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
WIGMORE, ThomasBuckleburyYeoman1749D/A1/141/28MF555
WIGMORE, WilliamWoolhamptonLabourer1583D/A1/220/110MF96111
WIGMORE, WilliamWoolhampton1583D/A1/10/387MF10047A
WIGMOUR, WilliamRemenhamFarmer1529D/A1/1/125MF10041
WIGTHORPE, JohnAldermaston1593D/A1/133/166 D/A1/12/125MF551 MF10048
WIKES, AgnesMilton1558D/A1/220/037MF96110
WIKES, JoanAbingdon St Helen1557D/A1/3/248MF604
WIKES, JoanBuckland Marsh, Buckland1602D/A1/133/243 D/A1/13/861MF551 MF10049
WIKES, JohnColeshill1560D/A1/132/163MF550
WIKES, JohnColeshill1562D/A1/2/020MF603
WIKES, RichardCookham1557D/A1/220/027MF96110
WIKINS, WilliamUfton NervetYeoman1634D/A1/136/020MF552
WILCOCKES, HenryReading St Laurence1588D/A1/220/131 D/A1/11/178MF96111 MF10047B
WILCOCKES, WilliamBucklebury1614D/A1/221/050 D/A1/168/112MF96112 MF96001
WILCOCKS, MatthewFernham, Shrivenham1704D/A1/223/161MF96118
WILD , John SnrReadingInnholder1736D/A1/140/152MF555
WILD, AnthonyCharney, Longworth1607D/A1/134/038 D/A1/14/319MF551 MF10064
WILD, AnthonyCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1746D/A1/141/9MF555
WILD, JohnSulham1550D/A1/5/119MF10043A
WILD, PhilipCharney Bassett, LongworthHusbandman1730D/A1/224/81MF96119
WILD, RichardHarwellYeoman1681D/A1/138/76MF553
WILD, RichardCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1726D/A1/224/53MF96119
WILD, Richard SnrCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1673D/A1/138/7MF553
WILD, ThomasWest SheffordHusbandman1647D/A1/137/038MF553
WILD, ThomasWeston, Welford1671D/A1/137/182MF553
WILD, ThomasGreenham, Thatcham Yeoman1716D/A1/139/205MF554
WILDAR, EdwardPangbourne1771D/A1/224/185MF96120
WILDAR, MaryUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1622D/A1/134/195MF551
WILDBLOUD, RichardMarchamSiever1693D/A1/223/101MF96118
WILDE , JoanLyford, Hanney1609D/A1/221/021 D/A1/168/041MF96112 MF96001
WILDE , ThomasAbingdonYeoman1639D/A1/136/067MF552
WILDE , WilliamEnglefield1567D/A1/132/209MF550
WILDE, AgnesCharney, Longworth1614D/A1/168/113MF96001
WILDE, AnthonyCharney, LongworthYeoman1622D/A1/221/085MF96112
WILDE, AnthonyCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1703D/A1/223/157MF96118
WILDE, IsaacCharney Bassett, LongworthYeoman1698D/A1/139/50MF554
WILDE, Richard SnrLyford, East HanneyHusbandman1664D/A1/137/115MF553
WILDEAR, ElizabethBradfield1757D/A1/141/67MF555
WILDEGOOSE, ThomasWytham1593D/A1/133/155 D/A1/12/065MF551 MF10048
WILDER , Edward SnrReadingBargemaster1713D/A1/139/178MF554
WILDER , John SnrPeasemoreHusbandman1734D/A1/140/144MF555
WILDER, AgnesEnglefield1554D/A1/7/064MF10040
WILDER, AgnesBurghfield1564D/A1/132/186 D/A1/8/308MF550 MF10043C
WILDER, AliceNunhide, Sulham1602D/A1/133/242 D/A1/13/851MF551 MF10049
WILDER, AliceReading1678D/A1/138/49MF553
WILDER, AliceSulham1587D/A1/133/108 D/A1/11/270MF550 MF10047B
WILDER, Alice SnrReading St Mary1666D/A1/222/85MF96115
WILDER, AnnBurghfield1606D/A1/134/026 D/A1/14/207MF551 MF10064
WILDER, AnnPeasemore1768D/A1/141/118MF555
WILDER, ChristianWallingfordShoemaker1680D/A1/138/64MF553
WILDER, EdmundReadingMaltster1703D/A1/139/91MF554
WILDER, EdwardReadingCordwainer1687D/A1/223/55MF96117
WILDER, EdwardReadingGrocer1712D/A1/139/163MF554
WILDER, EdwardBasildonVictualler1724D/A1/140/69MF555
WILDER, EdwardBasildonVictualler1752D/A1/141/45MF555
WILDER, ElizabethReading St Mary1661D/A1/222/57MF96114
WILDER, FrancesBurghfield1680D/A1/223/12MF96116
WILDER, GeorgeSulhamstead Bannister1626D/A1/135/051MF552
WILDER, GregoryGarford, Marcham1673D/A1/137/198MF553
WILDER, HenrySulhamstead BannisterHusbandman1612D/A1/134/085 D/A1/15/298MF551 MF10065
WILDER, JaneReading1684D/A1/138/103MF553
WILDER, JoanSulhamstead Bannister1555D/A1/7/103MF10040
WILDER, JoanMilton1622D/A1/16/048MF10066
WILDER, JohnTidmarsh1572D/A1/132/244 D/A1/9/332MF550 MF10046
WILDER, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1578D/A1/133/011 D/A1/10/131MF550 MF10047A
WILDER, JohnLambournCarpenter1598D/A1/220/177MF96111
WILDER, JohnLambourn1598D/A1/13/319MF10049
WILDER, JohnStratfield MortimerYeoman1637D/A1/136/048MF552
WILDER, JohnShinfieldYeoman1638D/A1/221/160MF96113
WILDER, JohnShinfieldYeoman1638D/A1/169/103MF96002
WILDER, JohnReading St LaurencePewterer1641D/A1/222/009 D/A1/169/103MF96114 MF96002
WILDER, JohnReading St MaryClothier1661D/A1/222/58MF96114
WILDER, JohnPurleyYeoman1673D/A1/222/127MF96115
WILDER, JohnReading St LaurenceGrocer1680D/A1/223/10/1MF96116
WILDER, JohnTilehurstYeoman1682D/A1/223/27MF96116
WILDER, JohnWallingfordIronmonger1693D/A1/139/8MF554
WILDER, JohnBuckleburyYeoman1734D/A1/140/142MF555
WILDER, JohnBurghfieldYeoman1766D/A1/141/112MF555
WILDER, JosephBasildonBlacksmith, Yeoman 1741D/A1/140/186MF555
WILDER, LeonardBradfieldYeoman1716D/A1/139/199MF554
WILDER, Leonard SnrBradfield1697D/A1/139/32MF554
WILDER, MargeryTidmarsh1605D/A1/134/024 D/A1/14/103MF551 MF10064
WILDER, MargerySpeenhamland, Speen 1711D/A1/223/192MF96118
WILDER, MaryPangbourne1706D/A1/223/172MF96118
WILDER, NicholasCrookham, ThatchamHusbandman1592D/A1/133/156/1 D/A1/220/153 D/A1/12/408MF551 MF96111 MF10048
WILDER, NicholasReading St GilesBroad Weaver1641D/A1/222/007 D/A1/169/103MF96114 MF96002
WILDER, NicholasMigheals, Sulhamstead BannisterYeoman1710D/A1/139/151MF554
WILDER, NicholasSulhamstead BannisterYeoman1710D/A1/139/151MF554
WILDER, RichardBurghfield1562D/A1/233/010MF96132
WILDER, RichardBurghfield1562D/A1/2/023MF603
WILDER, RichardBurghfield1589D/A1/220/133MF96111
WILDER, RichardBurghfield1589D/A1/11/191MF10047B
WILDER, RichardReading St MaryBroad Weaver1663D/A1/222/70MF96114
WILDER, RichardPangbourneBoat Builder1703D/A1/17/38MF10079
WILDER, RichardBasildonLabourer1745D/A1/224/137MF96120
WILDER, RichardEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1751D/A1/141/31MF555
WILDER, SamuelReadingClothier1692D/A1/138/154MF554
WILDER, ThomasTidmarsh1562D/A1/167/119MF96000
WILDER, ThomasTidmarsh1563D/A1/220/054MF96110
WILDER, ThomasEnglefield1583D/A1/10/416MF10047A