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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
WALTER, EdwardNewburyVictualler1718D/A1/224/23MF96119
WALTER, EdwardFyfieldHusbandman1720D/A1/140/26MF555
WALTER, ElizabethSpeen1761D/A1/141/89MF555
WALTER, GeorgeUffingtonDay Labourer1624D/A1/221/093MF96113
WALTER, HenryReadingBaker1600D/A1/133/229 D/A1/132/039 D/A1/13/602MF551 MF550 MF10049
WALTER, JamesSteventonYeoman1804D/A1/164/58MF584
WALTER, JamesHarwellYeoman1842D/A1/165/109MF585
WALTER, JamesLittle Coxwell, FaringdonYeoman1855D/A1/166/59MF585
WALTER, JohnWarfieldPriest1545D/A1/132/015 D/A1/5/047MF550 MF10043A
WALTER, JohnBracknell1550D/A1/220/016MF96110
WALTER, JohnWarfield1550D/A1/132/038 D/A1/5/104MF550 MF10043A
WALTER, JohnAppleton1559D/A1/132/094 D/A1/7/311MF550 MF10040
WALTER, JohnWarfieldLabourer1559D/A1/132/085 D/A1/6/199MF550 MF10043B
WALTER, JohnAppletonYeoman1640D/A1/136/092MF552
WALTER, JohnAbingdonMaltster1640D/A1/136/082MF552
WALTER, JohnBuckleburyLabourer1663D/A1/222/71MF96114
WALTER, JohnHoe Benham, WelfordBlacksmith1733D/A1/140/133MF555
WALTER, JosephHamstead MarshallHusbandman1661D/A1/222/56MF96114
WALTER, JosephSpeenYeoman1742D/A1/140/192MF555
WALTER, JosephYattendonYeoman1755D/A1/224/156MF96120
WALTER, RichardWarfield1530D/A1/1/144MF10042
WALTER, RichardNewburyWeaver1715D/A1/139/183MF554
WALTER, RichardHarwellYeoman1840D/A1/165/102MF585
WALTER, SarahFyfield1745D/A1/140/219MF555
WALTER, ThomasNewbury1547D/A1/3/235MF604
WALTER, ThomasNewbury1548D/A1/233/313MF96132
WALTER, ThomasNewburyCoverlet Weaver1661D/A1/222/45MF96114
WALTER, ThomasAbingdonBarber1690D/A1/138/138MF554
WALTER, ThomasNewburyShearman1700D/A1/223/135MF96118
WALTER, ThomasSpeen1782D/A1/224/199MF96120
WALTER, ThomasSpeen1782D/A1/224/199MF96120
WALTER, ThomasLyford, West Hanney1785D/A1/142/104MF556
WALTER, Thomas JnrStanford In The Vale Yeoman1661D/A1/222/46MF96114
WALTER, Thomas SnrNewburyCloth Worker1624D/A1/221/088MF96112
WALTER, Thomas SnrStanford In The Vale Husbandman1662D/A1/137/88MF553
WALTER, WilliamAppleton1611D/A1/134/069 D/A1/15/150MF551 MF10065
WALTER, WilliamAbingdonYeoman1635D/A1/136/022MF552
WALTER, WilliamStanford In The ValeButcher1774D/A1/141/151MF556
WALTERS , John SnrColeshill1731D/A1/224/88MF96119
WALTERS, JohnAbingdonMilner1564D/A1/132/191 D/A1/8/327MF550 MF10043C
WALTHER, PhilippaNew Windsor (W.), Hurley1682D/A1/138/82MF553
WALTON, RandallReadingYeoman1629D/A1/135/095/2MF552
WALTUR, JohnNewburyWeaver1721D/A1/140/37MF555
WALWARKE, JohnHanneyVicar1571D/A1/220/070 D/A1/167/145MF96110 MF96000
WALWIN, AgnesHampstead Norreys1566D/A1/220/066 D/A1/167/130 D/A1/167/133MF96110 MF96000 MF96000
WALYNGTON, MargeryArdington1557D/A1/3/233MF604
WALYNGTON, MargeryArdington1557D/A1/233/312MF96132
WALYNTON, WilliamArdington1544D/A1/3/234MF604
WANCELL, Nicholas SnrEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1619D/A1/135/041MF552
WANE, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyInnkeeper1730D/A1/140/111MF555
WANFFORD, JohnEast Hendred1559D/A1/132/126 D/A1/7/309MF550 MF10040
WANNSEY, AgnesHanney1545D/A1/3/225MF604
WANNSEY, AnnesHanney1545D/A1/233/306MF96132
WANNSEY, ThomasHanney1544D/A1/3/218MF604
WANNSEY, ThomasHanney1544D/A1/233/302MF96132
WANSELL, AgnesEast Hanney, Hanney1625D/A1/135/044MF552
WANSELL, AnnHinton Waldrist1692D/A1/223/98MF96118
WANSELL, AnneAppletonYeoman1680D/A1/223/7MF96116
WANSELL, AnthonyEast Hanney, HanneyTailor1614D/A1/134/104 D/A1/15/414MF551 MF10065
WANSELL, CatherineBerkshire1699D/A1/223/133MF96118
WANSELL, CecilyEast Hanney, Hanney1610D/A1/134/059 D/A1/15/055MF551 MF10065
WANSELL, FrancisEast Lockinge1581D/A1/133/048 D/A1/10/294MF550 MF10047A
WANSELL, FrancisEast Hanney, Hanney1613D/A1/221/043 D/A1/168/102MF96112 MF96001
WANSELL, OliverEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1615D/A1/134/111 D/A1/15/527MF551 MF10065
WANSELL, RichardEast Hanney, HanneyTailor1608D/A1/134/045 D/A1/14/468MF551 MF10064
WANSELL, RichardEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1617D/A1/134/139 D/A1/15/666MF551 MF10065
WANSELL, RichardWantage (W.), West HanneyYeoman1689D/A1/138/131MF554
WANSELL, Richard SnrEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1579D/A1/133/029 D/A1/10/206MF550 MF10047A
WANSELL, Richard SnrEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1658D/A1/137/68MF553
WANSELL, TimothyEast Hanney, HanneyYeoman1651D/A1/137/055MF553
WAPELLES, BridgetReading1581D/A1/10/283MF10047A
WAPLES, BridgetReading1581D/A1/10/261MF10047A
WAPRE, JohnCookham1532D/A1/1/186MF10042
WAPSHOT, RobertBromhall, Sunninghill1561D/A1/132/173MF550
WAPSHOTT, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1730D/A1/140/107MF555
WAPSHOTT, John SnrSunninghillYeoman1695D/A1/139/21MF554
WAPSHOTT, Richard SnrReading St Laurence1615D/A1/221/056 D/A1/168/115MF96112 MF96001
WAPSHOTT, RobertSunninghill1561D/A1/8/197MF10043C
WAPSHOTT, RobertNew Windsor, WindsorCarpenter1641D/A1/136/096MF552
WAPULLS, JohnReading St MaryYeoman1580D/A1/133/040 D/A1/10/272MF550 MF10047A
WAPULS, BridgetReading St Mary1581D/A1/220/105MF96111
WARD , John JnrChieveleyYeoman1824D/A1/232/69MF96131
WARD , William SnrReadingCordwainer1723D/A1/140/55MF555
WARD, AnnBinfield1735D/A1/140/145MF555
WARD, AnnMaidenhead1842D/A1/165/107MF585
WARD, BenjaminSutton CourtenayFarmer1847D/A1/166/26MF585
WARD, EleanorEast Garston1605D/A1/134/018 D/A1/14/025MF551 MF10064
WARD, ElizabethCholsey1662D/A1/222/61MF96114
WARD, FrancisReading St GilesGlazier1671D/A1/222/108MF96115
WARD, FrancisReading St LaurenceBargeman1672D/A1/137/193MF553
WARD, FrancisGrandpont, OxfordshireCarrier1742D/A1/224/125MF96119
WARD, HannahBoxford1807D/A1/164/70MF584
WARD, JamesBrightwaltonMaltster1741D/A1/140/188MF555
WARD, JamesBoxfordYeoman1819D/A1/165/14MF584
WARD, JaneReading St Laurence1674D/A1/222/133MF96115
WARD, JeffreyReadingInnholder1643D/A1/222/018 D/A1/169/103MF96114 MF96002
WARD, JohnReadingGardener1683D/A1/138/89MF553
WARD, John JillettReadingCoal Merchant1818D/A1/165/10MF584
WARD, JonathanMarchamGrocer, Draper1836D/A1/232/110MF96131
WARD, JosephLeckhampstead, Chieveley1809D/A1/232/57MF96131