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
HERMON, WilliamEast IlsleyLabourer1736D/A1/198/171MF96055
HERN, WilliamSpeenCordwainer1708D/A1/198/47MF96054
HERNE, JohnEast HendredHusbandman1602D/A1/77/182 D/A1/13/898MF525 MF10049
HERNE, MargaretAbingdon St Helen1576D/A1/193/237MF96045
HERNE, RichardBoxfordLabourer1773D/A1/85/84MF530
HERNE, WilliamHinksey, Cumnor1591D/A1/11/374MF10047B
HERNY, PhyllisMarcham1553D/A1/193/171MF96045
HERON, HughInkpen1629D/A1/16/153MF10066
HERON, JoanAbingdon1703D/A1/83/92MF528
HERON, JohnEling, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1633D/A1/79/068MF526
HERON, MargaretInkpen1672D/A1/81/44MF527
HERREAT, WilliamOwnham, BoxfordYeoman1695D/A1/83/27MF528
HERRIDGE, JamesPadworthCarpenter1850D/A1/154/87MF580
HERRING, ElizabethWallingford1713D/A1/198/74MF96054
HERRING, JohnLambournYeoman1673D/A1/81/53MF527
HERRING, JohnChipping Lambourn, LambournGardener1704D/A1/83/102MF528
HERRING, JohnColeshillYeoman1714D/A1/83/172MF528
HERRING, JosephColeshillYeoman1766D/A1/85/51MF530
HERRING, RichardLambournHusbandman1700D/A1/198/4MF96054
HERRING, WilliamWhatcombe, Fawley1618D/A1/168/152MF96001
HERRING, William JnrNew Windsor, WindsorHatter1706D/A1/198/34MF96054
HERRINGE, WilliamWhatcombe, FawleyShepherd1618D/A1/195/072MF96049
HERRIOTT, FrancisWelfordYeoman1716D/A1/198/86MF96054
HERRON, JohnEling, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1626D/A1/78/185MF525
HERRONE, HughEling, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1589D/A1/77/050 D/A1/11/198MF524 MF10047B
HERSEY, JohnEast HendredHusbandman1584D/A1/77/001 D/A1/10/445MF524 MF10047A
HERSEY, John SnrEast HendredHusbandman1574D/A1/76/162 D/A1/9/404MF524 MF10046
HERSEY, NathanielReading St GilesCooper1630D/A1/79/043MF526
HERSEY, ThomasWinkfield1668D/A1/80/168MF527
HERSY, AgnesEast Hendred1561D/A1/76/073 D/A1/8/209MF524 MF10043C
HERSY, JohnShellingford1666D/A1/80/153MF527
HERSY, MaryShellingford1667D/A1/80/162MF527
HERSY, ThomasEast Hendred1550D/A1/193/162MF96045
HERT, IsabelReading St Laurence1515D/A1/1/023MF10041
HESKINS, FrancisMaidencourt, East Garston1639D/A1/79/146MF526
HESKINS, ThomasWelford1597D/A1/194/083MF96047
HESKINS, ThomasWelford1597D/A1/13/184MF10049
HESKYNNES, JohnWest SheffordHusbandman1618D/A1/78/096 D/A1/15/826MF525 MF10065
HESSY, RichardBucklandHusbandman1558D/A1/76/023 D/A1/8/012MF524 MF10043C
HESTER , John SnrStanford In The ValeTailor1751D/A1/84/241MF529
HESTER , Thomas SnrStanford In The ValeStay Maker1746D/A1/84/217MF529
HESTER, AliceWallingford1635D/A1/79/105MF526
HESTER, ElizabethStanford In The Vale1756D/A1/84/265MF529
HESTER, MaryStanford In The Vale1747D/A1/84/219MF529
HETH , RichardUfton Nervet1528D/A1/1/113MF10041
HETH, JoanSulhamstead Abbots1551D/A1/4/097 D/A1/5/129MF604 MF10043A
HETHE, EdmundWarfield1550D/A1/75/031MF523
HETHE, EdmundWarfieldHusbandman1550D/A1/5/099MF10043A
HETHE, JohnReading St MaryClothier1556D/A1/7/113MF10040
HETHE, ThomasSulhamstead Abbots1528D/A1/1/066MF10041
HETHE, ThomasWhite WalthamHusbandman1559D/A1/76/002 D/A1/8/104MF524 MF10043C
HETHE, WilliamWarfieldHusbandman1559D/A1/76/028 D/A1/8/086MF524 MF10043C
HEUATT, RogerWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1668D/A1/196/148MF96051
HEWARD, WilliamBinfield1586D/A1/77/017 D/A1/11/106MF524 MF10047B
HEWATT, ElizabethChieveley1727D/A1/198/132MF96054
HEWATT, HenryEast IlsleyHusbandman1689D/A1/197/121MF96053
HEWATT, JohnDuxford, Hinton WaldristYeoman1688D/A1/197/115MF96053
HEWERTON, RichardBray1604D/A1/194/118MF96047
HEWES, EdmundBarton, Abingdon St NicholasHusbandman1589D/A1/77/052 D/A1/11/225MF524 MF10047B
HEWES, EdwardShrivenhamYeoman1631D/A1/79/049MF526
HEWES, JohnLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1589D/A1/77/035 D/A1/11/188MF524 MF10047B
HEWES, JohnLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1673D/A1/81/50MF527
HEWES, JohnLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1731D/A1/84/95MF529
HEWES, RichardOxford, OxfordshireAlderman1499D/A1/1/289cMF10042
HEWES, RichardLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1608D/A1/77/235 D/A1/14/392MF525 MF10064
HEWES, ThomasLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1691D/A1/83/2MF528
HEWES, ThomasAbingdon1698D/A1/83/43MF528
HEWES, WalterKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1593D/A1/77/091 D/A1/12/133MF524 MF10048
HEWET, HenryEast Ilsley1662D/A1/80/94MF527
HEWET, JacobBinfieldCarrier1692D/A1/197/136MF96053
HEWETT , John SnrEast IlsleyYeoman1737D/A1/84/147MF529
HEWETT , John SnrEast IlsleyYeoman1760D/A1/85/20MF530
HEWETT , Richard SnrStanford In The ValeCarpenter1743D/A1/84/193MF529
HEWETT, AnnCompton1802D/A1/153/2MF560
HEWETT, JohnWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1585D/A1/194/030MF96046
HEWETT, JohnWaltham St Lawrence1585D/A1/11/009MF10047B
HEWETT, JohnWaltham St Lawrence1612D/A1/195/046MF96048
HEWETT, JohnBuckland Marsh, BucklandYeoman1689D/A1/82/86MF528
HEWETT, JohnReadingBookseller1716D/A1/83/192MF529
HEWETT, JohnHarwellCordwainer1716D/A1/83/187MF529
HEWETT, JohnLong WittenhamWheelwright1796D/A1/85/166MF530
HEWETT, JohnComptonYeoman1817D/A1/228/92MF96125
HEWETT, JohnBrightwellWheelwright1819D/A1/153/62MF560
HEWETT, NicholasFyfield1553D/A1/75/044MF523
HEWETT, NicholasOck Street, Abingdon1554D/A1/7/029MF10040
HEWETT, SarahCompton1825D/A1/153/96MF560
HEWETT, ThomasEast IlsleyCordwainer1707D/A1/83/116MF528
HEWETT, ThomasStanford In The ValeCarpenter1768D/A1/85/63MF530
HEWETT, ThomasLong WittenhamWheelwright1852D/A1/154/97MF580
HEWLETT , Richard SnrChildreyYeoman1774D/A1/85/89MF530
HEWS, ThomasThatchamGardener1701D/A1/198/8MF96054
HEWSE, GeorgeWelford1582D/A1/194/018MF96046
HEWSE, JoanKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1601D/A1/77/177 D/A1/13/774MF525 MF10049
HEWSE, MargeryMarcham1567D/A1/76/104 D/A1/9/061MF524 MF10046
HEXTON, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorBaker1587D/A1/77/031 D/A1/11/278MF524 MF10047B
HEYCES, William1544D/A1/75/008 D/A1/1/008bMF523 MF10041
HEYCRAFT, RebeccaMaidenhead1706D/A1/198/29MF96054
HEYCRAFT, ThomasKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1637D/A1/79/118MF526
HEYCRAST, Thomas JnrDraycott Moor, Longworth1558D/A1/76/018 D/A1/7/212MF524 MF10040
HEYCROFT, DennisMoor, Longworth1603D/A1/77/187 D/A1/13/914MF525 MF10049