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.

Name Search

Keyword Search

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
COLLIER, ThomasWokinghamVictualler1815D/A1/227/18MF96124
COLLIGE, John1558D/A1/181/017MF96021
COLLINES, EdithStanford1604D/A1/53/146 D/A1/13/1211MF472 MF10049
COLLINGBORNE, ThomasBarkhamHusbandman1697D/A1/58/28MF476
COLLINGBURN, JohnNewburyMaltster1754D/A1/60/7MF513
COLLINGES, HelenBrightwalton1569D/A1/52/024 D/A1/9/176MF471 MF10046
COLLINGES, JohnBrightwalton1579D/A1/52/087 D/A1/10/199MF471 MF10047A
COLLINGS, JohnAbingdonHair Weaver1700D/A1/184/124MF96026
COLLINGS, ThomasOrpenham, Kintbury1665D/A1/56/72MF474
COLLINGWOOD, JoanReading1664D/A1/56/69MF474
COLLINGWOOD, JohnAbingdon1824D/A1/148/22MF558
COLLINGWOOD, ThomasWest SheffordGlover1742D/A1/59/197MF513
COLLINRIDGE, WilliamClapton, KintburyYeoman1592D/A1/53/037 D/A1/12/039MF472 MF10048
COLLINS , William SnrCompton, EastYeoman1764D/A1/60/53MF513
COLLINS, AgnesLambourn1598D/A1/181/163MF96022
COLLINS, AgnesLambourn1598D/A1/13/420MF10049
COLLINS, AliceWest Ginge, East Lockinge1629D/A1/54/149MF473
COLLINS, AliceClifton Ferry, Long Wittenham1629D/A1/182/075MF96023
COLLINS, AnnAbingdon1771D/A1/185/186MF96028
COLLINS, AnneLockinge1720D/A1/185/23MF96028
COLLINS, AnneBucklebury1732D/A1/185/81MF96028
COLLINS, AnthonyKintburyMaltster1785D/A1/60/135MF513
COLLINS, BridgetEast Hanney, West Hanney1766D/A1/60/58MF513
COLLINS, CatherineKingston Bagpuize1629D/A1/54/147MF473
COLLINS, CatherineSutton Courtenay1746D/A1/59/228MF513
COLLINS, CharlesEast Lockinge1734D/A1/59/148MF513
COLLINS, EdwardAbingdonBargeman1738D/A1/185/102MF96028
COLLINS, EdwardWantageDistiller1745D/A1/59/216MF513
COLLINS, ElizabethBoxford1594D/A1/53/055 D/A1/12/228MF472 MF10048
COLLINS, ElizabethBrightwalton1671D/A1/56/127MF475
COLLINS, ElizabethNewbury1678D/A1/57/1MF475
COLLINS, ElizabethAbingdon1688D/A1/184/60MF96026
COLLINS, ElizabethReading St Giles1701D/A1/184/126MF96026
COLLINS, FrancisBrightwaltonHusbandman1687D/A1/57/74MF475
COLLINS, FrancisCothill, MarchamGardener1705D/A1/58/83MF476
COLLINS, GeorgeGrove, WantageMiller1652D/A1/183/044MF96025
COLLINS, GeorgeWinterbourne, ChieveleyHusbandman1719D/A1/185/17MF96028
COLLINS, HerculesDidcotYeoman1683D/A1/184/31MF96026
COLLINS, HerculesChildreyHarness Maker1714D/A1/184/181MF96027
COLLINS, HughWargrave1604D/A1/53/150 D/A1/13/1272MF472 MF10049
COLLINS, HughLong WittenhamFerryman1624D/A1/182/047MF96023
COLLINS, HughSouth Hinksey, CumnorHusbandman1630D/A1/182/081MF96023
COLLINS, HughSouth Hinksey, CumnorHusbandman1630D/A1/168/184MF96001
COLLINS, HumphreyClewerYeoman1634D/A1/16/374MF10066
COLLINS, JamesClifton Ferry, Long Wittenham1657D/A1/183/47MF96025
COLLINS, JaneEast Hanney, West Hanney1693D/A1/58/4MF476
COLLINS, JaneDidcot1704D/A1/58/77MF476
COLLINS, JaneChieveley1716D/A1/58/160MF476
COLLINS, JaneStanford In The Vale1763D/A1/60/52MF513
COLLINS, JoanChildrey1730D/A1/59/114MF513
COLLINS, JoannaSandford, Abingdon St Helen 1772D/A1/60/80MF513
COLLINS, JohnCholsey1586D/A1/181/114MF96021
COLLINS, JohnCholsey1586D/A1/11/077MF10047B
COLLINS, JohnStanford In The ValeHusbandman1614D/A1/53/250 D/A1/15/432MF472 MF10065
COLLINS, JohnWargravePinner1640D/A1/55/109MF474
COLLINS, JohnBetterton, East Lockinge1656D/A1/56/2MF474
COLLINS, JohnReading St LaurenceButcher1672D/A1/183/121 MF96025
COLLINS, JohnBetterton, Lockinge1686D/A1/57/63MF475
COLLINS, JohnBinfieldBasket Maker1724D/A1/59/62MF476
COLLINS, JohnKingston BagpuizeSchoolmaster1724D/A1/185/41MF96028
COLLINS, JohnBuckleburyHusbandman1728D/A1/185/61MF96028
COLLINS, JohnFrilford, Marcham Yeoman1730D/A1/185/80MF96028
COLLINS, JohnFrilford, Marcham Yeoman1730D/A1/185/75MF96028
COLLINS, JohnThatchamBricklayer1748D/A1/59/235MF513
COLLINS, JohnClapton, Kintbury1754D/A1/185/149MF96028
COLLINS, JohnBuckleburyLabourer1760D/A1/185/162MF96028
COLLINS, JohnWest Hanney1768D/A1/60/68MF513
COLLINS, JohnEast Hanney, West Hanney1838D/A1/227/50MF96124
COLLINS, JohnComptonInnkeeper1856D/A1/149/74MF559
COLLINS, John GilesEast Hanney, West HanneyLabourer1856D/A1/227/81MF96124
COLLINS, John SnrBetterton, East LockingeYeoman1581D/A1/52/104 D/A1/10/290MF471 MF10047A
COLLINS, JohnathanFrilford, Marcham 1781D/A1/185/203MF96028
COLLINS, JonathanMarcham1786D/A1/185/206MF96028
COLLINS, JonathanAshampstead1838D/A1/148/57MF558
COLLINS, JonathanKintbury1855D/A1/227/80MF96124
COLLINS, JosephNewbury1631D/A1/182/092MF96023
COLLINS, JosephNewbury1631D/A1/168/218MF96001
COLLINS, JosephComptonYeoman1754D/A1/60/8MF513
COLLINS, LucyShrivenham1803D/A1/147/67MF558
COLLINS, MargaretHenwick, Thatcham1637D/A1/55/065MF473
COLLINS, MarthaEast Hanney, Hanney1635D/A1/55/036MF473
COLLINS, MarthaReading1641D/A1/183/008MF96025
COLLINS, MaryBetterton, East Lockinge1664D/A1/56/65MF474
COLLINS, MarySpeen1681D/A1/184/23MF96026
COLLINS, MaryStanford In The Vale1725D/A1/59/76MF476
COLLINS, MaryWest Hanney1790D/A1/60/149MF513
COLLINS, MaryReading1816D/A1/147/110MF558
COLLINS, NathanielNewburyDyer1715D/A1/58/151MF476
COLLINS, NathanielGreenham, Thatcham Bricklayer1736D/A1/59/155MF513
COLLINS, PeterMackney, BrightwellHusbandman1651D/A1/183/042MF96025
COLLINS, RichardWallingford St Mary1686D/A1/184/45MF96026
COLLINS, RichardComptonYeoman1715D/A1/58/159MF476
COLLINS, RichardStanford In The ValeBlacksmith1723D/A1/59/51MF476
COLLINS, RichardLockinge1735D/A1/185/92MF96028
COLLINS, RichardReading St MaryButcher1766D/A1/60/62MF513
COLLINS, RichardCompton, WestYeoman1780D/A1/60/119MF513
COLLINS, RobertBrightwalton1552D/A1/5/147MF10043A
COLLINS, RobertBrightwalton1552D/A1/4/048MF604
COLLINS, RobertBrightwalton1552D/A1/233/354MF96132
COLLINS, RobertBrightwalton1599D/A1/53/100 D/A1/13/485MF472 MF10049