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
HILL, IsaacReading St Mary1784D/A1/198/284MF96055
HILL, JabeshNewburyChapman1714D/A1/83/171MF528
HILL, JamesSunninghillBricklayer1695D/A1/197/157MF96053
HILL, JaneReading1700D/A1/83/65MF528
HILL, JaneSouth Moreton1762D/A1/85/29MF530
HILL, JoanCookham1586D/A1/77/020 D/A1/11/056MF524 MF10047B
HILL, JohnWhite Waltham1564D/A1/76/079 D/A1/8/307MF524 MF10043C
HILL, JohnWelford1589D/A1/194/058MF96046
HILL, JohnWelford1589D/A1/11/367MF10047B
HILL, JohnWargraveHusbandman1617D/A1/195/064MF96049
HILL, JohnWargrave1617D/A1/168/138MF96001
HILL, JohnCumnorHusbandman1622D/A1/195/092MF96049
HILL, JohnSpeenTailor1631D/A1/195/122MF96049
HILL, JohnKingston BagpuizeInnholder1641D/A1/196/060MF96050
HILL, JohnBinfieldHusbandman1671D/A1/81/36MF527
HILL, JohnCholseyYeoman1683D/A1/82/26MF528
HILL, JohnBasildonYeoman1686D/A1/82/68MF528
HILL, JohnMaidenhead, BrayGardener1710D/A1/198/62MF96054
HILL, JohnBrayGardener1710D/A1/198/62MF96054
HILL, JohnSouth Moreton1741D/A1/198/195MF96055
HILL, JohnCholseyYeoman1773D/A1/85/85MF530
HILL, JohnWaltham St LawrenceCarpenter1775D/A1/85/96MF530
HILL, John SnrBasildonYeoman1676D/A1/197/30MF96052
HILL, JosephHinton WaldristRector1673D/A1/81/65MF527
HILL, JosephChieveleyCarpenter1768D/A1/85/62MF530
HILL, JosephLambournShopkeeper1771D/A1/85/69MF530
HILL, JosephBasingstoke, HampshireServant1803D/A1/153/8MF560
HILL, MargaretBray1598D/A1/77/139 D/A1/13/268MF525 MF10049
HILL, MargaretTilehurst1604D/A1/195/005MF96048
HILL, MargaretBoxford1614D/A1/78/038 D/A1/15/411MF525 MF10065
HILL, MaryWest Woodhay1675D/A1/197/20MF96052
HILL, MatthewBourton, ShrivenhamCarpenter1616D/A1/195/063MF96049
HILL, MatthewBourton, Shrivenham1616D/A1/168/129MF96001
HILL, MatthewNewburyCloth Worker1672D/A1/197/2MF96052
HILL, MaudeEnborne1558D/A1/8/014MF10043C
HILL, PhilipReading St GilesCloth Worker1690D/A1/197/128MF96053
HILL, Priscilla AnnCholsey1749D/A1/84/230MF529
HILL, RachelChieveley1824D/A1/153/85MF560
HILL, RalphBuckleburyYeoman1716D/A1/83/195MF529
HILL, ReynoldAbingdon St HelenChandler1597D/A1/77/127 D/A1/13/076MF524 MF10049
HILL, RichardAbingdon St Helen1560D/A1/3/020MF604
HILL, RichardNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1663D/A1/80/112MF527
HILL, RichardLeckhampstead, ChieveleyServant1685D/A1/82/51MF528
HILL, RichardChieveley1749D/A1/84/235MF529
HILL, RichardSutton Courtenay1769D/A1/85/64MF530
HILL, RobertWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1632D/A1/79/061MF526
HILL, RobertOld Windsor1638D/A1/16/465MF10066
HILL, RobertCholsey1682D/A1/197/63MF96052
HILL, RobertAppleford, Sutton CourtenayClerk1689D/A1/82/90MF528
HILL, RobertChieveleyYeoman1733D/A1/84/111MF529
HILL, RogerWest IlsleyHusbandman, Labourer1641D/A1/79/179MF526
HILL, Samuel JnrDownend, ChieveleyHusbandman1703D/A1/198/17MF96054
HILL, Samuel SnrDownend, ChieveleyYeoman1704D/A1/83/99MF528
HILL, SarahNewbury1842D/A1/154/50MF580
HILL, Simon SnrReadingFellmonger1687D/A1/82/71MF528
HILL, SusannaNewbury1691D/A1/82/99MF528
HILL, ThomasBoxfordYeoman1533D/A1/1/266MF10042
HILL, ThomasReading1581D/A1/194/015MF96046
HILL, ThomasReading1581D/A1/10/251MF10047A
HILL, ThomasWallingfordGlover1591D/A1/194/061MF96046
HILL, ThomasWallingford1591D/A1/11/374MF10047B
HILL, ThomasAbingdonPainter1593D/A1/194/068MF96046
HILL, ThomasBoxfordYeoman1594D/A1/77/097 D/A1/12/205MF524 MF10048
HILL, ThomasBoxfordYeoman1598D/A1/194/095MF96047
HILL, ThomasThatchamChapman1599D/A1/77/159 D/A1/13/414MF525 MF10049
HILL, ThomasNorth Moreton1613D/A1/78/044 D/A1/15/340MF525 MF10065
HILL, ThomasWhitley1614D/A1/195/060MF96049
HILL, ThomasWhitley, Reading St GilesHusbandman1641D/A1/196/059MF96050
HILL, ThomasWallingfordFisherman1649D/A1/196/084MF96050
HILL, ThomasPreston, Ramsbury, Wilts., End. 'Afterwards Of Lamborne  Woodlandes'Yeoman1667D/A1/80/164MF527
HILL, ThomasStreatleyShepherd1669D/A1/196/166MF96051
HILL, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1673D/A1/81/60MF527
HILL, ThomasWeston, WelfordHusbandman1687D/A1/197/103MF96053
HILL, ThomasLeckhampstead, Chieveley1710D/A1/198/60MF96054
HILL, ThomasLeckhampstead, Chieveley1710D/A1/198/60MF96054
HILL, ThomasNorth Heath, ChieveleyYeoman1711D/A1/83/148MF528
HILL, ThomasReadingBricklayer1718D/A1/83/202MF529
HILL, ThomasBuckleburyWheelwright1747D/A1/84/218MF529
HILL, ThomasLambournClock Maker1771D/A1/85/70MF530
HILL, Thomas SnrReading St MaryBricklayer1709D/A1/83/128MF528
HILL, WilliamSpeen1579D/A1/194/007MF96046
HILL, WilliamSpeen1579D/A1/10/161MF10047A
HILL, WilliamAbingdonGlover1609D/A1/77/218 D/A1/14/515MF525 MF10064
HILL, WilliamStratfield MortimerHusbandman1612D/A1/78/022 D/A1/15/230MF525 MF10065
HILL, WilliamCookhamYeoman1614D/A1/78/043 D/A1/15/428MF525 MF10065
HILL, WilliamReading St GilesBaker1627D/A1/79/005MF526
HILL, WilliamBinfieldYeoman1650D/A1/196/088MF96050
HILL, William SnrBinfieldYeoman1632D/A1/79/053MF526
HILLAR , ThomasMaidenhead, Bray1613D/A1/195/052MF96049
HILLAR, ThomasMaidenhead1613D/A1/168/099MF96001
HILLARY, ThomasWaltham St Lawrence1550D/A1/193/167MF96045
HILLER, ElizabethWarfield1618D/A1/78/082 D/A1/15/777MF525 MF10065
HILLER, JohnWarfield1592D/A1/77/079 D/A1/12/042MF524 MF10048
HILLER, ThomasWarfieldYeoman1684D/A1/82/40MF528
HILLER, WilliamBinfieldTailor1600D/A1/77/164 D/A1/13/531MF525 MF10049
HILLES, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorInnholder1599D/A1/77/148 D/A1/13/371MF525 MF10049
HILLIAR, AnnKintbury1748D/A1/198/221MF96055
HILLIARD, EleanorNewbury1642D/A1/196/057/1MF96050
HILLIARD, MarthaLittle Bedwyn, Wiltshire1699D/A1/83/52MF528
HILLIARD, ThomasChieveleyGrocer1745D/A1/84/211MF529