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
HARRIS, MaryReading1714D/A1/198/80MF96054
HARRIS, MaryStanford Dingley1742D/A1/198/200MF96055
HARRIS, MaryEast Ilsley1761D/A1/85/26MF530
HARRIS, MaryNewburyServant1789D/A1/85/143MF530
HARRIS, MaryWest Hanney1802D/A1/153/3MF560
HARRIS, MaryReading1842D/A1/154/52MF580
HARRIS, NicholasNew Windsor, WindsorInnholder1618D/A1/78/084 D/A1/15/790MF525 MF10065
HARRIS, RichardDonnington, Shaw (Inv.), Bagnor (Acct.)Ploughwright1662D/A1/80/97MF527
HARRIS, RichardNewbury1715D/A1/83/177MF529
HARRIS, RichardSonningHusbandman1740D/A1/84/171MF529
HARRIS, RichardChieveley1740D/A1/198/191MF96055
HARRIS, RichardMilton1810D/A1/228/80MF96125
HARRIS, RobertReading St Laurence1605D/A1/195/017MF96048
HARRIS, RobertReading1605D/A1/14/185MF10064
HARRIS, RobertReading St GilesYeoman, Brewer'S Servant1678D/A1/197/38 MF96052
HARRIS, RobertUplambourn, LambournHusbandman1680D/A1/197/52MF96052
HARRIS, RobertNew Windsor, Windsor1697D/A1/197/169MF96053
HARRIS, RobertAldermaston1778D/A1/198/277MF96055
HARRIS, SarahHamstead Marshall1702D/A1/198/12MF96054
HARRIS, SimonBrayHusbandman1678D/A1/81/105MF527
HARRIS, Stephen SnrReadingGardener1675D/A1/82/9MF528
HARRIS, ThomasBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1633D/A1/79/075MF526
HARRIS, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St HelenLabourer1633D/A1/196/022 D/A1/168/254MF96050 MF96001
HARRIS, ThomasLong WittenhamHusbandman1657D/A1/80/66MF527
HARRIS, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1782D/A1/85/123MF530
HARRIS, ThomasHarwellBricklayer1845D/A1/154/64MF580
HARRIS, WilliamNewburyHaberdasher1598D/A1/194/097MF96047
HARRIS, WilliamNewbury1598D/A1/13/425MF10049
HARRIS, WilliamShellingford1667D/A1/80/157MF527
HARRIS, WilliamSutton CourtenayTailor1670D/A1/81/24MF527
HARRIS, WilliamEast HendredLabourer1671D/A1/81/34MF527
HARRIS, WilliamComptonCordwainer1724D/A1/198/119MF96054
HARRIS, WilliamEast HendredHusbandman1730D/A1/84/92MF529
HARRIS, WilliamWelfordHusbandman1746D/A1/198/217MF96055
HARRIS, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1757D/A1/198/244MF96055
HARRIS, WilliamHurleyLabourer1803D/A1/153/6MF560
HARRIS, WilliamBaughurst, Hampshire1819D/A1/153/66MF560
HARRIS, WilliamEast HendredBricklayer1822D/A1/153/74MF560
HARRIS, WilliamDrayton1849D/A1/154/85MF580
HARRIS, William JnrArdingtonWeaver1708D/A1/198/48MF96054
HARRISH, WilliamBagnor, Shaw Cum DonningtonPloughwright1662D/A1/80/98MF527
HARRISON, AnnReading1738D/A1/84/155MF529
HARRISON, AnthonyGreenham, ThatchamTailor1604D/A1/195/010MF96048
HARRISON, AnthonyGreenham, Thatcham1604D/A1/14/179MF10064
HARRISON, AnthonyCookham1604D/A1/14/178MF10064
HARRISON, ChristopherEasthampsteadYeoman1632D/A1/79/064MF526
HARRISON, DavidReadingCordwainer1774D/A1/85/92MF530
HARRISON, ElizabethFinchampstead1612D/A1/78/031 D/A1/15/275MF525 MF10065
HARRISON, ElizabethReading1700D/A1/83/63MF528
HARRISON, HannahReading1698D/A1/83/49MF528
HARRISON, JoanAshbury1679D/A1/81/112MF527
HARRISON, JohnAshburyInnholder1608D/A1/77/221 D/A1/14/449MF525 MF10064
HARRISON, JohnTilehurstBlacksmith1698D/A1/197/173MF96053
HARRISON, JohnBucklebury1707D/A1/198/37MF96054
HARRISON, MarthaReading1809D/A1/228/76MF96125
HARRISON, MaryNewbury1857D/A1/154/115MF580
HARRISON, ThomasHurley1584D/A1/11/003MF10047B
HARRISON, ThomasReading St Mary1603D/A1/194/114MF96047
HARRISON, ThomasReading1603D/A1/13/1017MF10049
HARRISON, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1612D/A1/195/047MF96048
HARRISON, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1612D/A1/168/091MF96001
HARRISON, ThomasEnborne1639D/A1/79/152MF526
HARRISON, ThomasReading St MaryLabourer1643D/A1/80/011MF526
HARRISON, ThomasReading St Mary1670D/A1/196/171/1MF96051
HARRISON, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1790D/A1/85/145MF530
HARRISON, Thomas SnrReading St MaryLabourer1648D/A1/196/080MF96050
HARRISON, Thomas SnrReading St MaryLabourer1671D/A1/196/171/2 MF96051
HARRISON, WilliamNewburyFishmonger1639D/A1/196/046MF96050
HARRISON, WilliamTilehurstBlacksmith1698D/A1/197/172MF96053
HARRISONN, WilliamReading, ReadingYeoman1689D/A1/82/84MF528
HARRISSON, ThomasReadingBeer Brewer1640D/A1/79/170MF526
HARRWOOD, JohnWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1739D/A1/84/161MF529
HARRWOOD, MaryLockinge1721D/A1/84/9MF529
HARRYS, IsaacDrayton, Abingdon St HelenTailor1617D/A1/78/076 D/A1/15/706MF525 MF10065
HARRYS, JoanShrivenham1554D/A1/75/043 D/A1/7/028MF523 MF10040
HARRYS, JohnBrightwalton1517D/A1/1/082MF10041
HARRYS, JohnSunningwell1556D/A1/75/061 D/A1/7/129MF523 MF10040
HARRYS, JohnShrivenhamHusbandman1558D/A1/233/139MF96132
HARRYS, JohnShrivenham1558D/A1/2/242MF604
HARRYS, MargeryShrivenham1557D/A1/3/006MF604
HARRYS, MarianShrivenham1559D/A1/76/037MF524
HARRYS, MarianShrivenham1560D/A1/3/264MF604
HARRYS, RobertShrivenham1557D/A1/233/152MF96132
HARRYS, RobertShrivenhamHusbandman1557D/A1/2/259MF604
HARRYS, WalterLetcombe RegisHusbandman1560D/A1/76/055 D/A1/6/034MF524 MF10043B
HARRYS, WilliamAldermaston1544D/A1/2/239MF604
HARRYS, WilliamBrightwaltonHusbandman1546D/A1/75/017 D/A1/5/004MF523 MF10043A
HARS, ThomasReading St Mary1591D/A1/77/073 D/A1/12/011MF524 MF10048
HART , ChristopherClewerYeoman1643D/A1/196/071MF96050
HART , JohnNewburyTailor1587D/A1/77/024 D/A1/11/272MF524 MF10047B
HART, AnnAppleton1830D/A1/153/120MF560
HART, AnneWallingford1723D/A1/198/116MF96054
HART, EdwardAbingdonInnholder1678D/A1/197/37 MF96052
HART, HenryBuckleburyYeoman1854D/A1/228/157MF96125
HART, JamesReadingChimney Sweeper1840D/A1/154/36MF580
HART, JohnEaton HastingsFisherman1793D/A1/85/150MF530
HART, JohnAshburyMaltster1855D/A1/228/162MF96125
HART, NathanielAbingdonGoldsmith1741D/A1/84/182MF529
HART, Richard1557D/A1/233/140MF96132
HART, RichardWest Hagbourne, HagbourneHemp Dresser1705D/A1/198/27MF96054