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
BROWN, RosannaLambourn1834D/A1/146/19MF557
BROWN, SarahSpeenhamland, Speen 1788D/A1/50/218MF21170
BROWN, SarahBuckland1820D/A1/226/61MF96123
BROWN, TharpWoolhamptonWaggoner1737D/A1/49/191MF468
BROWN, ThomasNewburyWeaver1754D/A1/180/196MF96020
BROWN, WilliamHamstead Marshall1604D/A1/175/181 D/A1/14/174MF96011 MF10064
BROWN, WilliamWelford1712D/A1/48/192MF467
BROWN, WilliamBucklandVictualler1724D/A1/180/78MF96019
BROWN, WilliamBucklandVictualler1727D/A1/49/109MF468
BROWN, WilliamReadingChapman1730D/A1/180/115MF96020
BROWN, WilliamHermitage, Hampstead NorreysCordwainer1733D/A1/49/167MF468
BROWN, WilliamBuckleburyWheelwright1757D/A1/180/199MF96020
BROWN, WilliamBucklandInnholder1800D/A1/51/17MF469
BROWN, WilliamWargrave1838D/A1/226/96MF96123
BROWN, WilliamSpeenhamland, Speen 1842D/A1/146/69MF557
BROWN, WilliamThatchamYeoman1846D/A1/146/79MF557
BROWN, William SnrBuckleburyWheelwright1705D/A1/179/158MF96017
BROWNE , John SnrWhite WalthamBricklayer1725D/A1/49/82MF468
BROWNE , Richard SnrWoolhamptonYeoman1719D/A1/49/38MF468
BROWNE JOHN, LaurenceHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1668D/A1/46/37MF466
BROWNE, AgnesReading St Laurence1612D/A1/176/044MF96012
BROWNE, AgnesReading St Laurence1612D/A1/168/091MF96001
BROWNE, AgnesHarwell1626D/A1/43/138MF464
BROWNE, AlexanderHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1648D/A1/178/038MF96015
BROWNE, AliceWinkfield1580D/A1/40/093 D/A1/10/274MF462 MF10047A
BROWNE, AnnShaw Cum Donnington1780D/A1/50/180MF469
BROWNE, AnneReading1674D/A1/178/156MF96015
BROWNE, BenjaminGreenham, ThatchamHusbandman1688D/A1/47/137MF467
BROWNE, ChristianWhite Waltham1555D/A1/7/091MF10040
BROWNE, ChristianHampstead Norreys1626D/A1/43/146MF464
BROWNE, ChristianBucklebury1640D/A1/44/123MF465
BROWNE, DorothyNewbury1662D/A1/45/96MF465
BROWNE, EdwardIdstone, AshburyYeoman1640D/A1/177/087/1MF96014
BROWNE, ElizabethMarcham1598D/A1/41/099MF462
BROWNE, ElizabethNewbury1633D/A1/44/048MF464
BROWNE, ElizabethReading1765D/A1/50/105MF469
BROWNE, EllenReading1691D/A1/47/167MF467
BROWNE, Francis SnrReadingBaker1661D/A1/45/83MF465
BROWNE, GabrielLetcombe Regis1618D/A1/176/067MF96012
BROWNE, GabrielLetcombe Regis1618D/A1/168/156MF96001
BROWNE, GeorgeShinfieldYeoman1660D/A1/45/69MF465
BROWNE, GeorgeBuscot1737D/A1/49/196MF468
BROWNE, HenryClewerYeoman1625D/A1/176/101MF96012
BROWNE, HenryNew Windsor, WindsorBaker1641D/A1/44/152MF465
BROWNE, HenryBasildonHusbandman1668D/A1/46/40MF466
BROWNE, HenryStanford In The Vale Yeoman1681D/A1/47/69MF466
BROWNE, JamesAston TirroldCarpenter1615D/A1/176/055MF96012
BROWNE, JamesAston Tirrold1615D/A1/168/128MF96001
BROWNE, JamesAston Tirrold1615D/A1/168/119MF96001
BROWNE, JoanBucklebury1590D/A1/41/007 D/A1/11/321MF462 MF10047B
BROWNE, JoanBucklebury1598D/A1/41/113 D/A1/13/284MF463 MF10049
BROWNE, JoanEast Hanney, Hanney1612D/A1/42/096 D/A1/15/313MF463 MF10065
BROWNE, JoanLetcombe Regis1639D/A1/177/084MF96014
BROWNE, JohnBuckleburyWheelwright1610D/A1/42/057 D/A1/15/058MF463 MF10065
BROWNE, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1613D/A1/42/100 D/A1/15/352MF463 MF10065
BROWNE, JohnOld Windsor1615D/A1/42/115 D/A1/15/505MF463 MF10065
BROWNE, JohnOld Windsor1615D/A1/176/054MF96012
BROWNE, JohnOld Windsor1615D/A1/168/121MF96001
BROWNE, JohnCholseyLabourer1632D/A1/44/035MF464
BROWNE, JohnHarwellHusbandman1637D/A1/177/068/1MF96014
BROWNE, JohnWhite WalthamServant1648D/A1/45/022MF465
BROWNE, JohnOxford, OxfordshireMercer1650D/A1/16/648MF10066
BROWNE, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1662D/A1/178/64MF96015
BROWNE, JohnLongworthHusbandman1663D/A1/178/73MF96015
BROWNE, JohnHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1673D/A1/178/151MF96015
BROWNE, JohnWallingfordYeoman1728D/A1/49/123MF468
BROWNE, JohnFarnboroughStillman1758D/A1/180/206MF96020
BROWNE, JohnAbingdonCooper1548D/A1/39/040MF461
BROWNE, JohnBisham1555D/A1/7/091MF10040
BROWNE, JohnBisham1555D/A1/39/072MF461
BROWNE, JohnLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1559D/A1/39/156MF461
BROWNE, JohnLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1560D/A1/8/170MF10043C
BROWNE, JohnLambourn1574D/A1/40/039 D/A1/9/408MF462 MF10046
BROWNE, JohnReading St LaurenceShoemaker1585D/A1/40/127 D/A1/11/039MF462 MF10047B
BROWNE, JohnBucklebury1597D/A1/41/081 D/A1/13/225MF462 MF10049
BROWNE, JohnEnglefieldGardener1598D/A1/41/089 D/A1/13/242MF462 MF10049
BROWNE, JohnEast Hanney, Hanney1609D/A1/42/035 D/A1/14/512MF463 MF10064
BROWNE, John JnrReading St LaurencePinner1581D/A1/40/098 D/A1/10/286MF462 MF10047A
BROWNE, John SnrReading St LaurenceCurrier1609D/A1/42/047 D/A1/14/555MF463 MF10064
BROWNE, JonathanBradfieldLabourer1720D/A1/49/45MF468
BROWNE, LeonardReadingVictualler1687D/A1/47/120MF467
BROWNE, LucyNew Windsor, Windsor1664D/A1/178/78MF96015
BROWNE, MargaretHenley On Thames, Oxfordshire1611D/A1/176/036 D/A1/168/075MF96012 MF96001
BROWNE, MargeryBucklebury1611D/A1/176/026MF96012
BROWNE, MargeryBucklebury1611D/A1/168/072MF96001
BROWNE, MaryIdstone, Ashbury1612D/A1/42/092 D/A1/15/272MF463 MF10065
BROWNE, MaryColey, Reading St Mary1665D/A1/178/85MF96015
BROWNE, MaryBradfield1667D/A1/46/29MF466
BROWNE, NicholasHagbourne1533D/A1/175/001MF96010
BROWNE, NicholasHagbourne1563D/A1/167/035MF96000
BROWNE, NicholasWaltham St Lawrence1569D/A1/175/064MF96010
BROWNE, NicholasWaltham St Lawrence1569D/A1/167/140MF96000
BROWNE, NicholasGreenham, ThatchamSawyer1618D/A1/176/066MF96012
BROWNE, NicholasGreenham, Thatcham1618D/A1/168/152MF96001
BROWNE, OliveGreenham, Thatcham1681D/A1/47/59MF466
BROWNE, PrudenceWallingfordSeamster1580D/A1/175/086MF96010
BROWNE, PrudenceWallingford 1580D/A1/10/210MF10047A
BROWNE, RichardNewbury1573D/A1/175/071MF96010
BROWNE, RichardHenwick, Thatcham1594D/A1/41/055 D/A1/12/222MF462 MF10048
BROWNE, RichardBucklebury1597D/A1/41/084 D/A1/13/100MF462 MF10049