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.

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
HAMTON , Richard SnrUfton NervetYeoman1715D/A1/83/185MF529
HAMYS, JohnEast Hendred1608D/A1/195/027MF96048
HAMYS, JohnEast Hendred1608D/A1/168/036MF96001
HANCKS, BartholomewAbingdonCurrier1611D/A1/195/040 D/A1/168/072MF96048 MF96001
HANCOCK , William SnrSpeenhamland, Speen Barber, Peruke Moker1758D/A1/85/10MF530
HANCOCK, CharlesReading St GilesHusbandman1709D/A1/198/55MF96054
HANCOCK, ElianorReading1713D/A1/198/78MF96054
HANCOCK, GeorgeLondon1841D/A1/228/133MF96125
HANCOCK, JohnEastbury, LambournCordwainer1764D/A1/85/40MF530
HANCOCK, MargaretReading1683D/A1/197/71MF96052
HANCOCK, MarthaBinfield1687D/A1/197/105MF96053
HANCOCK, ThomasNewburyShepherd1574D/A1/193/226MF96045
HANCOCK, ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1629D/A1/195/120MF96049
HANCOCK, ThomasIsbury, Lambourn1713D/A1/83/168MF528
HANCOCK, WilliamLondon1841D/A1/228/134MF96125
HANCOCKE, EdwardEasthampsteadYeoman1639D/A1/79/155MF526
HANCOCKE, JohnNewburyBroad Weaver1648D/A1/80/043MF526
HAND, JeremiahAldworth1671D/A1/81/25MF527
HANDE, WilliamReading1557D/A1/75/069MF523
HANDE, WilliamReading St Giles1557D/A1/6/112MF10043B
HANDS , William SnrMoulsfordYeoman1772D/A1/85/77MF530
HANDS, CharlotteMoulsford1802D/A1/228/67MF96125
HANDS, JeremiahMoulsfordYeoman1760D/A1/85/16MF530
HANDS, JohnMoulsfordYeoman1775D/A1/85/98MF530
HANDS, MaryMoulsford1794D/A1/85/153MF530
HANE, JohnSparsholt1545D/A1/75/014MF523
HANINGTON, GeorgeReadingShopkeeper1839D/A1/228/126MF96125
HANINGTON, JohnFinchampsteadYeoman1661D/A1/80/90MF527
HANINGTON, WilliamThatcham1681D/A1/197/59MF96052
HANKIN, DavidReading1791D/A1/198/294MF96055
HANKIN, ThomasAldermaston1824D/A1/153/90MF560
HANKINS, SimonEnglefieldButcher1682D/A1/197/65MF96052
HANKINSON, EdwardWarfield1604D/A1/195/007 D/A1/14/176MF96048 MF10064
HANKS, StephenReadingStay Maker1738D/A1/84/154MF529
HANKS, StephenAbingdon1818D/A1/228/93MF96125
HANKS, TomsonStanford In The Vale 1700D/A1/197/184MF96053
HANKYNS, HenryLong Wittenham1535D/A1/1/250MF10042
HANNEY, James1560D/A1/193/197MF96045
HANNINGTON , Thomas SnrAshampsteadCooper1760D/A1/85/18MF530
HANNINGTON, RichardNewburyFellmonger1809D/A1/153/35MF560
HANNINGTON, RobertFinchampsteadYeoman1642D/A1/80/008MF526
HANNIWELL, EdwardSutton CourtenayLabourer1726D/A1/84/58MF529
HANNS, MaryMoulsford1677D/A1/81/90MF527
HANSAKER, CharlesChipping Lambourn, Lambourn1668D/A1/80/170MF527
HANSAKER, Charles SnrChipping Lambourn, Lambourn1662D/A1/80/101MF527
HANSAKER, ThomasLambourn1635D/A1/79/095 D/A1/196/036MF526 MF96050
HANSCOME, RobertPurleyYeoman1675D/A1/81/78MF527
HANSLEY, ThomasFyfieldYeoman1757D/A1/85/7MF530
HANSLOW, WilliamFyfieldFarmer1838D/A1/154/25MF580
HANSON, EdwardBradfieldYeoman1818D/A1/153/56MF560
HANSON, JohnAbingdon1668D/A1/80/172MF527
HANSON, JohnEast HendredWeaver1719D/A1/84/5MF529
HANSON, JohnThatcham1824D/A1/228/103MF96125
HANSON, RichardBinfield1583D/A1/194/024MF96046
HANSON, RichardBinfield1583D/A1/10/416MF10047A
HANSON, RichardWarfieldTailor1676D/A1/81/84MF527
HANSON, RichardReadingHaberdasher1841D/A1/154/48MF580
HANWELL, EdmundCumnorWheelwright1619D/A1/195/081MF96049
HANWELL, EdmundCumnor1619D/A1/168/163MF96001
HANWELL, RachelSouth Hinksey1733D/A1/84/117MF529
HANWELL, ThomasSouth HinkseyYeoman1713D/A1/198/75MF96054
HARBAD, ThomasDraycott Moor, LongworthHusbandman1621D/A1/78/134MF525
HARBAR, ThomasFaringdon1557D/A1/76/034MF524
HARBARD, ChristianBucklebury1559D/A1/76/049 D/A1/8/161MF524 MF10043C
HARBARD, ElizabethCourage, Chieveley1572D/A1/76/145 D/A1/9/317MF524 MF10046
HARBARD, HenryThatcham1542D/A1/1/216MF10042
HARBARD, MargaretWeyfould [Wyfield], Boxford1613D/A1/78/035 D/A1/15/396MF525 MF10065
HARBARD, RalphBoxford1601D/A1/13/599MF10049
HARBARD, RichardChawley, Cumnor1579D/A1/10/187MF10047A
HARBARDE, JohnBucklebury1571D/A1/76/139 D/A1/9/297MF524 MF10046
HARBART , WilliamFrilsham1557D/A1/75/070MF523
HARBART, JohnOare, ChieveleyHusbandman1563D/A1/8/259MF10043C
HARBART, JohnNewburyWeaver1571D/A1/6/079 D/A1/76/132 D/A1/9/303MF10043B MF524 MF10046
HARBART, MargaretCurridge, Chieveley1704D/A1/83/101MF528
HARBART, WalterStanford In The ValeYeoman1718D/A1/83/206MF529
HARBART, WilliamFrilshamHusbandman1557D/A1/6/117MF10043B
HARBARTE, RobertBucklebury1554D/A1/75/046 D/A1/7/058MF523 MF10040
HARBED, RichardThatcham1588D/A1/194/048MF96046
HARBER, SimonDraycott Moor, Longworth1697D/A1/83/38MF528
HARBER, Thomas SnrWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1689D/A1/197/119MF96053
HARBERD, John1571D/A1/193/212/1MF96045
HARBERD, MaryCurridge, Chieveley1661D/A1/80/86MF527
HARBERD, SusanCurridge, Chieveley1691D/A1/83/3MF528
HARBERD, ThomasBuckleburyYeoman1630D/A1/79/039MF526
HARBERD, William SnrKingston BagpuizeYeoman1685D/A1/82/48MF528
HARBERT (ALIAS SPENCER), FrancesUfton Nervet1736D/A1/216/135MF96101
HARBERT, AnnStanford In The Vale 1688D/A1/197/113MF96053
HARBERT, AnnUfton Nervet1787D/A1/198/288MF96055
HARBERT, BridgetWallingford Castle, Wallingford1669D/A1/81/11MF527
HARBERT, EdwardCurridge, ChieveleyHusbandman1633D/A1/196/019MF96050
HARBERT, EdwardChieveleyFarmer1633D/A1/168/248MF96001
HARBERT, ElizabethCourage, Chieveley1630D/A1/79/040MF526
HARBERT, ElizabethWinterbourne, Chieveley1740D/A1/84/178MF529
HARBERT, ElizabethWinterbourne, Chieveley1768D/A1/85/60MF530
HARBERT, HenrySouthmoor, LongworthYeoman1682D/A1/82/17MF528
HARBERT, HenryLongworthYeoman1733D/A1/84/115MF529
HARBERT, James WardEast GarstonYeoman1790D/A1/85/146MF530
HARBERT, JaneLongworth1722D/A1/84/28MF529
HARBERT, JoanBucklebury1663D/A1/196/123MF96051
HARBERT, JoanShellingford1701D/A1/198/10MF96054