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.

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
OADAM, EdwardMarcham1599D/A1/102/033MF574
OADES, ThomasBurghfield1726D/A1/206/116MF96076
OAKES, WilliamAshburyHusbandman1631D/A1/206/098 D/A1/168/203MF96076 MF96001
OAKLEY, MosesShinfield1819D/A1/159/33MF582
OCBURNE, JohnBrightwalton1567D/A1/102/014 D/A1/9/062MF574 MF10046
OCKAM, JohnWhitley, Reading St Giles1595D/A1/102/028 D/A1/12/267MF574 MF10048
OCKES, AnnisAshbury1563D/A1/206/088MF96076
OCKES, ChristianAshbury1613D/A1/102/041 D/A1/15/371MF574 MF10065
OCKHAM, AgnesReading St Mary1636D/A1/102/060MF574
OCKHAM, WilliamReading1612D/A1/16/393MF10066
OCKOULD, RichardAbingdon1596D/A1/12/404MF10048
OCKOULD, Richard SnrAbingdon St Helen1596D/A1/206/090MF96076
ODAM, WilliamUpper Lambourn, LambournYeoman1612D/A1/206/093/1 D/A1/168/094MF96076 MF96001
OGBORN, JohnBrightwaltonYeoman1751D/A1/103/50MF574
OGBORNE, ElizabethNewbury1723D/A1/103/38MF574
OGBORNE, FrancesNewbury1693D/A1/218/92MF96107
OGBORNE, JohnBrightwalton1669D/A1/103/7MF574
OGBORNE, JohnBrightwaltonYeoman1715D/A1/103/36MF574
OGBORNE, MargeryBrightwalton1608D/A1/102/037 D/A1/14/504MF574 MF10064
OGBORNE, RichardLeckhampstead Thicket, ChieveleyYeoman1699D/A1/103/26MF574
OGBORNE, ThomasGreat CoxwellShepherd1632D/A1/206/101MF96076
OGBORNE, ThomasGreat Coxwell1632D/A1/168/228MF96001
OGBORNE, WilliamBrightwaltonHusbandman1616D/A1/102/048 D/A1/15/620 D/A1/168/131MF574 MF10065 MF96001
OGBOURN, JohnChieveleyWheelwright1712D/A1/129/82MF548
OGBOURN, RichardLeckhampstead, ChieveleyYeoman1704D/A1/103/31MF574
OGBOURNE, GilesChaddleworthYeoman1704D/A1/103/30MF574
OGBOURNE, RichardChaddleworthYeoman1741D/A1/103/46MF574
OGBURN , John SnrBrightwaltonYeoman1701D/A1/103/27MF574
OGBURN, SamuelBrightwaltonYeoman1736D/A1/103/44MF574
OGBURNE, JohnChaddleworthHusbandman, Servant1593D/A1/102/025 D/A1/12/078MF574 MF10048
OKELEY, RichardGrove, WantageHusbandman1651D/A1/206/104 D/A1/169/067MF96076 MF96002
OKES, JohnBasildonClergyman1728D/A1/103/41MF574
OKINGHAM, ThomasBarkhamApparitor1622D/A1/102/051MF574
OLDMAID, RichardHampstead NorrisYeoman1702D/A1/103/28MF574
OLDMAID, WilliamHampstead NorreysYeoman1715D/A1/206/114MF96076
OLDMAID, WilliamHampstead NorreysYeoman1812D/A1/159/30MF582
OLDMAID, WilliamHampstead Norreys1813D/A1/159/31MF582
OLIVER, AnneMaidenhead, Cookham1621D/A1/102/050MF574
OLIVER, HenryFinchampsteadHusbandman1580D/A1/102/020 D/A1/10/221MF574 MF10047A
OLIVER, JaneFinchampstead1629D/A1/102/053MF574
OLIVER, JohnMaidenhead, CookhamYeoman1620D/A1/102/049MF574
OLIVER, RichardFinchampsteadYeoman1626D/A1/16/125MF10066
OLIVER, RobertFinchampstead1552D/A1/5/178MF10043A
OLIVER, ThomasSpeenhamland, SpeenFelt Maker1697D/A1/206/109MF96076
OLIVER, WilliamWokinghamHusbandman1733D/A1/103/43MF574
OLLIVER, StephenShinfieldHusbandman1606D/A1/102/036 D/A1/14/157MF574 MF10064
OLVER, Richard SnrFinchampsteadYeoman1703D/A1/103/29MF574
OLYVER, RobertFinchampstead1552D/A1/102/004MF574
OLYVER, SilvesterBrayHusbandman1576D/A1/206/089MF96076
ONION, AliceHinton Waldrist1609D/A1/102/038 D/A1/14/517MF574 MF10064
ONION, DorothyAbingdon1674D/A1/103/6MF574
ONION, EdwardMarchamYeoman1665D/A1/103/8MF574
ONION, JohnHinton Waldrist1601D/A1/206/092MF96076
ONION, JohnHinton Waldrist1601D/A1/13/716MF10049
ONION, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1712D/A1/103/34MF574
ONION, MarthaBurgage, Hinton Waldrist1680D/A1/103/17MF573
ONION, MarthaAbingdon1743D/A1/103/48MF574
ONION, MaryBurgage, Hinton Waldrist1709D/A1/103/33MF574
ONION, RichardHinton WaldristHusbandman1635D/A1/102/059MF574
ONION, SarahWytham1850D/A1/159/39MF582
ONION, ThomasBurgage, Hinton WaldristHusbandman1690D/A1/103/22MF574
ONION, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1696D/A1/103/25MF574
ONYON, EdmundMarchamYeoman1663D/A1/103/4MF574
ONYON, JohnHinton Waldrist1575D/A1/102/018 D/A1/10/013MF574 MF10047A
ONYON, RobertMarchamYeoman1684D/A1/103/5MF574
ONYON, WilliamGrove, WantageHusbandman1759D/A1/103/51MF574
ONYON, William SnrEast Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1622D/A1/206/095MF96076
OORGAYNE, RichardLambourn1557D/A1/102/007MF574
ORAM, ElizabethMaidenhead, Bray1563D/A1/5/225 D/A1/102/012MF10043A MF574
ORAM, ThomasEast GarstonYeoman1720D/A1/103/37MF574
ORAM, WilliamLambourn Woodlands, LambournYeoman1760D/A1/103/52MF574
ORCHADE, Thomas SnrChipping Lambourn, LambournYeoman1674D/A1/103/13MF573
ORCHARD , Henry SnrBuckleburyYeoman1796D/A1/103/58MF574
ORCHARD, ArthurEast GarstonHusbandman1615D/A1/102/045 D/A1/15/516MF574 MF10065
ORCHARD, DavidHungerfordCordwainer1849D/A1/159/38MF582
ORCHARD, EdwardAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1635D/A1/102/058MF574
ORCHARD, ElizabethEast Garston1631D/A1/206/099MF96076
ORCHARD, ElizabethEast Garston1631D/A1/168/210MF96001
ORCHARD, HesterLambourn1686D/A1/103/20MF574
ORCHARD, MaryLambourn1706D/A1/206/112MF96076
ORCHARD, RogerInkpenLabourer1725D/A1/206/115MF96076
ORCHARD, ThomasEast GarstonHusbandman1612D/A1/102/040 D/A1/15/306MF574 MF10065
ORCHARD, ThomasLambournYeoman1712D/A1/103/35MF574
ORCHARD, WilliamEast Garston1549D/A1/5/098MF10043A
ORCHARD, WilliamReading St GilesBrewer1630D/A1/206/097 D/A1/168/192MF96076 MF96001
ORCHERD , WilliamEast Garston1558D/A1/102/008 D/A1/7/247MF574 MF10040
ORCHERD, WilliamEast GarstonHusbandman1564D/A1/102/013 D/A1/8/319MF574 MF10043C
ORCHERDE, WilliamEast Garston1549D/A1/102/003MF574
ORCHORD, JohnChieveleySmith1575D/A1/102/017 D/A1/9/440MF574 MF10046
ORGAN , JoanLambourn1529D/A1/1/099MF10041
ORGAN, RichardLambourn1638D/A1/102/061MF574
ORGANE, JohnBradfield1520D/A1/1/035MF10041
ORGANE, RobertLambourn1528D/A1/1/081MF10041
ORGAYNE, RichardLambourn1557D/A1/6/091MF10043B
ORGAYNE, RobertNewburyWeaver1549D/A1/3/093MF604
ORGAYNE, RobertNewbury1549D/A1/233/210MF96132
ORME, ThomasReadingTobacconist1685D/A1/206/105MF96076
ORMESTON, WilliamAbingdon St HelenPriest1531D/A1/1/160MF10042
ORPIN, CollisReading St Laurence1767D/A1/206/121MF96076
ORPIN, EdwardReading St Laurence1771D/A1/206/122MF96076