELL, MaryBrimpton1701D/A1/48/83MF467
BRIGHTWELL, MatthewBurghfieldYeoman1682D/A1/47/72MF466
BRIGHTWELL, NicholasBrimpton (Admon.), Ufton NervetYeoman1663D/A1/178/71MF96015
BRIGHTWELL, Peter1623D/A1/221/095/2MF96113
BRIGHTWELL, ReynoldBurghfieldYeoman1647D/A1/45/019MF466
BRIGHTWELL, Reynold SnrBurghfieldYeoman1640D/A1/44/128MF465
BRIGHTWELL, RichardBrimptonHusbandman1632D/A1/177/037MF96013
BRIGHTWELL, RichardBrimpton1632D/A1/168/223MF96001
BRIGS, ElizabethUffington1711D/A1/48/183MF467
BRILL, AliceHatford1628D/A1/43/164MF464
BRILL, RichardHatfordHusbandman1588D/A1/40/164 D/A1/11/177MF462 MF10047B
BRIMMER, ThomasReading St GilesWeaver1745D/A1/180/174MF96020
BRIMSON, JohnWallingfordPlumber1854D/A1/147/35MF558
BRINCKELOWE, JohnAnvilles, Inkpen1582D/A1/10/331MF10047A
BRINCKHURST, MaryWaltham St Lawrence1631D/A1/177/031MF96013
BRINCKHURST, MaryWaltham St Lawrence1631D/A1/16/237MF10066
BRINCKHURST, RichardBisham1612D/A1/168/087MF96001
BRINCKLEY, ThomasAbingdonYeoman1627D/A1/177/003MF96013
BRIND, JaneUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1646D/A1/45/017MF465
BRIND, JohnSparsholt1787D/A1/180/248MF96020
BRIND, RobertNewburyGrocer, Chandler 1845D/A1/146/77MF557
BRIND, SarahAshbury1742D/A1/180/164MF96020
BRIND, ThomasAshburyYeoman1730D/A1/49/140MF468
BRINDE, AdrianWatchfield, Shrivenham1564D/A1/8/304MF10043C
BRINDE, ThomasWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1610D/A1/42/066 D/A1/15/053MF463 MF10065
BRINKHURST, RichardBisham1612D/A1/176/043/2MF96012
BRINKLOW, Joan1563D/A1/167/120MF96000
BRINKLOW, JohnKintbury1572D/A1/167/149MF96000
BRINKLOW, John Snr1563D/A1/167/120MF96000
BRINN, AnthonyNewburyWeaver1754D/A1/50/59MF469
BRINSDON, WilliamReadingMiller1736D/A1/180/140MF96020
BRINTON, SarahNewbury1761D/A1/50/95MF469
BRISKOWE, HughReading1575D/A1/175/077MF96010
BRISTOW , JohnCholseyYeoman1647D/A1/178/029MF96015
BRISTOW , John JnrCholseyCarpenter, Shopkeeper 1848D/A1/147/15MF558
BRISTOW, EdmundSpeenGardener1740D/A1/180/154MF96020
BRISTOW, EdwardGreenham, Thatcham 1828D/A1/226/76MF96123
BRISTOW, ElizabethNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1630D/A1/44/003MF464
BRISTOW, ElizabethReading1724D/A1/49/74MF468
BRISTOW, HenryCholseyYeoman1727D/A1/49/103MF468
BRISTOW, Henry SnrCholseyYeoman1672D/A1/46/91MF466
BRISTOW, JamesTilehurst1708D/A1/48/151MF467
BRISTOW, JoanTilehurst1641D/A1/44/153MF465
BRISTOW, JohnSpeenSaddler1758D/A1/180/207MF96020
BRISTOW, JohnCholseyYeoman1830D/A1/145/143MF557
BRISTOW, MarthaAshampstead1738D/A1/49/205MF468
BRISTOW, MarthaSutton Courtenay1756D/A1/50/70MF469
BRISTOW, MaryTilehurst1679D/A1/47/36MF466
BRISTOW, MaryCholsey1814D/A1/145/68MF557
BRISTOW, MaryCholsey1840D/A1/226/107MF96123
BRISTOW, RichardDidcotClerk, Rector1665D/A1/178/81MF96015
BRISTOW, RichardSutton Courtenay1749D/A1/50/28MF469
BRISTOW, SarahBucklebury1698D/A1/48/57MF467
BRISTOW, SarahChieveley1828D/A1/226/79MF96123
BRISTOW, ThomasCholseyYeoman1793D/A1/50/239MF469
BRISTOW, ThomasCholseyYeoman1810D/A1/145/52MF557
BRISTOWE, JamesTilehurstYeoman1635D/A1/177/047MF96013
BRISTOWE, MargaretCholsey1646D/A1/178/027MF96015
BRISTOWE, ThomasWest WoodhayYeoman1660D/A1/45/70MF465
BRISTOWE, WilliamDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonHusbandman1667D/A1/178/102MF96015
BRITAIN, JohnSparsholt1774D/A1/50/155MF469
BRITEWELL, AliceBrimpton1621D/A1/118/062MF540
BRITT, ThomasBlewburyCarpenter1839D/A1/146/49MF557
BRITTAIN, MaryLetcombe Regis1818D/A1/145/87MF557
BRITTAIN, ThomasAbingdonStonemason1825D/A1/145/123MF557