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
HEITHES, ThomasHurleyYeoman1546D/A1/2/003MF603
HELDER, ThomasEast Hendred1559D/A1/76/045 D/A1/7/308MF524 MF10040
HELER, HarryHarwell1558D/A1/193/179MF96045
HELEY, Richard1543D/A1/193/142MF96045
HELHOWSE, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1554D/A1/193/172MF96045
HELL, JohnEnborne1558D/A1/76/009 D/A1/7/185MF524 MF10040
HELL, JohnTheale, TilehurstShoemaker1594D/A1/77/096 D/A1/12/166MF524 MF10048
HELLER, EdwardEast HendredHusbandman1621D/A1/78/125MF525
HELLER, JoanEnborne1613D/A1/195/057 D/A1/168/104MF96049 MF96001
HELLHOWSE, JohnSwallowfieldYeoman1564D/A1/76/078 D/A1/7/374MF524 MF10040
HELLIAR , RichardWoolhamptonYeoman1689D/A1/82/87MF528
HELLIAR, EleanorBuckland1628D/A1/196/057/2MF96050
HELLIAR, JohnEnborneYeoman1594D/A1/77/102 D/A1/12/260MF524 MF10048
HELLIER, DanielKintburyYeoman1716D/A1/83/191MF529
HELLIER, JohnKingstone Winslow, Ashbury1587D/A1/194/042MF96046
HELLIER, JohnAshbury1587D/A1/11/157MF10047B
HELLIER, WilliamEast Hanney, Hanney1616D/A1/78/059 D/A1/15/578MF525 MF10065
HELLIER, WilliamWoolhampton1705D/A1/122/135MF543
HELLOW, CharlesHarwellYeoman1757D/A1/85/13MF530
HELLOW, NathanielHarwellYeoman1746D/A1/84/213MF529
HELLYARD, AlexanderBucklandHusbandman1625D/A1/195/105MF96049
HELLYER, ElizabethBrightwalton1544D/A1/193/148MF96045
HELLYER, RichardGreenham, Thatcham Gardener1712D/A1/83/150MF528
HELOWES, ThomasStratfield Mortimer1553D/A1/7/338bMF10040
HELREYE, JohnEast IlsleyHusbandman1572D/A1/76/148MF524
HELYAR, RichardLeckhampstead, ChieveleyHusbandman1597D/A1/77/134 D/A1/13/226MF524 MF10049
HELYAR, WilliamLongcot, Shrivenham1529D/A1/1/115MF10041
HEMMINS, JohnAbingdonVictualler1827D/A1/153/104MF560
HEMUS, JohnPadworthClergyman1824D/A1/153/83MF560
HEMYNGE, WilliamMarchamHusbandman1673D/A1/197/13MF96052
HENACH, SarahYattendon1745D/A1/198/212MF96055
HENARD, RichardTidmarsh1635D/A1/196/031MF96050
HENDERSON, ArchibaldStanfordPedler1737D/A1/198/179MF96055
HENDERSON, EdwardStreatleyYeoman1737D/A1/198/181MF96055
HENE, HenryFoliejohn ('Holy John') Park, Winkfield1706D/A1/198/33MF96054
HENLEY, JohnWest Shefford1563D/A1/76/094 D/A1/8/247MF524 MF10043C
HENLEY, John SnrWest Shefford1555D/A1/7/088 D/A1/75/056MF10040 MF523
HENLEY, ThomasHamstead MarshallParson, Clerk1559D/A1/76/020 D/A1/8/117MF524 MF10043C
HENLEY, ThomasWinkfieldFarmer1715D/A1/83/181MF529
HENLEY, WilliamChieveleyHusbandman1564D/A1/76/082MF524
HENLY, WilliamChieveleyHusbandman1564D/A1/8/285MF10043C
HENLY, WilliamChieveleyHusbandman1600D/A1/77/170 D/A1/13/604MF525 MF10049
HENNER, WilliamNewburyGardener1611D/A1/78/013 D/A1/15/125MF525 MF10065
HENSLAY, BenjaminNetherton, FyfieldYeoman1684D/A1/197/83MF96052
HENSLAY, ThomasNetherton, FyfieldYeoman1709D/A1/83/136MF528
HENSLEY, JosephNetherton, FyfieldHusbandman1669D/A1/196/169MF96051
HENSLEY, RobertFyfieldYeoman1772D/A1/85/74MF530
HENSLOW, MaryHyde Place, Brimpton1676D/A1/197/28MF96052
HENSLOW, WilliamFyfieldYeoman1773D/A1/85/86MF530
HENUD, HenryEast GarstonTucker1607D/A1/195/023MF96048
HENWOOD, ElizabethSteventon1641D/A1/79/178MF526
HENWOOD, HenryEast Garston1607D/A1/168/028MF96001
HENWOOD, JoanChieveley1606D/A1/77/242 D/A1/14/216MF525 MF10064
HENWOOD, JohnCharney, LongworthHusbandman1648D/A1/80/049MF526
HENWOOD, JohnUfton NervetHusbandman1690D/A1/197/129MF96053
HENWOOD, John SnrCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1709D/A1/198/50MF96054
HENWOOD, RichardTidmarshMiller1635D/A1/196/030/1MF96050
HENWOOD, RichardSteventonHusbandman1637D/A1/196/030/2 D/A1/196/041MF96050 MF96050
HENWOOD, RichardAbingdonBlacksmith1728D/A1/84/70MF529
HENWOOD, RobertChieveley1614D/A1/78/045 D/A1/15/439MF525 MF10065
HENWOOD, WilliamPurley1639D/A1/79/149MF526
HERBED, RichardThatcham1588D/A1/11/179MF10047B
HERBERD, EdeWyfield, Boxford1599D/A1/77/157 D/A1/13/395MF525 MF10049
HERBERD, RalphWyfield, BoxfordHusbandman1601D/A1/77/180MF525
HERBERT , HenryShellingfordYeoman1691D/A1/197/132MF96053
HERBERT , William SnrAston Upthorpe, BlewburyYeoman1810D/A1/153/39MF560
HERBERT, AdreeLongworth1719D/A1/84/4MF529
HERBERT, AmeliaMarcham1816D/A1/228/87MF96125
HERBERT, HenryDraycott Moor, LongworthYeoman1790D/A1/85/148MF530
HERBERT, JohnAldworthYeoman1642D/A1/79/193MF526
HERBERT, JohnRadleyVicar1669D/A1/196/167MF96051
HERBERT, JohnChieveleyYeoman1725D/A1/84/56MF529
HERBERT, JudithEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1723D/A1/198/114MF96054
HERBERT, MargaretTilehurst1710D/A1/83/140MF528
HERBERT, RalphCookham1683D/A1/197/74MF96052
HERBERT, RichardShaw Cum DonningtonGardener1739D/A1/84/159MF529
HERBERT, RichardAston TirroldYeoman1824D/A1/153/89MF560
HERBERT, RobertCourage, ChieveleyHusbandman1591D/A1/77/066MF524
HERBERT, RobertCourage, ChieveleyHusbandman1591D/A1/11/381MF10047B
HERBERT, RobertCurridge, Chieveley1686D/A1/197/95 MF96052
HERBERT, SarahAston Tirrold1826D/A1/228/107MF96125
HERBERT, SimonLongworthYeoman1804D/A1/153/11MF560
HERBERT, ThomasEast Challow, Letcombe RegisSawyer1731D/A1/84/99MF529
HERBERT, ThomasUfton NervetYeoman1788D/A1/85/139MF530
HERBERT, WilliamKingston BagpuizeYeoman1685D/A1/82/31MF528
HERBERT, WilliamEast HendredBricklayer1832D/A1/154/8MF580
HERCY, JohnWaltham St. Lawrence1684D/A1/197/80MF96052
HERMAN (ALIAS WEBB), JaneNorth Moreton1731D/A1/198/155MF96054
HERMAN, BernardEast Hanney, West HanneyVictualler1855D/A1/154/109MF580
HERMAN, HenryEast Hanney, West HanneyShopkeeper1853D/A1/154/101MF580
HERMAN, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1826D/A1/153/99MF560
HERMAN, RichardArdingtonHusbandman1588D/A1/77/045 D/A1/11/164MF524 MF10047B
HERMAN, RichardArdington1588D/A1/194/044MF96046
HERMAN, RichardArdington1588D/A1/11/160MF10047B
HERMAN, RichardEast HendredHusbandman1619D/A1/195/080MF96049
HERMAN, RichardEast Hendred1619D/A1/168/163MF96001
HERMAN, WilliamEast HendredLabourer1739D/A1/198/185MF96055
HERMER, TobyCookham1610D/A1/168/068MF96001
HERMON, JohnNorth MoretonHusbandman1730D/A1/198/146MF96054
HERMON, WilliamNew Windsor, WindsorSmith1556D/A1/193/175 D/A1/7/338eMF96045 MF10040