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
WEELER, ThomasAbingdonBaker1701D/A1/139/69MF554
WEELS, RichardBradfieldYeoman1676D/A1/138/28MF553
WEIGHT, JohnSouth MoretonWeaver1738D/A1/140/164MF555
WEILDER, EdmundMaidenhead, CookhamVictualler1634D/A1/136/017MF552
WEILDER, KatherineMaidenhead, Cookham1636D/A1/136/035MF552
WEKES, GilbertAbingdon1579D/A1/220/097MF96110
WEKES, WilliamAbingdon1551D/A1/220/015MF96110
WEKING, AnneSulhamstead Abbots1556D/A1/233/308MF96132
WEKYNG, AnneSulhamstead Abbots1556D/A1/3/228MF604
WEKYNGES, RichardBeenhamHusbandman1568D/A1/132/217 D/A1/9/122MF550 MF10046
WEKYNS, AliceUfton Nervet1580D/A1/133/032 D/A1/10/225MF550 MF10047A
WEKYS, WilliamBucklandHusbandman1545D/A1/3/229MF604
WEKYS, WilliamBuckland1545D/A1/233/309MF96132
WELARE, JohnBeenham1571D/A1/132/243 D/A1/9/412MF550 MF10046
WELBECK, LeonardReadingBrewer1670D/A1/222/98MF96115
WELBECK, RichardEast Hendred1593D/A1/133/164 D/A1/13/721 D/A1/12/109MF551 MF10049 MF10048
WELBECK, RichardEast Hendred1605D/A1/14/184MF10064
WELBECKE, MargeryReading1674D/A1/222/129 MF96115
WELBELOVED, EdwardNew Windsor, WindsorVictualler1697D/A1/223/118MF96118
WELBICK, RichardEast Hendred1594D/A1/220/157MF96111
WELCH, ElizabethMilton1834D/A1/232/103MF96131
WELCH, HenryReading St GilesVintner1706D/A1/223/170MF96118
WELCH, JohnMilton1832D/A1/232/97MF96131
WELDEN, CharlesShottesbrookeYeoman1748D/A1/141/20MF555
WELDEN, EdwardBisham1660D/A1/137/77MF553
WELDEN, GeorgeShottesbrooke1670D/A1/222/99MF96115
WELDEN, ThomasShottesbrooke1592D/A1/133/146 D/A1/12/034MF551 MF10048
WELDEN, WilliamShottesbrooke1642D/A1/222/014MF96114
WELDEN, WilliamShottesbrookeHusbandman1642D/A1/169/103MF96002
WELDON, AnneCookham1632D/A1/16/276 D/A1/135/130MF10066 MF552
WELDON, ElizabethCookham1731D/A1/224/87MF96119
WELES, JohnBradfieldHusbandman1661D/A1/137/82MF553
WELFORD, LionelAbingdon St HelenWoollen Draper1596D/A1/133/190 D/A1/12/412MF551 MF10048
WELLCHE, ThomasReading St Laurence1561D/A1/132/171 D/A1/8/222MF550 MF10043C
WELLDEN, JohnWaltham St. LawrenceYeoman1680D/A1/223/10/2MF96116
WELLDEN, RichardBucklebury1625D/A1/135/035MF552
WELLES , JohnWargraveFisher1555D/A1/132/066 D/A1/7/101MF550 MF10040
WELLES, FrancisWantage1645D/A1/137/033MF553
WELLES, JamesHurleyHusbandman1616D/A1/134/133 D/A1/15/638MF551 MF10065
WELLES, JohnStanford Dingley1549D/A1/5/082MF10043A
WELLES, JohnGarford, Marcham1554D/A1/7/051MF10040
WELLES, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1559D/A1/220/046MF96110
WELLES, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1559D/A1/167/108MF96000
WELLES, JohnWargraveHusbandman1573D/A1/132/256 D/A1/9/396MF550 MF10046
WELLES, JohnReading St Laurence1575D/A1/132/268 D/A1/9/454MF550 MF10046
WELLES, JohnBradfield1624D/A1/221/086MF96112
WELLES, JohnWeston, WelfordTailor1707D/A1/139/122MF554
WELLES, John SnrSteventon1575D/A1/132/271 D/A1/10/003MF550 MF10047A
WELLES, RichardWallingford St PeterCowper1569D/A1/132/224 D/A1/9/164MF550 MF10046
WELLES, RichardGarford, MarchamHusbandman1585D/A1/133/089 D/A1/11/008MF550 MF10047B
WELLES, RichardStanford DingleyVictualler1604D/A1/134/016MF551
WELLES, RichardWeston, WelfordHusbandman1623D/A1/221/087MF96112
WELLES, RichardFrilford, Marcham Tailor1750D/A1/224/146MF96120
WELLES, RobertWinkfield1559D/A1/132/117 D/A1/132/158 D/A1/8/068MF550 MF550 MF10043C
WELLES, RobertLong Wittenham1567D/A1/167/134MF96000
WELLES, ThomasServant1558D/A1/132/125 D/A1/7/142MF550 MF10040
WELLES, ThomasBrayYeoman1665D/A1/137/125MF553
WELLES, ThomasBradfieldTanner1700D/A1/139/57MF554
WELLES, WilliamReading1571D/A1/220/073MF96110
WELLES, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1675D/A1/138/20MF553
WELLESBORNE, FrancesEast Hanney, Hanney1603D/A1/133/247 D/A1/13/929MF551 MF10049
WELLESBORNE, OliverWest Hanney, Hanney1555D/A1/7/072 D/A1/132/055MF10040 MF550
WELLFORDE, WilliamEast HendredHusbandman1570D/A1/132/232 D/A1/9/183MF550 MF10046
WELLING, AnthonyNew Windsor, Windsor1640D/A1/221/169MF96113
WELLING, AnthonyNew Windsor, Windsor1640D/A1/169/103MF96002
WELLING, RichardReading St LaurenceSaddler1580D/A1/133/030 D/A1/10/212MF550 MF10047A
WELLING, RobertThe Bury, Abingdon St Helen1554D/A1/7/074 D/A1/132/063MF10040 MF550
WELLMAN, AlexanderDenchworthHusbandman1667D/A1/137/140MF553
WELLMAN, AnthonyCharney, LongworthYeoman1636D/A1/136/043MF552
WELLMAN, JoanFawler, Sparsholt1576D/A1/132/275 D/A1/10/044MF550 MF10047A
WELLMAN, JohnWest Hagbourne, HagbourneCordwainer1695D/A1/223/114MF96118
WELLMAN, MaryStanford In The Vale1646D/A1/222/029MF96114
WELLMAN, RichardGreat CoxwellHusbandman1632D/A1/221/130MF96113
WELLMAN, RichardGreat Coxwell1632D/A1/168/227MF96001
WELLMAN, RichardDenchworthYeoman1731D/A1/140/120MF555
WELLMAN, RobertShellingfordYeoman1619D/A1/16/267MF10066
WELLMAN, WilliamGreat CoxwellHusbandman1620D/A1/221/075MF96112
WELLMAN, WilliamGreat CoxwellHusbandman1638D/A1/221/158MF96113
WELLMAN, WilliamWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1713D/A1/139/167MF554
WELLMAN, William SnrWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1663D/A1/137/105MF553
WELLS , John SnrSutton CourtenayRoper1730D/A1/140/113MF555
WELLS , RalphSpeen1600D/A1/220/187MF96111
WELLS , Thomas SnrBoxfordLabourer1754D/A1/141/51MF555
WELLS , Thomas SnrHampstead NorreysYeoman1775D/A1/141/156MF556
WELLS, AnnTilehurst1702D/A1/139/77MF554
WELLS, CatherineAbingdon1741D/A1/140/183MF555
WELLS, CatherineHampstead Norreys1830D/A1/232/94MF96131
WELLS, DorothyBenham Valence, Speen1617D/A1/134/144 D/A1/15/695MF551 MF10065
WELLS, EdmundBradfieldYeoman1680D/A1/138/57MF553
WELLS, EdwardStanford DingleyCooper1620D/A1/134/181MF551
WELLS, EdwardLittle WittenhamHusbandman1637D/A1/221/157MF96113
WELLS, EdwardLittle Wittenham1637D/A1/169/102MF96002
WELLS, EdwardLambournInnholder1752D/A1/141/46MF555
WELLS, EdwardHampstead NorreysYeoman1786D/A1/142/106MF556
WELLS, ElizabethEast Garston1790D/A1/142/116MF556
WELLS, FrancesChieveley1804D/A1/164/57MF584
WELLS, FrancisSnelsmore, ChieveleyYeoman1688D/A1/223/61MF96117
WELLS, FrancisChieveleyHusbandman1728D/A1/224/73MF96119
WELLS, FrancisSteventonCarpenter1737D/A1/224/110MF96119
WELLS, FrancisChieveleyYeoman1787D/A1/142/110MF556