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
BUTLER, RichardLongworthYeoman1609D/A1/42/048 D/A1/14/564MF463 MF10064
BUTLER, RichardKingston Lisle, SparsholtShepherd1613D/A1/176/045MF96012
BUTLER, RichardKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1613D/A1/168/103MF96001
BUTLER, RichardWestcot, SparsholtHusbandman1619D/A1/176/068MF96012
BUTLER, RichardClapton, KintburyHusbandman1638D/A1/177/072MF96014
BUTLER, RichardLongworthButcher1692D/A1/179/92MF96017
BUTLER, RichardWinkfieldYeoman1703D/A1/48/106MF467
BUTLER, RobertNewbury1590D/A1/11/373MF10047B
BUTLER, RobertWestcot, SparsholtHusbandman1595D/A1/41/064 D/A1/13/073MF462 MF10049
BUTLER, RobertAbingdon St HelenSlater1626D/A1/43/130MF464
BUTLER, RobertClewerYeoman1694D/A1/48/26MF467
BUTLER, RobertReadingHarness Maker1719D/A1/180/49MF96019
BUTLER, RobertLambournYeoman1737D/A1/49/195MF468
BUTLER, RobertEast HendredLabourer1775D/A1/50/158MF469
BUTLER, SarahLambourn1765D/A1/180/217MF96020
BUTLER, SarahFyfield1806D/A1/145/29MF557
BUTLER, StephenKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1572D/A1/40/012 D/A1/9/331MF462 MF10046
BUTLER, StephenShinfieldHusbandman1640D/A1/44/130MF465
BUTLER, StephenReading St MaryShopkeeper1806D/A1/145/31MF557
BUTLER, ThomasAbingdon1564D/A1/167/123MF96000
BUTLER, ThomasAbingdon1564D/A1/167/123MF96000
BUTLER, ThomasBuckleburyShearman1591D/A1/41/019 D/A1/11/397MF462 MF10047B
BUTLER, ThomasBradfield1607D/A1/176/009MF96012
BUTLER, ThomasBradfield1607D/A1/168/020MF96001
BUTLER, ThomasKingston Lisle, SparsholtHusbandman1617D/A1/43/001 D/A1/15/679MF464 MF10065
BUTLER, ThomasEast HendredMaltster1676D/A1/47/3MF466
BUTLER, ThomasMarchamYeoman1677D/A1/47/17MF466
BUTLER, ThomasSunninghillYeoman1690D/A1/179/85MF96017
BUTLER, ThomasBeenhamYeoman1720D/A1/180/57MF96019
BUTLER, ThomasRadleyYeoman1731D/A1/49/147MF468
BUTLER, ThomasLong WittenhamYeoman1765D/A1/50/107MF469
BUTLER, ThomasStreatley1765D/A1/50/106MF469
BUTLER, ThomasLong Wittenham1791D/A1/50/231MF21170
BUTLER, ThomasBeenham1803D/A1/226/32MF96123
BUTLER, WilliamMoulsford, Cholsey1546D/A1/6/125MF10043B
BUTLER, WilliamMoulsford, Cholsey1546D/A1/39/035MF461
BUTLER, WilliamRadleyHusbandman1557D/A1/233/030MF96132
BUTLER, WilliamRadley1557D/A1/2/064MF604
BUTLER, WilliamTheale, TilehurstPloughwright1623D/A1/43/090MF464
BUTLER, WilliamAbingdonTailor1633D/A1/44/052MF464
BUTLER, WilliamAston TirroldHusbandman1646D/A1/178/026MF96015
BUTLER, WilliamFinchampsteadCarpenter1664D/A1/178/74MF96015
BUTLER, WilliamLambournYeoman1726D/A1/49/98MF468
BUTLER, WilliamLong WittenhamYeoman1746D/A1/180/180MF96020
BUTLER, WilliamAbingdonTailor1748D/A1/50/17MF469
BUTLER, WilliamSparsholtYeoman1756D/A1/84/266MF529
BUTLER, WilliamEast Ilsley1785D/A1/180/242MF96020
BUTLER, WilliamWargraveBricklayer1811D/A1/145/54MF557
BUTLER, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1824D/A1/145/118MF557
BUTLER, WilliamEast IlsleyGardener1841D/A1/146/56MF557
BUTLER, WilliamWantageSchoolmaster1845D/A1/146/76MF557
BUTLER, William SnrChipping Lambourn, LambournHusbandman1703D/A1/83/87MF528
BUTLIN, ElizabethReading1722D/A1/180/69MF96019
BUTNE, ElizabethBisham1601D/A1/41/162 D/A1/13/752MF463 MF10049
BUTT , JohnLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1632D/A1/177/029MF96013
BUTT, AlexanderHoe Benham, WelfordYeoman1701D/A1/48/87MF467
BUTT, EdwardBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1705D/A1/48/132MF467
BUTT, ElizabethLambourn Woodlands, Lambourn1633D/A1/44/031MF464
BUTT, JaneInkpen1664D/A1/178/77MF96015
BUTT, JohnLambourn1632D/A1/168/220MF96001
BUTT, ThomasWest WoodhayHusbandman1685D/A1/179/40MF96016
BUTT, ThomasLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1710D/A1/48/174MF467
BUTT, ThomasLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1710D/A1/48/174MF467
BUTT, Thomas SnrChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1701D/A1/48/86MF467
BUTT, WilliamNewburyWeaver1737D/A1/180/144MF96020
BUTT, WilliamPeasemore1822D/A1/145/107MF557
BUTTE, AliceStanford Dingley1559D/A1/175/037MF96010
BUTTE, AliceStanford Dingley1559D/A1/167/106MF96000
BUTTE, EleanorShinfield1640D/A1/44/136MF465
BUTTELER, ChristopherReading St LaurenceYeoman1531D/A1/1/177MF10042
BUTTELER, RichardUffington1529D/A1/1/134MF10042
BUTTELER, RichardUffington1529D/A1/1/122MF10041
BUTTELER, RichardEast Hendred1532D/A1/1/176MF10042
BUTTELER, ThomasThatcham1528D/A1/1/093MF10041
BUTTELER, UrsulaThatcham1529D/A1/1/117MF10041
BUTTEN, JamesReading St LaurenceTailor1812D/A1/145/58MF557
BUTTER, LetticeStreatley1719D/A1/49/32MF468
BUTTERFEILD, Abraham SnrBrayYeoman1705D/A1/48/124MF467
BUTTERFEILD, AliceHurley1552D/A1/5/156MF10043A
BUTTERFELD, AliceHurley1551D/A1/233/337MF96132
BUTTERFELD, NicholasHurley1550D/A1/5/094MF10043A
BUTTERFELD, NicholasHurley1550D/A1/39/044MF461
BUTTERFELDE, EdmundMaidenhead, CookhamCloth Worker1585D/A1/40/135 D/A1/11/020MF462 MF10047B
BUTTERFELDE, JohnHurley1608D/A1/42/018 D/A1/14/405MF463 MF10064
BUTTERFIELD, AliceHurley1552D/A1/4/024MF604
BUTTERFIELD, JohnHurleyVictualler1663D/A1/45/130MF465
BUTTERFIELD, RichardHurleyYeoman1637D/A1/177/066MF96014
BUTTLAR, JohnBuscot1548D/A1/39/039MF461
BUTTLER, AliceDidcot1545D/A1/1/234MF10042
BUTTLER, EdithReading1681D/A1/47/61MF466
BUTTLER, EdwardSulham1671D/A1/46/80MF466
BUTTLER, JamesReadingBlacksmith1681D/A1/179/3MF96016
BUTTLER, Ralph SnrNorth Fawley, FawleyYeoman1710D/A1/179/193MF96018
BUTTLER, ThomasLong WittenhamYeoman1677D/A1/47/14MF466
BUTTON , John SnrCholsey1749D/A1/180/190MF96020
BUTTON , William SnrCholseyYeoman1718D/A1/49/24MF468
BUTTON, AgnesCholsey1617D/A1/42/157 D/A1/15/669MF463 MF10065
BUTTON, FrancisCholseyYeoman1741D/A1/180/159MF96020
BUTTON, JohnWallingford1709D/A1/48/160MF467
BUTTON, JohnWasingHusbandman1724D/A1/180/82MF96019