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
HORTEN, WilliamLetcombe BassettCarpenter1729D/A1/198/140MF96054
HORTHORNE, RobertBrayHusbandman1541D/A1/75/003MF523
HORTON, AnthonyAshburyHusbandman1587D/A1/77/033 D/A1/11/275MF524 MF10047B
HORTON, ClementEnglefield1612D/A1/195/049MF96048
HORTON, ClementEnglefield1612D/A1/168/090MF96001
HORTON, HenryBrightwaltonBlacksmith1785D/A1/85/131MF530
HORTON, JohnAbingdonHemp Dresser, Sackcloth Weaver1731D/A1/84/95MF529
HORTON, MaryNewbury1619D/A1/78/104MF525
HORTON, RichardColeshillBlacksmith1697D/A1/83/41MF528
HORTON, RobertAshbury1544D/A1/2/260MF604
HORTON, RobertAshbury1545D/A1/193/146MF96045
HORTON, WilliamAbingdonWeaver1583D/A1/194/019MF96046
HORTON, WilliamAbingdon1583D/A1/10/389MF10047A
HORTUN, AlexanderIdstone, Ashbury1561D/A1/76/069 D/A1/8/198MF524 MF10043C
HORWOD, JohnThatcham1530D/A1/1/132MF10042
HORWOOD, JohnHurley1780D/A1/85/117MF530
HORWOOD, WilliamWaltham St Lawrence1811D/A1/228/82MF96125
HOSHIER, AnnNewbury1701D/A1/198/5MF96054
HOSIAR, AliceShefford Woodlands, West Shefford1617D/A1/78/073 D/A1/15/673MF525 MF10065
HOSIAR, ThomasNewburyWeaver1574D/A1/76/160 D/A1/9/411MF524 MF10046
HOSIER, AdamWest Shefford1664D/A1/80/135MF527
HOSIER, JohnNewbury1587D/A1/194/040MF96046
HOSIER, JohnNewbury1587D/A1/11/114MF10047B
HOSIER, MaryNewbury1587D/A1/77/027 D/A1/11/131MF524 MF10047B
HOSIER, Thomas SnrShefford Woodlands, West SheffordYeoman1613D/A1/78/023 D/A1/15/329MF525 MF10065
HOSIER, WilliamRadleyYeoman1719D/A1/198/100MF96054
HOSIER, William SnrNewburyWeaver1614D/A1/78/040 D/A1/15/416MF525 MF10065
HOSKINES, HenryMaidenheadVictualler1679D/A1/57/9MF475
HOSKINS , ElizabethChipping Lambourn, LambournHusbandman1677D/A1/197/35MF96052
HOSKINS, ElizabethLambourn1629D/A1/79/027MF526
HOSKINS, JohnHurley1583D/A1/194/021MF96046
HOSKINS, JohnHurley1583D/A1/10/422MF10047A
HOSKINS, John SnrMaidenhead, BrayCordwainer1706D/A1/198/30MF96054
HOSKINS, ThomasEast Garston1582D/A1/194/020MF96046
HOSKINS, ThomasEast Garston1582D/A1/10/332MF10047A
HOSKINS, ThomasMaidenhead1703D/A1/198/18MF96054
HOSKYNS, AliceHurley1587D/A1/194/041MF96046
HOSKYNS, AliceHurley1587D/A1/11/115MF10047B
HOSYER, GeorgeNewburyFuller1571D/A1/193/215MF96045
HOSYER, GeorgeNewbury1571D/A1/167/148MF96000
HOTHE, RichardAbingdonTapster1572D/A1/193/221 D/A1/167/150MF96045 MF96000
HOTHORN , JamesBray1560D/A1/76/061 D/A1/6/071MF524 MF10043B
HOTHORN, AliceWarfield1564D/A1/76/083 D/A1/8/306MF524 MF10043C
HOTHORN, NicholasHawthorn, Warfield1546D/A1/193/154MF96045
HOTHORNE, JoanWhite Waltham1600D/A1/194/104MF96047
HOTHORNE, JoanWhite Waltham1600D/A1/13/713MF10049
HOTHORNE, JohnSulhamstead Bannister1550D/A1/75/021 D/A1/5/100MF523 MF10043A
HOTHORNE, JohnBinfield1616D/A1/195/066MF96049
HOTHORNE, JohnBinfield1616D/A1/168/133MF96001
HOTHORNE, RalphWarfieldHusbandman1560D/A1/76/058 D/A1/6/198MF524 MF10043B
HOTHORNE, RichardWarfieldTile Maker1551D/A1/4/092 D/A1/233/380MF604 MF96132
HOTHORNE, RichardWarfieldTailor1589D/A1/77/053 D/A1/11/295MF524 MF10047B
HOTHORNE, RobertBrayCarpenter1564D/A1/76/085 D/A1/8/295MF524 MF10043C
HOTHORNE, StephenShinfield1563D/A1/76/091 D/A1/8/236MF524 MF10043C
HOTHORNE, ThomasWarfieldHusbandman1565D/A1/76/098 D/A1/8/354MF524 MF10043C
HOTHORNE, ThomasEast Oakley, Bray1566D/A1/193/201 D/A1/167/128MF96045 MF96000
HOTHORNE, WilliamWarfieldTile Maker1560D/A1/76/051 D/A1/6/035MF524 MF10043B
HOTHORNE, William SnrStratfield Mortimer1605D/A1/195/002MF96048
HOTHORNE, William SnrStratfield Mortimer1605D/A1/14/182MF10064
HOUGHTON, AnneNewbury1634D/A1/79/092MF526
HOUGHTON, AnneNewbury1662D/A1/196/122 MF96051
HOUGHTON, BenjaminNewburyDyer1637D/A1/16/449 D/A1/79/133MF10066 MF526
HOUGHTON, DorothyNewbury1725D/A1/84/50MF529
HOUGHTON, EdmundChieveley1682D/A1/197/62MF96052
HOUGHTON, FrancesNewbury1675D/A1/81/77MF527
HOUGHTON, MargeryNewbury1661D/A1/80/85MF527
HOUGHTON, RalphNewbury1649D/A1/80/051MF526
HOUGHTON, RogerAbingdon1617D/A1/78/070MF525
HOUGHTON, RogerAbingdon1617D/A1/15/966MF10065
HOUGHTON, ThomasNewbury1629D/A1/79/028MF526
HOUGHTON, WilliamNewburyDyer1627D/A1/78/195MF525
HOUGHTON, WilliamChieveleyYeoman1682D/A1/82/15MF528
HOUGHTON, WilliamNewburyBrewer1700D/A1/83/66MF528
HOULDCHEPE, HenryNew Windsor, WindsorTailor1624D/A1/78/175MF525
HOULDEN, FrancisBoxfordHusbandman1675D/A1/197/22MF96052
HOULDER, EdwardMiltonLabourer1729D/A1/84/76MF529
HOULDER, SarahWatchfield, Shrivenham1821D/A1/153/71MF560
HOULDER, WilliamWatchfield, ShrivenhamShopkeeper1804D/A1/153/10MF560
HOULDING, JoanBenham, Speen1641D/A1/79/185MF526
HOULDLIP, ThomasSpeenHusbandman1693D/A1/197/145MF96053
HOULDWAY , EdwardBenham, Speen1641D/A1/79/191MF526
HOULDWAY, GregoryInkpenYeoman1630D/A1/195/125MF96049
HOULDWAYE, JohnLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1593D/A1/77/088 D/A1/12/112MF524 MF10048
HOULMES, RichardBucklebury1683D/A1/82/35MF528
HOULT , ThomasNew Windsor, WindsorHusbandman1632D/A1/196/009 D/A1/168/230MF96050 MF96001
HOULTON, AgnesHurley1584D/A1/194/025 D/A1/10/426MF96046 MF10047A
HOULTON, ElizabethEast Hendred1683D/A1/82/24MF528
HOULTON, JohnAbingdon St HelenWeaver1628D/A1/79/015MF526
HOULTON, JohnBrayHusbandman1642D/A1/80/005MF526
HOULTON, RalphHurley1595D/A1/12/392MF10048
HOULTON, RobertWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1631D/A1/79/052MF526
HOUS , WilliamWytham1617D/A1/78/072 D/A1/15/670MF525 MF10065
HOUS, SamuelSouth MoretonMason1694D/A1/197/148MF96053
HOUSE , John SnrAbingdonMealman1742D/A1/84/191MF529
HOUSE SENR, WilliamReadingSurgeon1727D/A1/198/131MF96054
HOUSE, BenjaminSutton CourtenayYeoman1760D/A1/198/248MF96055
HOUSE, ElizabethCrookham, Thatcham1694D/A1/197/153MF96053
HOUSE, FrancesStreatley1727D/A1/84/61MF529
HOUSE, FrancisArdingtonHusbandman1664D/A1/196/137MF96051
HOUSE, GraceReading1788D/A1/198/291MF96055