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
HEAD, AnthonyWelford1605D/A1/195/001 D/A1/14/181MF96048 MF10064
HEAD, CharlesBeedon1770D/A1/85/66MF530
HEAD, DorothyChaddleworth1721D/A1/198/104MF96054
HEAD, EdwardChiltonYeoman1680D/A1/81/119MF527
HEAD, EdwardLetcombe RegisMaltster1737D/A1/198/183MF96055
HEAD, FrancesChaddleworthLabourer1604D/A1/77/198 D/A1/13/1245MF525 MF10049
HEAD, FrancesChieveley1708D/A1/83/126MF528
HEAD, FrancisBrightwaltonHusbandman1639D/A1/79/153MF526
HEAD, GilesNorth Heath, ChieveleyYeoman1618D/A1/78/088 D/A1/15/811MF525 MF10065
HEAD, GilesBagnor, Bradfield1692D/A1/83/12MF528
HEAD, GilesWelford1845D/A1/228/139MF96125
HEAD, HenryWinterbourne, ChieveleyHusbandman1599D/A1/77/161 D/A1/13/479MF525 MF10049
HEAD, HenryBoxfordYeoman1622D/A1/195/088MF96049
HEAD, HenryLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1662D/A1/196/106MF96051
HEAD, HenryReadingGrocer1698D/A1/83/47MF528
HEAD, HenryChaddleworthYeoman1830D/A1/153/122MF560
HEAD, HenryChaddleworthFarmer1850D/A1/228/148MF96125
HEAD, JamesWinterbourne, ChieveleyYeoman1674D/A1/81/74MF527
HEAD, JoanAshbury1624D/A1/195/099MF96049
HEAD, JohnStanmore, BeedonYeoman1603D/A1/77/188 D/A1/13/1132MF525 MF10049
HEAD, JohnAshburyLabourer1612D/A1/78/014 D/A1/15/221MF525 MF10065
HEAD, JohnFarnboroughHusbandman1623D/A1/78/157MF525
HEAD, JohnLetcombe RegisYeoman1727D/A1/84/66MF529
HEAD, JohnWest WoodhayLabourer1828D/A1/153/107MF560
HEAD, JohnCharlton, Wantage1833D/A1/154/14MF580
HEAD, JohnChaddleworth1837D/A1/154/22MF580
HEAD, JosephComptonLabourer1829D/A1/153/111MF560
HEAD, KatherineLeckhampstead, Chieveley1603D/A1/77/190 D/A1/13/1008MF525 MF10049
HEAD, Laurence SnrWinterbourne Danvers, Chieveley1698D/A1/83/46MF528
HEAD, MargaretNorth Heath, Chieveley1642D/A1/79/190MF526
HEAD, MarthaChilton1735D/A1/84/129MF529
HEAD, MarthaNewbury1747D/A1/198/218MF96055
HEAD, MaudeLeckhampstead, Chieveley1610D/A1/78/009 D/A1/15/076MF525 MF10065
HEAD, RalphChaddleworthYeoman1768D/A1/85/57MF530
HEAD, RalphShaw Cum DonningtonAlmsman1840D/A1/154/42MF580
HEAD, RichardBasildonLabourer1602D/A1/77/184 D/A1/13/906MF525 MF10049
HEAD, RichardBuckleburyHusbandman1609D/A1/77/210 D/A1/14/611MF525 MF10064
HEAD, RichardBowden, PangbourneYeoman1662D/A1/80/95MF527
HEAD, RichardBotley, CumnorTailor1665D/A1/196/145MF96051
HEAD, RichardLeckhampsteed, ChieveleyYeoman1699D/A1/197/176MF96053
HEAD, Richard JnrBoxfordHusbandman1672D/A1/197/1MF96052
HEAD, SarahLetcombe Regis1809D/A1/228/77MF96125
HEAD, SusannahReading St Giles1680D/A1/81/116MF527
HEAD, ThomasEast GarstonHusbandman1623D/A1/78/151MF525
HEAD, UrsulaEnborne1685D/A1/82/49MF528
HEAD, WilliamAshbury1630D/A1/79/041MF526
HEAD, WilliamShaw Bridge, SpeenTanner1637D/A1/196/038MF96050
HEAD, WilliamBrightwaltonYeoman1666D/A1/80/151MF527
HEAD, WilliamReading St Giles1673D/A1/197/11MF96052
HEAD, WilliamNewburyGrocer1748D/A1/85/8MF530
HEAD, WilliamThatchamYeoman1751D/A1/198/231MF96055
HEADACH, AugustineReadingBaker1675D/A1/218/36MF96106
HEADACH, ElizabethBucklebury1730D/A1/84/91MF529
HEADACH, ElizabethYattendon1745D/A1/84/209MF529
HEADACH, FrancisPangbourneYeoman1709D/A1/198/56MF96054
HEADACH, FrancisPangbourneYeoman1710D/A1/198/56MF96054
HEADACH, GeorgeEnborneYeoman1612D/A1/78/028 D/A1/15/311MF525 MF10065
HEADACH, JoanTidmarsh1668D/A1/196/159MF96051
HEADACH, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1579D/A1/76/180 D/A1/10/169MF524 MF10047A
HEADACH, JohnSulham Husbandman1626D/A1/78/191MF525
HEADACH, JohnMarlston, Bucklebury1703D/A1/83/89MF528
HEADACH, LucyBradfield1661D/A1/80/87MF527
HEADACH, ThomasTidmarshHusbandman1622D/A1/195/087MF96049
HEADACH, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1632D/A1/79/063MF526
HEADACH, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1677D/A1/81/101MF527
HEADACH, ThomasStanford DingleyBrick Burner1700D/A1/198/3MF96054
HEADACH, WilliamBradfieldHusbandman1640D/A1/196/056MF96050
HEADACH, WilliamWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1670D/A1/128/76MF547
HEADACH, WilliamBradfieldHusbandman1700D/A1/83/70MF528
HEADACH, WilliamHawkridge, BuckleburyHusbandman1713D/A1/83/163MF528
HEADACHE, EdmundBradfieldYeoman1595D/A1/77/099 D/A1/12/233MF524 MF10048
HEADACHE, JoanBrightwalton1595D/A1/12/397MF10048
HEADACHE, MargaretWhitley, Reading St Giles1641D/A1/79/174MF526
HEADDENTON, DorothyWallingford1705D/A1/83/103MF528
HEADDINGTON, StephenOakfield, Sulhamstead Bannister1620D/A1/78/113MF525
HEADE, Richard SnrLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1616D/A1/78/068 D/A1/15/658MF525 MF10065
HEADE, WilliamLeckhampstead, Chieveley1634D/A1/79/093MF526
HEADIGE, VincentBisham1637D/A1/16/461MF10066
HEADING, ElizabethWest Challow, Letcombe Regis1808D/A1/153/24MF560
HEADING, JohnEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1817D/A1/228/91MF96125
HEADING, SarahChildrey1812D/A1/228/85MF96125
HEADING, ThomasChildreyYeoman1819D/A1/153/63MF560
HEADING, WilliamEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1777D/A1/85/110MF530
HEADING, WilliamHampstead NorreysInnkeeper1840D/A1/154/43MF580
HEADING, WilliamFaringdonYeoman1843D/A1/154/55MF580
HEADING, WilliamDenchworth1761D/A1/85/24MF530
HEADINGTON, DianahWhite Waltham1827D/A1/228/110MF96125
HEADINGTON, EdwardCookhamHusbandman1736D/A1/84/138MF529
HEADINGTON, JohnBrayFarmer1840D/A1/154/39MF580
HEADINGTON, WilliamWallingfordHarness Maker1710D/A1/198/63MF96054
HEADINGTON, WilliamWallingfordHarness Maker1710D/A1/198/63MF96054
HEADLAND, DavidStratfield Mortimer1688D/A1/197/116MF96053
HEADLAND, DavidShinfieldYeoman1730D/A1/198/149MF96054
HEADLAND, JaneStratfield Mortimer1703D/A1/83/88MF528
HEADLAND, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1681D/A1/82/11MF528
HEADLAND, ThomasDiddenham, ShinfieldHusbandman1684D/A1/197/79 MF96052
HEADLAND, WilliamStratfield Mortimer, Southampton, HampshireYeoman1681D/A1/82/4MF528
HEALING, SarahMarcham1752D/A1/84/252MF529
HEALLS, MargaretWarfield1669D/A1/81/3MF527
HEARD, ThomasNorth MoretonClerk , Vicar1597D/A1/194/086 D/A1/13/187MF96047 MF10049