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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
HIDE, RobertHagbourneTanner1630D/A1/79/029MF526
HIDE, RobertHagbourneTanner1671D/A1/81/30MF527
HIDE, SarahChapel Street, Thatcham1706D/A1/83/115MF528
HIDE, ThomasWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1605D/A1/77/204 D/A1/14/112MF525 MF10064
HIDE, ThomasLong Wittenham1610D/A1/168/062MF96001
HIDE, WilliamKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1599D/A1/194/100MF96047
HIDE, WilliamKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1599D/A1/13/429MF10049
HIDE, WilliamReadingVictualler1736D/A1/84/137MF529
HIDGES, John SnrWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1621D/A1/78/126MF525
HIGDEN, RichardEnglefield1688D/A1/197/110MF96053
HIGDEN, Thomas JnrReading St GilesBaker1674D/A1/197/15MF96052
HIGDEN, Thomas SnrReading St GilesBaker1677D/A1/81/95MF527
HIGES, BridgetWaltham St Lawrence1621D/A1/78/140MF525
HIGES, JohnBradfield1542D/A1/2/237MF604
HIGES, ThomasLong WittenhamShoemaker1644D/A1/80/020MF526
HIGGE , JohnGiles Court [Childs Court], AshampsteadHusbandman1577D/A1/76/173 D/A1/10/098MF524 MF10047A
HIGGENS, ElizabethHagbourne1557D/A1/7/137MF10040
HIGGES, AliceSouth Moreton1571D/A1/193/214MF96045
HIGGES, BartholomewBradfieldHusbandman1637D/A1/196/037MF96050
HIGGES, Christian1580D/A1/194/013MF96046
HIGGES, EdwardBasildonYeoman1623D/A1/195/097MF96049
HIGGES, EleanorBradfield1562D/A1/76/088MF524
HIGGES, EleanorBradfield1562D/A1/2/024MF603
HIGGES, EleanorBradfield1562D/A1/167/119MF96000
HIGGES, ElizabethAbingdon1687D/A1/82/62MF528
HIGGES, GeorgeBasildon1609D/A1/77/213 D/A1/14/559MF525 MF10064
HIGGES, GeorgeSouthcote, Reading St MaryHusbandman, Servingman1632D/A1/196/012MF96050
HIGGES, GeorgeReading St Mary1632D/A1/168/235MF96001
HIGGES, JohnBasildonYeoman1599D/A1/77/150 D/A1/13/388MF525 MF10049
HIGGES, JohnSulhamstead Bannister1604D/A1/77/199 D/A1/13/1353MF525 MF10049
HIGGES, JohnWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1612D/A1/78/020 D/A1/15/232MF525 MF10065
HIGGES, JohnWaltham St Lawrence1612D/A1/195/050/2MF96048
HIGGES, JohnWhite Waltham1617D/A1/78/075 D/A1/15/692 D/A1/79/059 D/A1/168/219MF525 MF10065 MF526 MF96001
HIGGES, JohnAshampsteadYeoman1625D/A1/78/179MF525
HIGGES, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1630D/A1/195/127MF96049
HIGGES, JohnTilehurstYeoman1630D/A1/168/188MF96001
HIGGES, JohnTilehurst1662D/A1/80/105MF527
HIGGES, John SnrHook End, Basildon1589D/A1/77/037 D/A1/11/297MF524 MF10047B
HIGGES, MaryHenwick, Thatcham1665D/A1/196/143MF96051
HIGGES, MurielBinfield1580D/A1/194/012MF96046
HIGGES, MurielBinfield1580D/A1/10/215MF10047A
HIGGES, NicholasBasildon1583D/A1/76/206 D/A1/10/377MF524 MF10047A
HIGGES, NicholasHenwick, ThatchamYeoman1662D/A1/80/111MF527
HIGGES, RichardWestridge, Streatley1575D/A1/193/232MF96045
HIGGES, RichardWaltham St. Lawrence1676D/A1/197/29MF96052
HIGGES, RobertHurst1523D/A1/1/078MF10041
HIGGES, ThomasBasildon1612D/A1/195/050/1MF96048
HIGGES, ThomasAldermastonMiller1624D/A1/195/102MF96049
HIGGES, WilliamWaltham St LawrenceHusbandman1574D/A1/76/155 D/A1/9/393MF524 MF10046
HIGGES, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1589D/A1/77/049 D/A1/11/298MF524 MF10047B
HIGGES, WilliamBasildon1590D/A1/77/057 D/A1/11/315MF524 MF10047B
HIGGES, WilliamBuckleburyHusbandman1608D/A1/77/225 D/A1/14/483MF525 MF10064
HIGGES, WilliamSwallowfieldHusbandman1614D/A1/78/041 D/A1/15/422MF525 MF10065
HIGGES, WilliamHagbourne1680D/A1/197/56MF96052
HIGGINGS, JohnDraytonYeoman1681D/A1/82/10MF528
HIGGINS , Richard SnrMarchamCarpenter1751D/A1/84/242MF529
HIGGINS, AnnMarcham1804D/A1/153/12MF560
HIGGINS, CharlesMarchamYeoman1757D/A1/85/3MF530
HIGGINS, CharlesHatfordYeoman1762D/A1/85/33MF530
HIGGINS, ElizabethReading1737D/A1/70/121MF519
HIGGINS, HenryMarchamCarpenter1726D/A1/198/128MF96054
HIGGINS, JohnHagbourneHusbandman1617D/A1/78/080 D/A1/15/747MF525 MF10065
HIGGINS, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1647D/A1/80/036MF526
HIGGINS, JohnMarchamCarpenter1741D/A1/198/194MF96055
HIGGINS, JohnMarchamCarpenter1767D/A1/85/55MF530
HIGGINS, JohnMarchamCarpenter1786D/A1/85/136MF530
HIGGINS, JohnMarchamVictualler1805D/A1/153/14MF560
HIGGINS, JohnFernham, Shrivenham Yeoman1809D/A1/153/33MF560
HIGGINS, JohnMarchamCarpenter1810D/A1/153/36MF560
HIGGINS, John JnrHagbourneBlacksmith1613D/A1/195/056 D/A1/168/103MF96049 MF96001
HIGGINS, JosephKintburyTailor1725D/A1/69/152MF519
HIGGINS, MarkMarchamWheelwright1803D/A1/153/7MF560
HIGGINS, MaryDrayton1685D/A1/82/54MF528
HIGGINS, MaryBuckland1748D/A1/84/228MF529
HIGGINS, MaryMarcham1761D/A1/85/25MF530
HIGGINS, MaryMarcham1765D/A1/198/257MF96055
HIGGINS, MaryMarcham1844D/A1/154/60MF580
HIGGINS, NathanielSutton CourtenayYeoman1723D/A1/84/39MF529
HIGGINS, RichardMarchamWheelwright1784D/A1/85/130MF530
HIGGINS, Richard SnrMarchamCarpenter1596D/A1/77/116 D/A1/12/362MF524 MF10048
HIGGINS, Richard SnrMarchamYeoman1627D/A1/195/109MF96049
HIGGINS, SarahAbingdon1828D/A1/228/112MF96125
HIGGINS, ThomasDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1607D/A1/77/239 D/A1/14/369MF525 MF10064
HIGGINS, ThomasDraytonYeoman1737D/A1/84/149MF529
HIGGINS, WilliamMarchamCarpenter1753D/A1/198/236MF96055
HIGGINS, WilliamStanford In The Vale1805D/A1/153/16MF560
HIGGINS, WilliamAbingdonCarpenter1827D/A1/153/103MF560
HIGGONS, Edmund SnrPuseyHusbandman1694D/A1/197/150 MF96053
HIGGONS, WilliamShellingfordYeoman1762D/A1/85/36MF530
HIGGS , John SnrEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1820D/A1/153/70MF560
HIGGS, AnnEast Hanney, West Hanney1778D/A1/198/276MF96055
HIGGS, AnneBasildon1722D/A1/84/32MF529
HIGGS, CatherineBasildon1725D/A1/84/52MF529
HIGGS, EdwardBradfieldYeoman1684D/A1/82/41MF528
HIGGS, EdwardBasildonYeoman1712D/A1/83/157MF528
HIGGS, EleanorAbingdonWoollen Draper1708D/A1/223/179MF96118
HIGGS, ElizabethAbingdon1690D/A1/82/92MF528
HIGGS, ElizabethNewbury1857D/A1/154/118MF580
HIGGS, GeorgePurleyYeoman1669D/A1/196/163MF96051
HIGGS, HenryTidmarshYeoman1725D/A1/198/124MF96054