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
BRONSDON, MarthaKintbury1803D/A1/145/11MF557
BROOCKE, JohnCookham1540D/A1/2/095MF604
BROOCKER, AnnEast Ilsley1617D/A1/43/008 D/A1/15/745MF464 MF10065
BROODSTOCK, WilliamArdingtonMaltster1740D/A1/49/224MF468
BROOK, JohnThatchamHusbandman1587D/A1/40/154 D/A1/11/250MF462 MF10047B
BROOK, JohnColthrop, ThatchamHusbandman1636D/A1/44/090MF464
BROOKE, AliceSnelsmore, Chieveley1572D/A1/40/013 D/A1/9/316MF462 MF10046
BROOKE, EdmundSulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1631D/A1/44/012MF464
BROOKE, HenrySparsholtCook, Yeoman1638D/A1/44/104MF465
BROOKE, JohnBurghfield1563D/A1/39/195 D/A1/8/263MF462 MF10043C
BROOKE, MaryReading1689D/A1/47/141MF467
BROOKE, RichardSpeenhamland, SpeenYeoman1575D/A1/40/045 D/A1/9/439MF462 MF10046
BROOKE, RichardEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1609D/A1/42/049 D/A1/14/569MF463 MF10064
BROOKE, RichardSnelsmore, ChieveleyHusbandman1618D/A1/43/020 D/A1/15/836MF464 MF10065
BROOKE, Robert SnrBurghfieldYeoman1621D/A1/43/060MF464
BROOKE, RogerNorth MoretonShepherd1621D/A1/43/052MF464
BROOKE, Thomas1557D/A1/233/031MF96132
BROOKE, ThomasThatchamHusbandman1557D/A1/2/065MF604
BROOKEMAN, PeterReading St LaurenceBaker1692D/A1/179/91/2MF96017
BROOKEMAN, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1674D/A1/178/159MF96015
BROOKER, AgnesWest Shefford1596D/A1/41/070 D/A1/12/413MF462 MF10048
BROOKER, AnnFawley1769D/A1/50/129MF469
BROOKER, EleanorHagbourne1607D/A1/42/019 D/A1/14/263MF463 MF10064
BROOKER, ElizabethAbingdon1663D/A1/45/131MF465
BROOKER, GeorgeChiltonHusbandman1715D/A1/48/217MF468
BROOKER, JamesWelfordWheelwright1842D/A1/146/68MF557
BROOKER, JamesEast GarstonWheelwright1845D/A1/226/119MF96123
BROOKER, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1609D/A1/176/020MF96012
BROOKER, JohnEast Ilsley1609D/A1/168/045MF96001
BROOKER, JohnHagbourneJoiner1611D/A1/42/072/1 D/A1/15/162MF463 MF10065
BROOKER, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1661D/A1/45/88MF465
BROOKER, JohnBenham Lovell, SpeenYeoman1667D/A1/46/31MF466
BROOKER, JohnAbingdon1671D/A1/46/82MF466
BROOKER, JohnSouth Fawley, Fawley1687D/A1/47/119MF467
BROOKER, JohnChiltonMaltster1702D/A1/179/146MF96017
BROOKER, JohnFawleyBlacksmith1730D/A1/49/146MF468
BROOKER, JohnEast GarstonWheelwright1834D/A1/146/17MF557
BROOKER, JohnShaw Cum Donnington1849D/A1/147/18MF558
BROOKER, LawrenceEast IlsleyHusbandman1584D/A1/40/122 D/A1/11/112MF462 MF10047B
BROOKER, NicholasChiltonYeoman1684D/A1/47/96MF466
BROOKER, Nicholas SnrChiltonHusbandman1647D/A1/178/032MF96015
BROOKER, PeterAbingdonMaltster1648D/A1/45/027MF465
BROOKER, RichardAbingdonVictualler1732D/A1/180/128MF96020
BROOKER, RichardHurleyVictualler1784D/A1/50/206MF469
BROOKER, SusannahNorth Moreton1726D/A1/49/99MF468
BROOKER, ThomasArdington1683D/A1/179/23MF96016
BROOKER, ThomasBradfieldHusbandman1716D/A1/180/35MF96019
BROOKER, WalterEast IlsleyHusbandman1636D/A1/177/061/2MF96013
BROOKER, WilliamWest Shefford1591D/A1/41/021 D/A1/11/369MF462 MF10047B
BROOKER, WilliamNewburyWeaver1718D/A1/180/44MF96019
BROOKES , John SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1678D/A1/47/23MF466
BROOKES , John SnrWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1713D/A1/180/18MF96019
BROOKES, GilesEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1728D/A1/49/124MF468
BROOKES, JoanBurghfield1684D/A1/47/92MF466
BROOKES, JohnAbingdon St HelenMaltster1647D/A1/178/023 D/A1/45/020/2MF96015 MF465
BROOKES, JosephUffingtonMason1751D/A1/50/36MF469
BROOKES, MargaretLew, Bampton, Oxfordshire1637D/A1/177/067MF96014
BROOKES, RobertLockinge1557D/A1/233/035MF96132
BROOKES, RobertWest Ginge, East Lockinge1557D/A1/2/069MF604
BROOKES, RobertAldermaston1629D/A1/43/183MF464
BROOKES, RobertBurghfieldHusbandman1633D/A1/44/045MF464
BROOKES, RobertSutton CourtenayYeoman1708D/A1/48/149MF467
BROOKES, Robert SnrSutton CourtenayHusbandman1676D/A1/47/1MF466
BROOKES, SeymoreEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1710D/A1/48/172MF467
BROOKES, ThomasAldermastonButcher1661D/A1/45/79MF465
BROOKES, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyHusbandman1666D/A1/178/99MF96015
BROOKINS, MaryCumnor1783D/A1/50/198MF469
BROOKLAND, ElizabethAbingdon1688D/A1/47/135MF467
BROOKLAND, JaneNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1670D/A1/46/65MF466
BROOKLAND, JohnSunningwellHusbandman1607D/A1/42/010 D/A1/14/389MF463 MF10064
BROOKLAND, JohnSunningwellYeoman1644D/A1/178/006MF96015
BROOKLAND, JohnAbingdonFarmer1774D/A1/50/152MF469
BROOKLAND, MarySunningwell1712D/A1/48/186MF467
BROOKLAND, RichardSunningwellYeoman1702D/A1/48/96MF467
BROOKMAN, JamesSulhamstead BannisterGardener1821D/A1/145/103MF557
BROOKMAN, JoanTilehurst1688D/A1/47/128MF467
BROOKMAN, MaryReading1695D/A1/48/33MF467
BROOKMAN, ThomasReading1813D/A1/145/62MF557
BROOKMAN, WilliamTilehurstYeoman1679D/A1/47/34MF466
BROOKMAN, WilliamAston TirroldYeoman1714D/A1/48/208MF467
BROOKS, AbrahamBucklandFarmer1815D/A1/145/74MF557
BROOKS, AmbroseUffingtonMason1721D/A1/49/60MF468
BROOKS, AnneEast Hanney, West Hanney1720D/A1/49/42MF468
BROOKS, HenryAldermastonButcher1641D/A1/177/101MF96014
BROOKS, JohnEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1750D/A1/50/55MF469
BROOKS, JohnBrayHusbandman1760D/A1/50/89MF469
BROOKS, John SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1670D/A1/178/118MF96015
BROOKS, JosephUffingtonYeoman1771D/A1/50/131MF469
BROOKS, JosephSteventonYeoman1794D/A1/50/245MF469
BROOKS, JosephKingston BagpuizeYeoman1841D/A1/146/58MF557
BROOKS, KatherineEast Hanney, West Hanney1718D/A1/49/26MF468
BROOKS, MahalaAbingdon1851D/A1/147/26MF558
BROOKS, MaryEast Hanney, West Hanney1733D/A1/180/130MF96020
BROOKS, MarySteventon1814D/A1/145/70MF557
BROOKS, SeymourEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1710D/A1/48/172MF467
BROOKS, ThomasEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1712D/A1/48/198MF467
BROOKS, ThomasWargraveYeoman1743D/A1/180/168MF96020
BROOKS, ThomasFernham, Shrivenham Yeoman1847D/A1/147/2MF558
BROOKS, Thomas SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1662D/A1/45/90MF465
BROOKS, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1666D/A1/46/20MF466