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
BRITTAINE, JohnSwallowfieldMiller1632D/A1/177/039MF96013
BRITTAINE, JohnSwallowfield1632D/A1/168/229MF96001
BRITTAINE, JohnGreat CoxwellHusbandman1666D/A1/178/80MF96015
BRITTAYNE, FrancisGreat Coxwell1617D/A1/168/143MF96001
BRITTEN, ChristopherNew Windsor, WindsorBrewer1640D/A1/16/572MF10066
BRITTEN, JoanGreat Coxwell1583D/A1/10/389MF10047A
BRITTEN, JohnGreat Coxwell1574D/A1/40/029 D/A1/9/402MF462 MF10046
BRITTEYNE, FrancisGreat Coxwell1617D/A1/176/061MF96012
BRITTIN, ThomasGreat Coxwell1629D/A1/43/188MF464
BRITTING, PenelopeGreat Coxwell1675D/A1/46/114MF466
BRITTON , William SnrNewburyBaker1825D/A1/145/121MF557
BRITTON, ElizabethReading1810D/A1/145/47MF557
BRITTON, JohnBuckleburyYeoman1838D/A1/226/97MF96123
BRITWELL, WilliamBurghfieldHusbandman1695D/A1/179/112MF96017
BROACKLANDE, ChristianNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1573D/A1/175/073MF96010
BROAD, ElizabethColeshill1742D/A1/49/242MF468
BROAD, JamesEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1824D/A1/226/66MF96123
BROAD, JohnWest HanneyYeoman1754D/A1/50/61MF469
BROAD, JosephEast Challow, Letcombe RegisCordwainer1806D/A1/145/27MF557
BROAD, RichardEast HendredYeoman1804D/A1/145/14MF557
BROAD, RobertEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1825D/A1/226/68MF96123
BROAD, WilliamNorth MoretonHusbandman1731D/A1/180/123MF96020
BROAD, WilliamReadingYeoman1749D/A1/50/21MF469
BROAD, WilliamEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1824D/A1/226/65MF96123
BROADBRIDGE, JosephReadingTallow Chandler1727D/A1/49/106MF468
BROADEBURNE, RichardWoolhamptonClerk, Parson1576D/A1/40/053 D/A1/10/034MF462 MF10047A
BROADHEARST, JohnChieveleyHusbandman1710D/A1/87/93MF531
BROADHURST, EdwardChieveleyYeoman1648D/A1/178/039MF96015
BROADHURST, GeorgeAldermastonLabourer1839D/A1/226/103MF96123
BROADHURST, JohnChieveleyYeoman1627D/A1/43/135MF464
BROADHURST, JohnElcot, KintburyHusbandman1675D/A1/178/152MF96015
BROADHURST, RichardHampstead NorrisYeoman1663D/A1/45/127MF465
BROADIS, HenryWest Shefford1721D/A1/49/57MF468
BROADSTOCK, MaryReading1715D/A1/180/29MF96019
BROADWATER, RichardSouth MoretonLabourer1780D/A1/50/181MF469
BROADWATER, ThomasUffingtonHusbandman1619D/A1/43/030MF464
BROCK, AnnAbingdon1643D/A1/178/007MF96015
BROCK, JohnAbingdonTapster1641D/A1/44/137MF465
BROCKE, JohnCookham1540D/A1/233/048MF96132
BROCKE, LawrenceMaidenhead, BrayYeoman1629D/A1/177/005MF96013
BROCKE, MaudeLong Wittenham1567D/A1/39/228MF462
BROCKE, MaudeLong Wittenham1568D/A1/9/108MF10046
BROCKE, RogerLong WittenhamHusbandman1596D/A1/41/061 D/A1/12/317MF462 MF10048
BROCKETT, ThomasReading St MaryCloth Worker1640D/A1/177/093MF96014
BROCKS, JohnAbingdonHemp Dresser, Sackcloth Weaver1732D/A1/49/158MF468
BROCKSBANKE, Richard SnrReading St MaryTanner1597D/A1/41/085 D/A1/13/109MF462 MF10049
BRODEHURSTE, WilliamHampstead Norreys1564D/A1/7/371MF10040
BRODEST , WilliamHampstead NorreysWeaver1560D/A1/175/040MF96010
BRODEST, WilliamHampstead Norreys1560D/A1/167/111MF96000
BRODESTOKE, ElizabethBayworth, Sunningwell1558D/A1/175/028MF96010
BRODEWATER, IsabelLong Wittenham1558D/A1/167/104MF96000
BRODEWATTER, ElizabethLong Wittenham1558D/A1/175/034MF96010
BRODEWAYTTER, ChristianLong Wittenham1557D/A1/39/088MF461
BRODHURST, EdwardEling, Hampstead NorreysWeaver1623D/A1/43/086MF464
BRODHURST, StephenChieveleyHusbandman1587D/A1/40/141 D/A1/11/096MF462 MF10047B
BRODSHOWE, RobertSwallowfieldHusbandman1599D/A1/41/122 D/A1/13/474MF463 MF10049
BRODSTOCK, HesterArdington Wick, Ardington1814D/A1/145/69MF557
BRODSTOCK, JohnArdingtonYeoman1700D/A1/48/71MF467
BRODSTOCK, JohnArdingtonYeoman1796D/A1/51/5MF469
BRODSTOKE, EdmundSunningwell1544D/A1/39/019MF461
BRODSTOKE, GeorgeSunningwellHusbandman1587D/A1/40/156MF462
BROKE , ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyYeoman1592D/A1/41/026 D/A1/12/019MF462 MF10048
BROKE, GeorgeWargraveHusbandman1620D/A1/43/044MF464
BROKE, HammondSpeenhamland, Speen1545D/A1/175/007MF96010
BROKE, JohnNewburyWeaver1574D/A1/40/050 D/A1/9/440MF462 MF10046
BROKE, LawrenceSpeenhamland, Speen1551D/A1/4/040MF604
BROKE, RobertSpeenhamland, Speen1545D/A1/39/030 D/A1/6/173MF461 MF10043B
BROKE, RobertWest Ginge, East Lockinge1560D/A1/167/113MF96000
BROKE, ThomasSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1564D/A1/39/208 D/A1/8/330MF462 MF10043C
BROKE, WilliamHanney1545D/A1/233/043MF96132
BROKE, WilliamHanney1555D/A1/2/086MF604
BROKE, WilliamHanney1561D/A1/39/175 D/A1/8/213MF461 MF10043C
BROKELANDE, ThomasNorthcourt, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1606D/A1/42/001 D/A1/14/190MF463 MF10064
BROKER, JohnChilton1549D/A1/5/077MF10043A
BROKER, JohnChilton1549D/A1/5/076MF10043A
BROKER, JohnChilton1549D/A1/39/042MF461
BROKER, JohnChiltonHusbandman1592D/A1/41/011 D/A1/12/025MF462 MF10048
BROKER, NicholasHagbourneHusbandman1600D/A1/41/128 D/A1/13/515MF463 MF10049
BROKER, SaintesChilton1573D/A1/9/350MF10046
BROKER, SaintesChilton1573D/A1/40/024MF462
BROKES, Agnes1566D/A1/167/132MF96000
BROKES, JamesWest Ginge, East Lockinge1566D/A1/167/133 D/A1/167/130MF96000 MF96000
BROKES, James1567D/A1/167/137MF96000
BROKES, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1716D/A1/49/7MF468
BROKES, WilliamLong WittenhamHusbandman1564D/A1/39/207 D/A1/8/321MF462 MF10043C
BROKES, WilliamWallingford St MaryWeaver1566D/A1/39/217 D/A1/9/018MF462 MF10046
BROKESSE, JohnSnelsmore, Chieveley1597D/A1/175/150MF96010
BROKLAND, WilliamNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1567D/A1/175/059MF96010
BROKS, John SnrEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1647D/A1/45/020/1MF465
BROMALL, ThomasKintbury1559D/A1/167/106MF96000
BROMAN, WilliamDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1580D/A1/10/241MF10047A
BROMBROUGHE, AdamChaddleworth1585D/A1/40/134 D/A1/11/053 D/A1/11/074MF462 MF10047B MF10047B
BROMHALL, RobertNewbury1534D/A1/1/067MF10041
BROMHAM, ElizabethKintbury1574D/A1/175/074MF96010
BROMLEY, FrancisReading St LaurenceSchoolmaster1697D/A1/179/124MF96017
BROMLEY, GerardBalsdon Park, Kintbury1633D/A1/177/043MF96013
BROMLEY, JohnSpeen1596D/A1/12/402MF10048
BROMLEY, RichardSpeenhamland, SpeenShoemaker1589D/A1/40/158 D/A1/11/304MF462 MF10047B
BRONSDON , Benjamin SnrKintbury1774D/A1/50/151MF469
BRONSDON, BenjaminKintbury1824D/A1/226/64MF96123