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
COMES, RichardBeenham1578D/A1/181/087MF96021
COMES, ThomasReading St Laurence1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
COMIN, AgnesWest Woodhay1573D/A1/9/351MF10046
COMIN, AgnesWest Woodhay1573D/A1/52/049MF471
COMIN, RichardCholseyClerk1706D/A1/58/89MF476
COMMIN, MaryAston Tirrold1743D/A1/59/201MF513
COMMINS, FrancesGarford, Marcham 1784D/A1/60/131MF513
COMMINS, SarahSandford, Abingdon St Helen 1847D/A1/149/39MF559
COMMINS, ThomasLambourn Woodlands, LambournHusbandman1641D/A1/55/130MF474
COMMYN, AliceWest Woodhay1626D/A1/54/124MF473
COMNER, WilliamKingston Bagpuize1560D/A1/181/045MF96021
COMNER, WilliamBradfieldYeoman1629D/A1/54/155MF473
COMPLIN, ChristopherWoolhamptonInnkeeper1851D/A1/149/50MF559
COMPTON (ALIAS HARTWELL), LetticiaReading1722D/A1/198/112MF96054
COMPTON, AlexanderAldermaston1568D/A1/52/015 D/A1/9/119MF471 MF10046
COMPTON, FrancisReadingPatten Maker1752D/A1/59/262MF513
COMPTON, FrancisReading1808D/A1/227/5MF96124
COMPTON, JoannaReading St Mary1710D/A1/184/168MF96027
COMPTON, JohnAldermaston1584D/A1/181/105MF96021
COMPTON, JohnAldermaston1584D/A1/11/002MF10047/B
COMPTON, RobertHurleyHusbandman1748D/A1/59/240MF513
COMPTON, SarahSpeen1727D/A1/185/51MF96028
COMPTON, ThomasWoolstone, UffingtonHusbandman1590D/A1/53/008 D/A1/11/351MF472 MF10047B
COMPTON, ThomasColeshillHusbandman1616D/A1/54/013 D/A1/15/576MF473 MF10065
COMPTON, ThomasReadingBaker1715D/A1/184/186MF96027
COMPTON, ThomasReadingBaker1760D/A1/60/36MF513
COMYN, EdwardStreatleyWarrener1703D/A1/58/73MF476
COMYN, RichardCholseyYeoman, Warrener1643D/A1/183/021MF96025
COMYNGE, HumphreyWest WoodhayHusbandman1613D/A1/53/247 D/A1/15/368MF472 MF10065
COMYS, ThomasHolt, Kintbury1559D/A1/51/138 D/A1/7/276MF470 MF10040
CONESBEY, AndrewBrayHusbandman1661D/A1/56/37MF474
CONISBY, AnneBray1662D/A1/56/48MF474
CONISBYE, ThomasShottesbrookeHusbandman1631D/A1/54/192MF473
CONNELLY, MaryAbingdon1813D/A1/147/95MF558
CONNING, ThomasReadingSeedsman1815D/A1/147/108MF558
CONNOLLY, JohnAbingdon1810D/A1/227/9MF96124
CONNOR, AgnesKingston Bagpuize1574D/A1/52/056 D/A1/9/420MF471 MF10046
CONNSTABLE, RichardReading St Laurence1559D/A1/51/103 D/A1/7/253MF469 MF10040
CONRICKE, JohnClewer1528D/A1/1/097MF10041
CONSLADE, AnneWallingford1720D/A1/185/20MF96028
CONSTABLE, AnnRadley1688D/A1/57/83MF475
CONSTABLE, JoanReading St Laurence1560D/A1/51/166 D/A1/8/189MF470 MF10043C
CONSTABLE, RichardReading St Laurence1568D/A1/52/016 D/A1/9/121MF471 MF10046
CONSTABLE, ThomasRadleyHusbandman1674D/A1/183/122 MF96025
CONSTABLE, WilliamAbingdonGardener1753D/A1/185/146MF96028
CONWAY, RichardMarcham1843D/A1/227/59MF96124
CONWAYE, RobertAbingdon1606D/A1/168/012MF96001
CONWEY, RobertAbingdon St HelenFreemason1606D/A1/181/197MF96021
CONY, ThomasSpeenhamland, Speen1551D/A1/4/043MF604
CONY, ThomasSpeenhamland, Speen1551D/A1/233/351MF96132
COO, HenryReading St Laurence1573D/A1/181/073MF96021
COOK , Jonathan SnrHampstead NorreysYeoman1840D/A1/148/66MF558
COOK , NicholasSparsholtVicar, Parson1603D/A1/53/138 D/A1/13/1125MF472 MF10049
COOK, AaronLittle Coxwell, Faringdon1812D/A1/227/12MF96124
COOK, AnnStratfield Mortimer1737D/A1/185/101MF96028
COOK, BenjaminReading1764D/A1/185/171MF96028
COOK, CatherineAbingdon1751D/A1/185/144MF96028
COOK, EdmundHinton WaldristWheelwright1829D/A1/148/36MF558
COOK, ElizabethSpeenhamland, Speen 1754D/A1/60/13MF513
COOK, ElizabethAbingdon1803D/A1/147/70MF558
COOK, ElizabethTwyford, Hurst1850D/A1/149/48MF559
COOK, GeorgeWarfieldClerk1734D/A1/59/143MF513
COOK, HannahWestminster, Middlesex1768D/A1/60/72MF513
COOK, HelenWarfield1754D/A1/60/3MF513
COOK, HenryEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1831D/A1/148/42MF558
COOK, JamesPeasemore1806D/A1/147/79MF558
COOK, JohnPeasemoreBaker, Shopkeeper1846D/A1/227/66MF96124
COOK, RichardAbingdonHatter1750D/A1/59/249MF513
COOK, RobertWindsorGardener1734D/A1/59/145MF513
COOK, Robert SnrWokefield, Stratfield Mortimer1707D/A1/58/109MF476
COOK, RogerAbingdon St HelenWeaver1568D/A1/52/007 D/A1/9/107MF471 MF10046
COOK, SarahReading1842D/A1/148/76MF558
COOKE , Catherine SnrGoosey, Stanford In The Vale 1725D/A1/59/72MF476
COOKE , John SnrNewburyHaberdasher Of Hats1715D/A1/58/152MF476
COOKE, AgnesNewbury1623D/A1/182/042MF96023
COOKE, AlexanderBuckleburyHusbandman1557D/A1/2/146MF604
COOKE, AliceYattendon1614D/A1/53/245 D/A1/15/419MF472 MF10065
COOKE, AmyNewbury1682D/A1/57/33MF475
COOKE, AnnBothampstead, Hampstead Norris1703D/A1/58/76MF476
COOKE, BernardEast Hanney, West Hanney1778D/A1/185/198MF96028
COOKE, BryantNewburyShoemaker1639D/A1/55/088MF474
COOKE, CatherineKingston Lisle, Sparsholt, Formerly Of  E. HanneyGentleman1674D/A1/178/158MF96015
COOKE, EdwardHampstead NorreysHusbandman1615D/A1/54/002 D/A1/15/517MF473 MF10065
COOKE, ElizabethEnglefield1584D/A1/10/462 D/A1/52/133MF10047A MF472
COOKE, ElizabethSonning1669D/A1/183/99MF96025
COOKE, FrancisAbingdonBargeman1662D/A1/56/47MF474
COOKE, HenryNewburyShoemaker1590D/A1/181/131MF96022
COOKE, HenryNewbury1590D/A1/11/372MF10047B
COOKE, HenryHampstead NorreysHusbandman1622D/A1/182/039MF96023
COOKE, HenryCompton Beauchamp1756D/A1/185/152MF96028
COOKE, HughNewburyShoemaker1618D/A1/182/031MF96023
COOKE, HughNewbury1618D/A1/168/157MF96001
COOKE, IsaacStanford In The Vale Husbandman1693D/A1/184/76MF96026
COOKE, JaneKnighton, Compton Beauchamp1626D/A1/182/062MF96023
COOKE, JaneColthrop, Thatcham1626D/A1/182/060MF96023
COOKE, JoanAbingdon St Helen1569D/A1/5/213MF10043A
COOKE, JohnWyld Court, Hampstead Norreys1550D/A1/181/018MF96021
COOKE, JohnEnglefieldClerk, Priest1555D/A1/181/030MF96021
COOKE, JohnHampstead Norreys1558D/A1/51/111 D/A1/7/222MF469 MF10040
COOKE, JohnNewbury1572D/A1/181/069MF96021