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
BUSBY, RobertCumnor1746D/A1/180/182MF96020
BUSFEILD, WilliamWoottonYeoman1737D/A1/49/199MF468
BUSFIELD, ElizabethWootton1716D/A1/180/38MF96019
BUSFIELD, WilliamWootton, Cumnor1688D/A1/47/125MF467
BUSH , JohnReading1607D/A1/168/028MF96001
BUSH, CharlesChildreyYeoman1781D/A1/50/182MF469
BUSH, DanielChildreyYeoman1679D/A1/47/41MF466
BUSH, ElizabethReading St Laurence1620D/A1/176/072MF96012
BUSH, JohnChildrey1728D/A1/49/125MF468
BUSH, JohnChildreyYeoman1760D/A1/50/86MF469
BUSH, JohnChildreyFarmer1830D/A1/226/89MF96123
BUSH, MariaSparsholt1852D/A1/147/28MF558
BUSH, NathanielChildreyYeoman1722D/A1/49/63MF468
BUSH, StephenLetcombe BassettYeoman1743D/A1/180/170MF96020
BUSH, ThomasChildreyYeoman1679D/A1/47/37MF466
BUSH, ThomasChildreyYeoman1746D/A1/50/6MF469
BUSH, ThomasChildreyYeoman1762D/A1/50/100MF469
BUSH, Thomas SnrChildreyYeoman1668D/A1/178/113MF96015
BUSH, WalterChildreyYeoman1677D/A1/47/21MF466
BUSH, WilliamChildreyHusbandman1677D/A1/178/171MF96015
BUSHBE, HannahWest Shefford1727D/A1/49/101MF468
BUSHBEE, WilliamWest SheffordHusbandman1724D/A1/49/72MF468
BUSHBY, GraceSpeen1761D/A1/50/96MF469
BUSHE , JohnReading St Giles1607D/A1/176/013MF96012
BUSHE, NicholasNewbury1619D/A1/176/070MF96012
BUSHE, ThomasWinkfield1560D/A1/39/163 D/A1/6/196MF461 MF10043B
BUSHELL, EdmundNewburyTimberman1641D/A1/44/149MF465
BUSHELL, JohnWelfordHusbandman1605D/A1/41/203 D/A1/14/088MF463 MF10064
BUSHELL, MargaretNewbury1582D/A1/40/107 D/A1/10/354MF462 MF10047A
BUSHELL, MaryHampstead Norreys1604D/A1/14/177MF10064
BUSHELL, PhilipNewburyWeaver1582D/A1/40/105 D/A1/10/345MF462 MF10047A
BUSHELL, SamuelReading St Laurence1736D/A1/49/187MF468
BUSHELL, SarahReading1705D/A1/48/127MF467
BUSHENELL, RichardSulham1569D/A1/5/222mMF10043A
BUSHENELL, RichardSulham1583D/A1/10/416 D/A1/10/422MF10047A MF10047A
BUSHENELL, ThomasTilehurst1567D/A1/175/062MF96010
BUSHENELL, WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1564D/A1/39/204 D/A1/8/312MF462 MF10043C
BUSHNELL, AliceSulham1616D/A1/42/152 D/A1/15/596MF463 MF10065
BUSHNELL, AliceSulhamstead Abbots1680D/A1/47/51MF466
BUSHNELL, ChristopherSulham Husbandman1645D/A1/178/018MF96015
BUSHNELL, EdwardSulhamHusbandman1687D/A1/179/61MF96016
BUSHNELL, Francis SnrThatchamYeoman1626D/A1/43/133MF464
BUSHNELL, Gregory SnrHagbourneCarpenter1640D/A1/44/126MF465
BUSHNELL, HenryNewburyCloth Worker1640D/A1/177/091MF96014
BUSHNELL, Henry SnrTidmarsh1679D/A1/47/43MF466
BUSHNELL, JoanHagbourne1641D/A1/177/090MF96014
BUSHNELL, JoanTilehurst1678D/A1/47/24MF466
BUSHNELL, JohnHamstead MarshallYeoman1609D/A1/42/046 D/A1/14/545MF463 MF10064
BUSHNELL, JohnSulham 1632D/A1/44/027MF464
BUSHNELL, JohnSulhamHusbandman1640D/A1/44/156MF465
BUSHNELL, JohnArdingtonYeoman1644D/A1/45/004MF465
BUSHNELL, JohnSulhamParish Clerk1678D/A1/178/176MF96015
BUSHNELL, JohnTilehurst1685D/A1/179/42MF96016
BUSHNELL, JohnStratfield MortimerYeoman1690D/A1/47/155MF467
BUSHNELL, JohnTilehurstTailor1704D/A1/48/119MF467
BUSHNELL, JohnBradfieldYeoman1711D/A1/48/179MF467
BUSHNELL, JohnBucklebury1788D/A1/180/252MF96020
BUSHNELL, JohnMaidenheadServant1836D/A1/146/24MF557
BUSHNELL, John JnrHagbourneYeoman1693D/A1/48/11MF467
BUSHNELL, MargaretSulham1687D/A1/179/59 MF96016
BUSHNELL, NicholasThatchamYeoman1594D/A1/41/044 D/A1/12/138MF462 MF10048
BUSHNELL, RichardSulham 1583D/A1/175/096MF96010
BUSHNELL, RichardTilehurst1626D/A1/43/128MF464
BUSHNELL, RichardNorthcot, Tilehurst1626D/A1/43/127MF464
BUSHNELL, RichardThatchamInnholder1639D/A1/177/086/2MF96014
BUSHNELL, RichardEnglefield1697D/A1/179/122MF96017
BUSHNELL, Richard SnrSulham 1569D/A1/39/244MF462
BUSHNELL, RobertStratfield Mortimer1606D/A1/176/018MF96012
BUSHNELL, RobertStratfield Mortimer1606D/A1/168/005MF96001
BUSHNELL, RogerThatchamHusbandman1623D/A1/43/096MF464
BUSHNELL, SarahBucklebury1821D/A1/145/102MF557
BUSHNELL, ThomasTheale, Tilehurst1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
BUSHNELL, ThomasHagbourneYeoman1648D/A1/45/026MF465
BUSHNELL, ThomasTilehurstHusbandman1713D/A1/180/19MF96019
BUSHNELL, WilliamSulhamstead Abbots1564D/A1/39/205 D/A1/8/313MF462 MF10043C
BUSHNELL, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1618D/A1/43/024 D/A1/15/859MF464 MF10065
BUSHNELL, WilliamHagbourneCarpenter1643D/A1/44/165MF465
BUSHNELL, WilliamEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1683D/A1/47/79MF466
BUSHNELL, WilliamTilehurst1719D/A1/49/39MF468
BUSHNELL, William SnrThatchamHusbandman, Miller1610D/A1/42/068 D/A1/15/097MF463 MF10065
BUSHNYLL, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1598D/A1/41/104 D/A1/13/340MF463 MF10049
BUSHOP, WilliamHarwell1605D/A1/14/186MF10064
BUSNELL, JoanBucklebury1562D/A1/175/046MF96010
BUSNELL, RobertSulhamstead Abbots1542D/A1/233/049MF96132
BUSNELL, RobertSulhamstead Abbots1542D/A1/2/096MF604
BUSS, FrancisUfton NervetYeoman1812D/A1/145/57MF557
BUSS, HumphreyUfton NervetYeoman1802D/A1/145/3MF557
BUSSANELL, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1573D/A1/40/020 D/A1/9/376MF462 MF10046
BUSSELL, EleanorReading St Giles1611D/A1/176/024MF96012
BUSSELL, EleanorReading1611D/A1/168/071MF96001
BUSSELL, WilliamReading St GilesCloth Worker1598D/A1/41/098 D/A1/13/307MF462 MF10049
BUSSHEL, MaryHamstead Marshall1604D/A1/175/187MF96011
BUSSHENELL, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1546D/A1/2/090MF604
BUSSHNELL, JoanBucklebury1562D/A1/167/118MF96000
BUSTIN, AnthonyWythamHusbandman1695D/A1/48/29MF467
BUSTON, ChristianIdstone, Ashbury1595D/A1/175/139MF96010
BUSTON, EdwardKintbury1673D/A1/46/95MF466
BUSTON, JohnIdstone, Ashbury1575D/A1/175/078MF96010
BUSTUN, RichardIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1559D/A1/39/091 D/A1/7/144MF461 MF10040
BUTCHAR, RichardKintburyYeoman1684D/A1/128/145MF548