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
WILLIS, WilliamNewburyFuller1556D/A1/220/025MF96110
WILLIS, WilliamNewburyCordwainer1621D/A1/134/189 D/A1/134/199MF551 MF552
WILLIS, WilliamWest SheffordHusbandman1670D/A1/222/96MF96115
WILLIS, WilliamPetwick, Lecombe RegisYeoman1705D/A1/139/108MF554
WILLIS, WilliamShinfieldBlacksmith1781D/A1/141/175MF556
WILLIT, MargeryGreenham, Thatcham1560D/A1/220/050 D/A1/167/111MF96110 MF96000
WILLKINS, RobertEast Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1734D/A1/224/96MF96119
WILLKYNSON, NicholasBoxfordYeoman1566D/A1/132/206 D/A1/9/025MF550 MF10046
WILLLER, JaneLangcot, Shrivenham1670D/A1/137/181MF553
WILLMAR , William SnrSulhamstead BannisterYeoman1730D/A1/224/83MF96119
WILLMER, EdwardReading St MaryScrivener1673D/A1/222/119MF96115
WILLMOND, William SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1616D/A1/134/138 D/A1/15/649MF551 MF10065
WILLMOT , JohnChieveleyHusbandman1673D/A1/222/126MF96115
WILLMOT , ThomasSlade End, BrightwellWheeler1688D/A1/138/128MF554
WILLMOT, ElizabethStreatley1802D/A1/164/48MF584
WILLMOT, GeorgeCharlton, Wantage (W.), Lambourn (Com.)Sir1668D/A1/137/189MF553
WILLMOT, JohnCholseyYeoman1606D/A1/221/009MF96112
WILLMOT, JohnCholsey1606D/A1/168/015MF96001
WILLMOT, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1631D/A1/135/104 D/A1/135/105MF552 MF552
WILLMOT, RichardMoulsfordYeoman1694D/A1/139/14MF554
WILLMOT, ThomasCholseyYeoman1834D/A1/165/71MF585
WILLMOT, ThomasCholseyFarmer1851D/A1/232/130MF96131
WILLMOT, WilliamSouth Moreton1778D/A1/224/194MF96120
WILLMOTT , John SnrBucklandHusbandman1728D/A1/140/85MF555
WILLMOTT, ElizabethDrayton1669D/A1/137/163MF553
WILLMOTT, ElizabethCholsey1676D/A1/138/33MF553
WILLMOTT, FrancisDraytonTailor1667D/A1/222/89MF96115
WILLMOTT, JamesSotwellWheelwright1720D/A1/140/28MF555
WILLMOTT, JohnHagbourne1550D/A1/5/088MF10043A
WILLMOTT, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1631D/A1/168/200MF96001
WILLMOTT, John SnrCholseyWheelwright1698D/A1/139/44MF554
WILLMOTT, ThomasCholseyYeoman1804D/A1/164/59MF584
WILLMOTT, Thomas SnrDraytonYeoman1674D/A1/138/16MF553
WILLMOTT, WilliamUniversity, Oxford, Oxfordshire1644D/A1/16/639MF10066
WILLMOTT, WilliamLollingdon, CholseyYeoman1646D/A1/136/094/2MF552
WILLMOTT, WilliamSouth Moreton1778D/A1/224/194MF96120
WILLMOTT, WilliamCholseyGrocer1836D/A1/165/77MF585
WILLMUT, JohnMoulsford, CholseyYeoman1636D/A1/136/034MF552
WILLOBY , MargaretWestbrook, Boxford1589D/A1/133/121 D/A1/11/211MF551 MF10047B
WILLOBYE, ThomasBoxford1586D/A1/133/091 D/A1/11/059MF550 MF10047B
WILLOMES, RichardLetcombe RegisVicar1547D/A1/220/007MF96110
WILLOUGHBY, CharlesGrove, WantageYeoman1844D/A1/166/5MF585
WILLOUGHBY, JamesWantageMiller1855D/A1/166/60MF585
WILLOUGHBYE, RichardOwnams, Boxford1610D/A1/134/060 D/A1/15/056MF551 MF10065
WILLSON , ElizabethKingstone, Ashbury1685D/A1/223/43MF96117
WILLSON , WilliamReading St Mary1697D/A1/139/34/1MF554
WILLSON, BenjaminNewburyBroad Weaver1662D/A1/222/49MF96114
WILLSON, JohnAbingdon1586D/A1/133/093 D/A1/11/051MF550 MF10047B
WILLSON, ZacharyClewer1637D/A1/136/053MF552
WILLYS, ThomasSouth MoretonHusbandman1546D/A1/132/023MF550
WILMER, ElizabethReading1669D/A1/137/157MF553
WILMER, MarthaSulhamstead Abbots1698D/A1/139/47MF554
WILMER, MarthaBurghfield1707D/A1/139/126MF554
WILMOR, WilliamReading1683D/A1/223/30MF96116
WILMOT, AliceCholsey1562D/A1/132/019MF550
WILMOT, JohnCholsey1529D/A1/1/139MF10042
WILMOT, WilliamCholseyWheelwright1755D/A1/141/59MF555
WILMOT, WilliamSouth MoretonYeoman1761D/A1/224/168MF96120
WILMOTE, John SnrBucklandHusbandman1705D/A1/139/104MF554
WILMOTT, BenjaminNewbury1704D/A1/223/164MF96118
WILMOTT, BenjaminThatchamGardener1707D/A1/223/174MF96118
WILMOTT, FrancesRush Court, Wallingford1688D/A1/223/63MF96117
WILMOTT, JohnSouth MoretonYeoman1742D/A1/224/123MF96119
WILMOTT, MarthaCholsey1855D/A1/154/110MF580
WILMOTT, RobertNewburyBarber Chirurgeon1703D/A1/223/154MF96118
WILMOTT, SamuelPadworthYeoman1815D/A1/165/3MF584
WILMOTT, ThomasSpeenhamland, Speen Innholder1748D/A1/141/21MF555
WILMOTT, William SnrCholsey1640D/A1/169/103MF96002
WILMSHURST, MaryReading1798D/A1/224/215MF96120
WILSHERE, RichardWhitchurch, Oxfordshire1575D/A1/220/086MF96110
WILSON, AmorColeshillYeoman1793D/A1/142/129MF556
WILSON, AnneEnborne1680D/A1/138/67MF553
WILSON, AnthonyKingstone Winslow, AshburyCarpenter1681D/A1/223/20MF96116
WILSON, BenjaminEnborneYeoman1672D/A1/137/192MF553
WILSON, CharlesHighworth, WiltshireLabourer1857D/A1/232/142MF96131
WILSON, ChristinaReading1844D/A1/166/10MF585
WILSON, ElizabethReading St Mary1708D/A1/223/182MF96118
WILSON, FrancesAldermaston1733D/A1/224/92MF96119
WILSON, GeorgeSwallowfieldShopkeeper1828D/A1/165/52MF584
WILSON, HenryHamstead Marshall1648D/A1/137/043MF553
WILSON, HughReading St GilesGrocer1573D/A1/220/077MF96110
WILSON, JamesThatchamCarpenter1740D/A1/140/178MF555
WILSON, JohnBarkham1559D/A1/132/116MF550
WILSON, JohnBrightwalton1575D/A1/220/083MF96110
WILSON, JohnShrivenhamCarpenter1755D/A1/224/157MF96120
WILSON, RobertEast LockingeClerk1620D/A1/221/071MF96112
WILSON, RobertBucklebury1629D/A1/16/176MF10066
WILSON, RobertLyford, Hanney1633D/A1/135/127MF552
WILSON, RobertNewbury1662D/A1/222/51MF96114
WILSON, ThomasAbingdonCurrier1824D/A1/165/31MF584
WILSON, ThomasAshburyYeoman1856D/A1/166/65MF585
WILSON, WilliamWindsor1558D/A1/220/036MF96110
WILSON, WilliamWindsor1558D/A1/167/100MF96000
WILSON, WilliamNewburyGlover1576D/A1/220/087MF96110
WILSON, WilliamBurghfieldYeoman1748D/A1/224/142MF96120
WILSON, WilliamBuckleburyCarpenter1845D/A1/166/17MF585
WILSON, WilliamReadingShoemaker1850D/A1/166/39MF585
WILTON, EdwardNewburyBroad Weaver1662D/A1/222/59MF96114
WILTON, JohnNewbury1592D/A1/220/146MF96111
WILTON, JohnNewbury1592D/A1/11/377MF10047B