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
WISE, AgnesWinterbourne, Chieveley1643D/A1/137/009MF553
WISE, AlexanderShrivenham1617D/A1/221/062MF96112
WISE, AlexanderShrivenham1617D/A1/168/142MF96001
WISE, AliceDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1661D/A1/222/44MF96114
WISE, AnnTheale, Tilehurst1837D/A1/165/83MF585
WISE, BartholomewHarwell1560D/A1/132/127 D/A1/6/058MF550 MF10043B
WISE, BettyTheale, Tilehurst1827D/A1/165/48MF584
WISE, DavidWest Ilsley1825D/A1/165/42MF584
WISE, EdwardWallingfordInnholder1624D/A1/16/063MF10066
WISE, EdwardWinkfieldYeoman1697D/A1/139/35MF554
WISE, EleanorShippon, Abingdon St Helen1691D/A1/223/95MF96117
WISE, EleanorWarfield1698D/A1/139/49MF554
WISE, ElizabethShippon, Abingdon St Helen1557D/A1/3/010MF604
WISE, ElizabethWest Hanney1832D/A1/165/68MF585
WISE, FrancisKingston Lisle, SparsholtYeoman1751D/A1/141/36MF555
WISE, GeorgeAbingdon St Helen1566D/A1/132/203 D/A1/9/016MF550 MF10046
WISE, HumphreyAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1750D/A1/224/145MF96120
WISE, HumphryShippon, Abingdon St HelenTailor1677D/A1/138/39MF553
WISE, JamesUfton NervetYeoman1834D/A1/165/70MF585
WISE, JohnShellingford1553D/A1/4/163MF604
WISE, JohnWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1557D/A1/132/075MF550
WISE, JohnLong WittenhamHusbandman1595D/A1/133/182 D/A1/12/260MF551 MF10048
WISE, JohnAppletonYeoman1617D/A1/134/156 D/A1/15/864MF551 MF10065
WISE, JohnHarwellHusbandman1623D/A1/135/009MF552
WISE, JohnShellingfordHusbandman1624D/A1/221/096MF96113
WISE, JohnHarwellBlacksmith1640D/A1/136/084MF552
WISE, JohnHarwell1663D/A1/137/96MF553
WISE, JohnAbingdonClock Maker1684D/A1/223/36MF96116
WISE, JohnHarwellYeoman1738D/A1/224/111MF96119
WISE, JohnLambournYeoman1749D/A1/141/27MF555
WISE, JohnLambournStay Maker1757D/A1/224/159MF96120
WISE, John SnrHarwellYeoman1624D/A1/135/029MF552
WISE, JordanUplambourn, LambournShepherd1673D/A1/222/125MF96115
WISE, KatherineHarwell1746D/A1/141/4MF555
WISE, MargaretHarwell1624D/A1/135/027MF552
WISE, MargaretWestbrook, Boxford1700D/A1/139/67MF554
WISE, MargaretAbingdon1713D/A1/223/206MF96118
WISE, MaryShippon, Abingdon St Helen1640D/A1/136/098MF552
WISE, MaryHarwell1669D/A1/137/159MF553
WISE, MaryWallingford1746D/A1/141/12MF555
WISE, MaryUfton Nervet1844D/A1/166/12MF585
WISE, RachelLongworth1819D/A1/165/11MF584
WISE, RalphAbingdon St HelenScrivener1628D/A1/221/110MF96113
WISE, RichardAbingdonMercer1581D/A1/133/051 D/A1/10/297MF550 MF10047A
WISE, RichardAbingdonBaker1626D/A1/16/086MF10066
WISE, RichardHarwellYeoman1640D/A1/169/103MF96002
WISE, RichardHarwellYeoman1669D/A1/137/155MF553
WISE, RichardWoolhamptonVictualler1812D/A1/164/94MF584
WISE, RichardLambournBlacksmith1813D/A1/164/101MF584
WISE, Richard SnrHarwellYeoman1640D/A1/221/165MF96113
WISE, RobertWinkfield1552D/A1/5/185MF10043A
WISE, RobertHarwellHusbandman1569D/A1/132/227 D/A1/9/167MF550 MF10046
WISE, RobertDonnington, Shaw Cum DonningtonYeoman1628D/A1/135/068MF552
WISE, RobertAbingdonHusbandman, Day Labourer1637D/A1/221/154MF96113
WISE, RobertHusbandman1637D/A1/169/102MF96002
WISE, RobertRadleyTailor1642D/A1/136/103 D/A1/222/004 D/A1/169/103MF552 MF96114 MF96002
WISE, RobertEast HendredHusbandman1684D/A1/138/102MF553
WISE, SamuelEnglefieldLabourer1814D/A1/164/106MF584
WISE, SarahLambourn1848D/A1/166/28MF585
WISE, SimonLetcombe Regis1774D/A1/224/190MF96120
WISE, SusannahHarwell1733D/A1/140/136MF555
WISE, ThomasDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1612D/A1/221/037MF96112
WISE, ThomasDonnington, Shaw Cum Donnington1612D/A1/168/084MF96001
WISE, ThomasShottesbrookeHusbandman1613D/A1/134/097 D/A1/15/377MF551 MF10065
WISE, ThomasLetcombe RegisYeoman1825D/A1/165/44MF584
WISE, Thomas SnrAbingdonTailor1628D/A1/135/069MF552
WISE, WilliamShippon, Abingdon St Helen1557D/A1/3/009MF604
WISE, WilliamAbingdonYeoman1599D/A1/220/184MF96111
WISE, WilliamAbingdon1599D/A1/13/438MF10049
WISE, WilliamHarwellYeoman1604D/A1/134/004 D/A1/13/1207MF551 MF10049
WISE, WilliamWarfieldYeoman1677D/A1/138/44MF553
WISE, WilliamWallingfordInnholder1739D/A1/140/170MF555
WISE, WilliamWarfieldYeoman1752D/A1/141/43MF555
WISE, WilliamLambournBlacksmith1847D/A1/166/25MF585
WISE, ZachariahAbingdonWheelwright1716D/A1/139/204MF554
WISE, ZachariasAbingdonYeoman1761D/A1/141/91MF555
WISE, ZacharyAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1632D/A1/135/121MF552
WISEMAN, CharlesSteventon1635D/A1/16/407MF10066
WISEMAN, CharlesSparsholt'S Court, West Hendred1673D/A1/222/118MF96115
WISEMAN, Edmund SnrSparsholt'S Court, West Hendred1690D/A1/138/137MF554
WISEMAN, EdwardSparsholt'S Court, West Hendred1698D/A1/139/52MF554
WISEMAN, RichardWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1706D/A1/223/173MF96118
WISEMAN, WilliamSteventon1603D/A1/134/006 D/A1/13/1123MF551 MF10049
WISSE, JohnShellingford1553D/A1/5/208MF10043A
WISSE, WilliamShippon, Abingdon St Helen1550D/A1/5/106MF10043A
WISTON, WilliamAbingdon1595D/A1/12/397MF10048
WISTONS, WilliamAbingdon1595D/A1/220/165MF96111
WITBURN, ThomasWallingford St Mary1510D/A1/1/015MF10041
WITE, ThomasFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1632D/A1/135/109MF552
WITHER, JohnLittleworth, FaringdonHusbandman1558D/A1/7/157MF10040
WITHER, ThomasLittleworth, Faringdon1559D/A1/8/025MF10043C
WITHERALL, WilliamGreenham, Thatcham Victualler1815D/A1/165/4MF584
WITHERELL, ElizabethWest Hagbourne, Hagbourne1710D/A1/223/190MF96118
WITHERELL, MaryHarwell1745D/A1/140/215MF555
WITHERELL, WilliamWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1712D/A1/223/195MF96118
WITHERELL, WilliamThatcham1768D/A1/224/176MF96120
WITHERELL, WilliamNewburyVictualler1842D/A1/165/111MF585
WITHERINGTON, LawrenceBradfieldMiller, Shopkeeper 1802D/A1/164/51MF584
WITHERS , Matthew SnrOwnham, BoxfordYeoman1752D/A1/141/40MF555
WITHERS, BenjaminShefford1830D/A1/165/57MF585