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 | Place Name | Occupation | Year | BRO Ref | MF Copy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
COLE , Leonard Snr | Reading | Fellmonger | 1752 | D/A1/59/263 | MF513 |
COLE, Elizabeth | Basildon | 1600 | D/A1/181/169/2 | MF96022 | |
COLE, Elizabeth | Basildon | 1600 | D/A1/13/439 | MF10049 | |
COLE, Francis | Reading | Carpenter | 1639 | D/A1/182/133/1 | MF96024 |
COLE, Francis | Reading | Carpenter | 1653 | D/A1/183/043 | MF96025 |
COLE, Joan | Stanford In The Vale | 1564 | D/A1/51/199 D/A1/8/307 | MF470 MF10043C | |
COLE, Joan | Odstone, Ashbury | 1634 | D/A1/55/024 | MF473 | |
COLE, John | Kingstone Winslow, Ashbury | 1685 | D/A1/184/40 | MF96026 | |
COLE, John | Streatley | Clerk, Vicar | 1693 | D/A1/184/77 | MF96026 |
COLE, John | Abingdon | Tailor | 1788 | D/A1/60/143 | MF513 |
COLE, John Snr | Odstone, Ashbury | 1643 | D/A1/183/022 | MF96025 | |
COLE, Laurence | Shellingford | Husbandman | 1614 | D/A1/53/252 D/A1/15/486 | MF472 MF10065 |
COLE, Mary | Abingdon | 1815 | D/A1/147/111 | MF558 | |
COLE, Richard | Kingston Wonslow, Ashbury | Yeoman | 1593 | D/A1/53/045 D/A1/12/093 | MF472 MF10048 |
COLE, Richard | Idstone, Ashbury | Yeoman | 1628 | D/A1/16/119 | MF10066 |
COLE, Richard | Reading | Cordwainer | 1684 | D/A1/184/36 | MF96026 |
COLE, Sarah | Reading | 1786 | D/A1/185/207 | MF96028 | |
COLE, Thomas | Kingstone Winslow, Ashbury | 1561 | D/A1/51/180 D/A1/7/351 | MF470 MF10040 | |
COLE, Thomas | West Hendred | Vicar | 1592 | D/A1/53/030 D/A1/12/026 | MF472 MF10048 |
COLE, Thomas | Reading St Giles | Publican | 1834 | D/A1/227/47 | MF96124 |
COLE, Walter | Childrey | Husbandman | 1581 | D/A1/52/103 D/A1/10/281 | MF471 MF10047A |
COLE, William | Kingston Lisle, Sparsholt | Husbandman | 1690 | D/A1/184/68 | MF96026 |
COLEING, John | Radley | Yeoman | 1808 | D/A1/147/86 | MF558 |
COLEMAN, Henry William | East Ilsley | Cordwainer | 1847 | D/A1/227/68 | MF96124 |
COLENS, Joan | Northcourt, Abingdon | 1560 | D/A1/167/113 | MF96000 | |
COLENS, William | White Waltham | Labourer | 1733 | D/A1/59/134 | MF513 |
COLES, Benjamin Jnr | Wallingford | Innholder | 1679 | D/A1/184/16 | MF96026 |
COLES, Elizabeth | Stratfield Mortimer | 1621 | D/A1/54/077 | MF473 | |
COLES, Giles | West Hendred | 1743 | D/A1/185/128 | MF96028 | |
COLES, Jane | Beenham | 1632 | D/A1/182/095 | MF96023 | |
COLES, Jane | Beenham | 1632 | D/A1/168/224 | MF96001 | |
COLES, Jane | Abingdon | 1719 | D/A1/185/15 | MF96028 | |
COLES, John | Stratfield Mortimer | 1619 | D/A1/54/052 | MF473 | |
COLES, John | Marcham | Gardener, Husbandman | 1682 | D/A1/57/29 | MF475 |
COLES, John | South Moreton | Yeoman | 1685 | D/A1/57/57 | MF475 |
COLES, John Snr | East St. Helen'S Street, Abingdon | Baker | 1668 | D/A1/56/104 | MF474 |
COLES, Leonard | Stratfield Mortimer | Yeoman | 1642 | D/A1/183/013 | MF96025 |
COLES, Richard | Abingdon St Helen | Carpenter | 1627 | D/A1/182/066 | MF96023 |
COLES, Richard | Abingdon St Helen | Cordwainer | 1631 | D/A1/182/088 | MF96023 |
COLES, Richard | Abingdon St Helen | 1631 | D/A1/168/209 | MF96001 | |
COLES, Richard | Basildon | Labourer, Husbandman | 1633 | D/A1/55/016 | MF473 |
COLES, Robert | Long Wittenham | Ferryman | 1619 | D/A1/54/046 D/A1/15/936 | MF473 MF10065 |
COLES, Thomas | Chieveley | 1559 | D/A1/51/144 D/A1/7/265 | MF470 MF10040 | |
COLES, Thomas | Wytham | 1587 | D/A1/52/146 D/A1/11/098 | MF472 MF10047B | |
COLES, Thomas | Letcombe Regis | Labourer | 1737 | D/A1/185/99 | MF96028 |
COLES, Thomas | Longworth | 1780 | D/A1/185/200 | MF96028 | |
COLES, William | Abingdon | Baker | 1637 | D/A1/182/125 | MF96024 |
COLES, William | Reading | Victualler | 1742 | D/A1/59/192 | MF513 |
COLES, William | South Moreton | 1769 | D/A1/185/180 | MF96028 | |
COLEY, John | Reading | Wire Drawer | 1831 | D/A1/148/41 | MF558 |
COLEY, William | West Woodhay | Yeoman | 1618 | D/A1/54/039 D/A1/15/923 | MF473 MF10065 |
COLFEE, Thomas | Longworth | 1761 | D/A1/60/43 | MF513 | |
COLGROVE, William | Abingdon | Husbandman | 1681 | D/A1/184/25 | MF96026 |
COLINS, Joan | Northcourt, Abingdon St Helen | 1560 | D/A1/181/047 | MF96021 | |
COLINS, John | Cumnor | Clerk, Vicar | 1558 | D/A1/181/042/1 D/A1/167/103 D/A1/167/107 | MF96021 MF96000 MF96000 |
COLL , James | Stanford In The Vale | Husbandman | 1578 | D/A1/52/084 D/A1/10/125 | MF471 MF10047A |
COLL, Joan | Stanford In The Vale | 1582 | D/A1/52/112 D/A1/10/352 | MF471 MF10047A | |
COLLASON , John Snr | Sunningwell | Yeoman | 1792 | D/A1/60/158 | MF513 |
COLLENCE, John | Bucklebury | 1597 | D/A1/53/079 D/A1/13/099 | MF472 MF10049 | |
COLLENCE, John | Bucklebury | 1606 | D/A1/53/165 D/A1/14/148 | MF472 MF10064 | |
COLLENCE, William | Boxford | 1556 | D/A1/51/080 | MF469 | |
COLLENES, Richard | Mackney, Brightwell | 1587 | D/A1/52/160 D/A1/11/264 D/A1/11/282 D/A1/11/149 | MF472 MF10047B MF10047B MF10047B | |
COLLENS, Aburne | Wallingford | 1596 | D/A1/181/150 D/A1/12/400 | MF96022 MF10048 | |
COLLENS, Nathaniel | Sulhamstead Abbots | Victualler | 1707 | D/A1/58/104 | MF476 |
COLLENS, Richard | Letcombe Regis | 1554 | D/A1/7/047 | MF10040 | |
COLLENS, Thomas | Stanford In The Vale | Husbandman | 1564 | D/A1/51/195 D/A1/8/341 | MF470 MF10043C |
COLLENS, Thomas | Pangbourne | 1618 | D/A1/168/156 | MF96001 | |
COLLENS, William | Abingdon | 1607 | D/A1/168/023 | MF96001 | |
COLLES, Alexander | Bucklebury | 1545 | D/A1/1/234 | MF10042 | |
COLLES, John | Cumnor | 1544 | D/A1/51/032 | MF469 | |
COLLES, John | Cumnor | Husbandman | 1544 | D/A1/1/229 | MF10042 |
COLLES, John | Ickford, Buckinghamshire | 1550 | D/A1/51/109/2 | MF469 | |
COLLES, Simon | Old Windsor | 1632 | D/A1/16/301 | MF10066 | |
COLLES, Thomas | Great Coxwell | Yeoman | 1619 | D/A1/15/954 | MF10065 |
COLLES, Thomas Snr | Great Coxwell | Yeoman | 1617 | D/A1/182/025 | MF96023 |
COLLES, Thomas Snr | Great Coxwell | 1617 | D/A1/168/145 | MF96001 | |
COLLES, Walter | Old Windsor | 1540 | D/A1/233/067 | MF96132 | |
COLLES, Walter | New Windsor, Windsor | 1541 | D/A1/2/129 | MF604 | |
COLLET, John | Wytham | Farmer | 1660 | D/A1/56/10 | MF474 |
COLLETT, Alice | Ashbury | 1727 | D/A1/59/88 | MF476 | |
COLLETT, Elizabeth | Kingstone Winslow, Ashbury | 1696 | D/A1/58/21 | MF476 | |
COLLETT, Elizabeth | Ashbury | 1732 | D/A1/59/130 | MF513 | |
COLLETT, John | Ashbury | 1772 | D/A1/60/83 | MF513 | |
COLLETT, Robert | Kingstone Winslow, Ashbury | Glover | 1686 | D/A1/57/67 | MF475 |
COLLETT, Stephen | Ashbury | Glover | 1727 | D/A1/59/94 | MF513 |
COLLETT, Thomas | Winkfield | Blacksmith | 1629 | D/A1/54/153 | MF473 |
COLLETT, Thomas | Idstone, Ashbury | Yeoman, Glover | 1707 | D/A1/58/110 | MF476 |
COLLETT, Thomas | Abingdon | Militiaman | 1810 | D/A1/227/8 | MF96124 |
COLLIBER, Ann | Abingdon | 1788 | D/A1/185/209 | MF96028 | |
COLLIBER, Thomas | Abingdon | 1780 | D/A1/60/117 | MF513 | |
COLLICE, Deodatus Snr | Woodend, Cumnor | Yeoman | 1664 | D/A1/56/68 | MF474 |
COLLICE, Elizabeth | Woodend, Cumnor | 1661 | D/A1/56/22 | MF474 | |
COLLIER , John Snr | Wytham | Farmer | 1795 | D/A1/60/163 | MF513 |
COLLIER , Richard Snr | Reading | Innholder | 1730 | D/A1/59/110 | MF513 |
COLLIER, Anne | Longworth | 1598 | D/A1/53/091 D/A1/13/311 | MF472 MF10049 | |
COLLIER, Anne | Wytham | 1809 | D/A1/147/87 | MF558 | |
COLLIER, Hannah | Wytham | 1804 | D/A1/147/72 | MF558 | |
COLLIER, Henry | Whitley, Reading St Giles | 1699 | D/A1/184/112 | MF96026 | |
COLLIER, Joseph | Reading | Yeoman | 1737 | D/A1/59/163 | MF513 |
COLLIER, Samuel | Reading | Bargemaster | 1743 | D/A1/59/199 | MF513 |