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
OSBALDESTON, MaryChipping Norton, Oxfordshire1777D/A1/103/53MF574
OSBALDESTON, PetronillaGreat Coxwell1676D/A1/103/15MF573
OSBORN, SimonWinkfieldHusbandman1674D/A1/103/12MF573
OSBORNE, HenryBrayYeoman1614D/A1/102/042 D/A1/15/456MF574 MF10065
OSBORNE, HenryBurghfield1702D/A1/206/110MF96076
OSBORNE, HonorReading1730D/A1/103/42MF574
OSBORNE, JamesCookhamBargeman1662D/A1/103/3MF574
OSBORNE, JohnWhite WalthamYeoman1630D/A1/16/174MF10066
OSBORNE, JohnWest WoodhayClerk1691D/A1/103/23MF574
OSBORNE, RichardCookhamYeoman1555D/A1/7/090MF10040
OSBORNE, RichardBray1559D/A1/102/010 D/A1/7/278MF574 MF10040
OSBORNE, RobertBrayYeoman1593D/A1/102/026 D/A1/12/086MF574 MF10048
OSBORNE, ThomasCookhamYeoman1614D/A1/102/043 D/A1/15/464MF574 MF10065
OSBORNE, ThomasWest WoodhayHusbandman1673D/A1/103/9MF574
OSBORNE, ThomasStanford In The ValeHarness Maker1780D/A1/103/54MF574
OSBORNE, WilliamBrightwalton1553D/A1/102/005 D/A1/7/012MF574 MF10040
OSBORNE, WilliamWarfieldHusbandman1563D/A1/102/011 D/A1/8/253MF574 MF10043C
OSBOURN, RichardCookham1556D/A1/102/006MF574
OSBOURNE, WilliamWhite WalthamHusbandman1614D/A1/102/044 D/A1/15/446MF574 MF10065
OSBURN, SusannahReading St Mary1785D/A1/206/125MF96076
OSBURNE, John SnrCookham1597D/A1/206/091 D/A1/13/191MF96076 MF10049
OSBURNE, RobertCookham1633D/A1/102/057MF574
OSBURNE, RogerCookhamYeoman1588D/A1/102/023 D/A1/11/256MF574 MF10047B
OSBURNE, Thomas SnrCookhamYeoman1584D/A1/102/022 D/A1/10/439MF574 MF10047A
OSGOOD, AnneWest Woodhay1619D/A1/102/047MF574
OSGOOD, JamesWest WoodhayYeoman1674D/A1/103/11MF573
OSGOOD, JohnReading1628D/A1/16/144MF10066
OSGOOD, JohnThatchamServant1781D/A1/103/55MF574
OSGOOD, ThomasNewburyMaltster1661D/A1/103/2MF574
OSGOOD, ThomasNewburyMaltster1704D/A1/103/32MF574
OSGOOD, WilliamWood Speen, Speen(W.), SpeenTanner1674D/A1/103/10MF573
OSMAN, JamesDedworth, Windsor1590D/A1/102/024 D/A1/11/336MF574 MF10047B
OSMAN, WilliamBucklandDay Labourer1595D/A1/102/030 D/A1/12/306MF574 MF10048
OSMOND, JohnDedworth, WindsorShearman1576D/A1/102/019 D/A1/10/053MF574 MF10047A
OSMOND, ThomasReading St Laurence1543D/A1/6/165MF10043B
OSMONDE, GeorgePurleyHusbandman1639D/A1/206/102 D/A1/169/067MF96076 MF96002
OSTLER, FrancesStanford In The Vale1728D/A1/103/40MF574
OSTLER, RichardStreatleyLabourer1744D/A1/206/120MF96076
OSTLER, ThomasWest IlsleyLabourer1742D/A1/103/47MF574
OTEHERST , WilliamAbingdon1544D/A1/102/001MF574
OTEHERSTE, WilliamAbingdonBaker1544D/A1/1/229MF10042
OTHERSALL, ThomasBradfield1545D/A1/1/060 D/A1/102/002MF10041 MF574
OTTYWELL, WilliamAppleford, Sutton CourtenayHusbandman1600D/A1/13/444 D/A1/102/032MF10049 MF574
OUTRIDGE, MargaretReading St Mary1593D/A1/102/029 D/A1/12/099MF574 MF10048
OUTRIGE, ThomasReading St MaryTanner1571D/A1/102/016 D/A1/9/276MF574 MF10046
OVER, ElizabethFinchampstead1827D/A1/230/71MF96127
OVER, JohnStratfield MortimerYeoman1690D/A1/206/108MF96076
OVER, MaryFinchampstead1846D/A1/159/37MF582
OVERSHOT, JoanHurley1641D/A1/102/064MF574
OVERSHOT, JohnHurleyBlacksmith1598D/A1/102/031 D/A1/13/261MF574 MF10049
OVERSHOT, JohnHurleyYeoman1781D/A1/206/123MF96076
OVERSHOT, PeterNew Windsor, WindsorHusbandman1605D/A1/102/035 D/A1/14/056MF574 MF10064
OVERSHOTT, JohnHurleyYeoman1726D/A1/103/39MF574
OVERTHRAVE, ThomasReading St Laurence1532D/A1/1/161MF10042
OVERTHROWE, ElineAbingdon1559D/A1/206/086MF96076
OVIATT, ThomasNewburyMercer1715D/A1/206/113MF96076
OWEN, CharlesAbingdonChemist1847D/A1/230/72MF96127
OWEN, DennisNewbury1557D/A1/3/092MF604
OWEN, DinahWest Shefford1856D/A1/230/73MF96127
OWEN, EdwardBurghfieldHusbandman1602D/A1/102/034 D/A1/13/788MF574 MF10049
OWEN, ElizabethMarcham1693D/A1/103/24MF574
OWEN, JohnUfton NervetHusbandman1639D/A1/206/103 D/A1/169/067MF96076 MF96002
OWEN, JohnSteventonYeoman1786D/A1/103/56MF574
OWEN, JohnAbingdon1832D/A1/159/35MF582
OWEN, RichardKingstone Winslow, AshburyYeoman, Carpenter1628D/A1/206/096MF96076
OWEN, RichardSteventonHusbandman1633D/A1/102/055MF574
OWEN, RogerNewbury1560D/A1/206/087MF96076
OWEN, StephenWest SheffordParish Clerk1827D/A1/159/34MF582
OWEN, ThomasKingstone Winslow, AshburyCarpenter, Husbandman1594D/A1/102/027 D/A1/12/224MF574 MF10048
OWEN, ThomasAshburyWheelwright1678D/A1/103/16MF573
OWEN, WilliamMarchamLabourer1741D/A1/206/119MF96076
OWEN, WilliamWallingfordGatekeeper1793D/A1/103/57MF574
OWERS, JohnWestbrook, FaringdonHusbandman1629D/A1/16/163MF10066
OWTRIDGE, John SnrReading St MaryGlover1632D/A1/102/056MF574
OXENBRICKES, AnneNew Windsor, Windsor1640D/A1/102/062MF574
OYNION, AnneEast Hanney, Hanney1632D/A1/102/054MF574
OYNION, WilliamHinton WaldristYeoman1558D/A1/102/009 D/A1/7/262MF574 MF10040
OYNON, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1661D/A1/103/1MF573
OYNON, MaryEast Hanney, Hanney1641D/A1/102/065MF574
OYNON, WilliamHanneyHusbandman1640D/A1/102/063MF574
P'ROKE, JohnHanney1546D/A1/3/118MF604
PACK, RobertTheale, TilehurstInnkeeper1840D/A1/230/113MF96128
PACKER , Charles SnrReadingWatchmaker1808D/A1/159/63MF582
PACKER, HenryFernham, Shrivenham 1755D/A1/109/202MF535
PACKER, JohnShrivenhamHusbandman1571D/A1/103/211 D/A1/9/286MF575 MF10046
PACKER, JohnChildreyFarrier1822D/A1/159/95MF582
PACKER, RichardLetcombe RegisMaltster1712D/A1/108/180MF578
PACKER, RichardLetcombe RegisMaltster1712D/A1/108/180MF578
PACKER, RobertShellingford1682D/A1/108/10MF577
PACKER, WilliamLongcot, ShrivenhamHusbandman1583D/A1/104/041 D/A1/10/356MF575 MF10047A
PACKINGTON, RichardNewburyMiller1573D/A1/103/218 D/A1/9/383MF575 MF10046
PACKSTAFE, ThomasSutton Wick, Sutton CourtenayHusbandman1664D/A1/107/53MF577
PADDISON, AnnEnborne (W.), Hamstead Marshall 1685D/A1/108/38MF577
PADE, JohnKennington, RadleyHusbandman1683D/A1/209/58MF96083
PAGE , Lazarus SnrBrayHusbandman1803D/A1/159/46MF582
PAGE, AliceWinkfield1623D/A1/105/082MF576
PAGE, AngellBray1733D/A1/210/38MF96085
PAGE, ArthurBray1611D/A1/15/123MF10065
PAGE, EleanorInkpen1707D/A1/108/155MF578
PAGE, FrancisAbingdonInnholder1665D/A1/208/154MF96081