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
COLE , Leonard SnrReadingFellmonger1752D/A1/59/263MF513
COLE, ElizabethBasildon1600D/A1/181/169/2MF96022
COLE, ElizabethBasildon1600D/A1/13/439MF10049
COLE, FrancisReadingCarpenter1639D/A1/182/133/1MF96024
COLE, FrancisReadingCarpenter1653D/A1/183/043MF96025
COLE, JoanStanford In The Vale1564D/A1/51/199 D/A1/8/307MF470 MF10043C
COLE, JoanOdstone, Ashbury1634D/A1/55/024MF473
COLE, JohnKingstone Winslow, Ashbury1685D/A1/184/40MF96026
COLE, JohnStreatleyClerk, Vicar1693D/A1/184/77MF96026
COLE, JohnAbingdonTailor1788D/A1/60/143MF513
COLE, John SnrOdstone, Ashbury1643D/A1/183/022MF96025
COLE, LaurenceShellingfordHusbandman1614D/A1/53/252 D/A1/15/486MF472 MF10065
COLE, MaryAbingdon1815D/A1/147/111MF558
COLE, RichardKingston Wonslow, AshburyYeoman1593D/A1/53/045 D/A1/12/093MF472 MF10048
COLE, RichardIdstone, AshburyYeoman1628D/A1/16/119MF10066
COLE, RichardReadingCordwainer1684D/A1/184/36MF96026
COLE, SarahReading1786D/A1/185/207MF96028
COLE, ThomasKingstone Winslow, Ashbury1561D/A1/51/180 D/A1/7/351MF470 MF10040
COLE, ThomasWest HendredVicar1592D/A1/53/030 D/A1/12/026MF472 MF10048
COLE, ThomasReading St GilesPublican1834D/A1/227/47MF96124
COLE, WalterChildreyHusbandman1581D/A1/52/103 D/A1/10/281MF471 MF10047A
COLE, WilliamKingston Lisle, SparsholtHusbandman1690D/A1/184/68MF96026
COLEING, JohnRadleyYeoman1808D/A1/147/86MF558
COLEMAN, Henry WilliamEast IlsleyCordwainer1847D/A1/227/68MF96124
COLENS, JoanNorthcourt, Abingdon1560D/A1/167/113MF96000
COLENS, WilliamWhite WalthamLabourer1733D/A1/59/134MF513
COLES, Benjamin JnrWallingfordInnholder1679D/A1/184/16MF96026
COLES, ElizabethStratfield Mortimer1621D/A1/54/077MF473
COLES, GilesWest Hendred1743D/A1/185/128MF96028
COLES, JaneBeenham1632D/A1/182/095MF96023
COLES, JaneBeenham1632D/A1/168/224MF96001
COLES, JaneAbingdon1719D/A1/185/15MF96028
COLES, JohnStratfield Mortimer1619D/A1/54/052MF473
COLES, JohnMarchamGardener, Husbandman1682D/A1/57/29MF475
COLES, JohnSouth MoretonYeoman1685D/A1/57/57MF475
COLES, John SnrEast St. Helen'S Street, AbingdonBaker1668D/A1/56/104MF474
COLES, LeonardStratfield MortimerYeoman1642D/A1/183/013MF96025
COLES, RichardAbingdon St HelenCarpenter1627D/A1/182/066MF96023
COLES, RichardAbingdon St HelenCordwainer1631D/A1/182/088MF96023
COLES, RichardAbingdon St Helen1631D/A1/168/209MF96001
COLES, RichardBasildonLabourer, Husbandman1633D/A1/55/016MF473
COLES, RobertLong WittenhamFerryman1619D/A1/54/046 D/A1/15/936MF473 MF10065
COLES, ThomasChieveley1559D/A1/51/144 D/A1/7/265MF470 MF10040
COLES, ThomasWytham1587D/A1/52/146 D/A1/11/098MF472 MF10047B
COLES, ThomasLetcombe RegisLabourer1737D/A1/185/99MF96028
COLES, ThomasLongworth1780D/A1/185/200MF96028
COLES, WilliamAbingdonBaker1637D/A1/182/125MF96024
COLES, WilliamReadingVictualler1742D/A1/59/192MF513
COLES, WilliamSouth Moreton1769D/A1/185/180MF96028
COLEY, JohnReadingWire Drawer1831D/A1/148/41MF558
COLEY, WilliamWest WoodhayYeoman1618D/A1/54/039 D/A1/15/923MF473 MF10065
COLFEE, ThomasLongworth1761D/A1/60/43MF513
COLGROVE, WilliamAbingdonHusbandman1681D/A1/184/25MF96026
COLINS, JoanNorthcourt, Abingdon St Helen1560D/A1/181/047MF96021
COLINS, JohnCumnorClerk, Vicar1558D/A1/181/042/1 D/A1/167/103 D/A1/167/107MF96021 MF96000 MF96000
COLL , JamesStanford In The ValeHusbandman1578D/A1/52/084 D/A1/10/125MF471 MF10047A
COLL, JoanStanford In The Vale1582D/A1/52/112 D/A1/10/352MF471 MF10047A
COLLASON , John SnrSunningwellYeoman1792D/A1/60/158MF513
COLLENCE, JohnBucklebury1597D/A1/53/079 D/A1/13/099MF472 MF10049
COLLENCE, JohnBucklebury1606D/A1/53/165 D/A1/14/148MF472 MF10064
COLLENCE, WilliamBoxford1556D/A1/51/080MF469
COLLENES, RichardMackney, Brightwell1587D/A1/52/160 D/A1/11/264 D/A1/11/282 D/A1/11/149MF472 MF10047B MF10047B MF10047B
COLLENS, AburneWallingford1596D/A1/181/150 D/A1/12/400MF96022 MF10048
COLLENS, NathanielSulhamstead AbbotsVictualler1707D/A1/58/104MF476
COLLENS, RichardLetcombe Regis1554D/A1/7/047MF10040
COLLENS, ThomasStanford In The ValeHusbandman1564D/A1/51/195 D/A1/8/341MF470 MF10043C
COLLENS, ThomasPangbourne1618D/A1/168/156MF96001
COLLENS, WilliamAbingdon1607D/A1/168/023MF96001
COLLES, AlexanderBucklebury1545D/A1/1/234MF10042
COLLES, JohnCumnor1544D/A1/51/032MF469
COLLES, JohnCumnorHusbandman1544D/A1/1/229MF10042
COLLES, JohnIckford, Buckinghamshire1550D/A1/51/109/2MF469
COLLES, SimonOld Windsor1632D/A1/16/301MF10066
COLLES, ThomasGreat CoxwellYeoman1619D/A1/15/954MF10065
COLLES, Thomas SnrGreat CoxwellYeoman1617D/A1/182/025MF96023
COLLES, Thomas SnrGreat Coxwell1617D/A1/168/145MF96001
COLLES, WalterOld Windsor1540D/A1/233/067MF96132
COLLES, WalterNew Windsor, Windsor1541D/A1/2/129MF604
COLLET, JohnWythamFarmer1660D/A1/56/10MF474
COLLETT, AliceAshbury1727D/A1/59/88MF476
COLLETT, ElizabethKingstone Winslow, Ashbury1696D/A1/58/21MF476
COLLETT, ElizabethAshbury1732D/A1/59/130MF513
COLLETT, JohnAshbury1772D/A1/60/83MF513
COLLETT, RobertKingstone Winslow, AshburyGlover1686D/A1/57/67MF475
COLLETT, StephenAshburyGlover1727D/A1/59/94MF513
COLLETT, ThomasWinkfieldBlacksmith1629D/A1/54/153MF473
COLLETT, ThomasIdstone, AshburyYeoman, Glover1707D/A1/58/110MF476
COLLETT, ThomasAbingdonMilitiaman1810D/A1/227/8MF96124
COLLIBER, AnnAbingdon1788D/A1/185/209MF96028
COLLIBER, ThomasAbingdon1780D/A1/60/117MF513
COLLICE, Deodatus SnrWoodend, CumnorYeoman1664D/A1/56/68MF474
COLLICE, ElizabethWoodend, Cumnor1661D/A1/56/22MF474
COLLIER , John SnrWythamFarmer1795D/A1/60/163MF513
COLLIER , Richard SnrReadingInnholder1730D/A1/59/110MF513
COLLIER, AnneLongworth1598D/A1/53/091 D/A1/13/311MF472 MF10049
COLLIER, AnneWytham1809D/A1/147/87MF558
COLLIER, HannahWytham1804D/A1/147/72MF558
COLLIER, HenryWhitley, Reading St Giles1699D/A1/184/112MF96026
COLLIER, JosephReadingYeoman1737D/A1/59/163MF513
COLLIER, SamuelReadingBargemaster1743D/A1/59/199MF513