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
COOPER (ALIAS REYNOLDS), JohnComptonHusbandman1734D/A1/211/138MF96091
COOPER, AbrahamBoxfordYeoman1829D/A1/148/38MF558
COOPER, AliceNew Bracknell, Warfield1602D/A1/53/126 D/A1/13/869MF472 MF10049
COOPER, AliceStratfield Mortimer1627D/A1/54/140MF473
COOPER, AnnStratfield Mortimer1710D/A1/58/124MF476
COOPER, AnnSpeen1796D/A1/60/165MF513
COOPER, AnneSpeenhamland, Speen1661D/A1/56/30MF474
COOPER, BenjaminFaringdonCordwainer1841D/A1/148/74MF558
COOPER, ChristopherThatcham1613D/A1/182/013MF96023
COOPER, ChristopherThatcham1613D/A1/168/099MF96001
COOPER, ChristopherPangbourneHusbandman1633D/A1/55/014MF473
COOPER, ChristopherPangbourneFarmer1633D/A1/168/257MF96001
COOPER, ChristopherPangbourneHusbandman1638D/A1/55/085MF474
COOPER, ChristopherPangbourneHusbandman1638D/A1/182/132MF96024
COOPER, ClemenceWhite Waltham1560D/A1/181/046MF96021
COOPER, Clifford ThomasReadingCordwainer1819D/A1/148/9MF558
COOPER, EdmundBradfieldYeoman1616D/A1/54/021 D/A1/15/622MF473 MF10065
COOPER, EdmundBradfieldYeoman1624D/A1/182/046MF96023
COOPER, EdwardReading St Laurence1690D/A1/184/69MF96026
COOPER, ElizabethStratfield Mortimer1560D/A1/51/129 D/A1/6/186MF470 MF10043B
COOPER, ElizabethStanford Dingley1760D/A1/185/163MF96028
COOPER, EzraSwallowfieldYeoman1615D/A1/53/254 D/A1/15/491MF472 MF10065
COOPER, FrancisBradfieldYeoman1754D/A1/60/6MF513
COOPER, GeorgeBradfieldHusbandman1629D/A1/54/160MF473
COOPER, GeorgeAldworthYeoman1640D/A1/55/121MF474
COOPER, GeorgeBoxford1771D/A1/185/184MF96028
COOPER, HannahAshampstead1724D/A1/185/38MF96028
COOPER, HenryKingston 1610D/A1/53/212 D/A1/15/077MF472 MF10065
COOPER, HenryAbingdonSaddler1669D/A1/183/93MF96025
COOPER, JamesReadingCloth Worker1690D/A1/184/64MF96026
COOPER, JaneStoke Poges, Buckinghamshire1825D/A1/227/30MF96124
COOPER, JoanStratfield Mortimer1582D/A1/52/110 D/A1/10/344MF471 MF10047A
COOPER, JoanSulham1635D/A1/55/039MF473
COOPER, JoanCompton1666D/A1/211/47MF96090
COOPER, JoanCompton1687D/A1/113/76MF536
COOPER, JohnStratfield Mortimer1592D/A1/53/034 D/A1/12/055MF472 MF10048
COOPER, JohnEnborne1609D/A1/168/045MF96001
COOPER, JohnOld WindsorHusbandman1610D/A1/53/207 D/A1/15/051MF472 MF10065
COOPER, JohnAldworth1612D/A1/53/242 D/A1/15/307MF472 MF10065
COOPER, JohnInkpenHusbandman1620D/A1/54/060MF473
COOPER, JohnReading St Giles1635D/A1/55/048MF473
COOPER, JohnReading St GilesHusbandman1635D/A1/182/111MF96024
COOPER, JohnAston TirroldYeoman1707D/A1/184/154MF96027
COOPER, JohnShinfield1719D/A1/59/30MF476
COOPER, JohnSpeenCordwainer1724D/A1/60/128MF513
COOPER, JohnReading St MaryBricklayer1777D/A1/60/102MF513
COOPER, JohnMaidenheadCarpenter1799D/A1/60/174MF513
COOPER, JohnSwallowfieldCarpenter1849D/A1/227/71MF96124
COOPER, KatherineBurghfield1611D/A1/182/004MF96023
COOPER, KatherineBurghfield1611D/A1/168/076MF96001
COOPER, MargaretEnglefield1562D/A1/8/233MF10043C
COOPER, MargerySulhamstead Abbots1564D/A1/51/197 D/A1/8/309MF470 MF10043C
COOPER, MaryEnborne1624D/A1/54/090MF473
COOPER, MarySpeen1752D/A1/185/145MF96028
COOPER, MaryBucklebury1840D/A1/227/52MF96124
COOPER, NicholasYattendonHusbandman1668D/A1/183/85MF96025
COOPER, PlanerReadingFlax Dresser1778D/A1/60/111MF513
COOPER, RichardEnborne1630D/A1/182/086MF96023
COOPER, RichardNewbury1734D/A1/59/149MF513
COOPER, RobertFinchampsteadBricklayer1680D/A1/57/19MF475
COOPER, RogerWoolstone, UffingtonShepherd1623D/A1/54/081MF473
COOPER, SarahSulhamstead Bannister1682D/A1/184/26MF96026
COOPER, SilvesterBray1594D/A1/12/195MF10048
COOPER, SylvesterBray1594D/A1/181/143 D/A1/181/146MF96022 MF96022
COOPER, ThomasBradfieldClothier1559D/A1/6/198MF10043B
COOPER, ThomasWhite Waltham1559D/A1/51/151MF470
COOPER, ThomasNew Bracknell, WarfieldHusbandman1604D/A1/53/152 D/A1/13/1282MF472 MF10049
COOPER, ThomasBradfieldYeoman1640D/A1/55/118MF474
COOPER, ThomasReading St GilesBroad Weaver1663D/A1/56/54MF474
COOPER, ThomasBoxfordHusbandman1667D/A1/183/89MF96025
COOPER, ThomasAshampsteadHusbandman1711D/A1/184/172MF96027
COOPER, ThomasSpeenCordwainer1718D/A1/59/18MF476
COOPER, WilliamOld WindsorYeoman1551D/A1/51/046MF469
COOPER, WilliamAshampsteadHusbandman1578D/A1/52/085 D/A1/10/123MF471 MF10047A
COOPER, WilliamWallingford St LeonardYeoman, Dyer1641D/A1/183/011MF96025
COOPER, WilliamUfton NervetHusbandman1661D/A1/56/23MF474
COOPER, WilliamReading1694D/A1/184/86MF96026
COOPER, WilliamNewburyTailor1703D/A1/184/141MF96027
COOPER, WilliamBinfieldYeoman1755D/A1/185/151MF96028
COOPER, William SnrStratfield MortimerYeoman1640D/A1/16/582MF10066
COOPERY, ThomasW. Shefford(Admon.), West WoodhayYeoman1702D/A1/184/135MF96027
COOPPER, AnnStratfield Mortimer1710D/A1/58/124MF476
COOPPER, RuthReading St Giles1702D/A1/58/66MF476
COOTE, LionelHam Field, KintburyTile Maker1576D/A1/52/076 D/A1/10/045MF471 MF10047A
COP', WilliamEast Hendred1568D/A1/167/138MF96000
COPAG, CuthbertChaddleworthClerk1622D/A1/54/083MF473
COPE, JohnCholseyYeoman1842D/A1/148/78MF558
COPELAND, BennetClewer1733D/A1/59/137MF513
COPELAND, JohnAbingdonButcher1781D/A1/60/121MF513
COPER, ClementWhite Waltham1560D/A1/167/111MF96000
COPER, HumphreyWarfield1593D/A1/53/039 D/A1/12/067MF472 MF10048
COPER, HumphreyEnborne1539D/A1/181/001MF96021
COPER, JoanStratfield Mortimer1558D/A1/51/092 D/A1/7/197MF469 MF10040
COPER, JoanBeenham1580D/A1/52/100 D/A1/10/269MF471 MF10047A
COPER, JohnStratfield Mortimer1576D/A1/52/077MF471
COPER, MargaretEnglefield1562D/A1/167/120MF96000
COPER, ReynoldWest HendredServant1571D/A1/52/032 D/A1/9/268MF471 MF10046
COPER, RichardSulhamstead BannisterHusbandman1676D/A1/184/6MF96026
COPER, ThomasBradfield1559D/A1/51/174MF470
COPER, ThomasPangbourne1571D/A1/52/035 D/A1/9/292MF471 MF10046