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
WATS, AliceSutton Courtenay1664D/A1/137/118MF553
WATS, AnneSpeen1665D/A1/137/122MF553
WATS, JohnSutton CourtenayYeoman1684D/A1/138/93MF553
WATS, SimonDraytonLabourer1672D/A1/137/186MF553
WATS, WilliamSwallowfieldYeoman1664D/A1/137/111MF553
WATSON , RalphSteventonHusbandman1609D/A1/134/052 D/A1/15/006MF551 MF10065
WATSON (ALIAS HYDE), SarahReading1751D/A1/224/147MF96120
WATSON, AliceAbingdon St Helen1554D/A1/7/024MF10040
WATSON, HenryNew Windsor, Windsor1558D/A1/132/101 D/A1/7/157MF550 MF10040
WATSON, JohnDrayton, Abingdon St HelenLabourer1577D/A1/133/007 D/A1/10/081MF550 MF10047A
WATSON, John GodfreyReading1839D/A1/165/93MF585
WATSON, JosephWallingfordCooper1787D/A1/142/108MF556
WATSON, JosephWallingford1808D/A1/232/55MF96131
WATSON, MichaelReadingTimber Merchant1837D/A1/165/80MF585
WATSON, RichardLittle Wittenham1682D/A1/223/23MF96116
WATSON, ThomasLong WittenhamHusbandman1649D/A1/137/050MF553
WATSON, WilliamFrilshamClerk, Parson1556D/A1/132/071 D/A1/7/127MF550 MF10040
WATSON, WilliamReadingTallow Chandler1688D/A1/138/129MF554
WATSONNE, MargaretDrayton, Abingdon St Helen1588D/A1/133/114 D/A1/11/183MF551 MF10047B
WATT, CatherineEast Hagbourne, Hagbourne1807D/A1/164/69MF584
WATT, WilliamEast Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1809D/A1/164/76MF584
WATTELTUN, JaneBinfield1592D/A1/133/143 D/A1/12/018MF551 MF10048
WATTERMON, JohnBucklebury1589D/A1/133/126 D/A1/11/191MF551 MF10047B
WATTERS, MaryCompton1823D/A1/165/29MF584
WATTES, AgnesSpeen1636D/A1/221/149MF96113
WATTES, AnthonyNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1663D/A1/222/65MF96114
WATTES, JoanChaddleworth1561D/A1/132/170 D/A1/8/220MF550 MF10043C
WATTES, JoanStratfield Mortimer1630D/A1/16/200MF10066
WATTES, JohnWinkfield1550D/A1/220/018MF96110
WATTES, JohnHarwellVicar, Clerk1581D/A1/133/045 D/A1/10/283MF550 MF10047A
WATTES, JohnAbingdonWeaver1591D/A1/220/148MF96111
WATTES, JohnAbingdon1591D/A1/11/377MF10047B
WATTES, RobertWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1595D/A1/133/181 D/A1/12/261MF551 MF10048
WATTES, RobertChildrey1595D/A1/133/179 D/A1/12/253MF551 MF10048
WATTES, ThomasNewburyBroad Weaver1613D/A1/134/096 D/A1/15/370MF551 MF10065
WATTES, ThomasWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1680D/A1/138/63MF553
WATTES, WalterAbingdon St HelenLabourer1587D/A1/220/120MF96111
WATTES, WalterAbingdon St Helen1587D/A1/11/097MF10047B
WATTLETON, RobertMaidenhead, BrayHusbandman1635D/A1/136/021MF552
WATTMORE, ThomasBradfieldHusbandman1624D/A1/135/020MF552
WATTON, AnnCholsey1762D/A1/141/99MF555
WATTS , John SnrMarchamYeoman1740D/A1/140/182MF555
WATTS , Thomas JnrWatchfield, ShrivenhamYeoman1733D/A1/224/94MF96119
WATTS , William SnrInkpenCarpenter1713D/A1/223/204MF96118
WATTS, AgnesSpeen1636D/A1/169/102MF96002
WATTS, AnnWest Woodhay1733D/A1/140/140MF555
WATTS, AnnAldermaston1763D/A1/224/171MF96120
WATTS, ArthurBalking, UffingtonYeoman1670D/A1/137/175MF553
WATTS, BrianWest WoodhayCarpenter1670D/A1/137/174MF553
WATTS, BrianWest WoodhayYeoman1694D/A1/223/111MF96118
WATTS, BrianWest WoodhayTailor1734D/A1/224/98MF96119
WATTS, CharityAbingdon1689D/A1/143/23MF556
WATTS, DeborahSpeen1769D/A1/141/125MF555
WATTS, DinahSwallowfield1827D/A1/232/84MF96131
WATTS, EdwardAbingdonInnholder1689D/A1/225/40MF96121
WATTS, FannyLiverpool, Lancashire1839D/A1/232/114MF96131
WATTS, HannahGreat Coxwell1773D/A1/141/147MF556
WATTS, HelenWhite Waltham1672D/A1/222/115MF96115
WATTS, HenrySpeenClerk1682D/A1/138/87MF553
WATTS, JohnSpeen1682D/A1/223/26MF96116
WATTS, JohnReadingBlacksmith1682D/A1/223/25MF96116
WATTS, JohnChieveleyHusbandman1693D/A1/223/100MF96118
WATTS, JohnAldermaston1737D/A1/140/158MF555
WATTS, JohnWelfordLabourer1739D/A1/224/113MF96119
WATTS, JohnKintburyShopkeeper1762D/A1/141/94MF555
WATTS, JohnMarcham1768D/A1/224/177MF96120
WATTS, JohnMarcham1771D/A1/224/183MF96120
WATTS, JohnMarcham1787D/A1/224/205MF96120
WATTS, JohnThatchamAttorney At Law1790D/A1/142/121MF556
WATTS, JohnKingston BagpuizeLabourer1808D/A1/164/73MF584
WATTS, JohnMarcham1821D/A1/232/75MF96131
WATTS, John SnrMarchamYeoman1709D/A1/139/143MF554
WATTS, JosephWelford1774D/A1/224/189MF96120
WATTS, MaryUffington1752D/A1/224/149MF96120
WATTS, MaryMarcham1769D/A1/141/128MF556
WATTS, MaryKingston Bagpuize1812D/A1/164/92MF584
WATTS, MaryNewbury1828D/A1/232/87MF96131
WATTS, PhilipAbingdonBarber1768D/A1/141/117MF555
WATTS, RichardWoodspeen, SpeenClerk, Vicar1636D/A1/136/040MF552
WATTS, RichardMarchamHusbandman1640D/A1/221/172MF96113
WATTS, RichardMarchamHusbandman1640D/A1/169/103MF96002
WATTS, RichardSpeenHusbandman1663D/A1/222/73MF96114
WATTS, RichardMarsh Benham, SpeenHusbandman1663D/A1/137/106MF553
WATTS, RichardInkpen1770D/A1/141/134MF556
WATTS, RichardChieveley1772D/A1/224/187MF96120
WATTS, Richard SnrMarchamHusbandman1690D/A1/223/83MF96117
WATTS, SarahReading1812D/A1/164/95MF584
WATTS, Stephen SnrBallards Heath, KintburyLabourer1629D/A1/135/084MF552
WATTS, Stephen SnrKintbury1630D/A1/168/183MF96001
WATTS, ThomasMarcham1583D/A1/133/069 D/A1/10/379MF550 MF10047A
WATTS, ThomasSpeenClerk1661D/A1/137/86MF553
WATTS, ThomasFrilshamYeoman1695D/A1/139/25MF554
WATTS, ThomasWest Woodhay1763D/A1/224/172MF96120
WATTS, ThomasWatchfield, ShrivenhamLabourer1765D/A1/141/106MF555
WATTS, ThomasNewbury1794D/A1/142/130MF556
WATTS, TimothySutton CourtenayYeoman1690D/A1/138/136MF554
WATTS, WilliamAbingdonWool Comber1700D/A1/139/59MF554
WATTS, WilliamFinchampsteadHusbandman1718D/A1/224/20MF96119
WATTS, WilliamReadingCooper1831D/A1/165/64MF585
WATTZ, EllisKintbury1558D/A1/132/109 D/A1/7/162MF550 MF10040