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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
BLY, Henry1627D/A1/177/002MF96013
BLY, HenryBrimptonYeoman1688D/A1/179/71MF96017
BLYETH, ThomasTilehurst1597D/A1/41/094 D/A1/13/200MF462 MF10049
BLYSSED, WilliamWinterbourne, Chieveley1561D/A1/39/171 D/A1/7/341MF461 MF10040
BLYSSET, VincentSnelsmore, ChieveleyJoiner1595D/A1/41/056 D/A1/12/235MF462 MF10048
BLYSSET, WilliamChieveley1521D/A1/1/039MF10041
BLYTH , WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1639D/A1/177/080/2MF96014
BLYTH, AnneReading1636D/A1/44/078MF464
BLYTH, FrancesBradfield1709D/A1/48/155MF467
BLYTH, HenryBrimptonYeoman1687D/A1/47/123MF467
BLYTH, JaneBrimpton1687D/A1/47/121MF467
BLYTH, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1641D/A1/177/100MF96014
BLYTH, WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1585D/A1/40/133 D/A1/11/023MF462 MF10047B
BLYTHE, JoanTilehurst1559D/A1/39/115 D/A1/8/085MF461 MF10043C
BLYTHE, ThomasTilehurstHusbandman1558D/A1/39/121 D/A1/7/206MF461 MF10040
BLYTHE, ThomasBuckleburyYeoman1638D/A1/177/078MF96014
BOAD, JamesReading St LaurencePainter1722D/A1/180/70MF96019
BOAME, RalphWallingfordMaltster1663D/A1/45/118MF465
BOAME, RobertSouth MoretonYeoman1575D/A1/40/051 D/A1/9/450MF462 MF10046
BOAYER, RalphWarfieldYeoman1588D/A1/40/166 D/A1/11/200MF462 MF10047B
BOCHENELL, JohnTilehurst1546D/A1/175/012MF96010
BOCHER, JohnFawley1558D/A1/8/003MF10043C
BOCHER, JohnWhatcombe, Fawley1558D/A1/39/132/2MF461
BOCHER, JohnColeshillHusbandman1559D/A1/39/132/1 D/A1/39/154 D/A1/8/125MF461 MF461 MF10043C
BOCHER, ThomasCholseyLabourer1558D/A1/39/122 D/A1/7/215MF461 MF10040
BOCHER, ThomasUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1568D/A1/167/139MF96000
BOCKERIDGE, WilliamReading St MaryShearman1597D/A1/41/076 D/A1/13/123MF462 MF10049
BODDINGTON, JoanShippon, Abingdon1643D/A1/44/163MF465
BODDINGTON, JohnShippon, AbingdonYeoman1641D/A1/44/150MF465
BODDINGTON, RobertAbingdonWheelwright1645D/A1/178/020MF96015
BODDINGTON, WilliamSunningwellYeoman1639D/A1/177/081MF96014
BODDY, RichardReading St GilesCarpenter1540D/A1/2/104MF604
BODEN, RalphAldermastonClerk1646D/A1/178/41MF96015
BODEN, RalphAldermastonClerk1648D/A1/178/041MF96015
BODES, RichardWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1631D/A1/177/032MF96013
BODES, RichardWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1631D/A1/168/211MF96001
BODIE, RichardShippon, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1559D/A1/8/166 D/A1/39/152MF10043C MF461
BODY, RichardShinfieldYeoman1800D/A1/51/18MF469
BODYE, William1535D/A1/39/003MF461
BOELL, Roger SnrPadworthYeoman1684D/A1/47/97MF466
BOFILD, JoanReading1552D/A1/175/023MF96010
BOHAM, AmbroseEast Ilsley1795D/A1/51/2MF469
BOHAM, JohnSouth MoretonYeoman1796D/A1/51/7MF469
BOHAM, ThomasSouth MoretonYeoman1716D/A1/180/33MF96019
BOHAM, ThomasSouth MoretonYeoman1754D/A1/50/62MF469
BOHAM, WilliamSouth Moreton1545D/A1/39/024MF461
BOKE, FrancesEnglefield1573D/A1/40/027 D/A1/9/380MF462 MF10046
BOLD , NicholasBoxfordYeoman1604D/A1/175/182 D/A1/14/173MF96011 MF10064
BOLD, RobertBray1534D/A1/1/271MF10042
BOLD, ThomasHurleyYeoman1599D/A1/41/126 D/A1/13/375MF463 MF10049
BOLDAY, JohnEast GarstonVicar, Clerk1564D/A1/39/202 D/A1/8/333MF462 MF10043C
BOLDE, ElizabethHurley1566D/A1/39/218 D/A1/9/006MF462 MF10046
BOLDE, FrancesWhitley [Poss Whistley]1612D/A1/42/080 D/A1/15/223MF463 MF10065
BOLDE, RobertAbingdonTanner1620D/A1/176/075MF96012
BOLDE, ThomasHurley1559D/A1/175/035MF96010
BOLL, WilliamLongcot, Shrivenham1544D/A1/39/014MF461
BOLL, WilliamEast Hanney, Hanney1557D/A1/39/133MF461
BOLL, WilliamEast Hanney, Hanney1557D/A1/2/101MF604
BOLL, WilliamHanney1558D/A1/39/131 D/A1/7/315MF461 MF10040
BOLLOCKE, BenedictFyfieldHusbandman1590D/A1/40/172 D/A1/11/245MF462 MF10047B
BOLLOCKE, WalterNetherton, Fyfield1601D/A1/175/169MF96011
BOLLOND, JamesReadingGardener1844D/A1/226/116MF96123
BOLT, JoanHarwell1688D/A1/47/132MF467
BOLT, JohnWest Hanney, Hanney1599D/A1/41/121 D/A1/13/457MF463 MF10049
BOLT, JohnLittle WittenhamHusbandman1644D/A1/45/005MF465
BOLT, Leonard SnrEnglefieldCordwainer1685D/A1/179/29MF96016
BOLT, MichaelAbingdon Yeoman1644D/A1/45/006MF465
BOLT, NicholasAbingdon St HelenDraper1546D/A1/6/005 D/A1/5/002 D/A1/2/080MF10043B MF10043A MF604
BOLT, RichardAbingdon1605D/A1/14/183MF10064
BOLT, WilliamWinkfieldYeoman1694D/A1/48/24MF467
BOLTAR , Thomas SnrCholseyWheeler1717D/A1/49/14MF468
BOLTE, NicholasAbingdonDraper1545D/A1/39/033MF461
BOLTEN, StephenBrimptonShepherd , Husbandman1670D/A1/46/58MF466
BOLTER, CatherineKintbury1561D/A1/167/113MF96000
BOLTER, ChristianDidcot1601D/A1/41/154 D/A1/13/706MF463 MF10049
BOLTER, EdwardDidcotHusbandman1618D/A1/43/023 D/A1/15/816MF464 MF10065
BOLTER, ElizabethCholsey1553D/A1/5/206MF10043A
BOLTER, ElizabethCholsey1553D/A1/4/020MF604
BOLTER, JohnCholsey1552D/A1/4/014MF604
BOLTER, JohnCholseyHusbandman1552D/A1/39/055 D/A1/5/154MF461 MF10043A
BOLTER, JohnCholseyYeoman1814D/A1/145/73MF557
BOLTER, RalphCholseyWheelwright1697D/A1/48/48MF467
BOLTER, Ralph SnrCholseyWheelwright1667D/A1/178/106MF96015
BOLTER, RobertKintburyHusbandman1559D/A1/175/039MF96010
BOLTER, RobertKintbury1560D/A1/167/112 D/A1/167/114MF96000 MF96000
BOLTER, ThomasCholsey1559D/A1/8/147MF10043C
BOLTER, ThomasAston TirroldHusbandman1571D/A1/39/253 D/A1/9/257MF462 MF10046
BOLTER, WilliamCholsey1559D/A1/39/145MF461
BOLTER, WilliamSteventonYeoman1799D/A1/51/15MF469
BOLTON, AnnBrightwell1781D/A1/50/188MF469
BOLTON, DanielStratfield Mortimer1712D/A1/48/191MF467
BOLTON, EdwardNewburyBaker1724D/A1/180/79MF96019
BOLTON, FrancisWallingfordYeoman1725D/A1/49/94MF468
BOLTON, FrancisBrightwellYeoman1779D/A1/50/174MF469
BOLTON, HughEast Ilsley1586D/A1/175/104MF96010
BOLTON, JohnAbingdonFishmonger, Victualler1678D/A1/178/172MF96015
BOLTON, ThomasReadingYeoman1768D/A1/50/121MF469
BOLTON, WilliamCumnorFarmer1842D/A1/146/65MF557
BOME, WilliamSouth MoretonHusbandman1599D/A1/41/123 D/A1/13/482MF463 MF10049
BOND , Henry JnrBradley, CumnorHusbandman1637D/A1/177/058MF96013