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
WHEAT, RichardTheale, TilehurstHusbandman1631D/A1/135/106MF552
WHEATE , NicholasTilehurstHusbandman1632D/A1/221/129MF96113
WHEATE, JohnHell Tenement, Tilehurst1579D/A1/10/189MF10047A
WHEATE, JohnTilehurst1579D/A1/10/176MF10047A
WHEATE, JohnTheale, TilehurstYeoman1584D/A1/133/077 D/A1/10/425MF550 MF10047A
WHEATE, NicholasTilehurst1572D/A1/167/150MF96000
WHEATE, NicholasTilehurst1632D/A1/168/225MF96001
WHEATE, NicholasWoolhamptonHusbandman1670D/A1/137/172MF553
WHEATE, Nicholas SnrStratfield Mortimer1619D/A1/134/174MF551
WHEATE, RichardTheale, TilehurstHusbandman1639D/A1/136/069MF552
WHEATE, ThomasTilehurst1583D/A1/133/071 D/A1/10/403MF550 MF10047A
WHEATE, WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1644D/A1/222/026MF96114
WHEATE, WilliamTilehurstHusbandman1644D/A1/169/103MF96002
WHEATELY, RichardWinkfieldYeoman1677D/A1/138/41MF553
WHEATELY, WilliamWinkfieldYeoman1677D/A1/138/42MF553
WHEATLAND, GeorgeReadingVictualler1843D/A1/232/117MF96131
WHEATLAND, RichardNorth Heath, ChieveleyYeoman1613D/A1/134/103 D/A1/15/400MF551 MF10065
WHEATLEY, ChristopherWarfieldHusbandman1619D/A1/134/173 D/A1/15/945MF551 MF10065
WHEATLEY, DeborahSwallowfield1839D/A1/232/112MF96131
WHEATLEY, JaneWinkfield1622D/A1/135/001MF552
WHEATLEY, JohnThe Black Eagle, WindsorQueen'S Harbinger1578D/A1/133/001 D/A1/10/118MF550 MF10047A
WHEATLEY, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1676D/A1/138/29MF553
WHEATLEY, RichardWinkfieldYeoman1613D/A1/134/098 D/A1/15/383MF551 MF10065
WHEATLEY, RobertWinkfieldCarpenter1589D/A1/220/134 D/A1/11/186MF96111 MF10047B
WHEATLEY, RobertWaltham St Lawrence1607D/A1/134/031 D/A1/14/258MF551 MF10064
WHEATLEY, WilliamWinkfieldYeoman1552D/A1/5/175MF10043A
WHEATLEY, WilliamWinkfieldYeoman1552D/A1/4/157MF604
WHEATLEY, WilliamWinkfieldYeoman1667D/A1/222/86MF96115
WHEATLEY, William HenryNewburyPlumber, Glazier 1816D/A1/165/6MF585
WHEATLIE, HenryWinkfieldCarpenter1586D/A1/133/099 D/A1/11/061MF550 MF10047B
WHEATLY, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1662D/A1/137/93MF553
WHEATLY, SarahWinkfield1677D/A1/138/40MF553
WHEATLY, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1609D/A1/134/049 D/A1/14/598MF551 MF10064
WHEATLY, ThomasWinkfieldYeoman1701D/A1/139/74MF554
WHEATLY, WilliamBowbrook, Winkfield1664D/A1/137/117MF553
WHEATLYE, WilliamWinkfield1552D/A1/132/048MF550
WHEATTON, JohnColeshill1578D/A1/10/134MF10047A
WHEBLE, AnnReading1780D/A1/141/169MF556
WHEELER , JohnWestbrook, BoxfordYeoman1608D/A1/134/046 D/A1/14/482MF551 MF10064
WHEELER , JohnBeenham1624D/A1/135/028MF552
WHEELER , RichardBartholomew Street, NewburyHusbandman1636D/A1/136/037MF552
WHEELER , RobertYattendonHusbandman1616D/A1/134/121 D/A1/15/590MF551 MF10065
WHEELER , RobertReadingClothier1643D/A1/137/015MF553
WHEELER , ThomasHampstead NorreysHusbandman1596D/A1/133/188 D/A1/12/339MF551 MF10048
WHEELER , ThomasBoxfordHusbandman1630D/A1/135/099MF552
WHEELER , ThomasAbingdonCordwainer1636D/A1/136/031MF552
WHEELER , WilliamBeenhamHusbandman1615D/A1/134/114 D/A1/15/540MF551 MF10065
WHEELER , William SnrSunningwellYeoman1805D/A1/164/64MF584
WHEELER (ALIAS BANCE), MaryPusey1728D/A1/180/106MF96020
WHEELER, AgnesStreatley1622D/A1/221/083MF96112
WHEELER, AnnMarcham1753D/A1/141/47MF555
WHEELER, AnnReading1790D/A1/142/119MF556
WHEELER, BenjaminReadingGrocer1762D/A1/224/170MF96120
WHEELER, BridgetAbingdon1687D/A1/138/126MF554
WHEELER, CharlesBucklandMason1737D/A1/224/108MF96119
WHEELER, DanielThatchamWheelwright1840D/A1/165/94MF585
WHEELER, DanielBuckleburyWheelwright1842D/A1/165/110MF585
WHEELER, DevereuxNorth MoretonClerk1761D/A1/141/88MF555
WHEELER, Edward BurtBuckland1802D/A1/164/50MF584
WHEELER, EleanorNewbury1678D/A1/223/2MF96116
WHEELER, ElizabethYattendon1721D/A1/140/35MF555
WHEELER, ElizabethHampstead Norreys1743D/A1/140/206MF555
WHEELER, ElizabethThatcham1755D/A1/224/154MF96120
WHEELER, ElizabethAbingdon1828D/A1/232/90MF96131
WHEELER, FrancesNewbury1772D/A1/141/142MF556
WHEELER, FrederickSunningwellFarmer1854D/A1/166/56MF585
WHEELER, HelenFrilsham1733D/A1/140/134MF555
WHEELER, HenryLangford, OxfordshireGrocer1837D/A1/165/79MF585
WHEELER, JacobWest Challow, Letcombe RegisLabourer1777D/A1/141/163MF556
WHEELER, JamesFrilshamYeoman1725D/A1/140/73MF555
WHEELER, JamesBrightwaltonYeoman1742D/A1/140/194MF555
WHEELER, JamesMidgham, Thatcham Yeoman1760D/A1/141/78MF555
WHEELER, JamesBuckland1790D/A1/142/113MF556
WHEELER, JamesAbingdon1835D/A1/165/72MF585
WHEELER, JaneWest Challow, Letcombe Regis1777D/A1/141/162MF556
WHEELER, JohnNewbury1591D/A1/220/147MF96111
WHEELER, JohnNewbury1591D/A1/11/378MF10047B
WHEELER, JohnThe Waterside, Yattendon1661D/A1/137/90MF553
WHEELER, JohnYattendonHusbandman1664D/A1/137/121MF553
WHEELER, JohnBucklandYeoman1741D/A1/224/119MF96119
WHEELER, JohnBucklandMason1743D/A1/224/127MF96120
WHEELER, JohnSunningwellYeoman1755D/A1/141/57MF555
WHEELER, JohnFrilsham1772D/A1/141/139MF556
WHEELER, JohnEast HendredYeoman1782D/A1/141/178MF556
WHEELER, JohnShinfield1806D/A1/232/53MF96131
WHEELER, JohnBradfieldFarmer1854D/A1/232/135MF96131
WHEELER, JosephSunningwellYeoman1836D/A1/165/78MF585
WHEELER, JosephReading St Mary1846D/A1/166/20MF585
WHEELER, MargeryYattendon1673D/A1/137/199MF553
WHEELER, MarthaBuckland1669D/A1/137/158MF553
WHEELER, MarthaBoxford1760D/A1/141/79MF555
WHEELER, MarthaBuckland1814D/A1/232/62MF96131
WHEELER, MaryBuckland1757D/A1/141/69MF555
WHEELER, MaryBuckland1774D/A1/141/153MF556
WHEELER, MathewThatchamGardener1813D/A1/164/98MF584
WHEELER, MosesThatcham1770D/A1/224/179MF96120
WHEELER, PaulNewburyTailor1667D/A1/222/88MF96115
WHEELER, PaulNewburyYeoman1668D/A1/222/92MF96115
WHEELER, RichardFrilshamYeoman1723D/A1/224/38MF96119
WHEELER, RichardYattendonYeoman1728D/A1/140/96MF555