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
BURNAM, HenryHagbourne1561D/A1/39/185MF461
BURNAM, John1545D/A1/233/046MF96132
BURNAM, JohnGreat Coxwell1545D/A1/2/092 D/A1/6/180MF604 MF10043B
BURNAM, JohnOakfield, Sulhamstead BannisterShearman1668D/A1/178/110 MF96015
BURNAM, RichardReading St LaurenceHusbandman1575D/A1/40/047 D/A1/10/021MF462 MF10047A
BURNAM, RichardHurleyServant, Yeoman1627D/A1/43/156MF464
BURNAM, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1634D/A1/44/062MF464
BURNAM, ThomasHagbourne1740D/A1/49/225MF468
BURNAME, RichardPadworth1554D/A1/39/068 D/A1/7/079MF461 MF10040
BURNAN, RichardLong WittenhamLabourer1611D/A1/42/063 D/A1/15/143MF463 MF10065
BURNAT, GilbertAbingdon St HelenParchment Maker1573D/A1/40/018 D/A1/9/348MF462 MF10046
BURNEHAM, AliceHagbourne1602D/A1/41/178 D/A1/13/820MF463 MF10049
BURNEHAM, DennisWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1635D/A1/177/052MF96013
BURNEHAM, EdwardHagbourne1565D/A1/175/054MF96010
BURNEHAM, EdwardHagbourneYeoman1639D/A1/44/115MF465
BURNEHAM, Edward SnrHagbourneHusbandman1624D/A1/43/097MF464
BURNEHAM, JohnLondon Street, ReadingChapman1603D/A1/41/180 D/A1/13/1160MF463 MF10049
BURNEHAM, JohnHurley1605D/A1/175/192MF96011
BURNEHAM, RichardKnowl Hill, Hurley1603D/A1/175/178MF96011
BURNEHAM, SibylAbingdon1609D/A1/42/058 D/A1/14/591MF463 MF10064
BURNEHAM, WilliamHagbourneHusbandman1586D/A1/40/136 D/A1/11/058MF462 MF10047B
BURNELL, RichardMidgham, ThatchamYeoman1703D/A1/48/113MF467
BURNELL, ThomasWoolhamptonHusbandman1712D/A1/180/8MF96019
BURNELL, ThomasBrimptonHusbandman1721D/A1/49/55MF468
BURNELL, WalterFyfieldVicar1570D/A1/39/257 D/A1/9/244MF462 MF10046
BURNER, Henry1631D/A1/177/033MF96013
BURNES, WilliamChieveley1579D/A1/40/077MF462
BURNET, RichardSutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay1623D/A1/43/094MF464
BURNET, ThomasSandfordHusbandman1640D/A1/44/129MF465
BURNETT, EdwardSandfordCloth Worker1633D/A1/177/036 D/A1/168/240MF96013 MF96001
BURNETT, JohnOck Street, Abingdon St HelenParchment Maker1609D/A1/42/036 D/A1/14/516MF463 MF10064
BURNETT, PaulAldworthCordwainer1704D/A1/179/149MF96017
BURNETT, ThomasSunningwell1590D/A1/11/223MF10047B
BURNHAM, EdwardHagbourne1565D/A1/167/126MF96000
BURNHAM, Edward SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1699D/A1/179/133MF96017
BURNHAM, ElizabethHagbourne1700D/A1/48/79MF467
BURNHAM, FrancisAbingdonTailor1632D/A1/177/040MF96013
BURNHAM, JohnHurley1605D/A1/14/184MF10064
BURNHAM, JohnReadingCloth Worker1661D/A1/45/84MF465
BURNHAM, Thomas SnrKnowl Hill, HurleyHusbandman1675D/A1/46/113MF466
BURNINGHAM, EdwardReading St LaurenceTallow Chandler1612D/A1/42/089 D/A1/15/296MF463 MF10065
BURNINGHAM, HughWinkfieldTailor1613D/A1/42/102 D/A1/15/382MF463 MF10065
BURNINGHAM, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1661D/A1/45/78MF465
BURNINGHAM, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1691D/A1/47/161MF467
BURNINGHAM, JohnReadingClothier1703D/A1/48/108MF467
BURNINGHAM, MargaretShinfield1665D/A1/46/8MF466
BURNINGHAM, PeterShinfield1662D/A1/45/99MF465
BURRATT, BeverlyNewburyWeaver1639D/A1/44/112MF465
BURREN, DavidCholsey1595D/A1/175/144 D/A1/12/396MF96010 MF10048
BURREN, DorothyHagbourne1662D/A1/45/94MF465
BURREN, HelenHagbourne1605D/A1/41/192 D/A1/14/021MF463 MF10064
BURREN, JohnHagbourneHusbandman1593D/A1/41/042 D/A1/12/132MF462 MF10048
BURREN, RichardHagbourneHusbandman1662D/A1/178/65MF96015
BURREY, HughAston Boughs, Bampton, OxfordshireHusbandman1577D/A1/40/059 D/A1/10/087MF462 MF10047A
BURREY, JohnSutton CourtenayHusbandman1642D/A1/177/097MF96014
BURRIE, JamesKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1581D/A1/40/099MF462
BURRINE, RichardHagbourneHusbandman1638D/A1/177/071MF96014
BURROUGH, WilliamBasildonYeoman1734D/A1/49/180MF468
BURROUGHS, JohnReading St GilesLabourer1727D/A1/180/94MF96019
BURROUGHS, MaryBasildon1705D/A1/179/159 MF96017
BURROUGHS, RichardBasildonYeoman1702D/A1/179/147MF96017
BURROUGHS, SarahReading1728D/A1/49/127MF468
BURROUGHS, ThomasBasildon1705D/A1/179/160MF96017
BURROW, JohnHamstead Marshall1605D/A1/175/190MF96011
BURROWE, JohnHamstead Marshall1605D/A1/14/184MF10064
BURROWS, WilliamWindsorCheesemonger1718D/A1/180/43MF96019
BURSFEILD, AnneWootton, Cumnor1696D/A1/48/43MF467
BURT , PhilipLetcombe Regis1631D/A1/177/030MF96013
BURT , Philip SnrLetcombe Regis1631D/A1/168/214MF96001
BURT, BarnabyBrayHusbandman1627D/A1/43/161MF464
BURTE, John SnrGreenham, ThatchamBricklayer1589D/A1/40/168 D/A1/11/187MF462 MF10047B
BURTON , William SnrKintbury1719D/A1/180/48MF96019
BURTON , William SnrKintburyBricklayer1743D/A1/49/258MF468
BURTON, AnneLong Wittenham1771D/A1/50/140MF469
BURTON, CatherineKintbury1784D/A1/50/207MF469
BURTON, DanielKintburyBlacksmith1748D/A1/50/14MF469
BURTON, EddySwallowfield1629D/A1/43/184MF464
BURTON, ElizabethGarford, Marcham 1731D/A1/49/154MF468
BURTON, GeorgeBrayYeoman1630D/A1/177/025MF96013
BURTON, GeorgeBrayClerk1630D/A1/168/194MF96001
BURTON, HumphreyWarfieldServant1569D/A1/39/245 D/A1/9/206MF462 MF10046
BURTON, JohnMaidenhead, CookhamDay Labourer, Ostler1622D/A1/176/083MF96013
BURTON, RichardAbingdonMaltster1710D/A1/179/199MF96018
BURTON, RichardGarford, Marcham Yeoman1725D/A1/180/86MF96019
BURTON, Richard SnrGarford, MarchamYeoman1666D/A1/46/26MF466
BURTON, RogerUfton NervetHusbandman1671D/A1/46/78MF466
BURTON, ThomasEnborneBlacksmith1803D/A1/145/10MF557
BURTON, WilliamReading St GilesBrewer1574D/A1/40/042MF462
BURTON, WilliamColeshillClerk, Vicar1599D/A1/175/162 D/A1/13/435MF96010 MF10049
BURTON, WilliamColeshill1611D/A1/168/079 D/A1/176/037MF96001 MF96012
BURTON, WilliamBlossom'S End, TilehurstYeoman1693D/A1/48/16MF467
BURTON, WilliamArdingtonYeoman1714D/A1/180/21MF96019
BURTON, WilliamKintburyBricklayer1794D/A1/50/246MF469
BURTON, WilliamEnborneBlacksmith1819D/A1/145/91MF557
BURTTEN, MargeryWasing1690D/A1/179/78MF96017
BURWEN, MargaretHagbourne1569D/A1/39/238 D/A1/9/154MF462 MF10046
BUSBEY, ThomasWoolhampton1707D/A1/179/176MF96018
BUSBY, ElizabethCumnor1757D/A1/180/202MF96020
BUSBY, ElizabethCumnor1766D/A1/180/219MF96020
BUSBY, JohnAppletonBaker1839D/A1/226/104MF96123