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
HOBS, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1559D/A1/167/109MF96000
HOBSN, AnneGrazeley, Sulhamstead Abbots1698D/A1/83/48MF528
HOBSON, BrianGreshall [Grazeley], Sulhamstead Abbots1635D/A1/79/101MF526
HOBSON, CatherineWallingtons, Kintbury1661D/A1/196/116 MF96051
HOBSON, GeoffreyKintbury1569D/A1/76/122 D/A1/9/208MF524 MF10046
HOBSON, JoanEaston, Welford1598D/A1/77/144 D/A1/13/284MF525 MF10049
HOBSON, JohnElcot, KintburyHusbandman1635D/A1/79/100MF526
HOBSON, MartinKintbury1609D/A1/168/050MF96001
HOBSON, RichardSulhamstead1690D/A1/197/124MF96053
HOBSON, RobertElcot, KintburyHusbandman1672D/A1/197/3MF96052
HOBSON, RobertNewbury1683D/A1/197/70 MF96052
HOBSON, WilliamChieveleyYeoman1803D/A1/153/5MF560
HOBSONNE, JohnElcot, Kintbury1624D/A1/78/170MF525
HOBSONNE, MartinElcot, Kintbury1609D/A1/195/033MF96048
HOBY, WilliamBisham1661D/A1/196/98MF96051
HOCCOTTE, RichardLittle Wittenham1559D/A1/76/032 D/A1/8/033MF524 MF10043C
HOCHINDON, AliceKennington1568D/A1/193/208 D/A1/167/138MF96045 MF96000
HOCHYNS, WilliamWest HendredHusbandman1569D/A1/76/115 D/A1/9/140MF524 MF10046
HOCKER, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1709D/A1/83/129MF528
HOCKLEY, EleanorWinkfield1716D/A1/83/193MF529
HOCKLEY, MaryWoolhampton1774D/A1/85/87MF530
HOCKLEY, RogerWinkfieldHusbandman1695D/A1/197/158MF96053
HOCKLEY, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1764D/A1/85/41MF530
HOCKLY, JamesUfton NervetYeoman1663D/A1/196/134 MF96051
HOCNELL, JoanReading St Giles1557D/A1/4/094MF604
HODD, DaveySunninghill1555D/A1/7/089MF10040
HODE, HenrySunninghill1551D/A1/75/036MF523
HODE, RichardSunninghill1555D/A1/75/055MF523
HODGE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1561D/A1/76/074 D/A1/8/211MF524 MF10043C
HODGES, AliceReading (W.), Swallowfield1665D/A1/80/139MF527
HODGES, AnthonyWythamRector1686D/A1/82/55MF528
HODGES, EdwardReadingWeaver1727D/A1/198/174MF96055
HODGES, ElizabethSwallowfield1673D/A1/81/58MF527
HODGES, JohnPeasemoreHusbandman1639D/A1/196/047MF96050
HODGES, JohnBucklebury1695D/A1/83/30MF528
HODGES, WilliamShinfieldYeoman1638D/A1/79/136MF526
HODGSON, AliceBrimpton1630D/A1/195/128MF96049
HODGSON, AliceBrimpton1630D/A1/168/193MF96001
HODGSON, JohnBrimpton1605D/A1/77/205 D/A1/14/074MF525 MF10064
HODGSON, LancelotBrimptonClerk1627D/A1/79/001MF526
HODGSON, MaryBrimpton1632D/A1/79/058MF526
HODGSON, SarahReadingStraw Hatmaker1845D/A1/154/69MF580
HODGYS, JohnTilehurstSmith1557D/A1/75/067MF523
HODSON, JohnCumnor1724D/A1/84/46MF529
HODSON, MargaretReading1833D/A1/154/12MF580
HODSON, RichardLetcombe RegisYeoman1669D/A1/81/1MF527
HODSON, RichardNewburyInnholder1713D/A1/198/70MF96054
HODSON, ThomasBuscotYeoman1686D/A1/197/98 MF96052
HOEL, Joel SnrRemenhamMiller1663D/A1/80/121MF527
HOELL, ElizabethThatcham1694D/A1/83/18MF528
HOELL, RichardShinfieldYeoman1711D/A1/83/145MF528
HOELL, WalterNorth Hinksey, CumnorHusbandman1560D/A1/76/043 D/A1/6/080MF524 MF10043B
HOFFMAN, RuthNear Woodstock, Oxon. (W.), Newbury1683D/A1/82/30MF528
HOGG, WilliamTilehurst1622D/A1/78/139MF525
HOKE, NicholasNewbury1546D/A1/233/002MF96132
HOKER, JohnReading St GilesMillwright1583D/A1/76/207 D/A1/10/401MF524 MF10047A
HOKER, WilliamWaltham St Lawrence1561D/A1/76/096 D/A1/7/343MF524 MF10040
HOLAWEY, JohnKintbury1568D/A1/193/207MF96045
HOLCOTT, JohnBuckland1559D/A1/76/056 D/A1/10/037MF524 MF10047A
HOLDEN, EdwardSpeenYeoman1663D/A1/80/117MF527
HOLDEN, FrancisBenham, SpeenHusbandman1638D/A1/79/134MF526
HOLDEN, HenryBenham, SpeenHusbandman1550D/A1/75/034MF523
HOLDEN, HenryBenham, SpeenHusbandman1550D/A1/5/104MF10043A
HOLDEN, HughBenham, Speen1534D/A1/1/272MF10042
HOLDEN, JoanGreenham, Thatcham 1740D/A1/198/190MF96055
HOLDEN, JohnWoodspeen, SpeenYeoman1652D/A1/80/062MF526
HOLDEN, MargaretNew Windsor, Windsor1559D/A1/76/025 D/A1/7/324MF524 MF10040
HOLDER, JamesGreenham, Thatcham Yeoman1830D/A1/153/121MF560
HOLDER, JosephThatchamMillwright1853D/A1/228/154MF96125
HOLDER, MarthaGrosvenor Square, Middlesex1846D/A1/154/71MF580
HOLDER, MaryMilton1744D/A1/84/202MF529
HOLDER, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1762D/A1/85/32MF530
HOLDERNES, HughWallingford St Mary1556D/A1/7/110MF10040
HOLDERNES, John SnrCookham1541D/A1/2/238MF604
HOLDERNES, RogerTidmarshMilner1611D/A1/195/042MF96048
HOLDERNES, RogerTidmarshMiller1625D/A1/195/104MF96049
HOLDERNES, RogerCookhamBlacksmith1662D/A1/80/96MF527
HOLDERNES, ThomasCookhamFisherman1623D/A1/195/095MF96049
HOLDERNES, ThomasCookhamYeoman1673D/A1/81/52MF527
HOLDERNES, WilliamPangbourne1612D/A1/195/044MF96048
HOLDERNESS, ElizabethReading1761D/A1/198/249MF96055
HOLDERNESS, JoanCookham1574D/A1/193/229MF96045
HOLDERNESS, JohnCookham1574D/A1/193/225MF96045
HOLDERNESSE, RogerCookham1598D/A1/194/099MF96047
HOLDERNESSE, RogerCookham1598D/A1/13/426MF10049
HOLDERNESSE, RogerTidmarsh1611D/A1/168/077MF96001
HOLDIN, John JnrBenham, SpeenYeoman1616D/A1/78/061 D/A1/15/590MF525 MF10065
HOLDING, HenryBenham Valence, SpeenYeoman1645D/A1/196/072MF96050
HOLDIPP, ChristopherSpeenHusbandman1685D/A1/197/90MF96052
HOLDIPP, JohnEnborneTurner1707D/A1/83/117MF528
HOLDIPPE, ChristopherHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1633D/A1/196/003MF96050
HOLDIPPE, ChristopherHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1633D/A1/168/237MF96001
HOLDIPPE, HenryHoe Benham, WelfordYeoman1662D/A1/196/125MF96051
HOLDSHIP, RichardWinkfieldYeoman1743D/A1/84/195MF529
HOLDSLIPPE, EmmaNew Windsor, Windsor1633D/A1/196/023MF96050
HOLDWAIE, JohnBoxford1555D/A1/193/176MF96045
HOLDWAY, AnnLambourn1826D/A1/228/108MF96125
HOLDWAY, ElizabethMidgham, Thatcham1687D/A1/197/104MF96053
HOLDWAY, GregoryInkpenYeoman1630D/A1/168/182MF96001
HOLDWAY, JohnLambourn1611D/A1/195/041MF96048