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
WAKE, GeorgeSpeenEx-Poorhouse-Keeper1845D/A1/166/15MF585
WAKE, JaneWasing1612D/A1/134/087 D/A1/15/308MF551 MF10065
WAKE, SarahLongcot, Shrivenham 1849D/A1/166/36MF585
WAKE, WilliamLongcot, Shrivenham Yeoman1827D/A1/232/86MF96131
WAKEFIELD, ThomasWallingfordYeoman1804D/A1/164/56MF584
WAKELAND, RichardAbingdon St HelenFishmonger1641D/A1/136/097 D/A1/222/010 D/A1/169/103MF552 MF96114 MF96002
WAKER, JohnReading St LaurenceVintner1637D/A1/221/155 D/A1/169/102MF96113 MF96002
WALCRAFT, RichardShellingfordLabourer1810D/A1/164/85MF584
WALDEN, AnnFinchampstead1819D/A1/232/70MF96131
WALDEN, JohnReading St MaryWoollen Draper1674D/A1/222/134MF96115
WALDEN, JosephShinfield1736D/A1/224/106MF96119
WALDERNE, JohnMaidencourt, East GarstonHusbandman1603D/A1/134/009 D/A1/13/1194MF551 MF10049
WALDORN, WilliamUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1558D/A1/132/121 D/A1/7/145bMF550 MF10040
WALDRAN, JohnUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1579D/A1/133/021 D/A1/10/164MF550 MF10047A
WALDRAN, RobertLambourn1555D/A1/7/338cMF10040
WALDREN, AliceIdstone, Ashbury1602D/A1/133/241 D/A1/13/837MF551 MF10049
WALDREN, JohnShefford1591D/A1/220/143MF96111
WALDREN, JohnEast GarstonLabourer1743D/A1/140/210MF555
WALDRON, Alice1586D/A1/133/098 D/A1/11/079MF550 MF10047B
WALDRON, BartholomewKintburyHusbandman1573D/A1/132/252 D/A1/9/378MF550 MF10046
WALDRON, ElizabethLambourn1583D/A1/133/064 D/A1/10/356MF550 MF10047A
WALDRON, ElizabethLetcombe Bassett1758D/A1/224/162MF96120
WALDRON, FrancesWest SheffordHusbandman1671D/A1/222/103MF96115
WALDRON, JoanBoxford1540D/A1/1/200MF10042
WALDRON, JoanEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1546D/A1/6/183MF10043B
WALDRON, JoanEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1546D/A1/132/020 D/A1/5/042MF550 MF10043A
WALDRON, JohnEastbury, Lambourn1541D/A1/6/103MF10043B
WALDRON, JohnEastbury, Lambourn1541D/A1/132/009MF550
WALDRON, JohnLambourn1546D/A1/5/220MF10043A
WALDRON, JohnIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1585D/A1/133/084 D/A1/11/005MF550 MF10047B
WALDRON, JohnUpper Lambourn, LambournYeoman1603D/A1/134/008 D/A1/13/1143MF551 MF10049
WALDRON, JohnLambournHusbandman1609D/A1/134/050 D/A1/14/608MF551 MF10064
WALDRON, JohnChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1673D/A1/222/112MF96115
WALDRON, JohnWest SheffordHusbandman1689D/A1/179/75MF96017
WALDRON, JohnLambournYeoman1739D/A1/140/168MF555
WALDRON, JohnAbingdon1743D/A1/140/202MF555
WALDRON, John JnrChildrey1526D/A1/1/046MF10041
WALDRON, John JnrChipping Lambourn, Lambourn1669D/A1/137/154MF553
WALDRON, John SnrChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1666D/A1/137/133MF553
WALDRON, John SnrUplambourn, LambournYeoman1697D/A1/139/36MF554
WALDRON, LucyLambourn1718D/A1/140/7MF555
WALDRON, RichardLambourn1580D/A1/10/238MF10047A
WALDRON, RichardUffingtonHusbandman1615D/A1/134/108 D/A1/15/495MF551 MF10065
WALDRON, RichardBenham Valence, SpeenHusbandman1618D/A1/134/152 D/A1/15/783MF551 MF10065
WALDRON, RichardUpper Lambourn, LambournYeoman1626D/A1/135/049MF552
WALDRON, RichardLambournFarmer1834D/A1/165/69MF585
WALDRON, RichardLambournFarmer1838D/A1/165/88MF585
WALDRON, RobertEastbury, LambournYeoman1616D/A1/134/137 D/A1/15/643MF551 MF10065
WALDRON, RobertChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1668D/A1/137/145MF553
WALDRON, RobertUplambourn, LambournYeoman1673D/A1/138/3MF553
WALDRON, RobertLambournYeoman1742D/A1/140/199MF555
WALDRON, Robert JnrEnborneYeoman1617D/A1/134/150 D/A1/15/757MF551 MF10065
WALDRON, RogerUpper Lambourn, LambournYeoman1644D/A1/137/018MF553
WALDRON, RogerLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1720D/A1/140/32MF555
WALDRON, RogerLambourn1727D/A1/224/59MF96119
WALDRON, SarahUplambourn, Lambourn1707D/A1/223/176MF96118
WALDRON, SusannahNewbury, Newbury1704D/A1/139/94MF554
WALDRON, ThomasEast GarstonHusbandman1700D/A1/139/58MF554
WALDRON, ThomasLambournGlazier1743D/A1/140/205MF555
WALDRON, WalterWest SheffordLabourer1732D/A1/224/90MF96119
WALDRON, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1581D/A1/133/055 D/A1/10/324MF550 MF10047A
WALDRON, WilliamUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1586D/A1/133/103 D/A1/11/080MF550 MF10047B
WALDRON, WilliamLambournYeoman1610D/A1/221/026MF96112
WALDRON, WilliamLambourn1610D/A1/168/055MF96001
WALDRON, WilliamLambournYeoman1804D/A1/164/60MF584
WALDRON, WilliamArdingtonMaltster1814D/A1/232/63MF96131
WALDROND, ZuriellLambourn1690D/A1/138/146MF554
WALDRUNE, RobertUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1555D/A1/220/022MF96110
WALER, HenryBrayHusbandman1565D/A1/132/196 D/A1/8/358MF550 MF10043C
WALINGTON, AnnabelLongworth1563D/A1/132/184 D/A1/8/279MF550 MF10043C
WALKAR , ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1558D/A1/132/123 D/A1/8/111MF550 MF10043C
WALKAR, AgnesShinfield1567D/A1/132/213 D/A1/9/080MF550 MF10046
WALKARE, John1533D/A1/132/002MF550
WALKER , William SnrReadingMaltster1713D/A1/139/169MF554
WALKER, AgnesShinfield1558D/A1/132/089 D/A1/8/072 D/A1/167/103MF550 MF10043C MF96000
WALKER, ChristopherNewburyGlover1608D/A1/221/020MF96112
WALKER, ChristopherNewbury1608D/A1/168/040MF96001
WALKER, EdwardChieveleyHusbandman1577D/A1/132/283 D/A1/10/071MF550 MF10047A
WALKER, ElizabethAbingdon1677D/A1/138/46MF553
WALKER, ElizabethNewbury1849D/A1/166/37MF585
WALKER, GertrudeAbingdon1728D/A1/140/84MF555
WALKER, GilbertShinfieldHusbandman1690D/A1/223/78MF96117
WALKER, HenryFyfieldYeoman1727D/A1/224/56MF96119
WALKER, Henry SnrReadingBroad Weaver1649D/A1/137/052MF553
WALKER, JoanDry Sandford, Abingdon St Helen1700D/A1/139/60MF554
WALKER, JohnShinfield1544D/A1/1/219MF10042
WALKER, JohnShinfieldHusbandman1616D/A1/134/132 D/A1/15/630MF551 MF10065
WALKER, JohnReadingSchoolmaster, Yeoman1681D/A1/138/73MF553
WALKER, JohnAbingdon St HelenYeoman1715D/A1/224/6MF96119
WALKER, JohnKintburyYeoman1728D/A1/224/62MF96119
WALKER, JohnAbingdon St HelenYeoman1740D/A1/224/115MF96119
WALKER, MaryNewbury1854D/A1/166/58MF585
WALKER, Mary AnnAbingdon1833D/A1/232/100MF96131
WALKER, NicholasShinfieldYeoman1583D/A1/133/065 D/A1/10/360MF550 MF10047A
WALKER, PhoebeShaw Cum Donnington1847D/A1/166/22MF585
WALKER, RalphPurleyYeoman1593D/A1/220/154 D/A1/12/108MF96111 MF10048
WALKER, RichardClewerFellmonger1638D/A1/136/058MF552
WALKER, RichardReading St MaryTailor1644D/A1/137/024MF553
WALKER, RichardWargrave1782D/A1/224/198MF96120
WALKER, RichardWargrave1782D/A1/224/198MF96120