These abstracts of 298 wills are based on transcriptions made by John and Isobel Thompson from the probate records of the Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford, held at Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service as ABP/R 2 and 3.

The wills are mainly of the ordinary people of Bedfordshire villages and towns and a few local clergy.

As well as containing details of testators' families, possessions, some property and bequests to the church, there are glimpses into people's minds: 'beyng seke in bodie dredyng the parell of death to fall unto me'; and a request for burial in the parish church 'afore the sowth doore behynd the piller'.