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
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
HOUSE, JamesSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1696D/A1/197/162 MF96053
HOUSE, JamesNewburySawyer1838D/A1/154/30MF580
HOUSE, JaneGrazeley (Gracehall), Sulhamstead Abbots1712D/A1/83/158MF528
HOUSE, JohnLyford, HanneyHusbandman1585D/A1/77/005 D/A1/11/063MF524 MF10047B
HOUSE, JohnWest Ginge, East LockingeHusbandman1586D/A1/194/038MF96046
HOUSE, JohnReading St Laurence1610D/A1/168/060MF96001
HOUSE, RichardChildreyYeoman1723D/A1/84/38MF529
HOUSE, RobertEast Challow, Letcombe Regis Husbandman1628D/A1/79/010MF526
HOUSE, ThomasBasildonYeoman1811D/A1/153/41MF560
HOUSE, WilliamBasildonYeoman1778D/A1/85/113MF530
HOUSE, WilliamReading1788D/A1/198/290MF96055
HOUSE, William SnrLongcot, ShrivenhamYeoman1676D/A1/81/82MF527
HOW, RobertStanford DingleyDyer1556D/A1/7/338eMF10040
HOWARD, CharlotteYattendon1830D/A1/153/113MF560
HOWARD, CharlotteYattendon1853D/A1/154/98MF580
HOWARD, HenryBradfieldHusbandman1662D/A1/196/108MF96051
HOWARD, JohnBinfieldBricklayer1731D/A1/198/156MF96054
HOWARD, RobertWinkfieldSmith1698D/A1/197/178MF96053
HOWBERD, JamesReading1570D/A1/76/157MF524
HOWE, JohnBray1543D/A1/75/006 D/A1/6/177 D/A1/6/155MF524 MF10043B MF10043B
HOWE, RichardWindsor1695D/A1/83/29MF528
HOWE, WilliamMaidenheadWaterman1682D/A1/197/68MF96052
HOWEES, WilliamLetcombe Regis1562D/A1/76/089MF524
HOWEL, GeorgeN. Hinksey, Cumnor1661D/A1/80/88MF527
HOWELL, EleanorNorth Hinksey, Cumnor1631D/A1/79/054MF526
HOWELL, ElizabethSpeenhamland, Speen1608D/A1/77/228 D/A1/14/435MF525 MF10064
HOWELL, ElizabethReading1810D/A1/228/79MF96125
HOWELL, JohnShinfield1557D/A1/7/155MF10040
HOWELL, JohnReadingFarmer, Whitesmith 1837D/A1/154/21MF580
HOWELL, JosephWoottonYeoman1786D/A1/85/137MF530
HOWELL, MariaWinkfield1725D/A1/198/125MF96054
HOWELL, PhilipSpeenhamland, SpeenOstler1608D/A1/195/026 D/A1/168/041MF96048 MF96001
HOWELL, SamuelKennington, RadleyYeoman1721D/A1/198/106MF96054
HOWELL, ThomasShinfield1557D/A1/75/068MF523
HOWELL, ThomasBrimpton1589D/A1/77/047 D/A1/11/286MF524 MF10047B
HOWELL, ThomasNorth Hinksey, CumnorHusbandman1618D/A1/195/074 D/A1/168/151MF96049 MF96001
HOWELL, ThomasCumnorYeoman1681D/A1/82/6MF528
HOWELL, Thomas SnrShinfieldYeoman1624D/A1/78/160MF525
HOWELL, Thomas SnrWasingYeoman1670D/A1/81/20MF527
HOWELLE, EleanorShinfield1577D/A1/76/172 D/A1/10/096MF524 MF10047A
HOWES, MargaretNewbury1667D/A1/80/166MF527
HOWES, RobertAbingdonPlumber, Glazier 1845D/A1/154/66MF580
HOWES, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1731D/A1/84/100MF529
HOWES, ThomasLetcombe Regis1780D/A1/198/279MF96055
HOWES, WilliamLetcombe Regis1562D/A1/3/025MF604
HOWGROVE, RobertReading1571D/A1/193/217MF96045
HOWGROVE, RobertReading1571D/A1/167/148MF96000
HOWGROW, RobertReading St MaryTanner1569D/A1/76/123 D/A1/9/171MF524 MF10046
HOWKE, NicholasNewbury1546D/A1/2/002MF603
HOWKE, RichardNewbury1546D/A1/2/002MF603
HOWKYNS, Richard1550D/A1/193/166MF96045
HOWLDERNES, WilliamCookham1636D/A1/79/115MF526
HOWLET, WilliamBrightwalton1559D/A1/76/041 D/A1/7/275MF524 MF10040
HOWLOWAY, JohnBuscot1554D/A1/75/048 D/A1/7/042MF523 MF10040
HOWLTON, RalphHurleyYeoman1595D/A1/194/072MF96046
HOWMES, AlexanderPangbourneHusbandman1546D/A1/2/256MF604
HOWMES, RobertAldworth1557D/A1/75/065MF523
HOWNT, RobertLetcombe RegisHusbandman1550D/A1/5/091MF10043A
HOWSE, BenjaminAppletonYeoman1837D/A1/228/120MF96125
HOWSE, EdwardSutton CourtenayMaltster1692D/A1/197/139 MF96053
HOWSE, EdwardAppletonYeoman1842D/A1/154/51MF580
HOWSE, ElizabethCholsey1854D/A1/154/105MF580
HOWSE, JamesSulhamstead Abbots1629D/A1/79/025MF526
HOWSE, JamesSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1639D/A1/79/151MF526
HOWSE, JohnReading St Laurence1610D/A1/195/036MF96048
HOWSE, JohnArdingtonHusbandman1621D/A1/78/123MF525
HOWSE, JohnCrookham, ThatchamYeoman1673D/A1/197/10MF96052
HOWSE, JohnReadingChirurgeon1698D/A1/197/174MF96053
HOWSE, JohnKennington, RadleyLabourer1737D/A1/198/176MF96055
HOWSE, MargerySutton Courtenay1715D/A1/83/183MF529
HOWSE, MarthaDraytonHousekeeper1854D/A1/154/104MF580
HOWSE, MarthaCholsey1855D/A1/154/110MF580
HOWSE, RichardWittenham1588D/A1/77/038 D/A1/11/279MF524 MF10047B
HOWSE, RichardEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1725D/A1/84/47MF529
HOWSE, RobertAppletonYeoman1780D/A1/85/116MF530
HOWSE, ThomasGreenham, Thatcham1610D/A1/195/035MF96048
HOWSE, ThomasGreenham, Thatcham1610D/A1/168/059MF96001
HOWSE, ThomasAppletonYeoman1818D/A1/153/58MF560
HOWSE, WilliamBrayHusbandman1627D/A1/195/115MF96049
HOWSE, WilliamSteventonPublican1844D/A1/228/137MF96125
HOWSON, JohnBuckland1807D/A1/153/22MF560
HOWSSE, Alexander1557D/A1/193/180MF96045
HOWSSE, AliceCumnor1557D/A1/6/135MF10043B
HOWTON, JohnWinterbourne Danvers, ChieveleyHusbandman1663D/A1/80/125MF527
HOWTON, JohnWinterbourne Danvers, ChieveleyHusbandman1699D/A1/83/53MF528