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
WRIGHT, JohnAbingdonTailor1699D/A1/223/134MF96118
WRIGHT, JohnWinkfieldYeoman1714D/A1/139/181MF554
WRIGHT, JohnHamstead MarshallKeeper1718D/A1/140/13MF555
WRIGHT, JohnThatcham1746D/A1/141/5MF555
WRIGHT, JohnMarchamVictualler1785D/A1/142/102MF556
WRIGHT, JohnShrivenham1822D/A1/232/78MF96131
WRIGHT, John SnrWinkfieldYeoman1662D/A1/137/89MF553
WRIGHT, KatherineAbingdon1639D/A1/136/061MF552
WRIGHT, LaurenceHagbourneClerk, Vicar1637D/A1/136/055MF552
WRIGHT, MargeryBotley, Cumnor1640D/A1/221/170MF96113
WRIGHT, MargeryBotley, Cumnor1640D/A1/169/103MF96002
WRIGHT, NoahWinkfield1727D/A1/224/60MF96119
WRIGHT, RebeccaHagbourne1641D/A1/136/099MF552
WRIGHT, RichardTidmarshClerk1664D/A1/137/112MF553
WRIGHT, RichardWargraveHusbandman1684D/A1/138/100MF553
WRIGHT, RichardPadworthCloth Worker1694D/A1/139/17MF554
WRIGHT, RobertNewburySchoolmaster1586D/A1/133/100 D/A1/11/414MF550 MF10047B
WRIGHT, RobertBasildonYeoman1743D/A1/140/204MF555
WRIGHT, ThomasHagbourneHusbandman1624D/A1/135/025MF552
WRIGHT, ThomasBotley, CumnorVictualler, Yeoman1666D/A1/222/84MF96115
WRIGHT, WilliamReadingDyer1672D/A1/222/110MF96115
WRIGHT, WilliamReadingHarness Maker1719D/A1/140/22MF555
WRIGHT, WilliamBourton, ShrivenhamFarmer1806D/A1/164/68MF584
WRIGHTE, JohnBotley, Cumnor1591D/A1/11/372 D/A1/11/375MF10047B MF10047B
WRIGHTE, JohnStanton Saint John, OxfordshireLabourer1627D/A1/16/116MF10066
WRIGHTE, ThomasBotley, CumnorYeoman1634D/A1/136/019MF552
WRIGHTE, WilliamHagbourneHusbandman1622D/A1/135/003MF552
WRIGLYSWOR, AgnesWallingford St Mary1559D/A1/132/103 D/A1/8/037MF550 MF10043C
WRINCH, AnneWallingford1638D/A1/221/162 D/A1/169/103MF96113 MF96002
WRITE, ThomasHagbourneHusbandman1579D/A1/133/023 D/A1/10/183MF550 MF10047A
WRITTE, JohnWargrave1586D/A1/133/097 D/A1/11/106MF550 MF10047B
WRIXAM, PaulAbingdon St HelenMason1610D/A1/134/063 D/A1/15/110MF551 MF10065
WROACH, JohnBrightwalton1769D/A1/224/178MF96120
WROUGHTON, CatherineMarcham1746D/A1/224/138MF96120
WRYGHT, AliceHagbourne1580D/A1/133/037 D/A1/10/254MF550 MF10047A
WRYGHT, JoanBotley, Cumnor1607D/A1/134/029 D/A1/14/243MF551 MF10064
WRYGHT, JohnHurley1575D/A1/132/267 D/A1/9/454MF550 MF10046
WRYGHT, Thomas SnrMoulsford, CholseyHusbandman1629D/A1/221/114MF96113
WRYGLESWORTH, William1558D/A1/220/042MF96110
WRYGYLSWORTHE, RichardWallingford St Mary1551D/A1/3/213 D/A1/5/107MF604 MF10043A
WRYT, HenryBasildonYeoman1599D/A1/133/222 D/A1/13/483MF551 MF10049
WRYTT, WilliamHagbourne1576D/A1/220/088MF96110
WUDLEIFFE, JohnHarwell1541D/A1/132/007MF550
WULDRIDG, JoanTitcomb, Kintbury1585D/A1/133/083 D/A1/11/035MF550 MF10047B
WULFE, EdmundAbingdonVicar, Clerk1576D/A1/220/089MF96110
WULFE, GeorgeReading St Laurence1578D/A1/220/096MF96110
WULLEY, Thomas1577D/A1/220/092MF96110
WULREGE, JohnKintbury1563D/A1/8/279MF10043C
WULRIGE, ThomasUpper Lambourn, Lambourn1571D/A1/220/071 D/A1/167/145MF96110 MF96000
WULRYGE, HenryAvington1523D/A1/1/077MF10041
WURTINGE, WilliamPadworth1590D/A1/133/132 D/A1/11/335MF551 MF10047B
WYAT , JoanSteventon1590D/A1/133/130 D/A1/11/348MF551 MF10047B
WYAT, JohnKenningtonYeoman1621D/A1/221/079MF96112
WYAT, SarahNew Windsor, Windsor1706D/A1/139/117MF554
WYAT, WilliamEast Hendred1547D/A1/132/028MF550
WYATE, RichardPangbourne1564D/A1/132/190 D/A1/8/332MF550 MF10043C
WYATT, CharlesSulhamstead BannisterYeoman1812D/A1/164/91MF584
WYATT, CharlesTilehurst1814D/A1/164/104MF584
WYATT, DavidLongworthMaltster1729D/A1/140/102MF555
WYATT, EdwardTwyford, Hurst1853D/A1/166/50MF585
WYATT, ElizabethBucklebury1722D/A1/224/35MF96119
WYATT, JamesEnglefield1784D/A1/224/202MF96120
WYATT, JoaneAppleton1710D/A1/139/149MF554
WYATT, JohnHermitage, Hampstead NorreysCordwainer1728D/A1/140/94MF555
WYATT, JohnEast HendredVictualler1781D/A1/141/172MF556
WYATT, JonathanAldworthCordwainer1728D/A1/224/69MF96119
WYATT, MargaretShippon, Abingdon St Helen1667D/A1/137/142MF553
WYATT, MaryEast Hendred1840D/A1/165/98MF585
WYATT, RichardCumnorYeoman1718D/A1/224/22MF96119
WYATT, SimonWoolhamptonHusbandman1705D/A1/139/105MF554
WYATT, ThomasMarchamMason1715D/A1/139/195MF554
WYATT, ThomasLongworthHusbandman1725D/A1/224/50MF96119
WYATT, ThomasEast Hendred1829D/A1/232/91MF96131
WYATT, WilliamWasingFarmer1558D/A1/132/078 D/A1/7/231MF550 MF10040
WYATT, WilliamShippon, Abingdon St HelenHusbandman1586D/A1/133/102 D/A1/11/072MF550 MF10047B
WYATT, WilliamYattendon1803D/A1/232/47MF96131
WYATT, WilliamEast HendredYeoman1814D/A1/164/102MF584
WYBLEN, JohnMoor, Longworth1548D/A1/233/304MF96132
WYBLEN, JohnMoor, Longworth1549D/A1/3/222MF604
WYBLEN, JohnDenchworthYeoman1560D/A1/132/152 D/A1/8/173MF550 MF10043C
WYBLEN, RichardDenchworthYeoman1615D/A1/134/118 D/A1/15/564MF551 MF10065
WYBLIN, JoanRadley1587D/A1/220/124MF96111
WYBLIN, JoanRadley1587D/A1/11/161MF10047B
WYBLIN, JohnBuckland Marsh, Buckland1586D/A1/220/119MF96111
WYBLYN, MosesBuckland Marsh, BucklandYeoman1626D/A1/135/054MF552
WYBLYN, RichardBuckland1558D/A1/132/112 D/A1/8/044MF550 MF10043C
WYCHELEY, JohnSouth Moreton1550D/A1/220/014MF96110
WYCHLEY, JohnSouth Moreton1546D/A1/132/026 D/A1/5/057MF550 MF10043A
WYCKES, BryanHurleyYeoman1593D/A1/133/168 D/A1/12/129MF551 MF10048
WYCKES, ThomasMilton1563D/A1/132/180 D/A1/8/270MF550 MF10043C
WYCKES, WalterEnborne1591D/A1/133/140 D/A1/12/008MF551 MF10048
WYCKES, WilliamMiltonHusbandman1597D/A1/133/195 D/A1/13/048MF551 MF10049
WYCKYNS, RobertUfton Nervet1559D/A1/132/093 D/A1/8/107MF550 MF10043C
WYDLEY, GeorgeHamstead MarshallBrick Maker1570D/A1/132/233 D/A1/9/239MF550 MF10046
WYDNAM, William1558D/A1/220/033MF96110
WYER, MargaretReading St Mary1575D/A1/132/272 D/A1/10/007MF550 MF10047A
WYER, RichardReading St MaryInnholder1551D/A1/233/420 D/A1/4/160 D/A1/5/142MF96132 MF604 MF10043A
WYER, WilliamThe Cardinals Hat, ReadingInnholder, Fuller1540D/A1/2/005MF603
WYERS, JohnKingston Lisle, Sparsholt1833D/A1/232/101MF96131
WYES, IsabelShippon, Abingdon St Helen1557D/A1/233/168MF96132