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
BOULTON, John SnrEast IlsleyHusbandman1622D/A1/176/085MF96012
BOULTON, MargaretEast Ilsley1702D/A1/179/145MF96017
BOULTON, RalphStanford DingleyYeoman1624D/A1/176/089MF96012
BOULTON, StephenEast IlsleyLabourer1741D/A1/49/240MF468
BOULTON, ThomasFawler, SparsholtYeoman1616D/A1/42/156 D/A1/15/612MF463 MF10065
BOULTON, WilliamStanford Dingley1669D/A1/46/44MF466
BOUND, JohnShrivenham1529D/A1/1/114MF10041
BOUNE, WalterIdstone, Ashbury1545D/A1/39/023/2MF461
BOURLTON, JohnTilehurst1579D/A1/175/087MF96010
BOURNE, HenryReading1734D/A1/180/136MF96020
BOURNE, LetitiaReading1755D/A1/50/65MF469
BOURTON, ThomasCumnorLabourer1778D/A1/50/171MF469
BOUSHER, ElizabethHurley1769D/A1/50/124MF469
BOUSHER, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1730D/A1/49/141MF468
BOUSKIN, SamuelInkpenTailor1740D/A1/180/153MF96020
BOUTH, HelenUffington1566D/A1/39/220 D/A1/9/007MF462 MF10046
BOWDEN, JeaseWallingford1620D/A1/43/049MF464
BOWDON, RichardWallingford St Peter1579D/A1/40/082MF462
BOWE, ThomasKennington1610D/A1/168/064MF96001
BOWELL, CecilyBrightwalton1618D/A1/42/091 D/A1/15/301MF463 MF10065
BOWELL, EdmundCumnorYeoman1714D/A1/48/209MF468
BOWELL, EdmundWoottonYeoman1717D/A1/49/10MF468
BOWELL, JohnEast Hanney, Hanney1617D/A1/43/006 D/A1/15/725MF464 MF10065
BOWELL, JohnShinfieldYeoman1728D/A1/180/103MF96020
BOWELL, MargeryWest Hanney, Hanney1620D/A1/43/047MF464
BOWELL, RichardWootton, Cumnor1601D/A1/41/150 D/A1/13/634MF463 MF10049
BOWELL, RichardAbingdon1644D/A1/178/002MF96015
BOWELL, RichardWoottonYeoman1681D/A1/47/55/1MF466
BOWELL, RogerBrightwalton1609D/A1/42/037 D/A1/14/522MF463 MF10064
BOWELL, WilliamWootton, CumnorYeoman1640D/A1/44/124MF465
BOWER, JamesBray1530D/A1/1/182MF10042
BOWER, RalfWarfield1553D/A1/39/063MF461
BOWER, RichardLong WittenhamHusbandman1711D/A1/48/178MF467
BOWER, WalterReading1587D/A1/175/110MF96010
BOWER, WalterReading St Giles1587D/A1/11/114MF10047B
BOWERMAN, Helen AmeliaAbingdon1850D/A1/226/129MF96123
BOWERS, SusannaWarfield1746D/A1/180/181MF96020
BOWGHTON, WilliamReading1586D/A1/175/103MF96010
BOWIER, EdwardThatcham1573D/A1/40/026 D/A1/9/384MF462 MF10046
BOWIER, HenryBrayYeoman1624D/A1/43/111MF464
BOWIER, MargaretBray1598D/A1/13/421MF10049
BOWIER, MaryWarfield1602D/A1/175/168 D/A1/13/859MF96011 MF10049
BOWIER, RalphWarfieldLabourer1553D/A1/7/002MF10040
BOWIER, ThomasReading St Giles1552D/A1/5/179MF10043A
BOWIER, ThomasHolyport, Bray 1553D/A1/5/198MF10043A
BOWIER, WilliamBray1597D/A1/13/191MF10049
BOWIN, NicholasCookham1648D/A1/178/040MF96015
BOWINS, NicholasCookham1648D/A1/178/40MF96015
BOWLAND, Edward SnrReadingDyer1673D/A1/46/97MF466
BOWLDRY, WilliamStreatleyYeoman1675D/A1/46/112MF466
BOWLE , WilliamWest Hanney, Hanney1574D/A1/175/067/2MF96010
BOWLE, AgnesLongcot, Shrivenham1627D/A1/43/160MF464
BOWLE, EdwardWest Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1577D/A1/40/060MF462
BOWLE, HenryLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1618D/A1/43/015 D/A1/15/769MF464 MF10065
BOWLE, Henry SnrLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1604D/A1/41/185/1 D/A1/13/1320MF463 MF10049
BOWLE, JoanLongcot, Shrivenham1621D/A1/43/067MF464
BOWLE, JohnEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1646D/A1/45/014MF465
BOWLE, JohnLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1668D/A1/178/115 MF96015
BOWLE, RichardShrivenhamHusbandman1569D/A1/39/241 D/A1/9/167MF462 MF10046
BOWLE, RobertWythamYeoman1671D/A1/178/143MF96015
BOWLE, ThomasStanford In The Vale Yeoman1701D/A1/48/81MF467
BOWLE, WilliamWest Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1575D/A1/40/040 D/A1/9/443MF462 MF10046
BOWLE, WilliamLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1626D/A1/43/139MF464
BOWLE, William SnrWest Hanney, HanneyYeoman1643D/A1/44/172MF465
BOWLER , Henry SnrFaringdonRetailer Of Beer1855D/A1/147/48MF558
BOWLER, AnnWallingford1766D/A1/50/115MF469
BOWLER, AnnAppleton1768D/A1/50/120MF469
BOWLER, JoanBisham1593D/A1/41/039 D/A1/12/122MF462 MF10048
BOWLER, RichardLong Wittenham1769D/A1/180/224MF96020
BOWLER, RobertBisham1571D/A1/175/067/1MF96010
BOWLER, RobertBisham1571D/A1/167/146MF96000
BOWLER, ThomasReading St MaryBricklayer1857D/A1/147/61MF558
BOWLER, WinsmoreLong Wittenham1813D/A1/226/46MF96123
BOWLES , CatherineKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1674D/A1/178/158MF96015
BOWLES , Edward SnrWest HanneyYeoman1667D/A1/178/89MF96015
BOWLES , Edward SnrChildreyCordwainer1769D/A1/50/128MF469
BOWLES , JohnMarcham Labourer1671D/A1/178/124MF96015
BOWLES , JohnMarcham1673D/A1/46/98MF466
BOWLES , John SnrCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1724D/A1/49/81MF468
BOWLES , ThomasEnborneLabourer1708D/A1/179/187MF96018
BOWLES , WilliamCharney Bassett, LongworthHusbandman1686D/A1/179/39MF96016
BOWLES , William SnrWest HanneyYeoman1749D/A1/50/19MF469
BOWLES, AnnPusey1719D/A1/49/33MF468
BOWLES, BostockNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1631D/A1/16/634MF10066
BOWLES, EdwardSpeenhamland, SpeenMaltster1644D/A1/178/016MF96015
BOWLES, EdwardEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1664D/A1/45/134MF465
BOWLES, EdwardWest Hanney1764D/A1/50/104MF469
BOWLES, FrancisSutton CourtenayHusbandman1625D/A1/176/102MF96012
BOWLES, GeorgeLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1857D/A1/147/61MF558
BOWLES, HenryLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1730D/A1/49/131MF468
BOWLES, HenryBurghclere, Hampshire1846D/A1/226/121MF96123
BOWLES, JohnBoxfordYeoman1645D/A1/178/019MF96015
BOWLES, JohnLongcot, Shrivenham 1715D/A1/48/224MF468
BOWLES, JohnAbingdonFarmer1725D/A1/49/88MF468
BOWLES, John JnrBoxfordHusbandman1645D/A1/178/021MF96015
BOWLES, MargaretEast Hanney, Hanney1628D/A1/43/172MF464
BOWLES, MarthaEast Hanney, West Hanney1742D/A1/49/247MF468
BOWLES, RichardAbingdonYeoman1608D/A1/176/015MF96012
BOWLES, RichardAbingdon1608D/A1/168/034MF96001
BOWLES, SusannaLongcott, Shrivenham 1755D/A1/50/66MF469