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
WING, NicholasKintbury1604D/A1/220/204 D/A1/14/176MF96111 MF10064
WING, PeterMackney, BrightwellYeoman1633D/A1/136/002MF552
WINGE, PeterNorth MoretonYeoman1660D/A1/137/72MF553
WINGE, ThomasMackney, BrightwellYeoman1669D/A1/137/170MF553
WINGFEILD, WilliamBradfield1685D/A1/138/108MF554
WINGFIELD , John SnrReadingYeoman1724D/A1/140/70MF555
WINGROVE, ElizabethWest Shefford1782D/A1/141/177MF556
WINGROVE, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1799D/A1/142/142MF556
WINKALL, JohnWindsorHusbandman1716D/A1/139/200MF554
WINKEWOTH, HenryUpper Lambourn, LambournCarpenter1595D/A1/133/178 D/A1/12/246MF551 MF10048
WINKLES, ThomasReadingCloth Worker1626D/A1/221/098MF96113
WINKWORTH, ElizabethWelford1733D/A1/140/132MF555
WINKWORTH, ElizabethBrightwalton1765D/A1/141/105MF555
WINKWORTH, ElizabethReading1856D/A1/166/67MF585
WINKWORTH, FrancisWelfordCordwainer1718D/A1/224/24MF96119
WINKWORTH, MatthewEast GarstonLabourer1742D/A1/140/195MF555
WINKWORTH, WilliamEast GarstonYeoman1746D/A1/224/139MF96120
WINKWORTH, WilliamWest IlsleyTailor1822D/A1/165/23MF584
WINN, SusannaSpeen1710D/A1/139/155MF554
WINN, SusannahSpeen1710D/A1/139/155MF554
WINNEY, ThomasMarchamYeoman1734D/A1/140/143MF555
WINSEMOR, JohnAbingdon1613D/A1/134/093 D/A1/15/341MF551 MF10065
WINSHIP, ThomasReadingBricklayer1762D/A1/141/97MF555
WINSHIP, ThomasReading1793D/A1/224/211MF96120
WINSMORE, ThomasAbingdonTanner1739D/A1/140/165MF555
WINSMORE, Thomas SnrAbingdonTanner1680D/A1/138/61MF553
WINSTEN, AnniesReading1582D/A1/133/060MF550
WINSTON, RichardKingston BagpuizeInnholder1694D/A1/139/18MF554
WINSTONE, AnnesReading St Giles1582D/A1/10/336MF10047A
WINSTONE, RichardKingston BagpuizeInnholder1678D/A1/223/1MF96116
WINTER , James SnrChieveleyBricklayer1742D/A1/140/193MF555
WINTER , James SnrChieveley1712D/A1/139/162MF554
WINTER, AnnChieveley1835D/A1/232/107MF96131
WINTER, EdwardW. Ginge, LockingeTailor1694D/A1/223/109MF96118
WINTER, EdwardLockingeTailor1714D/A1/224/1MF96119
WINTER, EdwardAppletonYeoman1825D/A1/232/80MF96131
WINTER, HenryLambournLabourer1614D/A1/221/042MF96112
WINTER, HenryLambourn1614D/A1/168/105MF96001
WINTER, JaneEast Garston1700D/A1/223/142MF96118
WINTER, JaneKingston Bagpuize1708D/A1/223/181MF96118
WINTER, JaneKingston Bagpuize1770D/A1/141/130MF556
WINTER, JohnWestcot, SparsholtLabourer1623D/A1/221/084MF96112
WINTER, JohnEastbury, LambournBlacksmith1690D/A1/138/140MF554
WINTER, JohnEnborneYeoman1841D/A1/165/104MF585
WINTER, JosephSpeenhamland, Speen Painter1743D/A1/140/207MF555
WINTER, JosephSpeenWaiter1839D/A1/232/113MF96131
WINTER, RalphWallingford St PeterBargeman1639D/A1/221/166 D/A1/169/103MF96113 MF96002
WINTER, SimonKennington, RadleyHusbandman1687D/A1/223/57MF96117
WINTER, ThomasBrightwellHusbandman1588D/A1/133/123 D/A1/11/280MF551 MF10047B
WINTER, ThomasEast GarstonLabourer1620D/A1/221/076MF96112
WINTER, ThomasEast GarstonBlacksmith1700D/A1/223/143MF96118
WINTER, ThomasWallingfordDraper1707D/A1/139/129MF554
WINTER, ThomasKingston BagpuizeTailor1748D/A1/141/22MF555
WINTER, ThomasCumnorYeoman1766D/A1/224/175MF96120
WINTER, WilliamSparsholt1614D/A1/168/113MF96001
WINTER, WilliamWestcot, Sparsholt1623D/A1/168/170MF96001
WINTER, WilliamKintburyYeoman1699D/A1/223/131MF96118
WINTER, WilliamHungerfordVictualler1844D/A1/166/9MF585
WINTER, William JnrWestcot, SparsholtBlacksmith1614D/A1/221/051MF96112
WINTERBORN , Anthony JnrHarwell1770D/A1/224/181MF96120
WINTERBORN, JoanCarswell Marsh, Buckland1676D/A1/138/32MF553
WINTERBORN, JohnArdingtonMason1835D/A1/165/74MF585
WINTERBORN, ThomasBuckland1558D/A1/167/101MF96000
WINTERBORNE , Anthony SnrHarwellMason1770D/A1/141/132MF556
WINTERBORNE , Thomas SnrAbingdonMason1851D/A1/166/45MF585
WINTERBORNE , William SnrEast LockingeYeoman1775D/A1/141/154MF556
WINTERBORNE, DorothyCarswell Marsh, Buckland1633D/A1/136/009MF552
WINTERBORNE, EdwardAbingdon St HelenBuilder1846D/A1/232/118MF96131
WINTERBORNE, FrancisBeedonYeoman1718D/A1/224/18MF96119
WINTERBORNE, JaneHarwell1770D/A1/141/133MF556
WINTERBORNE, JohnEast IlsleyYeoman1757D/A1/141/66MF555
WINTERBORNE, NicholasBucklandHusbandman1665D/A1/222/76MF96115
WINTERBORNE, RichardSwallowfield1755D/A1/141/55MF555
WINTERBORNE, RobertWest HanneyYeoman1697D/A1/139/38MF554
WINTERBORNE, ThomasSpeen1621D/A1/221/080MF96112
WINTERBORNE, WilliamBuckland1559D/A1/220/045 D/A1/167/106MF96110 MF96000
WINTERBOURNE, JohnAbingdon St Helen1825D/A1/232/81MF96131
WINTERBOURNE, MaryReading1747D/A1/224/141MF96120
WINTERBURN, GeorgeAppletonTailor1772D/A1/141/145MF556
WINTERBURN, JamesSpeen1790D/A1/142/118MF556
WINTERBURN, Richard1577D/A1/220/091MF96110
WINTERBURN, RichardAbingdonCordwainer1819D/A1/165/17MF584
WINTERBURN, WilliamSutton CourtenayTailor1805D/A1/164/62MF584
WINTERBURNE, JohnCarswell Marsh, BucklandHusbandman1639D/A1/136/078MF552
WINTERBURNE, ThomasBuckland1598D/A1/220/183MF96111
WINTERBURNE, ThomasBuckland1598D/A1/13/423MF10049
WIRALL, JohnBeech Hill, Stratfield Saye, Hampshire1563D/A1/8/262 D/A1/132/185MF10043C MF550
WIRDENHAM, GeorgeChaddleworthLabourer1621D/A1/134/188MF551
WIRDNAM, ElizabethThatcham1632D/A1/221/125MF96113
WIRDNAM, ElizabethThatcham1632D/A1/168/218MF96001
WIRDNAM, JosephFawler, SparsholtYeoman1712D/A1/139/165MF554
WIRDNAM, MargaretWest Hendred1827D/A1/165/45MF584
WIRDNAM, RichardHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1629D/A1/221/113 D/A1/221/120/2MF96113 MF96113
WIRDNAM, RichardBourton, ShrivenhamYeoman1825D/A1/165/40MF584
WIRDNAM, ThomasFarnboroughYeoman1587D/A1/133/106 D/A1/11/161MF550 MF10047B
WIRDNAM, WilliamReading St GilesGardener1642D/A1/137/007MF553
WIRE, WilliamSwallowfield1597D/A1/133/199 D/A1/13/176MF551 MF10049
WISDOM, JohnBuckleburyYeoman1706D/A1/139/119MF554
WISE , JohnHarwellYeoman1638D/A1/16/509MF10066
WISE, AbrahamTilehurst1804D/A1/232/49MF96131