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
BRANDON, CharlesFinchampstead1694D/A1/48/30MF467
BRANGWIN, FrancisCumnor1819D/A1/226/57MF96123
BRANGWIN, MaryHambledon, Buckinghamshire1839D/A1/226/101MF96123
BRANSDON, JohnWeston, Welford1687D/A1/179/48MF96016
BRASIER, ThomasCholsey1590D/A1/41/001 D/A1/11/336MF462 MF10047B
BRASIER, Thomas JnrSwallowfield, SwallowfieldGardener1702D/A1/48/99MF467
BRATWELL, RichardAbingdon St HelenJoiner1572D/A1/40/017 D/A1/10/233MF462 MF10047A
BRATWELL, RichardAbingdonJoiner1597D/A1/175/151MF96010
BRATWELL, RichardAbingdon1597D/A1/13/186MF10049
BRAUGHTON, FrancisEasthampstead1669D/A1/46/51MF466
BRAUNCH, RichardHinton WaldristParson, Rector1595D/A1/175/141 D/A1/12/394MF96010 MF10048
BRAUNCHE, ThomasAbingdon1603D/A1/13/1023MF10049
BRAUTLEY, JoanWantage1642D/A1/44/158MF465
BRAVANT, FrancesLambourn1847D/A1/226/123MF96123
BRAVANT, JohnLambournInnkeeper1841D/A1/146/54MF557
BRAVINGTON, MatthewReadingVictualler1737D/A1/180/143MF96020
BRAY, JohnWickham, Welford1564D/A1/8/315MF10043C
BRAY, JohnMaidenheadTailor1676D/A1/47/6MF466
BRAY, ThomasShippon, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1544D/A1/39/015 D/A1/1/007MF461 MF10041
BRAY, WilliamAbingdon St Helen1563D/A1/7/364MF10040
BRAY, WilliamAbingdon1563D/A1/39/198MF462
BRAY, WilliamBucklandMason1694D/A1/48/23MF467
BRAYBROKE, JohnSutton Courtenay1588D/A1/40/170 D/A1/11/289MF462 MF10047B
BRAYBROOKE, RobertBrightwalton1596D/A1/175/148MF96010
BRAYBROOKE, WilliamBrightwaltonGentleman1592D/A1/175/129MF96010
BRAYBROOKE, WilliamBrightwalton1592D/A1/12/070MF10048
BRAYDSTOCKE, RoseAppleford, Sutton Courtenay1587D/A1/40/148 D/A1/11/268MF462 MF10047B
BRAYE, JohnAbingdon1612D/A1/168/081MF96001
BRAYE, MargaretShippon, Abingdon St Helen1558D/A1/39/128 D/A1/7/239MF461 MF10040
BRAYE, WilliamAbingdon1563D/A1/39/199MF462
BRAYMER, RalphTilehurstYeoman1618D/A1/43/018 D/A1/15/800MF464 MF10065
BRAYMORE, AliceWhitchurch, Oxfordshire1720D/A1/180/58MF96019
BRAYTON, HenryBradfieldYeoman1666D/A1/46/11MF466
BRAZIER, HenryKensington, MiddlesexGardener1737D/A1/49/200MF468
BRAZIER, JoanNew Windsor, Windsor1702D/A1/48/100MF467
BRAZIER, JohnNorcot, ChieveleyFarmer1810D/A1/145/49MF557
BRAZOR, RichardWinkfieldHusbandman1690D/A1/179/84MF96017
BREACH, JohnStratfield Mortimer1627D/A1/43/151MF464
BREACH, JohnMoulsfordYeoman1678D/A1/47/29MF466
BREACH, JohnReadingCarpenter1741D/A1/49/239MF468
BREACH, MaryWokefield, Stratfield Mortimer1636D/A1/44/088MF464
BREACH, StephenBarkhamHusbandman1604D/A1/41/188 D/A1/13/1356MF463 MF10049
BREACH, ThomasReading St GilesMillwright1778D/A1/50/167MF469
BREACH, WilliamAshampsteadYeoman1718D/A1/49/17MF468
BREADMORE, LucyTheale, Tilehurst1826D/A1/226/69MF96123
BREADS, ElizabethFyfield1621D/A1/43/064/rectoMF464
BREECH, ThomasHurleyTailor1615D/A1/42/126 D/A1/15/515MF463 MF10065
BREEDES, ThomasSwallowfieldBrick Maker1619D/A1/176/069MF96012
BREEDON, ThomasPangbourneClerk1718D/A1/180/42MF96019
BREMBLY, ThomasBuckleburyCarpenter1595D/A1/41/058 D/A1/12/256 D/A1/41/063MF462 MF10048 MF462
BREN, IsaacReading1848D/A1/147/13MF558
BRENT, AnnUfton Nervet1726D/A1/180/87MF96019
BRENT, JohnFaringdon1558D/A1/175/033MF96010
BRENT, JohnFaringdon1558D/A1/167/102MF96000
BRENT, MaryShinfield1717D/A1/180/39MF96019
BRENT, ThomasShinfieldYeoman1749D/A1/50/25MF469
BREWAR, BartholomewBurghfield1591D/A1/41/004 D/A1/11/340MF462 MF10047B
BREWER, BartholomewBurghfield1616D/A1/168/136MF96001
BREWER, BartholomewBurghfield1617D/A1/176/057MF96012
BREWER, DeborahBurghfield1695D/A1/48/38MF467
BREWER, JohnWasingHusbandman1595D/A1/175/143MF96010
BREWER, JohnWasing1595D/A1/12/396MF10048
BREWER, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1615D/A1/42/122 D/A1/15/508MF463 MF10065
BREWER, JohnAbingdonStay Maker1806D/A1/145/28MF557
BREWER, KatherinePadworth1675D/A1/46/108MF466
BREWER, ReynoldBurghfieldYeoman1687D/A1/47/122MF467
BREWER, Robert ScullardAbingdonStay Maker1802D/A1/145/7MF557
BREWER, SarahBurghfield1697D/A1/48/47MF467
BREWER, WilliamEnglefieldHusbandman1604D/A1/41/187 D/A1/13/1355MF463 MF10049
BREWETT, JohnDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonMiller1648D/A1/45/037MF465
BREYAN, AnthonyReading St Laurence1604D/A1/175/183MF96011
BREYMORE, FrancisEnglefield1711D/A1/48/184MF467
BREYMORE, FrancisEnglefieldYeoman1763D/A1/50/103MF469
BREYMORE, ThomasEnglefield1711D/A1/48/180MF467
BRIAN , RichardAbingdon1616D/A1/176/048MF96012
BRIAN, JohnMarcham1563D/A1/167/118MF96000
BRIAN, RichardAbingdon1616D/A1/168/128MF96001
BRIAN, RobertPhilberts, HanneyYeoman1614D/A1/42/117 D/A1/15/452MF463 MF10065
BRIAND, SarahYattendon1745D/A1/180/176MF96020
BRIANT, EdmundFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1632D/A1/44/037MF464
BRIANT, ElizabethFernham, Shrivenham1630D/A1/43/191MF464
BRIANT, JohnMarcham1560D/A1/175/048MF96010
BRIANT, RichardReadingBlacksmith1724D/A1/180/80MF96019
BRIANT, WilliamYattendonBlacksmith1772D/A1/50/144MF469
BRICE, ElizabethKintbury1661D/A1/45/73MF465
BRICE, JaneNewbury1751D/A1/50/41MF469
BRICE, JohnKintbury1560D/A1/6/019MF10043B
BRICE, JohnKintbury1560D/A1/39/159MF461
BRICE, JohnWalcot Marsh, KintburyYeoman1662D/A1/178/68MF96015
BRICE, MargaretLambourn1627D/A1/43/136MF464
BRICE, NicholasCookham1621D/A1/168/166MF96001
BRICE, NicholasNorthtown, CookhamYeoman1668D/A1/178/111MF96015
BRICE, PhilipNewburyVictualler1746D/A1/50/11MF469
BRICE, RichardKintbury-Amesbury, KintburyHusbandman1641D/A1/44/131MF465
BRICE, RichardNewburyGrocer1727D/A1/49/111MF468
BRICE, WilliamMaidenhead, CookhamYeoman1621D/A1/16/014MF10066
BRICE, WinifredCookham1680D/A1/47/50MF466
BRICKE, EdwardLong WittenhamClerk1602D/A1/41/179 D/A1/13/811MF463 MF10049
BRICKELL, SarahWinterbourne, Chieveley1820D/A1/145/101MF557
BRICKELTON, MichaelReadingBrewer1687D/A1/179/50MF96016