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
HOLMS, WilliamEast Ilsley1541D/A1/233/158MF96132
HOLMS, WilliamEast Ilsley1541D/A1/2/267MF604
HOLMS, WilliamChaddleworthYeoman1688D/A1/82/81MF528
HOLOND, MartinKintburyVicar1545D/A1/1/013 D/A1/75/012MF10041 MF523
HOLOWAY, AgnesBradfield1567D/A1/9/075MF10046
HOLOWAY, AgnesBradfield1567D/A1/76/113MF524
HOLOWAY, AliceWasing1556D/A1/75/062MF523
HOLOWAY, EdwardEnglefieldYeoman1561D/A1/76/087 D/A1/7/345MF524 MF10040
HOLOWAY, JohnFinchampstead1543D/A1/75/007 D/A1/1/010MF523 MF10041
HOLOWAY, JohnLambourn1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
HOLOWAY, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1572D/A1/76/147 D/A1/9/312MF524 MF10046
HOLOWAY, JohnTilehurst1574D/A1/193/231MF96045
HOLOWAYE, JohnPurley1556D/A1/2/251MF604
HOLT , JohnNew Windsor, WindsorBaker1624D/A1/78/166MF525
HOLTE, WilliamNew Windsor, Windsor1570D/A1/193/211 D/A1/167/142MF96045 MF96000
HOLTEN , Thomas JnrEast HendredYeoman1710D/A1/198/57MF96054
HOLTEN, Thomas JnrEast HendredYeoman1710D/A1/198/57MF96054
HOLTON, EdmundBinfieldHusbandman1605D/A1/77/202 D/A1/13/1413MF525 MF10049
HOLTON, HenryBinfield1566D/A1/76/103 D/A1/8/372MF524 MF10043C
HOLTON, JoanWaltham St Lawrence1545D/A1/5/018MF10043A
HOLTON, JoanWaltham St Lawrence1546D/A1/75/015MF523
HOLTON, JohnHurley1552D/A1/75/038MF523
HOLTON, JohnHurley1552D/A1/5/160MF10043A
HOLTON, JohnWaltham St Lawrence1603D/A1/194/117MF96047
HOLTON, LionelLyford, HanneyYeoman1594D/A1/194/067MF96046
HOLTON, LionelDenchworth1594D/A1/12/193MF10048
HOLTON, NicholasReadingBricklayer1627D/A1/79/006MF526
HOLTON, RichardBoxfordBlacksmith1722D/A1/84/29MF529
HOLTON, RobertWaltham St Lawrence1554D/A1/75/047 D/A1/7/037MF523 MF10040
HOLTON, RobertHurleyYeoman1591D/A1/77/058 D/A1/11/310MF524 MF10047B
HOLTON, ThomasEast HendredYeoman1730D/A1/84/89MF529
HOLWAY, JoanStanford In The Vale1556D/A1/75/063 D/A1/7/138MF523 MF10040
HOLWAY, JoanTilehurst1559D/A1/8/063MF10043C
HOLWAY, JohnFinchampstead1558D/A1/7/154MF10040
HOLWAY, NicholasStanford In The Vale1530D/A1/1/140 D/A1/1/142MF10042 MF10042
HOLWAY, RichardHampstead NorreysHusbandman1580D/A1/76/188 D/A1/10/240MF524 MF10047A
HOLWAY, RichardStanford In The ValeHusbandman1582D/A1/76/202 D/A1/10/338MF524 MF10047A
HOLWAYE, JohnPurley1556D/A1/233/146MF96132
HOLWAYE, JohnTilehurst1577D/A1/194/001MF96046
HOLWEY, IsabelBasildon1529D/A1/1/116MF10041
HOLWEY, MargaretFinchampstead1560D/A1/76/062 D/A1/8/178MF524 MF10043C
HOLWEY, ThomasPangbourne1539D/A1/1/202MF10042
HOLYAR, RichardShinfield1559D/A1/76/039 D/A1/6/007MF524 MF10043B
HOLYMAN, RichardAldermastonMaltster1732D/A1/84/106MF529
HOMAN, ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorBrewer1632D/A1/196/005 D/A1/168/224MF96050 MF96001
HOMBES, FrancisSteventonCordwainer1677D/A1/81/91MF527
HOMEBORNE, EmmaNewbury1605D/A1/14/181MF10064
HOMES, AliceNewbury1619D/A1/78/107MF525
HOMES, JohnHagbourne1565D/A1/76/097 D/A1/8/354MF524 MF10043C
HOMES, JohnEast Hendred1608D/A1/80/048/2MF526
HOMES, JohnEast Hendred1610D/A1/78/007 D/A1/15/062MF525 MF10065
HOMES, JohnRadleyYeoman1682D/A1/197/66MF96052
HOMES, Richard SnrWest Compton, Compton Husbandman1641D/A1/79/192MF526
HOMES, ThomasSpeenLabourer1578D/A1/76/179 D/A1/10/139MF524 MF10047A
HOMFRY, RichardKintbury1559D/A1/76/031 D/A1/8/116MF524 MF10043C
HONE, GeorgeReadingCordwainer1643D/A1/80/013MF526
HONE, JaneShottesbrooke1569D/A1/76/126 D/A1/9/201MF524 MF10046
HONE, NathanielReadingInnholder1825D/A1/153/93MF560
HONE, ThomasClewerCarpenter1563D/A1/76/093 D/A1/8/245MF524 MF10043C
HONEY, ChristopherSunningwellYeoman1758D/A1/85/1MF530
HONEY, ElizabethEastbury, Lambourn1810D/A1/153/40MF560
HONEY, JamesLambournYeoman1785D/A1/85/133MF530
HONEY, JamesSunningwell1799D/A1/198/298MF96055
HONEY, WilliamMarcham1753D/A1/84/254MF529
HONEYBONE, John BakerShrivenhamStonemason, Builder 1857D/A1/154/117MF580
HONIE, Thomas1541D/A1/193/138MF96045
HONNEY, WilliamBayworth, SunningwellYeoman1684D/A1/82/44MF528
HONNIBORNE, HughNewbury1588D/A1/194/043MF96046
HONYBORNE, HughNewbury1588D/A1/11/157MF10047B
HOOBBIS, ThomasAbingdon1547D/A1/193/157MF96045
HOOD, JamesShinfieldYeoman1699D/A1/139/55MF554
HOOD, JamesShinfieldYeoman1724D/A1/140/58MF555
HOOD[ALIAS, HenryShinfieldHusbandman1724D/A1/140/57MF555
HOOKE, JasperShinfieldYeoman1620D/A1/78/112MF525
HOOKER, WilliamSwallowfieldYeoman1623D/A1/195/094MF96049
HOOPER, LydiaStreatley1766D/A1/85/52MF530
HOOPER, NicholasGrandpont, OxfordshireBoatmaster1721D/A1/84/17MF529
HOOPER, RobertChieveleyVicar1604D/A1/77/206 D/A1/13/1245 D/A1/13/1292MF525 MF10049 MF10049
HOOPER, WilliamReadingTobacconist1844D/A1/228/136MF96125
HOORE, AnthonyHatford1576D/A1/76/168 D/A1/10/043MF524 MF10047A
HOORE, Edmund1558D/A1/7/222MF10040
HOORE, JohnChildreyYeoman1675D/A1/197/23MF96052
HOORE, ThomasSpeen1629D/A1/195/121MF96049
HOORE, ThomasinAbingdon1548D/A1/233/155MF96132
HOORE, ThomasineAbingdon1547D/A1/2/264MF604
HOORE, WilliamFrilford, Marcham1573D/A1/76/144 D/A1/9/345MF524 MF10046
HOORTHORN, William1530D/A1/2/262MF604
HOORWOOD, ThomasHamstead Marshall1556D/A1/75/059 D/A1/7/126MF523 MF10040
HOOTHRONE, HenryWarfieldDay Labourer1588D/A1/77/043 D/A1/11/167MF524 MF10047B
HOPCROFT, ThomasMarchamMason1760D/A1/85/22MF530
HOPE, ElizabethBray1668D/A1/80/171MF527
HOPE, JamesAshampstead1828D/A1/153/109MF560
HOPE, JohnBrayHusbandman1731D/A1/84/97MF529
HOPE, WilliamLeckhampstead, ChieveleyBlacksmith1728D/A1/84/71MF529
HOPGOOD, MaryShaw Cum Donnington1736D/A1/84/135MF529
HOPGOOD, RichardAnvilles, KintburyYeoman1703D/A1/198/20MF96054
HOPGOOD, WilliamLyford, West HanneyLabourer1727D/A1/84/69MF529
HOPKENES, EdwardBurghfieldHusbandman1670D/A1/81/21MF527
HOPKINCE, ThomasHampstead Norris1665D/A1/80/143MF527
HOPKINGS, RobertDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1688D/A1/82/79MF528