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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Berkshire => Topic started by: jillruss on Tuesday 07 August 07 16:26 BST (UK)

Title: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: jillruss on Tuesday 07 August 07 16:26 BST (UK)
Is there a Berkshire wills index available online?

I've just been looking at the Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire online indexes which are really helpful. I know there are some areas of Berkshire included in the Wiltshire index because they used to be part of Wiltshire, but I tried googling and I can't find an index  for Berkshire.

Does anyone know of a website - or is this yet another area in which Berkshire seems to lag behind its neighbours?

Jill
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: DebbieG on Tuesday 07 August 07 17:43 BST (UK)
Hi Jill - I don't think there is an on-line one,  but I do have a microfiche one - who are you after?

DebbieG
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: jillruss on Tuesday 07 August 07 18:30 BST (UK)
That's very kind of you, Debbie.

I was thinking more on a 'browse' basis to see if any of my names came to light.

However, if you could look to see if there are any of these featured, I'd be really grateful -

TICKNER - I found John Tickner of Wokingham's 1675 will on the NA site and wondered if there were any earlier Tickners either there or in Sonning.

STRAKE/STREEK - Any in Binfield before about 1660?

POTTENGER/POTTINGER - William died 1834 in Basildon, Berks. I would have expected him to leave a will but there's nothing on the NA.

I could make a very long list, but that would be taking advantage of your generous offer, so I'll stop there! What fortitude!!  ::)

Jill
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: DebbieG on Tuesday 07 August 07 19:19 BST (UK)
Hi Jill - not much good news I am afraid

There are no Tickners - or anything similar,  no Streek or Strake - the closest is Street and not in Binfield

Pottinger - no sign of William 1834, there is however a Francis Pottenger yeoman of Basildon 1718 will/inventry D/A1/109/6   that is the only one for Basilden though there are others for other places

Sorry best I could do 

Debbie
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: jillruss on Tuesday 07 August 07 19:44 BST (UK)
Wow, Debbie - that was quick. I just went away to watch Emmerdale....

Thanks very much for looking - even a negative result is progress, if you know what I mean.

Thanks for your time.

Jill
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: Abiam2 on Monday 13 August 07 12:36 BST (UK)

Hi Jillruss,
Just browsing and came across the name Tickner and Berkshire in your post.  Not a very common name (I suppose until you're looking for it and then suddenly there are lots.  At least that's what happens to me!)
There were Tickner's living off Spencer's Road in Maidenhead Berkshire in the 50's and 60's.  You never know it might lead somewhere - if only the bin!
Regards, Abiam
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: jillruss on Tuesday 14 August 07 13:23 BST (UK)
Thanks for that Abiam.

I've not found any of my Tickners in Maidenhead - mine are a lot earlier: 1600s. So far, they seem to have come from Wokingham and the early PRs for there are a bit hard to come by! The information I've managed to find was through a will.

I've got the PRs for Sonning and there were quite a few Tickners there in the early 1600s, so I'm thinking that there's probably some kind of a connection.

Jill
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: yattonharry on Saturday 26 July 08 10:05 BST (UK)
You could try the Wiltshire RO online Wills. There are a lot of Berkshire wills which came under the Diocese of Sarum.

You can find the link on my website: http://www.kingston-bag[p]uize.com

YattonHarry
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: Abiam2 on Saturday 26 July 08 10:18 BST (UK)
yattonharry,
Link won't work for me!,
Abiam
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: jamajo on Saturday 26 July 08 11:01 BST (UK)
Hi Abiam,

             I think Yattonharry has made a spelling mistake it should read bagpuize :) :)

             Easy done as ive done it many times :)

                        Sue
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: charlotteCH on Saturday 26 July 08 11:42 BST (UK)
Jill, Could you please tell me what the URL or link is to the Bucks wills?

Thank you,
charlotte
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: yattonharry on Saturday 26 July 08 12:21 BST (UK)
Yes sorry about that it was a typo.

http://www.kingston-bagpuize.com

should work

Am going to take a look at the Wiltshire will site for the link to Wiltshire RO

Here it is http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/

I note that Newburychap has this in Berkshire Resources and he also gives The National Archives links though these are prior 1858.
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: yattonharry on Saturday 26 July 08 12:25 BST (UK)
Hi Charlotte,
Not sure about the Bucks wills - is it on Bucks Resources at all?

Here it is

http://apps.buckscc.gov.uk/eforms/wills/search.aspx (http://apps.buckscc.gov.uk/eforms/wills/search.aspx)
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: snowsell on Sunday 27 July 08 16:51 BST (UK)
Yes, there is a great Berkshire Wills site - I have it on my Favourites but couldn't find an actual website address to copy to you, so, if you haven't got it already: Google Nick Hidden Berkshire Wills, then the first one at the top, Introduction to Will Abstracts, then Scroll down. Let me know if you have a problem.

Regards, Jill
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: yattonharry on Sunday 27 July 08 17:04 BST (UK)
I should think that these Wills abtracts are coming from the link I sent which is at the Wiltshire & Swindon RO. These wills are those of the Diocese of Sarum which included an awful lot of Berkshire.

The ones I mention are free to view.  Purchase if you need one.

Here it is http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/

Yatton Harry

Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: snowsell on Sunday 27 July 08 17:23 BST (UK)
Thanks, I do use that website quite alot, it is very good. The site I have mentioned, which is Nick Hidden's, has all the Wills transcribed, which is quite good, and loads going back to the 1500's. Jill
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: snowsell on Monday 28 July 08 08:53 BST (UK)
Hi - the link you need for the Berkshire Wills by Nick Hidden (there are quite a few Pottingers on there) is as follows:-

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/BRKwills/


Jill

Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: jillruss on Monday 28 July 08 11:39 BST (UK)
Thanks, Jill. A great site that I hadn't come across before. I've bookmarked it so that I can have a good study of it and hopefully find a few of my names.
 ;D
Jill
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: newburychap on Monday 28 July 08 12:59 BST (UK)
I should think that these Wills abtracts are coming from the link I sent which is at the Wiltshire & Swindon RO.

Not so - Nick Hidden's site contains a selection of Berkshire wills from various sources - the common factor being that they relate to the Hungerford area. However, it should be noted that this is nothing like a complete index to Berkshire wills.

Nick's father Norman was a avid historian of the area and produced, amongst other things, a transcript of the Hungerford PRs. Hungerford includes the manor of Hidden - hence his interest in the area.

There are two published indexes covering two different time periods, the one by Phillemore covering  1508-1652 and published in1893 is available as a facsimile CD. The other is from the British Record Society and covers 1653-1710.

The BRO are currently trying to re-index the early wills as the Phillimore edition is somewhat unreliable - not least because the catalogue numbering is totally different today. 
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: Vicwinann on Monday 28 July 08 18:21 BST (UK)
Hi,
The Wills list that Snowsell was talking about is from the Moonrakers site and there are hundreds of Berks transcriptons.  Nothing to do with the Wilts RO although that is probably where they came from originally.


http://www.moonrakers.org.uk/md/Probate-Docs/waix0.html

Regards
Vicwinann
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: newburychap on Monday 28 July 08 19:14 BST (UK)
Hi,
The Wills list that Snowsell was talking about is from the Moonrakers site and there are hundreds of Berks transcriptons.  Nothing to do with the Wilts RO although that is probably where they came from originally.

http://www.moonrakers.org.uk/md/Probate-Docs/waix0.html

Regards
Vicwinann

The two sites do contain the same data - all copyright Nick Hidden.

The wills come from TNA, WSRO and BRO - perhaps others  - the focus is geographical (Hungerford & Wantage area) not on any particular probate court.
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: yattonharry on Monday 28 July 08 19:49 BST (UK)
I tried to open that Moonfruit [first groan at the host] link and then [2nd groan] it took ages to load and I am on BB - then [3rd groan] did you check to see if the link was working prior to posting as it isn't working for me!

Cheers,
YattonHarry
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: Vicwinann on Monday 28 July 08 21:17 BST (UK)
Hi,
It is Moonrakers. And yes, it is working perfectly for me.  I have also just clicked the link I sent and that is working too.
Vicwianann
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: Ann of St Omer on Wednesday 12 October 11 07:22 BST (UK)
Hi Jill - I don't think there is an on-line one,  but I do have a microfiche one - who are you after?

DebbieG

Could I possibly ask you to look up a John Toomer - died Wargrave 1846.
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: MatthewD76 on Monday 17 December 12 01:37 GMT (UK)
Hi Jill - I don't think there is an on-line one,  but I do have a microfiche one - who are you after?

DebbieG

Hi Debbie, would you be able to check your index for any references to the following names:

Chalk (or Chalke) in Thatcham between 1580-1800
Fulbrook (or Fulbrooke) in Thatcham c1680-1750
Whitebread (or Whitehead?) in Yattendon c1620-1700

I hope you will be able to help.

Matt

Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: snowsell on Monday 17 December 12 14:53 GMT (UK)
Hi, I have had the following website for ages, not updated since 1998, but hope it will be of interest. I don't have the actual website address, other than it is Genuki Berkshire, so took the easy way out and just copied the search from Google!


Introduction to will abstracts
www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/BRKwills/

3 Apr 1998 – This is a collection of about 1000 abstracts of probate documents relating to ... Further information about Hiddens in Berkshire and the manor of ...
Title: Re: Is there a Berkshire wills index online?
Post by: snowsell on Monday 17 December 12 14:54 GMT (UK)
It seems to have come up okay on my reply - scroll down to bottom for an alphabetical list of names.

Jill