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
HAREWOD, JohnSpeen1573D/A1/193/224MF96045
HARFEILD, AnneDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1673D/A1/81/62MF527
HARFFORD, WilliamLong WittenhamYeoman1670D/A1/81/16MF527
HARFORD , JohnGarford, MarchamHusbandman1550D/A1/5/096MF10043A
HARFORD, BenjaminNewburyBaker1734D/A1/84/119MF529
HARFORD, BenjaminNewburyGlazier1766D/A1/85/50MF530
HARFORD, EdmundLong WittenhamTailor1642D/A1/80/004MF526
HARFORD, JohnGarford, MarchamHusbandman1550D/A1/75/029MF523
HARFORD, JohnFrilford, Marcham1593D/A1/194/065MF96046
HARFORD, JohnFrilford, Marcham1593D/A1/12/109MF10048
HARFORD, MaryLittle Wittenham1676D/A1/197/26MF96052
HARFORD, NicholasLong WittenhamYeoman1623D/A1/78/148MF525
HARFORD, NicholasLong WittenhamHusbandman1638D/A1/79/125MF526
HARFORD, ThomasLittle WittenhamYeoman1674D/A1/81/68MF527
HARFORD, ThomasNewburyBaker1752D/A1/84/247MF529
HARFORD, WilliamLittle WittenhamHusbandman1548D/A1/6/042 D/A1/5/078MF10043B MF10043A
HARGETT, WilliamAshbury1712D/A1/198/69MF96054
HARGRAVE, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1682D/A1/197/67MF96052
HARICE, JoanBagnor, Shaw Cum Donnington1669D/A1/81/2MF527
HARINGTON, HughWallingfordShoemaker1581D/A1/194/016MF96046
HARINGTON, HughWallingford1581D/A1/10/284MF10047A
HARIS, JohnBourton, Shrivenham1684D/A1/82/46MF528
HARIS, WilliamSouth MoretonHusbandman1621D/A1/78/132MF525
HARISON , AnneStratfield Mortimer1670D/A1/196/174MF96051
HARISON, EleanorTilehurst1664D/A1/80/136MF527
HARISON, MaryBeech Hill, Stratfield Saye, Hampshire1643D/A1/196/066MF96050
HARISON, ThomasHurley1584D/A1/194/027MF96046
HARISON, WilliamAshbury1661D/A1/80/79MF527
HARISSE, AgnesSwallowfield1644D/A1/80/022MF526
HARLE, JohnWoolhamptonNurseryman1847D/A1/154/81MF580
HARMAN, WilliamReading1810D/A1/228/78MF96125
HARMESWOOD, RalphUfton Nervet1616D/A1/78/066 D/A1/15/637MF525 MF10065
HARMESWORTH, JohnWasing1568D/A1/76/116 D/A1/9/117MF524 MF10046
HARMON, AliceStreatley1739D/A1/84/170MF529
HARMON, EdmundWoolstone, UffingtonHusbandman1557D/A1/233/143MF96132
HARMSWOOD, JohnUfton NervetYeoman1707D/A1/122/164MF543
HARMSWOOD, RalphUfton NervetYeoman1668D/A1/196/162 MF96051
HARMSWOOD, RalphUfton NervetYeoman1687D/A1/197/101MF96052
HARMSWOOD, WilliamUfton Nervet1692D/A1/197/140MF96053
HARMSWORTH, MaryNewbury1772D/A1/85/76MF530
HARMSWORTH, Ralph SnrUfton NervetYeoman1664D/A1/120/129MF541
HARMSWORTH, RichardCrookham, ThatchamShearman1612D/A1/78/029 D/A1/15/313MF525 MF10065
HARMYSTEYD, MatthewEast Ilsley1561D/A1/76/070 D/A1/8/199MF524 MF10043C
HARNDIN, JamesStratfield MortimerHusbandman1745D/A1/84/205MF529
HARNES, WilliamAldermaston1544D/A1/1/230MF10042
HARPER , John SnrAbingdonScrivener1736D/A1/84/130MF529
HARPER, AgnesNewbury1573D/A1/193/223MF96045
HARPER, AnthonyShellingfordServingman1569D/A1/9/193MF10046
HARPER, AnthonyShellingford1570D/A1/76/127MF524
HARPER, EllenRadley1595D/A1/77/107 D/A1/12/279MF524 MF10048
HARPER, JaneAbingdon1740D/A1/84/180MF529
HARPER, JohnRadley1591D/A1/77/069 D/A1/12/004MF524 MF10048
HARPER, JohnSutton CourtenayVicar1600D/A1/77/158MF525
HARPER, JohnSutton Courtenay1600D/A1/194/102MF96047
HARPER, JohnSutton CourtenayClerk, Vicar1600D/A1/13/595MF10049
HARPER, JohnAbingdon1788D/A1/198/293MF96055
HARPER, JosephPangbourne1787D/A1/198/289MF96055
HARPER, Thomas SnrRadleyHusbandman1638D/A1/16/559MF10066
HARPER, WilliamRadley1542D/A1/75/004 D/A1/1/007MF523 MF10041
HARPER, WilliamNewbury1558D/A1/7/179MF10040
HARPER, WilliamBradfieldLabourer1842D/A1/154/53MF580
HARRASON, AnthonyGreenham, Thatcham1604D/A1/195/012MF96048
HARRAWAY (ALIAS WICKS), AnnDevizes, Wiltshire1823D/A1/228/101MF96125
HARRES, ElizabethUplambourn, Lambourn1678D/A1/197/39MF96052
HARRES, ThomasShellingford1624D/A1/78/168MF525
HARRES, WalterShrivenham1545D/A1/2/243MF604
HARRIES, RobertShrivenhamHusbandman1557D/A1/6/011MF10043B
HARRIET, AdamKingston Lisle, SparsholtPriest1567D/A1/76/114 D/A1/9/085MF524 MF10046
HARRINGTON, JoanWallingford St Mary1611D/A1/78/018 D/A1/15/154MF525 MF10065
HARRINGTON, LeonardWallingfordCordwainer1625D/A1/195/106MF96049
HARRINGTON, ThomasYattendon1782D/A1/198/281MF96055
HARRIS , JoanNew Windsor, Windsor1624D/A1/16/095MF10066
HARRIS , JohnLittle WittenhamBrewer1616D/A1/16/001MF10066
HARRIS , John SnrAldermastonYeoman1775D/A1/85/106MF530
HARRIS , William SnrEast HendredBricklayer1795D/A1/85/161MF530
HARRIS , William SnrNorth MoretonYeoman1830D/A1/153/114MF560
HARRIS, AbelReading St Mary1588D/A1/194/047 D/A1/11/147MF96046 MF10047B
HARRIS, AliceLambourn1641D/A1/79/184MF526
HARRIS, AmosBoxford1811D/A1/228/81MF96125
HARRIS, AmosBoxfordYeoman1820D/A1/153/69MF560
HARRIS, AnthonyHanneyWheelwright1642D/A1/80/006MF526
HARRIS, CatherineNew Windsor, Windsor1644D/A1/196/063MF96050
HARRIS, CatherineLongcot, Shrivenham1673D/A1/81/54MF527
HARRIS, ChristopherBarkham1597D/A1/194/088MF96047
HARRIS, ChristopherBarkham1597D/A1/13/189MF10049
HARRIS, EdmundColeshillYeoman1671D/A1/81/32MF527
HARRIS, EdwardVernams Moor, NewburyYeoman1639D/A1/79/156MF526
HARRIS, ElizabethChilton1793D/A1/198/295MF96055
HARRIS, ElizabethEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1833D/A1/154/11MF580
HARRIS, Francis SnrStratfield Mortimer1708D/A1/83/125MF528
HARRIS, IsaacAbingdonSackcloth Weaver1737D/A1/198/173MF96055
HARRIS, JaneShellingford1641D/A1/79/180MF526
HARRIS, JeremiahBeedonYeoman1731D/A1/198/158MF96054
HARRIS, JoanEast Garston1623D/A1/78/152MF525
HARRIS, JoanNew Windsor, Windsor1626D/A1/78/174MF525
HARRIS, JohnLambourn1588D/A1/194/053MF96046
HARRIS, JohnEast Garston1593D/A1/77/090 D/A1/12/126MF524 MF10048
HARRIS, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1604D/A1/195/006MF96048
HARRIS, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1604D/A1/14/175MF10064
HARRIS, JohnWittenham1616D/A1/78/071MF525