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
HEDACHE, RichardSulham 1574D/A1/193/227MF96045
HEDD, AliceFarnborough1588D/A1/77/034 D/A1/11/293MF524 MF10047B
HEDD, HenryPeasemoreYeoman1587D/A1/77/026 D/A1/11/267MF524 MF10047B
HEDD, JohnPeasemore1554D/A1/193/174MF96045
HEDD, JohnWinterbourne, Chieveley1559D/A1/8/165MF10043C
HEDD, JohnLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1609D/A1/77/217 D/A1/14/520MF525 MF10064
HEDD, John JnrBrightwaltonHusbandman1584D/A1/77/002 D/A1/10/450MF524 MF10047A
HEDD, Laurence JnrWinterbourne Danvers, Chieveley1676D/A1/81/86MF527
HEDD, RalphLeckhampstead, Chieveley1559D/A1/193/191MF96045
HEDD, ThomasReading St GilesDyer1602D/A1/77/181 D/A1/13/862MF525 MF10049
HEDD, ThomasWinterbourne, ChieveleyYeoman1613D/A1/78/033 D/A1/15/364MF525 MF10065
HEDD, WalterAbingdon1660D/A1/196/101MF96051
HEDDE, AliceStanmore, Beedon1576D/A1/76/166 D/A1/10/035MF524 MF10047A
HEDDE, EdwardPeasemoreYeoman1599D/A1/77/149 D/A1/13/377MF525 MF10049
HEDDE, JohnFarnboroughYeoman1623D/A1/195/093MF96049
HEDDE, RichardAshbury1555D/A1/75/054MF523
HEDDEN, ThomasLambournYeoman1815D/A1/153/48MF560
HEDDEN, WilliamInkpenYeoman1695D/A1/83/28MF528
HEDDGYS, MargaretPeasemore1558D/A1/76/004 D/A1/7/244MF524 MF10040
HEDDINGTON, EdwardHurleyWheelwright1623D/A1/78/145MF525
HEDDINGTON, ThomasBrayYeoman1721D/A1/84/15MF529
HEDDINGTON, WilliamBinfieldLabourer1668D/A1/80/177MF527
HEDE, JohnBeedon1544D/A1/1/219MF10042
HEDE, RichardWinterbourne, Chieveley1530D/A1/1/131MF10042
HEDEDG, Richard SnrTidmarsh1666D/A1/196/138MF96051
HEDEDGE, JohnReading St GilesGardener1693D/A1/129/12MF548
HEDGEMAN, RobertNewbury1618D/A1/168/161MF96001
HEDGER, JohnBarkham1576D/A1/76/167 D/A1/10/052MF524 MF10047A
HEDGER, RichardFinchampstead1553D/A1/4/090 D/A1/5/195MF604 MF10043A
HEDGER, RichardFinchampstead1554D/A1/233/378MF96132
HEDGES , Edmund SnrShrivenham1736D/A1/198/170MF96055
HEDGES, AnneStanford-In-The-Vale, Stanford-In-Th-Vale1661D/A1/80/80MF527
HEDGES, EdwardLambournHusbandman1733D/A1/198/164MF96055
HEDGES, ElizabethBourton, Shrivenham1720D/A1/84/7MF529
HEDGES, ElizabethCumnor1827D/A1/228/109MF96125
HEDGES, FrancisReading1812D/A1/228/84MF96125
HEDGES, GabrielBrightwaltonYeoman1684D/A1/82/43MF528
HEDGES, JaneShaw Cum Donnington1603D/A1/77/195 D/A1/13/1140MF525 MF10049
HEDGES, JoanPeasemore1584D/A1/77/003 D/A1/11/010 D/A1/194/028MF524 MF10047B MF96046
HEDGES, JoanPeasemore1584D/A1/11/002MF10047B
HEDGES, JoanCurridge, Chieveley1688D/A1/82/83MF528
HEDGES, JohnTilehurst1583D/A1/194/022 D/A1/10/389MF96046 MF10047A
HEDGES, JohnShaw Cum DonningtonHusbandman1603D/A1/77/194 D/A1/13/1140MF525 MF10049
HEDGES, JohnShaw Cum DonningtonTanner1626D/A1/78/187MF525
HEDGES, JohnBenham, SpeenHusbandman1641D/A1/79/195MF526
HEDGES, JohnBrightwaltonHusbandman1661D/A1/80/77MF527
HEDGES, JohnNewburyGardener1713D/A1/83/170MF528
HEDGES, JohnShrivenhamGardener1727D/A1/84/60MF529
HEDGES, JohnNewbury1733D/A1/84/116MF529
HEDGES, JohnRadleyYeoman1767D/A1/85/53MF530
HEDGES, JohnCumnorYeoman1790D/A1/85/144MF530
HEDGES, John SnrPeasemoreLabourer1639D/A1/196/051MF96050
HEDGES, John SnrReadingYeoman1678D/A1/81/106MF527
HEDGES, LaurencePoughley, Chaddleworth1625D/A1/195/101MF96049
HEDGES, LawrenceShrivenhamLabourer1720D/A1/198/103MF96054
HEDGES, LizzyEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1851D/A1/228/151MF96125
HEDGES, LouisaNewbury1839D/A1/228/125MF96125
HEDGES, LucyNewbury1839D/A1/228/125MF96125
HEDGES, RichardShrivenhamHusbandman1559D/A1/8/019 D/A1/76/038MF10043C MF524
HEDGES, RichardNewburyCloth Worker1638D/A1/79/128MF526
HEDGES, RobertBrightwaltonHusbandman1574D/A1/76/161 D/A1/9/430MF524 MF10046
HEDGES, ThomasPeasemoreHusbandman1583D/A1/76/212 D/A1/10/371MF524 MF10047A
HEDGES, ThomasBrightwaltonHusbandman1613D/A1/78/037 D/A1/15/403MF525 MF10065
HEDGES, ThomasWhitley, Cumnor1614D/A1/195/062MF96049
HEDGES, ThomasWhitley1614D/A1/168/113MF96001
HEDGES, ThomasReadingJoiner1673D/A1/197/12MF96052
HEDGES, ThomasNewburyYeoman1710D/A1/83/135MF528
HEDGES, ThomasHamstead MarshallFarmer, Victualler 1855D/A1/154/108MF580
HEDGES, WilliamBoxfordLabourer1574D/A1/76/159 D/A1/9/409MF524 MF10046
HEDGES, WilliamEast LockingeYeoman1590D/A1/77/056 D/A1/11/351MF524 MF10047B
HEDGES, WilliamEast LockingeHusbandman1626D/A1/78/182MF525
HEDGES, WilliamDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonTanner1673D/A1/81/56MF527
HEDGES, WilliamNewburyClothier1722D/A1/198/111MF96054
HEDGES, WilliamAshburyFarmer1843D/A1/228/135MF96125
HEDGES, William SnrLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1697D/A1/83/37MF528
HEDGMAN, ElizabethNewbury1627D/A1/79/002MF526
HEDGMAN, RobertNewburyGardener1618D/A1/195/077MF96049
HEDIAN, JohnBisham1608D/A1/77/227 D/A1/14/478MF525 MF10064
HEDING, RichardDrayton1724D/A1/84/44MF529
HEDINGTON, JohnMaidenheadWheelwright1748D/A1/84/221MF529
HEDINGTON, RobertHurleySawyer1580D/A1/76/192 D/A1/10/230MF524 MF10047A
HEDINGTON, WilliamHurley1571D/A1/76/137 D/A1/9/293MF524 MF10046
HEDYNGTON, ThomasHurley1557D/A1/75/066MF523
HEDYNGTON, ThomasWargraveLabourer1567D/A1/76/109 D/A1/9/064MF524 MF10046
HEDYNTON, ThomasHurleyHusbandman1557D/A1/6/096MF10043B
HEED, BartholomewArdingtonShepherd, Labourer1584D/A1/77/004 D/A1/10/440MF524 MF10047A
HEEDDEN, RichardInkpenYeoman1688D/A1/57/79MF475
HEEL, MarthaReading1739D/A1/84/165MF529
HEELE, EdwardReadingMaltster1737D/A1/84/144MF529
HEERNER, TobyNorth Town, Cookham1610D/A1/195/038MF96048
HEGENS, DanielReadingSaddler1819D/A1/228/95MF96125
HEGES, John SnrBuckleburyBlacksmith1631D/A1/79/055MF526
HEGES, MaryBucklebury1688D/A1/82/76MF528
HEGGES, RichardShrivenhamHusbandman1559D/A1/8/019 D/A1/76/038MF10043C MF524
HEGGES, WilliamAbingdonWeaver1552D/A1/5/151MF10043A
HEICROFTE, WilliamMoor, Longworth1573D/A1/76/150 D/A1/9/346MF524 MF10046
HEIES, JoanHurley1548D/A1/233/145MF96132
HEIGHAM, JohnStanford In The Vale1632D/A1/16/297MF10066
HEINDES, HenryFrilford, MarchamYeoman1648D/A1/80/044MF526
HEIRON, ThomasNewbury1644D/A1/196/073MF96050