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
WITHERS, CatherineHatford1610D/A1/134/053 D/A1/15/010MF551 MF10065
WITHERS, DavidHinton WaldristYeoman1632D/A1/135/122MF552
WITHERS, ElishaReading St Mary1770D/A1/224/180MF96120
WITHERS, FrancisReadingPewterer1687D/A1/223/58MF96117
WITHERS, HenryPuseyHusbandman1664D/A1/222/77MF96115
WITHERS, HenryBucklandYeoman1681D/A1/138/70MF553
WITHERS, JaneBurgage, Hinton Waldrist1690D/A1/138/134MF554
WITHERS, JohnStanford In The Vale1615D/A1/221/055MF96112
WITHERS, JohnStanford In The Vale1615D/A1/168/119MF96001
WITHERS, JohnGreat CoxwellYeoman1721D/A1/140/30MF555
WITHERS, JohnBoxfordYeoman1780D/A1/141/171MF556
WITHERS, JohnThatcham1848D/A1/166/27MF585
WITHERS, MaryGreat Coxwell1721D/A1/140/33MF555
WITHERS, MosesBucklebury1748D/A1/141/18MF555
WITHERS, PhilipSpeenYeoman1775D/A1/141/157MF556
WITHERS, RichardLongworthHusbandman1626D/A1/135/053MF552
WITHERS, RichardHinton Waldrist1636D/A1/136/049MF552
WITHERS, RobertEastbury, LambournYeoman1772D/A1/141/140MF556
WITHERS, ThomasBucklebury1780D/A1/224/196MF96120
WITHERS, ThomasBucklebury1780D/A1/224/196MF96120
WITHERS, ThomasKintburyClock Maker1829D/A1/232/92MF96131
WITHINGTON, EdwardLong Wittenham1629D/A1/135/087MF552
WITHYE, ElizabethBuckland1677D/A1/222/147MF96115
WITT , WilliamMarchamLabourer1606D/A1/221/010MF96112
WITT, HungerfordRadleyYeoman1731D/A1/140/123MF555
WITT, Richard1557D/A1/233/310MF96132
WITT, WilliamMarcham1606D/A1/168/017MF96001
WITTE, RichardRadley1557D/A1/3/231MF604
WITTON, EdwardReading St Laurence1593D/A1/220/156MF96111
WITTON, EdwardReading1593D/A1/12/109MF10048
WITTON, EdwardReadingWare Burner, Maltster1663D/A1/137/97MF553
WITTON, JohnReading St LaurenceWare Burner1669D/A1/222/93MF96115
WITTON, KatherineReading1669D/A1/137/165MF553
WITTS, AnnBeedon1831D/A1/165/62MF585
WITTS, ThomasBeedonYeoman1824D/A1/165/32MF584
WIVEOLDE, EdmundAbingdonInnholder1594D/A1/133/172 D/A1/12/202MF551 MF10048
WIX , John SnrAldermastonFarmer1780D/A1/141/170MF556
WIX , Stephen SnrAldermaston1765D/A1/141/103MF555
WIXE, RobertMilton1545D/A1/6/183MF10043B
WIXE, RobertMilton1545D/A1/132/016MF550
WIXE, ThomasBucklandHusbandman1631D/A1/221/121MF96113
WIZE, ThomasShottesbrooke1562D/A1/220/055MF96110
WIZE, ThomasShottesbrooke1562D/A1/167/119MF96000
WODAM [WODHAN ON FRONT OF WILL], WilliamLambournYeoman1722D/A1/140/45MF555
WODAM, ThomasLambournHusbandman1751D/A1/141/37MF555
WODAM, WilliamHinton Waldrist1574D/A1/132/264 D/A1/9/423MF550 MF10046
WODDAM, Robert1557D/A1/132/082MF550
WODDAM, RobertShellingford1557D/A1/132/042 D/A1/7/209MF550 MF10040
WODDAME, EdwardMarcham1599D/A1/133/223 D/A1/13/500MF551 MF10049
WODDARD, HenryAshburyHusbandman1628D/A1/135/074MF552
WODDERD, JohnPangbourne1595D/A1/12/393MF10048
WODDES, HenryFinchampsteadYeoman1618D/A1/134/162 D/A1/15/802MF551 MF10065
WODLEFFE, Beiam GrenfeldWootton, Cumnor1661D/A1/137/83MF553
WODLEFFE, ThomasWootton, Cumnor1572D/A1/220/074MF96110
WODLEYF, SybilHarwell1579D/A1/133/015 D/A1/10/147MF550 MF10047A
WODLY , JohnHarwell1615D/A1/134/109 D/A1/15/553MF551 MF10065
WODLYF, RobertHarwell1566D/A1/132/201 D/A1/8/367MF550 MF10043C
WODLYFE, JohnHarwell1585D/A1/133/092MF550
WODSHALL, RogerLambourn1568D/A1/132/218 D/A1/9/129MF550 MF10046
WODSHAW, AgnesLambourn1572D/A1/132/251MF550
WODSHAW, AgnesLambourn1573D/A1/9/353MF10046
WODWARD, EdwardAshbury1668D/A1/137/144MF553
WODWARD, IsabelSpeen1532D/A1/1/179MF10042
WODWARD, JoanAshbury1593D/A1/133/154 D/A1/12/064MF551 MF10048
WODWARD, JohnStanford In The Vale1555D/A1/132/065 D/A1/7/102MF550 MF10040
WODWARD, JohnKintburyShearman1566D/A1/132/198 D/A1/8/364MF550 MF10043C
WODWARD, MatthewNew Windsor, Windsor1607D/A1/134/044 D/A1/14/592MF551 MF10064
WODWARD, ThomasNew Windsor, Windsor1624D/A1/135/039MF552
WODWARD, WalterKingstone Winslow, AshburyShepherd1616D/A1/134/125 D/A1/15/610MF551 MF10065
WODWARDE, ThomasNorth Street, TilehurstWeaver1572D/A1/132/248 D/A1/9/311MF550 MF10046
WODWORE, John SnrPangbourneButcher1661D/A1/137/84MF553
WOLDRIDGE, RogerHam Mill, ThatchamPoulterer1618D/A1/134/168 D/A1/15/875MF551 MF10065
WOLFE, WilliamTidmarshClerk, Rector1638D/A1/221/161 D/A1/169/103 D/A1/16/491MF96113 MF96002 MF10066
WOLLASCOT, AnneShinfield1643D/A1/137/022MF553
WOLLASCOT, ThomasTidmarsh1612D/A1/221/034MF96112
WOLLASCOTT, MartinWoolhampton, Woolhampton1673D/A1/138/10MF553
WOLLASCOTT, ThomasTidmarsh1612D/A1/168/089MF96001
WOLLASCOTT, ThomasSutton Courtenay1691D/A1/138/147MF554
WOLLASCOTT, WilliamTidmarsh1572D/A1/9/325MF10046
WOLLASCOTT, William SnrShinfield1637D/A1/16/463MF10066
WOLLESCOTT, EdmundTidmarsh1637D/A1/16/483MF10066
WOLLETES, NicholasChilson, Charlbury, OxfordshireTanner1580D/A1/133/044 D/A1/10/298MF550 MF10047A
WOLLEY, William JnrBoars Hill, Cumnor1589D/A1/220/137MF96111
WOLLRIDGE, MaryTitcombe, Kintbury1705D/A1/139/103MF554
WOLLRIDGE, StephenTitcombe, KintburyYeoman1699D/A1/139/54MF554
WOLREGE, EllisDenford, Kintbury1554D/A1/7/039 D/A1/132/064MF10040 MF550
WOLRIDGE, JohnNewbury1619D/A1/221/070MF96112
WOLRIDGE, StephenKintbury1618D/A1/134/159 D/A1/15/822MF551 MF10065
WOLRIDGE, Thomas SnrBenham Valence, SpeenYeoman1636D/A1/136/028MF552
WOLRIDGE, WilliamKintbury1539D/A1/132/003MF550
WOLRYCHE, RobertKintbury1582D/A1/133/049 D/A1/10/295MF550 MF10047A
WOLRYGE, BartholomewKintbury1546D/A1/132/021MF550
WONDYE, JohnWestbrook, BoxfordHusbandman1573D/A1/132/258 D/A1/9/350 D/A1/9/356MF550 MF10046 MF10046
WOOD, Henry TylerNewburyCarpenter, Joiner1832D/A1/232/99MF96131
WOOD, PeterMaidenhead1565D/A1/220/058MF96110
WOOD, PeterMaidenhead1565D/A1/167/127MF96000
WOOD, Richard1547D/A1/220/009MF96110
WOOD, RichardTheale, TilehurstPeruke Maker1815D/A1/165/5MF584
WOOD, RobertReadingJoiner1718D/A1/140/10MF555
WOOD, RobertReadingCarpenter1728D/A1/224/65MF96119