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
COOKE, JohnBuckleburyHusbandman1592D/A1/53/035 D/A1/12/028MF472 MF10048
COOKE, JohnAppleton1592D/A1/53/028 D/A1/12/026MF473 MF10048
COOKE, JohnWest WoodhayHusbandman1599D/A1/53/101 D/A1/13/484MF472 MF10049
COOKE, JohnWoolstone, UffingtonShepherd1603D/A1/53/139 D/A1/13/1232MF472 MF10049
COOKE, JohnKnighton, Compton BeauchampYeoman1618D/A1/54/047MF473
COOKE, JohnBrayBlacksmith1630D/A1/54/177MF473
COOKE, JohnChildreyTailor1633D/A1/55/019MF473
COOKE, JohnBothampstead, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1643D/A1/183/024MF96025
COOKE, JohnSparsholtYeoman1672D/A1/183/112 MF96025
COOKE, JohnSparsholtTailor1686D/A1/184/50MF96026
COOKE, JohnEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1718D/A1/59/17MF476
COOKE, JohnNewburyDyer1728D/A1/185/64MF96028
COOKE, JohnNewburyHaberdasher1752D/A1/59/261MF513
COOKE, John JnrWyld Court, Hampstead NorreysYeoman1604D/A1/53/144 D/A1/13/1190MF472 MF10049
COOKE, John SnrBucklebury1556D/A1/51/078 D/A1/7/123MF469 MF10040
COOKE, JosephUffingtonYeoman1760D/A1/60/35MF513
COOKE, KatherineChieveley1612D/A1/53/239 D/A1/15/302MF472 MF10065
COOKE, MargaretNewbury1573D/A1/181/066MF96021
COOKE, MaryWest Hanney1776D/A1/185/194MF96028
COOKE, PeterBesselsleighHusbandman1635D/A1/182/110MF96024
COOKE, RichardNewburyYeoman1592D/A1/181/139MF96022
COOKE, RichardNewbury1592D/A1/12/071MF10048
COOKE, RichardNewburyWeaver1626D/A1/182/055MF96023
COOKE, RichardPetwick, Childrey1632D/A1/54/184MF473
COOKE, RichardReadingShoemaker1638D/A1/55/075MF474
COOKE, RichardReadingYeoman1644D/A1/55/142MF474
COOKE, RichardNewburyButcher1715D/A1/58/153MF476
COOKE, RichardAbingdonHat Maker1730D/A1/59/116MF513
COOKE, RichardNewbury1797D/A1/185/222MF96028
COOKE, RobertNewburyFishmonger1621D/A1/54/072MF473
COOKE, RobertLambournHusbandman1639D/A1/182/135MF96024
COOKE, RobertNewburyClothier1669D/A1/56/114MF474
COOKE, RobertWoolhamptonYeoman1766D/A1/185/174MF96028
COOKE, Robert SnrNewburyClothier1661D/A1/183/48 MF96025
COOKE, SarahWallingford1679D/A1/184/17MF96026
COOKE, SarahCookham1690D/A1/187/63MF96031
COOKE, SarahShaw Cum Donnington1715D/A1/58/154MF476
COOKE, SarahReading1727D/A1/59/81MF476
COOKE, StephenHampstead Norreys1587D/A1/181/121MF96021
COOKE, StephenHampstead Norreys1588D/A1/11/157MF10047B
COOKE, ThomasLambourn1555D/A1/51/070MF469
COOKE, ThomasWest Challow, Letcombe RegisHusbandman1575D/A1/52/067 D/A1/9/446MF471 MF10046
COOKE, ThomasCookhamYeoman1601D/A1/181/171MF96022
COOKE, ThomasCookham1601D/A1/13/715MF10049
COOKE, ThomasChildreyYeoman1746D/A1/59/233MF513
COOKE, WilliamEast Challow, Letcombe Regis1597D/A1/181/158MF96022
COOKE, WilliamLetcombe Regis1597D/A1/13/185MF10049
COOKE, WilliamYattendonYeoman1598D/A1/181/164MF96022
COOKE, WilliamYattendon1598D/A1/13/421MF10049
COOKE, WilliamAbingdon St NicholasCordwainer1622D/A1/54/080MF473
COOKE, WilliamThatchamHusbandman1623D/A1/182/041MF96022
COOKE, WilliamHamstead MarshallYeoman1636D/A1/55/051MF473
COOKE, WilliamWallingfordMaltster1674D/A1/56/146MF475
COOKE, WilliamNewbury1677D/A1/56/167MF475
COOKE, WilliamUffingtonTailor1685D/A1/57/61MF475
COOKE, WilliamUffingtonTailor1699D/A1/184/113MF96026
COOKE, WilliamEast Hanney, West HanneyYeoman1728D/A1/59/103MF513
COOKE, WilliamGoosey, Stanford In The Vale Labourer1742D/A1/185/122MF96028
COOKKE, WilliamNew Windsor, WindsorYeoman1555D/A1/7/111MF10040
COOLE, RogerStanford In The ValeHusbandman1559D/A1/51/117 D/A1/7/319MF469 MF10040
COOLE, WilliamChildreyHusbandman1567D/A1/52/012 D/A1/9/110MF471 MF10046
COOLES, EdmundBurghfield1589D/A1/53/002 D/A1/11/284MF472 MF10047B
COOLES, JohnSheffield, BurghfieldFuller1558D/A1/51/109/1 D/A1/8/084MF469 MF10043C
COOLES, JohnSulhamstead Bannister1594D/A1/53/051 D/A1/12/168MF472 MF10048
COOLES, WilliamWestcot, SparsholtHusbandman1567D/A1/4/176MF604
COOLL, John1559D/A1/181/036MF96021
COOLMAN, JohnWoolhamptonTailor1625D/A1/54/110MF473
COOMB, KatherineBuckland1675D/A1/56/149MF475
COOMBE, AnthonyBucklandTailor1697D/A1/184/99MF96026
COOMBE, DorothyBuckland1590D/A1/181/134MF96022
COOMBE, JoanMilton1736D/A1/185/96MF96028
COOMBE, JohnBucklandMaltster1702D/A1/58/61MF476
COOMBE, JohnBucklandYeoman1775D/A1/60/94MF513
COOMBE, John SnrBucklandHusbandman1615D/A1/54/004 D/A1/15/558MF473 MF10065
COOMBE, MaryAbingdon1709D/A1/58/114MF476
COOMBE, MaryBuckland1728D/A1/59/99MF513
COOMBE, ThomasMiltonYeoman1627D/A1/16/109MF10066
COOMBE, ThomasAbingdonMason1677D/A1/56/169MF475
COOMBE, ThomasBucklandYeoman1725D/A1/59/75MF476
COOMBE, Thomas SnrBucklandTailor1697D/A1/58/30MF476
COOMBE, WilliamAbingdonMason1647D/A1/55/172MF474
COOMBER, JohnBinfield1567D/A1/52/009 D/A1/9/085MF471 MF10046
COOMBES, HenryBrayTailor1662D/A1/56/49MF474
COOMBES, ThomasWallingfordYeoman1713D/A1/58/141MF476
COOMBS, Henry SnrBrayTailor1704D/A1/58/81MF476
COOMBS, JamesWallingfordYeoman1741D/A1/59/188MF513
COOMBS, JaneWallingford1724D/A1/59/63MF476
COOMBS, SarahMilton1706D/A1/58/98MF476
COOMBS, ThomasBeenhamHusbandman1599D/A1/53/099 D/A1/13/497MF472 MF10049
COOMBS, WilliamBrayWeaver1736D/A1/185/95MF96028
COOME, EdwardKingston Bagpuize1631D/A1/54/174MF473
COOME, JohnBucklandHusbandman1584D/A1/52/115 D/A1/10/419MF471 MF10047A
COOMES, JohnReading St Laurence1615D/A1/54/008 D/A1/15/543MF473 MF10065
COOMES, ThomasReadingFishmonger1568D/A1/181/060MF96021
COOMYN, WilliamWhite WalthamWheelwright1559D/A1/51/112 D/A1/8/103MF469 MF10043C
COOPAR, AliceFinchampstead1626D/A1/182/061MF96023
COOPAR, ChristopherHurleyHusbandman1607D/A1/53/174 D/A1/14/269MF472 MF10064
COOPER , John SnrReadingBricklayer1823D/A1/148/18MF558
COOPER , Thomas SnrAshampsteadHusbandman1724D/A1/185/40MF96028
COOPER (ALIAS REYNOLDS), JohnComptonHusbandman1732D/A1/211/134MF96091