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
WESBROKE, RichardUffington1529D/A1/1/106MF10041
WESBROOKE, JoanUffington1601D/A1/133/235 D/A1/13/704MF551 MF10049
WESCOT, JohnBrayHusbandman1592D/A1/133/149 D/A1/12/046MF551 MF10048
WESCOT, JohnHurley1609D/A1/168/050MF96001
WESCOT, RichardBray1557D/A1/233/318MF96132
WESCOT, RichardBray1558D/A1/3/246MF604
WESCOT, RichardBray1578D/A1/133/018MF550
WESCOT, RobertBray1603D/A1/220/196MF96111
WESCOT, WilliamMaidenhead, BrayYeoman1567D/A1/132/211 D/A1/9/070MF550 MF10046
WESCOTT, HenryWhite Waltham1528D/A1/1/051MF10041
WESCOTT, HenryBray1583D/A1/133/066 D/A1/10/368MF550 MF10047A
WESCOTT, JoanWoolley Green, White Waltham1597D/A1/133/202 D/A1/13/204MF551 MF10049
WESCOTT, JohnHurley1609D/A1/221/025MF96112
WESCOTT, Richard SnrWhite WalthamYeoman1648D/A1/137/041MF553
WESCOTT, RobertMaidenhead, BrayBeer Brewer1636D/A1/16/423MF10066
WESKOTE, AnneBray1603D/A1/220/201MF96111
WESKOTE, RobertBray1598D/A1/220/181MF96111
WESSON, RichardBrightwaltonHusbandman1635D/A1/136/032MF552
WESSOUN, EmmaLong Wittenham1633D/A1/136/007MF552
WEST , John SnrAppletonHusbandman1624D/A1/16/063MF10066
WEST , MaryBray1623D/A1/16/070MF10066
WEST , RobertAppleton1609D/A1/168/047MF96001
WEST , ThomasWasing1600D/A1/13/443MF10049
WEST , WilliamWarfield1539D/A1/1/224MF10042
WEST , William1550D/A1/220/017MF96110
WEST, AliceReading St Giles1624D/A1/135/026MF552
WEST, AmyBray1640D/A1/136/088MF552
WEST, BenjaminCumnorKilnman1739D/A1/140/171MF555
WEST, ChristianDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1633D/A1/136/005MF552
WEST, ChristopherAppleton1559D/A1/132/129 D/A1/7/310MF550 MF10040
WEST, ChristopherWarfield1597D/A1/133/200 D/A1/13/109MF551 MF10049
WEST, EdwardSunningwellYeoman1606D/A1/134/032 D/A1/15/069MF551 MF10065
WEST, EdwardDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1633D/A1/136/012MF552
WEST, EdwardBayworth, Sunningwell1683D/A1/138/92MF553
WEST, EdwardSunningwellYeoman1714D/A1/224/2MF96119
WEST, EleanorWarfield1695D/A1/139/22MF554
WEST, ElizabethAppleton1639D/A1/136/068MF552
WEST, ElizabethBayworth, Sunningwell1707D/A1/139/128MF554
WEST, ElizabethAbingdon1850D/A1/232/128MF96131
WEST, HenryEast Hanney, Hanney1634D/A1/221/139MF96113
WEST, HenryStanford In The ValeMiller1837D/A1/165/84MF585
WEST, HenryLetcombe RegisYeoman1851D/A1/166/47MF585
WEST, Humphrey SnrBrayHusbandman1617D/A1/134/147 D/A1/15/717MF551 MF10065
WEST, HumphryReading St LaurenceButcher1704D/A1/223/162MF96118
WEST, JaneDrayton1669D/A1/137/151MF553
WEST, JaneAbingdon1705D/A1/139/111MF554
WEST, JoanFawler, Sparsholt1628D/A1/135/060MF552
WEST, JohnWarfield1554D/A1/132/059 D/A1/7/053MF550 MF10040
WEST, JohnFawler, Sparsholt1579D/A1/133/016 D/A1/10/155MF550 MF10047A
WEST, JohnCholseyVicar1606D/A1/134/025 D/A1/14/171MF551 MF10064
WEST, JohnWasing1611D/A1/134/064 D/A1/15/120MF551 MF10065
WEST, JohnWoolhampton1613D/A1/134/091 D/A1/15/338MF551 MF10065
WEST, JohnAbingdonYeoman1616D/A1/134/126 D/A1/15/615MF551 MF10065
WEST, JohnReading St GilesJoiner1621D/A1/221/078MF96112
WEST, JohnAppletonHusbandman1631D/A1/135/107MF552
WEST, JohnPangbourneHusbandman1637D/A1/221/147 D/A1/169/102MF96113 MF96002
WEST, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1640D/A1/221/173MF96113
WEST, JohnSutton Courtenay1640D/A1/169/103MF96002
WEST, JohnPuseyYeoman1676D/A1/138/34MF553
WEST, JohnBrayYeoman1678D/A1/138/48MF553
WEST, JohnAbingdonLinen Draper1680D/A1/223/8MF96116
WEST, JohnBayworth, SunningwellYeoman1680D/A1/223/14MF96116
WEST, JohnSunningwellHusbandman1685D/A1/223/40MF96117
WEST, JohnReadingButcher1700D/A1/223/139MF96118
WEST, JohnAbingdonInnholder1719D/A1/224/25MF96119
WEST, JohnDraytonYeoman1732D/A1/224/89MF96119
WEST, JohnWinkfieldShopkeeper1758D/A1/141/74MF555
WEST, John SnrDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1557D/A1/2/009MF603
WEST, John SnrShinfieldBlacksmith1603D/A1/134/003 D/A1/13/1010MF551 MF10049
WEST, John SnrSwallowfieldYeoman1686D/A1/223/52MF96117
WEST, KatherineDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1581D/A1/133/038 D/A1/10/255MF550 MF10047A
WEST, KatherineSutton Courtenay1614D/A1/221/048MF96112
WEST, KatherineSutton Courtenay1614D/A1/168/111MF96001
WEST, KeziaReadingServant1842D/A1/165/115MF585
WEST, MargaretWarfield1559D/A1/132/149 D/A1/6/018MF550 MF10043B
WEST, MargeryDuxford, Hinton Waldrist1632D/A1/16/284MF10066
WEST, MariaStanford In The Vale1838D/A1/232/111MF96131
WEST, MarkAbingdonButcher1631D/A1/16/234 D/A1/135/114MF10066 MF552
WEST, MarthaDidcot1666D/A1/222/80MF96115
WEST, MatthewWarfieldHusbandman1672D/A1/222/113MF96115
WEST, MatthewWinkfield1730D/A1/140/108MF555
WEST, PaulSunningwellYeoman1619D/A1/134/176MF551
WEST, PhilipBeedonBlacksmith1783D/A1/141/179MF556
WEST, RachelBinfield1697D/A1/139/34/3 MF554
WEST, RichardWallingford St PeterAlderman, Yeoman1587D/A1/133/105 D/A1/11/122MF550 MF10047B
WEST, RichardBayworth, Sunningwell1596D/A1/220/163MF96111
WEST, RichardSunningwell1596D/A1/12/399MF10048
WEST, RichardWoolhamptonHusbandman1610D/A1/134/058 D/A1/15/048MF551 MF10065
WEST, RichardBrayHusbandman1612D/A1/134/081 D/A1/15/269MF551 MF10065
WEST, RichardDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1613D/A1/168/099MF96001
WEST, RichardAbingdonHusbandman1624D/A1/135/016MF552
WEST, RichardAbingdon St NicholasYeoman1633D/A1/136/014MF552
WEST, RichardMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1636D/A1/221/146MF96113
WEST, RichardMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1636D/A1/169/102MF96002
WEST, RichardAbingdonMaltster1691D/A1/138/151MF554
WEST, RichardBinfieldYeoman1691D/A1/138/150MF554
WEST, RichardWarfieldYeoman1707D/A1/139/124MF554
WEST, RichardSunningwellLabourer1712D/A1/223/201MF96118
WEST, RichardUffingtonWeaver1713D/A1/223/205MF96118
WEST, RichardFawler, SparsholtYeoman1746D/A1/141/1MF555