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
WESTON, RobertDrayton (Admon.), HarwellYeoman1710D/A1/223/185MF96118
WESTON, RobertReadingYeoman1788D/A1/142/111MF556
WESTON, SarahReading1729D/A1/224/76MF96119
WESTON, StephenFarnboroughYeoman1687D/A1/138/125MF554
WESTON, ThomasFyfieldYeoman1664D/A1/137/113MF553
WESTON, ThomasFyfieldHusbandman1681D/A1/223/21MF96116
WESTON, ThomasLong WittenhamYeoman1684D/A1/138/99MF553
WESTON, ThomasSteventonLabourer1768D/A1/141/122MF555
WESTON, WalterBeedonYeoman1853D/A1/166/51MF585
WESTON, WilliamCookhamHusbandman1588D/A1/220/127MF96111
WESTON, WilliamAston TirroldHusbandman1633D/A1/221/136MF96113
WESTON, WilliamAston TirroldFarmer1633D/A1/168/241MF96001
WESTON, WilliamAbingdon1675D/A1/222/135MF96115
WESTON, WilliamEnglefieldTailor1692D/A1/138/153MF554
WESTON, WilliamAbingdonCarter1707D/A1/139/127MF554
WESTON, WilliamChieveley1711D/A1/223/193MF96118
WESTON, WilliamAbingdonMaltster1713D/A1/139/179MF554
WESTON, WilliamSteventonWheelwright1728D/A1/224/61MF96119
WESTON, WilliamHarwellBaker1764D/A1/141/101MF555
WESTON, William SnrSteventonWheelwright1680D/A1/138/109MF554
WESTONE, AnnPangbourne1713D/A1/139/174MF554
WESTONE, ThomasBisham1559D/A1/132/091 D/A1/8/099MF550 MF10043C
WESTOT, JohnBray1551D/A1/4/164MF604
WESTOT, ThomasWelle [Woolley?], BrayYeoman1552D/A1/132/045MF550
WESTOVER, TristramNew Windsor, WindsorBaker1568D/A1/132/216 D/A1/9/123MF550 MF10046
WESTRAW, WilliamReading1612D/A1/134/075 D/A1/15/225MF551 MF10065
WESTUN, RobertStanmore, Beedon1569D/A1/132/223 D/A1/9/174MF550 MF10046
WESTWELL, EdmundBourton, Shrivenham1624D/A1/135/023MF552
WESTWOOD, AdamBasildon1640D/A1/221/171MF96113
WESTWOOD, BenjaminReading St GilesBroad Weaver1639D/A1/136/071MF552
WESTWOOD, FlorenceAbingdon1646D/A1/137/037MF553
WESTWOOD, RichardAbingdonBroad Weaver1638D/A1/221/159 D/A1/169/103MF96113 MF96002
WESTWOOD, WilliamTilehurst1570D/A1/132/235 D/A1/9/197MF550 MF10046
WESTWOOD, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1648D/A1/137/048MF553
WESTYN, WilliamBishamHusbandman1559D/A1/132/118 D/A1/8/070MF550 MF10043C
WETHER, EdmundInkpen1547D/A1/132/033MF550
WETHER, JohnInkpen1558D/A1/132/110 D/A1/7/158MF550 MF10040
WETHERALL, AmbroseBinfieldClerk1662D/A1/222/52MF96114
WETHEREL , ThomasCholsey1560D/A1/132/166MF550
WETHERELL, ThomasCholsey1560D/A1/6/068MF10043B
WEVAR, WilliamLambourn1558D/A1/8/016MF10043C
WEVER, RobertColeshill1563D/A1/132/179 D/A1/8/267MF550 MF10043C
WEX, RobertMilton1545D/A1/5/043MF10043A
WEYATT, JohnChipping Lambourn, LambournHusbandman1694D/A1/139/10MF554
WEYBE, JohnBucklebury1557D/A1/132/081MF550
WEYR, WilliamBucklebury1571D/A1/132/237 D/A1/9/257MF550 MF10046
WEYTH, RobertLongcot, Shrivenham1549D/A1/132/037 D/A1/5/100MF550 MF10043A
WEYVAR, RobertColeshill1563D/A1/167/035MF96000
WHAINE, AnneStanford In The Vale 1666D/A1/137/138MF553
WHAINE, FrancisStanford In The Vale1617D/A1/134/140 D/A1/15/668MF551 MF10065
WHAINE, RichardStanford In The ValeYeoman1640D/A1/136/089MF552
WHAINE, Thomas JnrStanford In The Vale1595D/A1/133/177 D/A1/12/236MF551 MF10048
WHAINE, Thomas SnrStanford In The Vale1595D/A1/133/176 D/A1/12/236MF551 MF10048
WHALE, JohnNewburyTurner1785D/A1/142/103MF556
WHALE, MargaretShaw Cum Donnington1787D/A1/224/207MF96120
WHALE, RichardThatchamFuller1728D/A1/140/97MF555
WHARE, ThomasBoxfordYeoman1731D/A1/140/118MF555
WHAT, JohnHell, Tilehurst1579D/A1/133/031MF550
WHATE, AveryTilehurstHusbandman1612D/A1/221/036MF96112
WHATE, AveryTilehurst1612D/A1/168/085MF96001
WHATE, JohnBuckland1554D/A1/220/024MF96110
WHATEMAN, JohnBinfield1558D/A1/132/120 D/A1/7/202MF550 MF10040
WHATEMAN, RichardWargraveYeoman1628D/A1/135/070MF552
WHATEMAN, WilliamBinfieldWeaver1607D/A1/134/034 D/A1/14/272MF551 MF10064
WHATLY, MargaretWarfield1707D/A1/139/123MF554
WHATLYNGTON, AgnesWarfield1527D/A1/132/001MF550
WHATLYNGTON, WilliamWarfield1558D/A1/220/035MF96110
WHATLYNGTON, WilliamWarfieldCarpenter1559D/A1/132/119 D/A1/8/070MF550 MF10043C
WHATMAN , WilliamWargraveYeoman1690D/A1/138/143MF554
WHATMAN, WilliamBinfield1605D/A1/220/206 D/A1/14/180MF96111 MF10064
WHAYNE, ElizabethStanford In The Vale1607D/A1/134/037 D/A1/14/301MF551 MF10064
WHEALER, KatherineWinkfield1696D/A1/139/28MF554
WHEAT , William SnrBurghfield1810D/A1/164/84MF584
WHEAT, RichardTilehurstYeoman1613D/A1/134/090 D/A1/15/328MF551 MF10065
WHEAT, RichardTheale, Tilehurst1631D/A1/168/201MF96001
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