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
BOWLES, ThomasLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1775D/A1/50/160MF469
BOWLES, WilliamWest Hanney1733D/A1/49/169MF468
BOWLES, WilliamWest Hanney1768D/A1/180/223MF96020
BOWLTER, RichardDidcot1557D/A1/6/052MF10043B
BOWLTER, RichardDidcot1557D/A1/39/089MF461
BOWLTERE, ChristianAston Tirrold1578D/A1/40/070 D/A1/10/116MF462 MF10047A
BOWLTON, WilliamFawler, Sparsholt1591D/A1/41/020 D/A1/11/404MF462 MF10047B
BOWLY, ThomasCholsey1559D/A1/167/109MF96000
BOWNCE, JoanAshbury1545D/A1/233/038MF96132
BOWNCE, JoanAshbury1545D/A1/2/075MF604
BOWNCE, WalterAshbury1545D/A1/6/166 D/A1/6/037MF10043B MF10043B
BOWNE, WalterAshbury1545D/A1/39/029MF461
BOWSHER , Roger SnrLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1736D/A1/49/184MF468
BOWSHER, ElizaReading1841D/A1/146/60MF557
BOWSHER, ElizabethNorcot, Tilehurst1812D/A1/145/56MF557
BOWSHER, FrancisLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1783D/A1/50/202MF469
BOWSHER, JohnLambournCordwainer1740D/A1/49/229MF468
BOWSHER, JohnSotwellYeoman1771D/A1/50/130MF469
BOWSHER, Stephen SnrEastbury (Isbury), Lambourn1752D/A1/50/47MF469
BOWTHE, CharlesSwallowfield1544D/A1/39/016 D/A1/6/170MF461 MF10043B
BOWTHE, FrancisBarkham1592D/A1/41/029 D/A1/12/043MF462 MF10048
BOWYER (ALIAS LYFORD) (ALIAS BADGER), JaneWinkfield1712D/A1/203/73MF96066
BOWYER, AgnesWarfield1632D/A1/44/038MF464
BOWYER, AvisWarfield1716D/A1/49/4MF468
BOWYER, BenjaminEasthampsteadYeoman1749D/A1/50/23MF469
BOWYER, CatherineWinkfield1690D/A1/179/83MF96017
BOWYER, ElizabethEasthampstead1695D/A1/190/141MF96038
BOWYER, HughWarfieldYeoman1623D/A1/43/091MF464
BOWYER, HumphreyWaltham St LawrenceMercer1613D/A1/42/103 D/A1/15/379MF463 MF10065
BOWYER, JoanWarfield1590D/A1/11/370MF10047B
BOWYER, John1580D/A1/10/422MF10047A
BOWYER, JohnBrayYeoman1589D/A1/175/115MF96010
BOWYER, JohnBray1589D/A1/11/191MF10047B
BOWYER, JohnCookhamShoemaker1683D/A1/47/82MF466
BOWYER, KatherineBray1681D/A1/47/54MF466
BOWYER, MargaretBray1598D/A1/175/156MF96010
BOWYER, RichardBray1548D/A1/175/015MF96010
BOWYER, RichardWarfield1571D/A1/40/111/2MF462
BOWYER, RichardNuptown, WarfieldYeoman1624D/A1/43/119MF464
BOWYER, RichardWarfieldYeoman1681D/A1/47/57MF466
BOWYER, RobertReadingButcher1592D/A1/175/131MF96010
BOWYER, RobertReading1592D/A1/12/071MF10048
BOWYER, RobertNorth MoretonYeoman1593D/A1/41/048 D/A1/12/022 D/A1/12/203MF462 MF10048 MF10048
BOWYER, RobertBrayFisherman1648D/A1/45/030MF465
BOWYER, RobertBrayYeoman1667D/A1/178/103MF96015
BOWYER, RobertCookhamSawyer1682D/A1/179/13MF96016
BOWYER, SimonWallingford St MaryYeoman, Butcher1580D/A1/40/090 D/A1/10/215 D/A1/10/214MF462 MF10047A MF10047A
BOWYER, StephenBrayYeoman1700D/A1/179/135MF96017
BOWYER, ThomasBrayYeoman1616D/A1/42/155 D/A1/15/625MF463 MF10065
BOWYER, WilliamEasthampstead1606D/A1/42/002 D/A1/14/208MF463 MF10064
BOWYER, WilliamWarfieldTailor1609D/A1/42/053 D/A1/14/595MF463 MF10064
BOWYER, WilliamWarfieldLabourer1727D/A1/180/92MF96019
BOX, FrancisFinchampsteadHusbandman1713D/A1/48/201MF467
BOXLEY, ElizabethAbingdon St Helen1594D/A1/41/049 D/A1/12/201MF462 MF10048
BOXLEY, RobertAbingdonSlater1594D/A1/41/045 D/A1/12/152MF462 MF10048
BOXWELL, WalterReading St MaryTanner1573D/A1/40/022 D/A1/9/361MF462 MF10046
BOYAR, DanielSunninghillHusbandman1677D/A1/47/13MF466
BOYAR, EmeryWarfield1563D/A1/167/120MF96000
BOYARE, WilliamWarfield1562D/A1/39/186 D/A1/7/354MF461 MF10040
BOYCE, EstherWinkfield1731D/A1/49/156MF468
BOYCE, GeorgeWinkfieldYeoman1696D/A1/179/117MF96017
BOYCE, WilliamWarfieldYeoman1648D/A1/178/028MF96015
BOYER, ChristopherWarfieldHusbandman1558D/A1/39/149 D/A1/7/283MF461 MF10040
BOYER, DanielWinkfieldHusbandman1690D/A1/47/152MF467
BOYER, EmeryWarfield1563D/A1/175/049/1MF96010
BOYER, HenryEasthampsteadHusbandman1691D/A1/179/88MF96017
BOYER, HenryBrayFisherman1707D/A1/179/175MF96018
BOYER, HenryWarfieldHusbandman1713D/A1/48/203MF467
BOYER, JoanWarfield1590D/A1/175/117MF96010
BOYER, NicholasOld Bracknell, EasthampsteadBaker1685D/A1/47/105MF466
BOYER, RichardWarfieldYeoman1572D/A1/40/011 D/A1/9/332MF462 MF10046
BOYER, RichardWarfieldTailor1583D/A1/40/111/1 D/A1/10/367MF462 MF10047A
BOYER, RobertWarfield1577D/A1/40/067 D/A1/10/099MF462 MF10047A
BOYER, RobertBrayYeoman1599D/A1/41/114 D/A1/13/391MF463 MF10049
BOYER, StephenBowebroucle [Bullbrook?], WarfieldYeoman1605D/A1/41/195 D/A1/14/065MF463 MF10064
BOYER, ThomasWarfieldCarpenter, Yeoman1614D/A1/42/110 D/A1/15/424MF463 MF10065
BOYER, WilliamNuptown, WarfieldHusbandman1583D/A1/40/112 D/A1/10/369MF462 MF10047A
BOYER, WilliamWarfieldHusbandman1773D/A1/180/230MF96020
BOYER, WilliamNewburyCooper1800D/A1/51/21MF469
BOYES, John SnrLambourn1609D/A1/176/033 D/A1/168/068MF96012 MF96001
BOYLAND, ThomasAbingdon1561D/A1/167/116MF96000
BOYLANDE, ThomasAbingdon1561D/A1/175/044MF96010
BOYOR, ThomasHolyport, Bray1553D/A1/4/027MF604
BOYSELYE, WilliamWest Hagbourne, HagbourneHusbandman1599D/A1/41/119 D/A1/13/452MF463 MF10049
BOYYER, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1662D/A1/45/108MF465
BOZLYE, RobertNorth MoretonHusbandman1594D/A1/41/046 D/A1/12/157MF462 MF10048
BRABROOKE, MarthaBrightwalton1599D/A1/14/328MF10064
BRABROOKE, RobertBrightwalton1596D/A1/12/402MF10048
BRACHE, JohnAbingdonCutler1587D/A1/175/112MF96010
BRACHE, JohnAbingdon1587D/A1/11/160MF10047B
BRACHE, MargaretSotwell, Wallingford St Leonard1633D/A1/44/044MF464
BRACKLEY, JulianWinterbrook, Cholsey1624D/A1/176/094MF96012
BRACKLEY, ThomasWinterbrook, CholseyLabourer1612D/A1/176/043/1 D/A1/168/085MF96012 MF96001
BRACKSTON, WilliamReading St MaryClothier1673D/A1/178/144MF96015
BRACKSTON, William SnrReading St MaryTanner1634D/A1/16/363MF10066
BRACKSTONE , Edward SnrReading1716D/A1/180/37MF96019
BRACKSTONE, EdmundReading1608D/A1/42/011 D/A1/14/444MF463 MF10064
BRACKSTONE, EdwardReading1699D/A1/179/130MF96017
BRACKSTONE, Richard SnrReadingFlax Dresser1690D/A1/179/81MF96017
BRADBROOK, AgnesSteventon1607D/A1/42/026 D/A1/14/367MF463 MF10064