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
WISE, ZachariasAbingdonYeoman1761D/A1/141/91MF555
WISE, ZacharyAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1632D/A1/135/121MF552
WISEMAN, CharlesSteventon1635D/A1/16/407MF10066
WISEMAN, CharlesSparsholt'S Court, West Hendred1673D/A1/222/118MF96115
WISEMAN, Edmund SnrSparsholt'S Court, West Hendred1690D/A1/138/137MF554
WISEMAN, EdwardSparsholt'S Court, West Hendred1698D/A1/139/52MF554
WISEMAN, RichardWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1706D/A1/223/173MF96118
WISEMAN, WilliamSteventon1603D/A1/134/006 D/A1/13/1123MF551 MF10049
WISSE, JohnShellingford1553D/A1/5/208MF10043A
WISSE, WilliamShippon, Abingdon St Helen1550D/A1/5/106MF10043A
WISTON, WilliamAbingdon1595D/A1/12/397MF10048
WISTONS, WilliamAbingdon1595D/A1/220/165MF96111
WITBURN, ThomasWallingford St Mary1510D/A1/1/015MF10041
WITE, ThomasFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1632D/A1/135/109MF552
WITHER, JohnLittleworth, FaringdonHusbandman1558D/A1/7/157MF10040
WITHER, ThomasLittleworth, Faringdon1559D/A1/8/025MF10043C
WITHERALL, WilliamGreenham, Thatcham Victualler1815D/A1/165/4MF584
WITHERELL, ElizabethWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1710D/A1/223/190MF96118
WITHERELL, MaryHarwell1745D/A1/140/215MF555
WITHERELL, WilliamWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1712D/A1/223/195MF96118
WITHERELL, WilliamThatcham1768D/A1/224/176MF96120
WITHERELL, WilliamNewburyVictualler1842D/A1/165/111MF585
WITHERINGTON, LawrenceBradfieldMiller, Shopkeeper 1802D/A1/164/51MF584
WITHERS , Matthew SnrOwnham, BoxfordYeoman1752D/A1/141/40MF555
WITHERS, BenjaminShefford1830D/A1/165/57MF585
WITHERS, CatherineHatford1610D/A1/134/053 D/A1/15/010MF551 MF10065
WITHERS, DavidHinton WaldristYeoman1632D/A1/135/122MF552
WITHERS, ElishaReading St Mary1770D/A1/224/180MF96120
WITHERS, FrancisReadingPewterer1687D/A1/223/58MF96117
WITHERS, HenryPuseyHusbandman1664D/A1/222/77MF96115
WITHERS, HenryBucklandYeoman1681D/A1/138/70MF553
WITHERS, JaneBurgage, Hinton Waldrist1690D/A1/138/134MF554
WITHERS, JohnStanford In The Vale1615D/A1/221/055MF96112
WITHERS, JohnStanford In The Vale1615D/A1/168/119MF96001
WITHERS, JohnGreat CoxwellYeoman1721D/A1/140/30MF555
WITHERS, JohnBoxfordYeoman1780D/A1/141/171MF556
WITHERS, JohnThatcham1848D/A1/166/27MF585
WITHERS, MaryGreat Coxwell1721D/A1/140/33MF555
WITHERS, MosesBucklebury1748D/A1/141/18MF555
WITHERS, PhilipSpeenYeoman1775D/A1/141/157MF556
WITHERS, RichardLongworthHusbandman1626D/A1/135/053MF552
WITHERS, RichardHinton Waldrist1636D/A1/136/049MF552
WITHERS, RobertEastbury, LambournYeoman1772D/A1/141/140MF556
WITHERS, ThomasBucklebury1780D/A1/224/196MF96120
WITHERS, ThomasBucklebury1780D/A1/224/196MF96120
WITHERS, ThomasKintburyClock Maker1829D/A1/232/92MF96131
WITHINGTON, EdwardLong Wittenham1629D/A1/135/087MF552
WITHYE, ElizabethBuckland1677D/A1/222/147MF96115
WITT , WilliamMarchamLabourer1606D/A1/221/010MF96112
WITT, HungerfordRadleyYeoman1731D/A1/140/123MF555
WITT, Richard1557D/A1/233/310MF96132
WITT, WilliamMarcham1606D/A1/168/017MF96001
WITTE, RichardRadley1557D/A1/3/231MF604
WITTON, EdwardReading St Laurence1593D/A1/220/156MF96111
WITTON, EdwardReading1593D/A1/12/109MF10048
WITTON, EdwardReadingWare Burner, Maltster1663D/A1/137/97MF553
WITTON, JohnReading St LaurenceWare Burner1669D/A1/222/93MF96115
WITTON, KatherineReading1669D/A1/137/165MF553
WITTS, AnnBeedon1831D/A1/165/62MF585
WITTS, ThomasBeedonYeoman1824D/A1/165/32MF584
WIVEOLDE, EdmundAbingdonInnholder1594D/A1/133/172 D/A1/12/202MF551 MF10048
WIX , John SnrAldermastonFarmer1780D/A1/141/170MF556
WIX , Stephen SnrAldermaston1765D/A1/141/103MF555
WIXE, RobertMilton1545D/A1/6/183MF10043B
WIXE, RobertMilton1545D/A1/132/016MF550
WIXE, ThomasBucklandHusbandman1631D/A1/221/121MF96113
WIZE, ThomasShottesbrooke1562D/A1/220/055MF96110
WIZE, ThomasShottesbrooke1562D/A1/167/119MF96000
WODAM [WODHAN ON FRONT OF WILL], WilliamLambournYeoman1722D/A1/140/45MF555
WODAM, ThomasLambournHusbandman1751D/A1/141/37MF555
WODAM, WilliamHinton Waldrist1574D/A1/132/264 D/A1/9/423MF550 MF10046
WODDAM, Robert1557D/A1/132/082MF550
WODDAM, RobertShellingford1557D/A1/132/042 D/A1/7/209MF550 MF10040
WODDAME, EdwardMarcham1599D/A1/133/223 D/A1/13/500MF551 MF10049
WODDARD, HenryAshburyHusbandman1628D/A1/135/074MF552
WODDERD, JohnPangbourne1595D/A1/12/393MF10048
WODDES, HenryFinchampsteadYeoman1618D/A1/134/162 D/A1/15/802MF551 MF10065
WODLEFFE, Beiam GrenfeldWootton, Cumnor1661D/A1/137/83MF553
WODLEFFE, ThomasWootton, Cumnor1572D/A1/220/074MF96110
WODLEYF, SybilHarwell1579D/A1/133/015 D/A1/10/147MF550 MF10047A
WODLY , JohnHarwell1615D/A1/134/109 D/A1/15/553MF551 MF10065
WODLYF, RobertHarwell1566D/A1/132/201 D/A1/8/367MF550 MF10043C
WODLYFE, JohnHarwell1585D/A1/133/092MF550
WODSHALL, RogerLambourn1568D/A1/132/218 D/A1/9/129MF550 MF10046
WODSHAW, AgnesLambourn1572D/A1/132/251MF550
WODSHAW, AgnesLambourn1573D/A1/9/353MF10046
WODWARD, EdwardAshbury1668D/A1/137/144MF553
WODWARD, IsabelSpeen1532D/A1/1/179MF10042
WODWARD, JoanAshbury1593D/A1/133/154 D/A1/12/064MF551 MF10048
WODWARD, JohnStanford In The Vale1555D/A1/132/065 D/A1/7/102MF550 MF10040
WODWARD, JohnKintburyShearman1566D/A1/132/198 D/A1/8/364MF550 MF10043C
WODWARD, MatthewNew Windsor, Windsor1607D/A1/134/044 D/A1/14/592MF551 MF10064
WODWARD, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1624D/A1/135/039MF552
WODWARD, WalterKingstone Winslow, AshburyShepherd1616D/A1/134/125 D/A1/15/610MF551 MF10065
WODWARDE, ThomasNorth Street, TilehurstWeaver1572D/A1/132/248 D/A1/9/311MF550 MF10046
WODWORE, John SnrPangbourneButcher1661D/A1/137/84MF553
WOLDRIDGE, RogerHam Mill, ThatchamPoulterer1618D/A1/134/168 D/A1/15/875MF551 MF10065
WOLFE, WilliamTidmarshClerk, Rector1638D/A1/221/161 D/A1/169/103 D/A1/16/491MF96113 MF96002 MF10066
WOLLASCOT, AnneShinfield1643D/A1/137/022MF553
WOLLASCOT, ThomasTidmarsh1612D/A1/221/034MF96112