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
BUTTON, JohnWallingfordInnholder1775D/A1/50/161MF469
BUTTON, John SnrCholseyYeoman1626D/A1/176/114MF96012
BUTTON, MaryCholsey1749D/A1/50/30MF469
BUTTON, MaryCholsey1823D/A1/145/114MF557
BUTTON, RichardCholseyHusbandman1582D/A1/40/101 D/A1/10/300MF462 MF10047A
BUTTON, RichardCholseyWheelwright1832D/A1/146/3MF557
BUTTON, RichardCholsey1837D/A1/226/94MF96123
BUTTON, Robert SnrAldermastonHusbandman1697D/A1/48/51MF467
BUTTON, SarahCholsey1692D/A1/179/91/1MF96017
BUTTON, ThomasCholseyHusbandman1558D/A1/39/100 D/A1/7/152MF461 MF10040
BUTTON, ThomasBisham1561D/A1/167/115MF96000
BUTTON, ThomasBisham1563D/A1/167/035MF96000
BUTTON, WilliamCholsey1614D/A1/42/111 D/A1/15/429MF463 MF10065
BUTTON, WilliamEnglefieldCook1622D/A1/176/086MF96012
BUTTON, WilliamCholseyYeoman1714D/A1/180/22MF96019
BUTTON, WilliamCholsey1731D/A1/49/150MF468
BUTTON, WilliamCholseyWheelwright1819D/A1/145/89MF557
BUTTRIS, JohnNewburyBarber1615D/A1/42/138 D/A1/15/547MF463 MF10065
BUXEY, MatthewNewburyStone Paver1715D/A1/180/26MF96019
BUY, JohnReadingMealman1750D/A1/180/191MF96020
BWE, JohnN. Heath, ChieveleyHusbandman1662D/A1/45/100MF465
BWE, ThomasWinterbourne, ChieveleyHusbandman1598D/A1/41/105 D/A1/13/331MF463 MF10049
BWRGYES, ThomasBrightwellBlacksmith1610D/A1/42/074 D/A1/15/106MF463 MF10065
BWTLER, MarianBray1590D/A1/41/008 D/A1/11/319MF462 MF10047B
BY , EdmundThatcham1558D/A1/2/063MF604
BY , EdmundThatcham1559D/A1/233/029MF96132
BYDDELL, ThomasShottesbrooke1559D/A1/175/036MF96010
BYDELL, JohnFinchampsteadHusbandman1571D/A1/40/001 D/A1/9/290MF462 MF10046
BYE , Richard SnrBuckland1765D/A1/50/110MF469
BYE, DeodatusReadingInnholder1728D/A1/49/118MF468
BYE, HannahReading1846D/A1/226/120MF96123
BYE, JoanThatcham1545D/A1/39/027 D/A1/6/163MF461 MF10043B
BYE, JoanTilehurst1671D/A1/46/66MF466
BYE, JohnBucklandHusbandman1693D/A1/179/99MF96017
BYE, JohnBucklandYeoman1731D/A1/180/126MF96020
BYE, JulianReading St Giles1520D/A1/1/033MF10041
BYE, MargaretWoolstone, Uffington1774D/A1/50/156MF469
BYE, MarmadukeBucklandYeoman1717D/A1/49/11MF468
BYE, RichardThatchamYeoman1585D/A1/40/118 D/A1/11/085MF462 MF10047B
BYE, RichardUffingtonHusbandman1607D/A1/176/001MF96012
BYE, RichardUffington1607D/A1/168/018MF96001
BYE, SamuelReadingVictualler1725D/A1/49/95MF468
BYE, ThomasWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1681D/A1/179/7MF96017
BYE, Walter SnrReading St GilesClothier1629D/A1/177/016MF96014
BYE, WilliamTilehurstCollar Maker1633D/A1/44/046MF464
BYGHTON, RichardBeech Hill, Stratfield Saye, Hampshire1590D/A1/175/118MF96010
BYGNALL, JohnNewbury1571D/A1/175/065MF96010
BYGNELL, WalterLittle Faringdon, Oxfordshire1599D/A1/12/112aMF10048
BYLES, PhilipBuckleburyApothecary, Surgeon 1783D/A1/50/196MF469
BYLMON, Robert1552D/A1/233/346MF96132
BYLMON, RobertCompton1553D/A1/5/190MF10043A
BYLMON, RobertCompton1553D/A1/4/035MF604
BYNT, AndrewWest Ilsley1552D/A1/5/165MF10043A
BYNT, AndrewWest Ilsley1552D/A1/39/056MF461
BYNT, JohnCharney, LongworthHusbandman1563D/A1/39/197 D/A1/8/271aMF462 MF10043C
BYNT, ThomasWest IlsleyHusbandman1599D/A1/41/111 D/A1/13/380MF463 MF10049
BYNTE, ThomasWest IlsleyHusbandman1586D/A1/40/140 D/A1/11/109MF462 MF10047B
BYRCHE, AgnesEast Garston1564D/A1/175/053MF96010
BYRCHE, RobertEast Garston1556D/A1/39/079 D/A1/7/127MF461 MF10040
BYRCHE, ThomasEast Garston1556D/A1/175/026/1MF96010
BYRCHE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1566D/A1/175/056MF96010
BYRCHE, WilliamEast Garston1558D/A1/39/124 D/A1/7/225MF461 MF10040
BYRCHE, WilliamEast Garston1561D/A1/39/177 D/A1/8/220MF461 MF10043C
BYRCHE, WilliamEast GarstonHusbandman1568D/A1/39/229 D/A1/9/109MF462 MF10046
BYRCHET, RobertWinkfield1572D/A1/40/006 D/A1/9/366MF462 MF10046
BYRCHETT, MaudeOld Windsor1558D/A1/175/031MF96010
BYRCOTT, JohnRadley1552D/A1/4/018MF604
BYRD, AndrewReadingDoctor Of Physic1636D/A1/44/079MF464
BYRD, SimonBrightwell1580D/A1/175/085MF96010
BYRD, WilliamReading1600D/A1/175/166MF96011
BYRDAT, GeorgeCumnor1594D/A1/175/138MF96010
BYRDAT, RobertCumnor1591D/A1/175/127MF96010
BYRDE, SimonBrightwell1580D/A1/10/210MF10047A
BYRDGE, EdyAshbury1579D/A1/40/087 D/A1/10/199MF462 MF10047A
BYRKOTT, JohnRadley1552D/A1/5/172MF10043A
BYRT, EdmundLongworthYeoman1625D/A1/43/122MF464
BYRT, EdwardWallingford1629D/A1/16/150MF10066
BYRT, WilliamBucklandYeoman1589D/A1/40/161 D/A1/11/297MF462 MF10047B
BYRTE, AliceBuckland1565D/A1/39/213 D/A1/8/342MF462 MF10043C
BYRTE, HenryBucklandHusbandman1587D/A1/40/144 D/A1/11/098MF462 MF10047B
BYRTE, RichardBuckland1586D/A1/11/064MF10047B
BYRTE, ThomasBucklandSmith1601D/A1/41/138 D/A1/13/638MF463 MF10049
BYRTT, AgnesBuckland1608D/A1/42/014 D/A1/14/448MF463 MF10064
BYRTT, JohnNewton, BucklandYeoman1591D/A1/41/025 D/A1/12/015MF462 MF10048
BYSELEY, KatherineBayworth, Sunningwell1585D/A1/40/128 D/A1/11/043MF462 MF10047B
BYSHOPP, RobertBrayYeoman1605D/A1/41/197 D/A1/14/118MF463 MF10064
BYSHOPPE, JamesBrayCarpenter1572D/A1/40/009 D/A1/9/334MF462 MF10046
BYSLEY, FrancisCholseyHusbandman1614D/A1/42/147 D/A1/15/454MF463 MF10065
BYSLEY, GeorgeBayworth, Sunningwell1611D/A1/42/075 D/A1/15/200MF463 MF10065
BYSLEY, JohnBayworth, Sunningwell1575D/A1/40/030 D/A1/9/438MF462 MF10046
BYSLYE, AliceCholsey1623D/A1/43/092MF464
BYSLYE, John JnrBayworth, Sunningwell1592D/A1/175/130MF96010
BYSSHAPE, RichardSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1556D/A1/39/077 D/A1/7/130MF461 MF10040
BYSSHEPE, JohnEast Oakley, Bray1552D/A1/4/016MF604
BYSSHEPE, JohnEast Oakley, Bray1553D/A1/39/057MF461
BYSSHOP, RichardSutton Courtenay1569D/A1/39/243 D/A1/9/193MF462 MF10046
BYSSHOPPE, AliceBrightwell1603D/A1/41/173 D/A1/13/926MF463 MF10049
BYSSHOPPE, WilliamEasthampstead1576D/A1/175/081MF96010
BYTHON, ThomasBeech Hill Wick, Stratfield Saye, Hampshire1556D/A1/233/027MF96132
BYTHTON, ThomasStratfield Saye, Hampshire1556D/A1/2/059MF603