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
BROWNE, RichardBucklebury1608D/A1/42/031 D/A1/14/488MF463 MF10064
BROWNE, RichardWeston, Welford1624D/A1/43/104MF464
BROWNE, RichardDenford, Kintbury1639D/A1/16/602MF10066
BROWNE, RichardHenwick, ThatchamTailor1661D/A1/45/81MF465
BROWNE, RichardReading St MaryChirurgeon1661D/A1/45/72MF465
BROWNE, RichardBoxfordCarpenter1674D/A1/178/155MF96015
BROWNE, RobertIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1591D/A1/41/015 D/A1/11/391MF462 MF10047B
BROWNE, RobertBoxfordHusbandman1612D/A1/42/077 D/A1/15/303MF463 MF10065
BROWNE, RobertIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1680D/A1/47/48MF466
BROWNE, RogerWinkfieldYeoman1572D/A1/40/010 D/A1/9/333MF462 MF10046
BROWNE, RowlandReadingBroad Weaver1689D/A1/179/76MF96017
BROWNE, SamsonHurleyVictualler1715D/A1/180/28MF96019
BROWNE, ThomasTurville, Compton1553D/A1/39/060 D/A1/5/211MF461 MF10043A
BROWNE, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1567D/A1/167/136MF96000
BROWNE, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1567D/A1/167/135MF96000
BROWNE, ThomasBuckleburyHusbandman1576D/A1/40/054 D/A1/10/045MF462 MF10047A
BROWNE, ThomasOld Windsor1578D/A1/40/074 D/A1/10/141MF462 MF10047A
BROWNE, ThomasWarfieldCarpenter1594D/A1/41/047 D/A1/12/165MF462 MF10048
BROWNE, ThomasBuckleburyYeoman1639D/A1/44/111MF465
BROWNE, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1666D/A1/46/10MF466
BROWNE, ThomasAshdown Park, AshburyHusbandman1681D/A1/47/67MF466
BROWNE, ThomasShrivenhamBlacksmith1685D/A1/47/107MF466
BROWNE, Thomas SnrMidgham, ThatchamYeoman1683D/A1/47/87MF466
BROWNE, WilliamOld Windsor1513D/A1/1/020MF10041
BROWNE, WilliamBisham1568D/A1/175/063MF96010
BROWNE, WilliamBisham1568D/A1/167/137MF96000
BROWNE, WilliamBuscot1599D/A1/41/133 D/A1/13/404MF463 MF10049
BROWNE, WilliamNewbury1603D/A1/175/196MF96011
BROWNE, WilliamNewburyFelt Maker1624D/A1/43/108MF464
BROWNE, WilliamSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayCarpenter1624D/A1/43/105MF464
BROWNE, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1671D/A1/46/73MF466
BROWNE, WilliamSunninghillYeoman1691D/A1/47/160MF467
BROWNE, WilliamBoxford1733D/A1/49/166MF468
BROWNE, WilliamKintburyYeoman1740D/A1/180/156MF96020
BROWNEJOHN, FrancisHoe Benham, WelfordYeoman1610D/A1/42/067 D/A1/15/089MF463 MF10065
BROWNEJOHN, LaurenceInglewood, Kintbury1615D/A1/42/128 D/A1/15/518MF463 MF10065
BROWNESMITH, AliceSwallowfield1694D/A1/179/107MF96017
BROWNESMITH, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1681D/A1/179/5MF96016
BROWNING, RobertHurstYeoman1666D/A1/46/12MF466
BROWNING, WilliamEnborneYeoman1722D/A1/180/67MF96019
BROWNJOHN , ThomasHoe Benham, Welford1700D/A1/48/77MF467
BROWNJOHN, JohnInglewood, KintburyYeoman1630D/A1/16/193MF10066
BROWNJOHN, JohnNewburyBrewer1662D/A1/45/113MF465
BROWNJOHN, MaryBoxford1718D/A1/49/21MF468
BROWNJOHN, RichardHoe Benham, Welford1651D/A1/45/054MF465
BROWNJOHN, SusannaWelford1721D/A1/180/64MF96019
BROWNROBYNS, HenryMarcham1560D/A1/39/158 D/A1/6/189MF461 MF10043B
BROWNSMETH, FrancisSwallowfieldTanner1629D/A1/43/182MF464
BROWNSMITHE, WilliamSwallowfieldHusbandman1573D/A1/175/070MF96010
BROWNYNG, ElizabethWallingford1541D/A1/2/081MF604
BROWNYNG, ElizabethWallingford1542D/A1/2/051MF603
BROWNYNG, JohnWallingford St Mary1521D/A1/1/058MF10041
BROWTON, Thomas1548D/A1/233/162MF96132
BROWTON, ThomasCumnor1549D/A1/2/276MF604
BROXTON, JoanCookham1592D/A1/12/072MF10048
BRUAR, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1669D/A1/46/50MF466
BRUCE, RogerReading St LaurenceShoemaker1514D/A1/1/021MF10041
BRUCE, ThomasCumnor1702D/A1/48/101MF467
BRUCHE, JohnSwallowfield1544D/A1/2/094MF604
BRUCKER, WalterEast Ilsley1569D/A1/39/235 D/A1/9/143MF462 MF10046
BRUCKLAND, AliceNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1621D/A1/43/072MF464
BRUCKLAND, ThomasinSunningwell1624D/A1/176/095MF96012
BRUCKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1567D/A1/167/136MF96000
BRUCKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1568D/A1/167/139MF96000
BRUCKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St HelenYeoman1644D/A1/44/173MF465
BRUER, BartholomewUfton NervetHusbandman1669D/A1/178/120MF96015
BRUER, ElizabethBurghfield1632D/A1/44/021MF464
BRUER, JohnBurghfieldHusbandman1694D/A1/48/25MF467
BRUMFEILD, JohnReading St Mary1680D/A1/178/188MF96015
BRUNSDON , Thomas SnrLambournButcher1713D/A1/48/205MF467
BRUNSDON, AgnesEast Garston1620D/A1/43/050MF464
BRUNSDON, AliceLambourn1720D/A1/49/49MF468
BRUNSDON, AnneKintbury1723D/A1/49/70MF468
BRUNSDON, JohnHermitage, Hampstead Norris1707D/A1/48/142MF467
BRUNSDON, John SnrEast GarstonHusbandman1579D/A1/40/089 D/A1/10/208MF462 MF10047A
BRUNSDON, JosephLambournButcher1751D/A1/50/37MF469
BRUNSDON, KittyNewbury1836D/A1/146/26MF557
BRUNSDON, RichardNewburyBricklayer, Chapman 1811D/A1/145/53MF557
BRUNSDON, RobertEast Garston Woodlands, East GarstonYeoman1620D/A1/43/038MF464
BRUNSDON, SarahLambourn1733D/A1/49/163MF468
BRUNSDON, ThomasHampstead NorreysLabourer1730D/A1/180/117MF96020
BRUNSDON, ThomasLambournYeoman1740D/A1/49/228MF468
BRUNSDON, ThomasHermitage, Hampstead NorreysVictualler1778D/A1/50/170MF469
BRUNSDON, ThomasHermitage, Hampstead NorreysVictualler1794D/A1/50/240MF469
BRUNSDON, ThomasReadingShopkeeper (Retired)1822D/A1/145/108MF557
BRUNSDON, Thomas SnrLambournButcher1681D/A1/47/64MF466
BRUNSDON, WilliamLambourn1784D/A1/50/212MF469
BRUNSDON, WilliamDenchworthYeoman1794D/A1/50/244MF469
BRUSH , ChristopherWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1630D/A1/177/024MF96013
BRUSH , Thomas SnrSwallowfield1687D/A1/179/60MF96016
BRUSH, ChristopherWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1630D/A1/168/194MF96001
BRUSH, ThomasSwallowfieldWeaver1694D/A1/48/28MF467
BRUSHE, GeorgeSwallowfield1612D/A1/176/040MF96012
BRUSHE, GeorgeSwallowfield1612D/A1/168/083MF96001
BRUSHE, JohnShaw Bridge, SpeenYeoman1589D/A1/40/171MF462
BRUSHWOOD, EdwardShaw Cum DonningtonBrick Burner1724D/A1/180/81MF96019
BRUSSE, ClementSwallowfield1540D/A1/2/098MF604
BRUSSHE, NicholasSwallowfieldHusbandman1562D/A1/39/126 D/A1/7/358MF461 MF10040
BRYAN, RichardMarchamHusbandman1623D/A1/43/083MF464
BRYAN, WilliamFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1664D/A1/178/70MF96015