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
WATLINGTON, RogerReading St LaurenceBlacksmith1597D/A1/133/203 D/A1/13/212MF551 MF10049
WATLINGTON, ValentineWinkfield1610D/A1/221/031MF96112
WATLINGTON, ValentineWinkfield1610D/A1/168/067MF96001
WATLINGTON, WilliamReading1555D/A1/132/080MF550
WATLINGTON, WilliamWarfield1558D/A1/167/104MF96000
WATLINGTON, WilliamWarfield1600D/A1/220/190MF96111
WATLINGTON, WilliamWarfield1600D/A1/13/712MF10049
WATLYNGTON, ThomasWarfieldCarpenter1536D/A1/1/302MF10042
WATLYNGTON, ThomasWinkfield1571D/A1/132/242 D/A1/9/279MF550 MF10046
WATLYNGTUN, MargaretWarfield1556D/A1/132/072 D/A1/7/119MF550 MF10040
WATMOR, William SnrStratfield MortimerYeoman1700D/A1/139/62MF554
WATMORE , Edward SnrSwallowfieldYeoman1734D/A1/140/143MF555
WATMORE, BeatriceStratfield Mortimer1607D/A1/134/035/1 D/A1/14/289MF551 MF10064
WATMORE, ElizabethStratfield Mortimer1584D/A1/220/116MF96111
WATMORE, ElizabethReading1599D/A1/133/221 D/A1/13/480MF551 MF10049
WATMORE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1584D/A1/220/115MF96111
WATMORE, JohnStratfield Mortimer1605D/A1/221/003 D/A1/14/185MF96112 MF10064
WATMORE, JohnBurghfieldHusbandman1695D/A1/223/112MF96118
WATMORE, MargaretStratfield Mortimer1625D/A1/135/024MF552
WATMORE, RichardStratfield Mortimer1579D/A1/133/028 D/A1/10/204MF550 MF10047A
WATMORE, Robert SnrStratfield Mortimer1612D/A1/134/083 D/A1/15/283MF551 MF10065
WATMORE, Robert SnrStratfield Mortimer1663D/A1/137/100MF553
WATMORE, WilliamShinfieldHusbandman1702D/A1/223/151MF96118
WATMORE, WilliamStratfield MortimerYeoman1751D/A1/141/33MF555
WATROWES, RichardIdstone, Ashbury1559D/A1/132/133 D/A1/7/261MF550 MF10040
WATS, AliceSutton Courtenay1664D/A1/137/118MF553
WATS, AnneSpeen1665D/A1/137/122MF553
WATS, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1684D/A1/138/93MF553
WATS, SimonDraytonLabourer1672D/A1/137/186MF553
WATS, WilliamSwallowfieldYeoman1664D/A1/137/111MF553
WATSON , RalphSteventonHusbandman1609D/A1/134/052 D/A1/15/006MF551 MF10065
WATSON (ALIAS HYDE), SarahReading1751D/A1/224/147MF96120
WATSON, AliceAbingdon St Helen1554D/A1/7/024MF10040
WATSON, HenryNew Windsor, Windsor1558D/A1/132/101 D/A1/7/157MF550 MF10040
WATSON, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenLabourer1577D/A1/133/007 D/A1/10/081MF550 MF10047A
WATSON, John GodfreyReading1839D/A1/165/93MF585
WATSON, JosephWallingfordCooper1787D/A1/142/108MF556
WATSON, JosephWallingford1808D/A1/232/55MF96131
WATSON, MichaelReadingTimber Merchant1837D/A1/165/80MF585
WATSON, RichardLittle Wittenham1682D/A1/223/23MF96116
WATSON, ThomasLong WittenhamHusbandman1649D/A1/137/050MF553
WATSON, WilliamFrilshamClerk, Parson1556D/A1/132/071 D/A1/7/127MF550 MF10040
WATSON, WilliamReadingTallow Chandler1688D/A1/138/129MF554
WATSONNE, MargaretDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1588D/A1/133/114 D/A1/11/183MF551 MF10047B
WATT, CatherineEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1807D/A1/164/69MF584
WATT, WilliamEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1809D/A1/164/76MF584
WATTELTUN, JaneBinfield1592D/A1/133/143 D/A1/12/018MF551 MF10048
WATTERMON, JohnBucklebury1589D/A1/133/126 D/A1/11/191MF551 MF10047B
WATTERS, MaryCompton1823D/A1/165/29MF584
WATTES, AgnesSpeen1636D/A1/221/149MF96113
WATTES, AnthonyNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1663D/A1/222/65MF96114
WATTES, JoanChaddleworth1561D/A1/132/170 D/A1/8/220MF550 MF10043C
WATTES, JoanStratfield Mortimer1630D/A1/16/200MF10066
WATTES, JohnWinkfield1550D/A1/220/018MF96110
WATTES, JohnHarwellVicar, Clerk1581D/A1/133/045 D/A1/10/283MF550 MF10047A
WATTES, JohnAbingdonWeaver1591D/A1/220/148MF96111
WATTES, JohnAbingdon1591D/A1/11/377MF10047B
WATTES, RobertWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1595D/A1/133/181 D/A1/12/261MF551 MF10048
WATTES, RobertChildrey1595D/A1/133/179 D/A1/12/253MF551 MF10048
WATTES, ThomasNewburyBroad Weaver1613D/A1/134/096 D/A1/15/370MF551 MF10065
WATTES, ThomasWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1680D/A1/138/63MF553
WATTES, WalterAbingdon St HelenLabourer1587D/A1/220/120MF96111
WATTES, WalterAbingdon St Helen1587D/A1/11/097MF10047B
WATTLETON, RobertMaidenhead, BrayHusbandman1635D/A1/136/021MF552
WATTMORE, ThomasBradfieldHusbandman1624D/A1/135/020MF552
WATTON, AnnCholsey1762D/A1/141/99MF555
WATTS , John SnrMarchamYeoman1740D/A1/140/182MF555
WATTS , Thomas JnrWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1733D/A1/224/94MF96119
WATTS , William SnrInkpenCarpenter1713D/A1/223/204MF96118
WATTS, AgnesSpeen1636D/A1/169/102MF96002
WATTS, AnnWest Woodhay1733D/A1/140/140MF555
WATTS, AnnAldermaston1763D/A1/224/171MF96120
WATTS, ArthurBalking, UffingtonYeoman1670D/A1/137/175MF553
WATTS, BrianWest WoodhayCarpenter1670D/A1/137/174MF553
WATTS, BrianWest WoodhayYeoman1694D/A1/223/111MF96118
WATTS, BrianWest WoodhayTailor1734D/A1/224/98MF96119
WATTS, CharityAbingdon1689D/A1/143/23MF556
WATTS, DeborahSpeen1769D/A1/141/125MF555
WATTS, DinahSwallowfield1827D/A1/232/84MF96131
WATTS, EdwardAbingdonInnholder1689D/A1/225/40MF96121
WATTS, FannyLiverpool, Lancashire1839D/A1/232/114MF96131
WATTS, HannahGreat Coxwell1773D/A1/141/147MF556
WATTS, HelenWhite Waltham1672D/A1/222/115MF96115
WATTS, HenrySpeenClerk1682D/A1/138/87MF553
WATTS, JohnSpeen1682D/A1/223/26MF96116
WATTS, JohnReadingBlacksmith1682D/A1/223/25MF96116
WATTS, JohnChieveleyHusbandman1693D/A1/223/100MF96118
WATTS, JohnAldermaston1737D/A1/140/158MF555
WATTS, JohnWelfordLabourer1739D/A1/224/113MF96119
WATTS, JohnKintburyShopkeeper1762D/A1/141/94MF555
WATTS, JohnMarcham1768D/A1/224/177MF96120
WATTS, JohnMarcham1771D/A1/224/183MF96120
WATTS, JohnMarcham1787D/A1/224/205MF96120
WATTS, JohnThatchamAttorney At Law1790D/A1/142/121MF556
WATTS, JohnKingston BagpuizeLabourer1808D/A1/164/73MF584
WATTS, JohnMarcham1821D/A1/232/75MF96131
WATTS, John SnrMarchamYeoman1709D/A1/139/143MF554
WATTS, JosephWelford1774D/A1/224/189MF96120
WATTS, MaryUffington1752D/A1/224/149MF96120
WATTS, MaryMarcham1769D/A1/141/128MF556