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
BURDEN, RichardThatcham1698D/A1/179/121MF96017
BURDEN, SimonReading1602D/A1/175/184MF96011
BURDEN, SimonReading1602D/A1/13/1014MF10049
BURDEN, SimonReadingButcher1603D/A1/41/177MF463
BURDEN, SimonReading St Laurence1604D/A1/14/176MF10064
BURDEN, ThomasMiltonYeoman1662D/A1/45/110MF465
BURDETT, JohnCumnorHusbandman, Blacksmith1607D/A1/42/009 D/A1/14/387MF463 MF10064
BURDGMAN, JohnHarwellYeoman1604D/A1/41/181 D/A1/13/1216MF463 MF10049
BURDON, RogerCharney, Longworth1531D/A1/1/171MF10042
BURDON, ThomasHagbourne1530D/A1/1/141MF10042
BURDONE, WilliamAbingdon1539D/A1/1/199MF10042
BURDUN, RichardReading St Giles1545D/A1/39/025 D/A1/5/009MF461 MF10043A
BURFOOT, WillliamWargrave1819D/A1/226/55MF96123
BURFORD, WilliamReading St Mary1612D/A1/176/042MF96012
BURFORD, WilliamReading St Mary1612D/A1/168/083MF96001
BURFORD, WilliamReading St GilesLabourer1705D/A1/179/162MF96017
BURG, AliceEastbury, Lambourn1706D/A1/48/139MF467
BURGE , JohnReading St GilesWare Burner1606D/A1/176/005MF96012
BURGE , JohnReading1606D/A1/168/012MF96001
BURGE , KatherineReading1606D/A1/168/009MF96001
BURGE, ThomasEastbury, LambournHusbandman1616D/A1/16/280MF10066
BURGEMAN, AliceEasthampstead1565D/A1/39/215MF462
BURGEMAN, AliceEast Hendred1566D/A1/8/361MF10043C
BURGES , ElizabethSouth Moreton1669D/A1/178/119/2MF96015
BURGES , FrancisWallingfordMaltster1707D/A1/179/172MF96017
BURGES , Francis SnrBurghfieldYeoman1736D/A1/49/185MF468
BURGES , Ralph SnrBrightwellYeoman1662D/A1/45/93MF465
BURGES , RichardBurghfieldHusbandman1695D/A1/179/113MF96017
BURGES , WilliamHawkridge, BuckleburyCloth Worker1665D/A1/46/4MF466
BURGES , WilliamWest IlsleyYeoman1702D/A1/48/103/2MF467
BURGES, AnnAldermaston1775D/A1/50/159MF469
BURGES, AnthonyWallingfordHusbandman1637D/A1/177/057MF96013
BURGES, DanielSouth MoretonBlacksmith1634D/A1/16/440 D/A1/44/066MF10066 MF464
BURGES, EdwardChieveleyYeoman1733D/A1/49/168MF468
BURGES, ElizabethReading St Mary1605D/A1/41/191 D/A1/13/1376MF463 MF10049
BURGES, ElizabethChieveley1740D/A1/49/227MF468
BURGES, EpaphroditusReadingTanner1580D/A1/175/092MF96010
BURGES, EpaphroditusReading1580D/A1/10/213MF10047A
BURGES, GeorgePadworthYeoman1739D/A1/49/212MF468
BURGES, GeorgeChieveleyYeoman1758D/A1/50/83MF469
BURGES, JamesWest HanneyWeaver1776D/A1/50/163MF469
BURGES, JaneBurghfield1751D/A1/50/40MF469
BURGES, JeffreyBuckleburyCollier1588D/A1/40/160 D/A1/11/155MF462 MF10047B
BURGES, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenShepherd1607D/A1/176/014MF96012
BURGES, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1607D/A1/168/029MF96001
BURGES, JohnClewer1614D/A1/42/109 D/A1/15/420MF463 MF10065
BURGES, JohnLambournYeoman1640D/A1/177/092MF96014
BURGES, JohnAbingdonTailor1647D/A1/45/018MF465
BURGES, JohnChieveleyYeoman1740D/A1/49/226MF468
BURGES, JosephPangbourneBargemaster1722D/A1/49/65MF468
BURGES, KatherineWarfield1559D/A1/6/108MF10043B
BURGES, RalphWarfieldYeoman1578D/A1/40/069 D/A1/10/155MF462 MF10047A
BURGES, RalphBinfieldYeoman1633D/A1/44/030MF464
BURGES, RichardSulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1641D/A1/177/102MF96014
BURGES, ThomasCumnorClerk1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
BURGES, ThomasCumnorVicar1569D/A1/39/240 D/A1/9/166MF462 MF10046
BURGES, ThomasLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1618D/A1/176/059MF96012
BURGES, ThomasLambourn1618D/A1/168/149MF96001
BURGES, ThomasSwallowfieldHusbandman1644D/A1/45/003MF465
BURGES, WilliamWarfieldHusbandman1558D/A1/39/090 D/A1/7/140MF461 MF10040
BURGES, WilliamShottesbrooke1579D/A1/10/188MF10047A
BURGES, WilliamWarfield1579D/A1/10/149MF10047A
BURGES, WilliamHawkridge, BuckleburyCloth Worker1635D/A1/44/064MF464
BURGES, WilliamBaulking, UffingtonHusbandman1641D/A1/177/089MF96014
BURGES, WilliamNewburyHusbandman1642D/A1/177/104MF96014
BURGES, WilliamReadingTailor1719D/A1/180/54MF96019
BURGES, WilliamHampstead NorreysCarpenter1758D/A1/50/82MF469
BURGESS, CharlesReadingShopkeeper1773D/A1/50/147MF469
BURGESS, DavidMarchamBoat Builder1842D/A1/226/112MF96123
BURGESS, EdwardChieveleyYeoman1737D/A1/49/201MF468
BURGESS, FrancesBrightwell1662D/A1/45/103MF465
BURGESS, FrancisKingsclere, HampshireSackweaver1820D/A1/145/94MF557
BURGESS, FrancisBurghfield1827D/A1/226/72MF96123
BURGESS, JamesBurghfield1827D/A1/226/73MF96123
BURGESS, JohnChieveley1810D/A1/226/41MF96123
BURGESS, MargaretDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1623D/A1/43/098MF464
BURGESS, RichardPadworthYeoman1807D/A1/145/40MF557
BURGESS, ThomasBrightwellBlacksmith1662D/A1/178/67MF96015
BURGESSE, AliceSouth Moreton1637D/A1/44/098MF465
BURGESSE, JohnBrightwellYeoman1619D/A1/43/034MF464
BURGIS, JohnGrazeley, Sulhamstead Abbots Yeoman1697D/A1/48/50MF467
BURGIS, JohnNewburyCordwainer1730D/A1/180/118MF96020
BURGIS, RobertShaw Cum DonningtonHusbandman1628D/A1/177/010MF96013
BURGIS, SarahBucklandGrocer1705D/A1/48/131MF467
BURGIS, ThomasBrightwellYeoman, Blacksmith1705D/A1/48/122MF467
BURGIS, WilliamShellingfordHusbandman1618D/A1/43/025 D/A1/15/870MF464 MF10065
BURGIS, WilliamBrayYeoman1624D/A1/43/117MF464
BURGMAN, JohnHarwell1555D/A1/7/095MF10040
BURGMAN, JohnHarwell1555D/A1/39/073MF461
BURGMAN, JulianHarwell1616D/A1/42/160 D/A1/15/651MF463 MF10065
BURGYS, EllisReadingYeoman1599D/A1/41/132 D/A1/13/415MF463 MF10049
BURGYS, JohnBrightwellHusbandman, Smith1559D/A1/39/147 D/A1/7/267MF461 MF10040
BURK, ThomasWelfordYeoman1664D/A1/45/141MF465
BURLETON, JohnTilehurst1579D/A1/10/176MF10047A
BURLEY, HughReading St MaryClothier1637D/A1/177/065MF96014
BURLEY, JamesShinfieldBlacksmith1636D/A1/177/061/1MF96013
BURLEY, LeonardCookhamYeoman, Farmer1638D/A1/177/085MF96014
BURLEY, William SnrNewburyButcher1530D/A1/1/146MF10042
BURMINGHAM, PeterReadingJoiner1725D/A1/49/86MF468
BURNAM, HenryHagbourne1561D/A1/8/194MF10043C