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
HIGGS, JamesSulhamstead Abbots1692D/A1/197/137MF96053
HIGGS, JamesAldermaston1718D/A1/83/207MF529
HIGGS, JoanReading1674D/A1/81/69MF527
HIGGS, JoanBradfield1709D/A1/83/137MF528
HIGGS, JohnHampstead Norreys1640D/A1/79/159MF526
HIGGS, JohnWestridge, StreatleyYeoman1665D/A1/80/141MF527
HIGGS, JohnBasildonYeoman1667D/A1/80/158MF527
HIGGS, JohnReading St MaryFarrier1674D/A1/197/16MF96052
HIGGS, JohnNewburyBarber1691D/A1/83/8MF528
HIGGS, JohnWallingfordYeoman1731D/A1/84/98MF529
HIGGS, JohnReading1749D/A1/84/234MF529
HIGGS, JohnBasildonYeoman1752D/A1/84/249MF529
HIGGS, JohnUpton, BlewburyCooper1822D/A1/153/76MF560
HIGGS, JonathanPangbourneBoat Builder1743D/A1/198/208MF96055
HIGGS, JosephThatchamBentware Maker1802D/A1/153/25MF560
HIGGS, MaryHook End, Basildon1634D/A1/79/082MF526
HIGGS, MaryWallingford1710D/A1/83/143MF528
HIGGS, MaryWallingford1710D/A1/83/143MF528
HIGGS, MaryBasildon1722D/A1/84/33MF529
HIGGS, MaryWest Hanney1741D/A1/198/205MF96055
HIGGS, NathanielEast Hagbourne, HagbourneCarpenter1765D/A1/85/42MF530
HIGGS, NathanielEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1825D/A1/153/94MF560
HIGGS, NicholasSwallowfieldYeoman1669D/A1/196/170MF96051
HIGGS, RichardWest HanneyYeoman1718D/A1/83/208MF529
HIGGS, RichardEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1799D/A1/85/171MF530
HIGGS, Richard SnrSulhamstead BannisterTurner1665D/A1/80/144MF527
HIGGS, SamuelReading St LaurenceLinen Draper1682D/A1/197/64MF96052
HIGGS, SarahWallingford1733D/A1/84/115MF529
HIGGS, SarahEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1776D/A1/85/107MF530
HIGGS, SarahReading1831D/A1/154/1MF580
HIGGS, ThomasBasildon1612D/A1/168/093MF96001
HIGGS, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1637D/A1/79/120MF526
HIGGS, ThomasMaidenhatch, PangbourneYeoman1637D/A1/16/454MF10066
HIGGS, ThomasBishamHusbandman1677D/A1/197/36MF96052
HIGGS, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1737D/A1/198/172MF96055
HIGGS, ThomasLambournLabourer1766D/A1/85/2MF530
HIGGS, WalterBasildonHusbandman1634D/A1/79/081MF526
HIGGS, WilliamWestridge, StreatleyYeoman1627D/A1/16/105MF10066
HIGGS, WilliamBasildonPlough Maker1660D/A1/196/104 MF96051
HIGGS, WilliamWargraveYeoman1661D/A1/196/99MF96051
HIGGS, WilliamMidgham, ThatchamWeaver1685D/A1/197/85MF96052
HIGGS, WilliamStreatley1705D/A1/83/109MF528
HIGGS, WilliamReadingMiller1728D/A1/198/137MF96054
HIGGS, WilliamBasildonCarpenter1738D/A1/84/156MF529
HIGGS, WilliamEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1745D/A1/84/212MF529
HIGHAM, JohnTheale, TilehurstCarpenter1800D/A1/85/177MF530
HIGHAM, RobertBrimpton1587D/A1/194/032 D/A1/12/393MF96046 MF10048
HIGHAM, ThomasThatchamBellows Maker1712D/A1/83/152MF528
HIGHAM, WilliamReading1805D/A1/228/70MF96125
HIGHWOOD, JohnReadingMaltster1739D/A1/84/168MF529
HIGHWOODE, ThomasWargraveYeoman1685D/A1/82/50MF528
HIGNELL, DennisBradfieldMaltster1806D/A1/153/19MF560
HIGONS, EdmundHatfordYeoman1707D/A1/83/118MF528
HIGS, JohnWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1619D/A1/78/106MF525
HILDESLEY, DorothyEast Ilsley1598D/A1/194/094MF96047
HILDESLEY, Richard SnrBeenham1642D/A1/80/002MF526
HILDESLEY, WalterEast Ilsley1598D/A1/194/098MF96047
HILDESLEY, WilliamBeenham1592D/A1/77/074 D/A1/12/033MF524 MF10048
HILDESLEY, WilliamEast Ilsley1622D/A1/16/045MF10066
HILDESLEY, William SnrBeenham1636D/A1/79/111MF526
HILDESLY, DorothyEast Ilsley1598D/A1/13/423MF10049
HILDESLY, RichardBradfield1598D/A1/13/421MF10049
HILDESLY, WalterEast Ilsley1598D/A1/13/426MF10049
HILDSLEY, RichardBradfield1598D/A1/194/093MF96047
HILL , JohnStratfield Mortimer1559D/A1/193/194 D/A1/167/107MF96045 MF96000
HILL , John SnrChieveleyYeoman1748D/A1/84/222MF529
HILL , MargaretTilehurst1604D/A1/14/175MF10064
HILL , ThomasWhitley1614D/A1/168/113MF96001
HILL SENR, RichardChieveleyYeoman1727D/A1/198/133MF96054
HILL, AbrahamAbingdon St Nicholas1604D/A1/194/119MF96047
HILL, AdamN. Heath, ChieveleyRake Maker1700D/A1/198/1MF96054
HILL, AdamNewbury1709D/A1/83/131MF528
HILL, Adam SnrWelfordHusbandman1686D/A1/197/92MF96052
HILL, AnnLambourn1759D/A1/198/247MF96055
HILL, AnnReading St Mary1784D/A1/198/283MF96055
HILL, AnneBinfield1681D/A1/82/8MF528
HILL, AnthonyLambournTallow Chandler1768D/A1/85/61MF530
HILL, BenjaminNewburyWeaver1711D/A1/198/64MF96054
HILL, BenjaminMarchamLabourer1849D/A1/228/147MF96125
HILL, EdwardN. Heath, ChieveleyPike Maker1665D/A1/80/138MF527
HILL, EdwardBesselsleighClerk, Rector1703D/A1/17/34MF10079
HILL, ElizabethAbingdon1621D/A1/195/091MF96049
HILL, ElizabethAston Tirrold1701D/A1/83/72MF528
HILL, ElizabethReading1715D/A1/83/184MF529
HILL, ElizabethCholsey1750D/A1/198/229MF96055
HILL, ElizabethLambourn1764D/A1/85/39MF530
HILL, FrancesReading1755D/A1/198/239MF96055
HILL, FrancisNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1638D/A1/196/043MF96050
HILL, FrancisWaltham St. LawrenceServant1663D/A1/196/130MF96051
HILL, FrancisBinfieldHusbandman1674D/A1/81/67MF527
HILL, FrancisAston TirroldYeoman1715D/A1/83/175MF529
HILL, GeorgeBoxfordTailor1606D/A1/77/243 D/A1/14/222MF525 MF10064
HILL, GeorgeWelfordTailor1693D/A1/197/144MF96053
HILL, GeorgeLambournAlmsman1839D/A1/154/34MF580
HILL, HannahChaddleworth1832D/A1/154/9MF580
HILL, HenryReading St MaryDyer1629D/A1/79/021MF526
HILL, HesterPangbourne1818D/A1/153/57MF560
HILL, HughAbingdonShoemaker1575D/A1/193/228MF96045
HILL, HughBrayYeoman1625D/A1/78/178MF525
HILL, IsaacWinterbourne, Chieveley1779D/A1/198/278MF96055