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
WELLS, Francis SnrChieveleyHusbandman1676D/A1/138/27MF553
WELLS, GeorgeAbingdonApothecary1739D/A1/140/166MF555
WELLS, HenryEast Hendred1809D/A1/232/56MF96131
WELLS, JohnBrayYeoman1599D/A1/133/211 D/A1/13/390MF551 MF10049
WELLS, JohnNewburyTiler1612D/A1/134/080 D/A1/15/265MF551 MF10065
WELLS, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman, Servant1616D/A1/134/128 D/A1/15/627MF551 MF10065
WELLS, JohnBradfield1623D/A1/168/170MF96001
WELLS, JohnDraycott Moor, LongworthHusbandman1625D/A1/135/048MF552
WELLS, JohnFaringdonButcher1649D/A1/137/051 D/A1/169/102MF553 MF96002
WELLS, JohnBradfield1675D/A1/138/24MF553
WELLS, JohnReadingWheeler1684D/A1/223/34MF96116
WELLS, JohnBradfieldSiever1686D/A1/138/115MF554
WELLS, JohnAbingdon1704D/A1/238/18MF96142
WELLS, JohnTilehurstHusbandman1709D/A1/139/144MF554
WELLS, JohnChieveley1712D/A1/139/161MF554
WELLS, JohnLambournVictualler1719D/A1/224/28MF96119
WELLS, JohnSutton CourtenayRoper1760D/A1/141/76MF555
WELLS, John SnrEast LockingeYeoman1665D/A1/137/126MF553
WELLS, MabelWaltham St. Lawrence1687D/A1/138/122MF554
WELLS, MargaretLambourn1721D/A1/224/34MF96119
WELLS, MarySteventon1668D/A1/137/146MF553
WELLS, MaryChieveley1743D/A1/224/129MF96120
WELLS, OliveGarford, Marcham1603D/A1/220/197MF96111
WELLS, RalphSpeen1600D/A1/13/443MF10049
WELLS, RichardChieveleyCarpenter1701D/A1/139/76MF554
WELLS, RichardAldworthYeoman1786D/A1/142/107MF556
WELLS, RichardFrilford, Marcham Tailor1791D/A1/142/124MF556
WELLS, RichardReading St Mary1800D/A1/224/217MF96120
WELLS, RobertGarford, MarchamLabourer1614D/A1/221/044MF96112
WELLS, RobertGarford, Marcham1614D/A1/168/107MF96001
WELLS, RobertMidgham, ThatchamHusbandman1618D/A1/134/164 D/A1/15/839MF551 MF10065
WELLS, SarahSnelsmore, Chieveley1696D/A1/139/27MF554
WELLS, SarahSutton Courtenay1760D/A1/141/86MF555
WELLS, ThomasChildrey1642D/A1/137/003MF553
WELLS, ThomasThatchamYeoman1749D/A1/141/26MF555
WELLS, ThomasSutton CourtenayMaltster1771D/A1/141/135MF556
WELLS, ThomasCold Ash, Thatcham 1828D/A1/165/51MF584
WELLS, Thomas SnrBradfieldCooper1633D/A1/136/001MF552
WELLS, Thomas SnrBradfieldCooper1686D/A1/138/116MF554
WELLS, ThomasinHatford1712D/A1/223/202MF96118
WELLS, WilliamReading1571D/A1/167/148MF96000
WELLS, WilliamLambournCarpenter1680D/A1/138/68MF553
WELLS, WilliamUfton NervetYeoman1684D/A1/223/38MF96116
WELLS, WilliamChieveleyHusbandman1738D/A1/140/156MF555
WELLS, WilliamWallingford1796D/A1/224/212MF96120
WELLS, WilliamEast Hendred1821D/A1/232/71MF96131
WELLS, WilliamWallingfordGrocer1823D/A1/232/79MF96131
WELLSBORNE, JohnEast Hanney, Hanney1588D/A1/220/132 D/A1/11/179MF96111 MF10047B
WELLYS, ElizabethNew Windsor, Windsor1528D/A1/1/119MF10041
WELMAN , Alexander SnrLambournGlover1721D/A1/140/29MF555
WELMAN, AgnesFawler, Sparsholt1621D/A1/134/191MF551
WELMAN, JohnUffingtonHusbandman1592D/A1/133/135 D/A1/11/357MF551 MF10047B
WELMAN, JosephWest Hagbourne, HagbourneYeoman1706D/A1/139/118MF554
WELMAN, MargaretStanford In The Vale1634D/A1/136/015MF552
WELMAN, MaryStanford In The Vale1646D/A1/169/102MF96002
WELMAN, ThomasUffingtonHusbandman1558D/A1/132/104 D/A1/7/213MF550 MF10040
WELMAN, ThomasFawler, SparsholtHusbandman1601D/A1/133/234 D/A1/13/690MF551 MF10049
WELMAN, WilliamUffingtonHusbandman1604D/A1/134/010 D/A1/13/1227MF551 MF10049
WELMAN, WilliamGreat CoxwellHusbandman1638D/A1/169/102MF96002
WELMON, RichardUffington1531D/A1/1/163MF10042
WELMOT, WilliamFawler, Sparsholt1566D/A1/132/204 D/A1/9/019MF550 MF10046
WELS, JohnWinkfieldHusbandman1595D/A1/133/174 D/A1/12/231MF551 MF10048
WELSE, WilliamChurch Oakley, Hants. (W.), Tilehurst 1670D/A1/137/176MF553
WELSH, OliverNew Windsor, WindsorOf The Queen'S Kitchen1594D/A1/220/160 D/A1/12/193MF96111 MF10048
WELSHE, HenryReading St MaryClerk, Curate1589D/A1/220/136 D/A1/11/191MF96111 MF10047B
WELSHE, JohnReading St LaurenceFletcher1602D/A1/133/244 D/A1/13/871MF551 MF10049
WELSTEAD, JohnAldworthLabourer1716D/A1/224/13MF96119
WENLOCK , LionelChaddleworthHusbandman1629D/A1/135/092MF552
WENLOCKE, JoanBarcot Marsh, Buckland1624D/A1/135/014MF552
WENLOCKE, ThomasCarswell , BucklandHusbandman1636D/A1/136/045MF552
WENT, ThomasReadingTailor1711D/A1/139/158MF554
WENTWORTH, RichardBuscotFisherman1769D/A1/141/126MF555
WENTWORTH, ThomasLambournLabourer1846D/A1/166/21MF585
WENTWORTHE, JaneNew Windsor, Windsor1603D/A1/134/011 D/A1/13/1110MF551 MF10049
WERDNAM, JoanHoe Benham, Welford1627D/A1/135/066MF552
WERDNAM, JohnHoe Benham, Welford1572D/A1/132/246 D/A1/9/318MF550 MF10046
WERDNAM, ThomasCumnorYeoman1644D/A1/137/026MF553
WERDNAM, WilliamEaston, WelfordHusbandman1672D/A1/222/114MF96115
WERGG, JohnThatchamMercer1691D/A1/223/87MF96117
WERGG, RobertAbingdonFuller1600D/A1/133/253 D/A1/13/561MF551 MF10049
WERMAN, StephenBeedonYeoman1712D/A1/223/196MF96118
WERNAM , Robert SnrHarwellYeoman1745D/A1/140/221MF555
WERNAM, James JnrFarnborough1610D/A1/134/055 D/A1/15/031MF551 MF10065
WERNAM, JaneFarnborough1690D/A1/138/144MF554
WERNAM, JohnHoe Benham, WelfordHusbandman1627D/A1/135/064MF552
WERNAM, JohnFarnboroughYeoman1722D/A1/224/40MF96119
WERNAM, RichardBeedonYeoman1617D/A1/134/146 D/A1/15/697MF551 MF10065
WERNAM, RichardBasildonHusbandman1723D/A1/224/43MF96119
WERNAM, WilliamBasildon1700D/A1/223/140MF96118
WERNHAM, AnnWelford1730D/A1/140/114MF555
WERNHAM, JamesFarnboroughYeoman1662D/A1/137/92MF553
WERNHAM, JamesFawleyYeoman1780D/A1/141/168MF556
WERNHAM, JohnWelfordBrick Burner1731D/A1/140/116MF555
WERNHAM, MaryFarnborough1712D/A1/139/160MF554
WERNHAM, RobertAldermastonHusbandman1697D/A1/139/34/2MF554
WERNHAM, RogerAldermastonYeoman1672D/A1/137/195MF553
WERNHAM, ThomasChieveleyLathrender1715D/A1/224/10MF96119
WERRELL, RichardFrilshamCarrier1822D/A1/165/26MF584
WERYNG, CecilyStratfield Mortimer1540D/A1/1/200MF10042
WERYNG, RobertSulhamstead AbbotsHusbandman1531D/A1/1/181MF10042