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
WASTYE, WilliamWest Hendred1546D/A1/3/243MF604
WATER, HarryAbingdon St HelenClerk, Mercer1553D/A1/132/052 D/A1/7/014MF550 MF10040
WATERER, HenryWallingford St MaryMercer1592D/A1/220/151 D/A1/12/071MF96111 MF10048
WATERHOUSE, JohnBuscot1641D/A1/136/095MF552
WATERHOUSE, MaryAshbury1663D/A1/137/101MF553
WATERHOUSE, ThomasBuscotYeoman1711D/A1/223/194MF96118
WATERHOUSE, ThomasBuscotHusbandman1728D/A1/224/68MF96119
WATERHOUSE, WalterBuscotHusbandman1636D/A1/221/148 D/A1/169/102MF96113 MF96002
WATERHOUSSE, ThomasIdstone, AshburyHusbandman1554D/A1/132/057 D/A1/7/049MF550 MF10040
WATERMAN (ALIAS WHITE), MaryEast Hendred1725D/A1/224/52MF96119
WATERMAN, AliceBrimpton1540D/A1/1/282MF10042
WATERMAN, AnnisKingston Bagpuize1629D/A1/135/088MF552
WATERMAN, EdmundHarwellHusbandman1669D/A1/137/162MF553
WATERMAN, EdwardHarwell1686D/A1/223/50MF96117
WATERMAN, EdwardThatchamVictualler1791D/A1/142/126MF556
WATERMAN, EllenChilton1639D/A1/136/060MF552
WATERMAN, JoanAldermaston1626D/A1/135/050MF552
WATERMAN, JohnAldermastonHusbandman1595D/A1/133/187 D/A1/12/311MF551 MF10048
WATERMAN, JohnEastbury, LambournHusbandman1624D/A1/135/030MF552
WATERMAN, JohnNewburyWeaver1698D/A1/223/129MF96118
WATERMAN, JohnHolt, Kintbury1700D/A1/223/138MF96118
WATERMAN, JonathanWest HendredCarrier1711D/A1/139/159MF554
WATERMAN, JosephThatchamYeoman1717D/A1/140/2MF555
WATERMAN, MarthaHarwell1686D/A1/223/46MF96117
WATERMAN, MaryReading1711D/A1/139/157MF554
WATERMAN, RichardAldermaston1592D/A1/133/152 D/A1/12/051MF551 MF10048
WATERMAN, RichardKingston BagpuizeHusbandman1626D/A1/221/100MF96113
WATERMAN, RichardHarwellHusbandman1634D/A1/136/023MF552
WATERMAN, RobertHarwell1750D/A1/141/29MF555
WATERMAN, ThomasNewbury1567D/A1/220/062MF96110
WATERMAN, WilliamReading St Mary1629D/A1/135/090MF552
WATERMAN, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1630D/A1/135/100MF552
WATERMAN, WilliamLetcombe RegisYeoman1687D/A1/138/124MF554
WATERS, AnneCharney Bassett, Longworth1670D/A1/137/178MF553
WATERS, AnneCharney Bassett, Longworth1671D/A1/222/106MF96115
WATERS, JohnNewburyInnholder1568D/A1/132/219 D/A1/9/125MF550 MF10046
WATERS, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenLabourer1597D/A1/220/176 D/A1/13/189MF96111 MF10049
WATERS, JohnGoosey, Stanford In The ValeLabourer1675D/A1/222/140MF96115
WATERS, RichardNewburyShoemaker1553D/A1/132/054 D/A1/7/017MF550 MF10040
WATERS, RobertWest HanneyWeaver1719D/A1/140/15MF555
WATERS, ThomasFinchampstead1624D/A1/135/018MF552
WATERS, WilliamCharney, LongworthHusbandman1614D/A1/221/040 D/A1/221/041 D/A1/168/104 D/A1/168/107MF96112 MF96112 MF96001 MF96001
WATERS, WilliamMaidenheadMercer1691D/A1/223/88MF96117
WATERTON, JohnSpeenhamland, SpeenInnkeeper1558D/A1/132/106 D/A1/7/181MF550 MF10040
WATERTON, JohnSpeenhamland, Speen1561D/A1/167/116MF96000
WATES, IsabelWinkfield1558D/A1/132/107 D/A1/7/164MF550 MF10040
WATES, JohnShinfieldCarpenter1644D/A1/137/025MF553
WATES, WalterChaddleworth1557D/A1/220/030MF96110
WATFORD, AliceAston Tirrold1614D/A1/221/047 D/A1/168/110MF96112 MF96001
WATFORD, AliceAston Tirrold1618D/A1/221/065 D/A1/168/156MF96112 MF96001
WATFORD, HenryAston Tirrold1666D/A1/137/137MF553
WATFORD, JohnAston TirroldSmith1614D/A1/221/049MF96112
WATFORD, JohnAston Tirrold1614D/A1/168/112MF96001
WATIRMAN, ThomasNewbury1567D/A1/167/134MF96000
WATKINS, AnneChieveley1627D/A1/135/063MF552
WATKINS, BenjaminWellhouse, Hampstead NorreysTurner1760D/A1/141/87MF555
WATKINS, ClementNew Windsor, Windsor1625D/A1/221/102MF96113
WATKINS, JohnWhite Waltham Bricklayer1694D/A1/139/11MF554
WATKINS, JohnShinfield1821D/A1/232/73MF96131
WATKINS, ThomasAbingdon1793D/A1/142/128MF556
WATKINS, WilliamNewburyButcher1600D/A1/220/188 D/A1/13/442MF96111 MF10049
WATKINS, WilliamWargraveYeoman1786D/A1/142/105MF556
WATKINS, WilliamWhite Waltham1825D/A1/165/37MF584
WATKYNS, EdwardChildrey1530D/A1/1/131MF10042
WATLINGTON, AnnReading1644D/A1/137/023MF553
WATLINGTON, GeorgeReading St LaurenceBroad Weaver1632D/A1/221/126 D/A1/168/219MF96113 MF96001
WATLINGTON, GilbertWarfield1610D/A1/134/057 D/A1/15/040MF551 MF10065
WATLINGTON, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1566D/A1/220/064MF96110
WATLINGTON, JohnSulhamstead Abbots1566D/A1/167/129MF96000
WATLINGTON, JohnReading St LaurenceYeoman1618D/A1/134/158 D/A1/15/860MF551 MF10065
WATLINGTON, MarthaReading1686D/A1/138/118MF554
WATLINGTON, MaryReading St Mary1607D/A1/134/039 D/A1/14/330MF551 MF10064
WATLINGTON, RalphWarfieldCarpenter1564D/A1/132/187 D/A1/8/305MF550 MF10043C
WATLINGTON, Robert1560D/A1/167/112MF96000
WATLINGTON, RobertReadingDraper1560D/A1/132/162MF550
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