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
COTTERELL, WilliamEasthampsteadYeoman1734D/A1/59/146MF513
COTTERIL, CharlesChildreyLabourer1778D/A1/60/107MF513
COTTERILL, BartholomewEast HendredCarpenter1754D/A1/60/12MF513
COTTERILL, JohnEasthampsteadYeoman1665D/A1/56/73MF474
COTTERILL, MaryEasthampstead1644D/A1/183/027MF96025
COTTERILL, RichardWarfieldHusbandman1612D/A1/53/238 D/A1/15/290MF472 MF10065
COTTERILL, RichardBinfieldYeoman1615D/A1/54/010 D/A1/15/545MF473 MF10065
COTTERILL, RichardEasthampsteadBricklayer1635D/A1/182/113MF96024
COTTERILL, Richard SnrEasthampsteadYeoman1661D/A1/56/25MF474
COTTERILL, WilliamBinfieldHusbandman1626D/A1/54/122MF473
COTTERILL, WilliamWargraveYeoman1648D/A1/183/032MF96025
COTTERYLE, WilliamReading St GilesCarpenter1602D/A1/53/133 D/A1/13/874MF472 MF10049
COTTMAN, WilliamNewburyChandler1644D/A1/183/019MF96025
COTTMAN, WilliamNewburyClothier1784D/A1/60/129MF513
COTTON, JaneWaltham St Lawrence1611D/A1/53/222 D/A1/15/178MF472 MF10065
COTTON, ThomasWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1558D/A1/51/097 D/A1/7/202MF469 MF10040
COTTON, ThomasWaltham St Lawrence1603D/A1/53/128 D/A1/13/920MF472 MF10049
COTTON, ThomasWaltham St LawrenceYeoman1620D/A1/54/065MF473
COTTON, ThomasPusey1638D/A1/55/077MF474
COTTON, WilliamWindsorYeoman1728D/A1/185/65MF96028
COTTRELL, AmbroseColeshillHusbandman1587D/A1/52/148 D/A1/11/279MF472 MF10047B
COTTRELL, AmbroseWallingford1643D/A1/55/156MF474
COTTRELL, AnnesStanford1559D/A1/6/199MF10043B
COTTRELL, CyprianEasthampsteadYeoman1644D/A1/55/144MF474
COTTRELL, EdwardColeshillHusbandman1586D/A1/181/111MF96021
COTTRELL, IsabelWinkfield1546D/A1/233/071MF96132
COTTRELL, IsabelWinkfield1546D/A1/2/134MF604
COTTRELL, JamesReadingPainter1834D/A1/148/48MF558
COTTRELL, JohnWarfield1590D/A1/53/009 D/A1/11/338MF472 MF10047B
COTTRELL, JohnBinfieldHusbandman1600D/A1/53/105 D/A1/13/538MF472 MF10049
COTTRELL, RichardWarfield1559D/A1/51/164 D/A1/8/153MF470 MF10043C
COTTRELL, RichardEasthampsteadLabourer1560D/A1/5/213bMF10043A
COTTRELL, RichardEasthampstead1562D/A1/51/172 D/A1/8/100MF470 MF10043C
COTTRELL, RichardEasthampstead1615D/A1/54/009 D/A1/15/540MF473 MF10065
COTTRELL, RichardWinkfieldYeoman1700D/A1/184/120MF96026
COTTRELL, RobertEasthampsteadHusbandman1571D/A1/52/036 D/A1/9/278MF471 MF10046
COTTRELL, RogerWinkfieldYeoman1634D/A1/55/030MF473
COTTRELL, SarahEasthampstead1710D/A1/58/122MF476
COTTRELL, StephenBisham1593D/A1/53/043MF472
COTTRELL, StephenBishamDay Labourer1594D/A1/12/270MF10048
COTTRELL, ThomasEasthampsteadCarpenter1573D/A1/52/046 D/A1/9/356MF471 MF10046
COTTRELL, Thomas1573D/A1/181/067MF96021
COTTRELL, ThomasColeshillHusbandman1583D/A1/52/119 D/A1/10/395MF471 MF10047A
COTTRELL, ThomasWinkfieldCarpenter1751D/A1/59/253MF513
COTTRIELL, JohnWarfieldHusbandman1676D/A1/56/156MF475
COTTRILL, JoanWarfield1576D/A1/181/080MF96019
COTTRILL, WilliamPangbourneInnholder1722D/A1/59/49MF476
COTYNGHAM, RobertNew Windsor, Windsor1526D/A1/1/044MF10041
COUBORO, RichardAshbury1545D/A1/2/131MF604
COUCK, JohnBinfieldHusbandman1691D/A1/57/106MF475
COULDERY, MaryWytham1684D/A1/57/49MF475
COULDREY , Thomas SnrAbingdonGardener1814D/A1/147/102MF558
COULDREY, AnneAbingdon1837D/A1/148/55MF558
COULDREY, EdmundFyfieldHusbandman1603D/A1/53/132 D/A1/13/923MF472 MF10049
COULDREY, HannahAbingdon1843D/A1/148/80MF558
COULDREY, JaneHagbourne1662D/A1/56/43MF474
COULDREY, MaryLongworth1754D/A1/185/148MF96028
COULDREY, MeshachWythamLabourer1644D/A1/183/018MF96025
COULDREY, MosesLongworthYeoman1671D/A1/56/129MF475
COULDREY, RebeccaLongworth1723D/A1/185/32MF96028
COULDREY, ReynoldWythamHusbandman1644D/A1/55/147MF474
COULDREY, RichardAppletonYeoman1785D/A1/60/137MF513
COULDREY, RichardAppleton1824D/A1/227/29MF96124
COULDREY, Selina AnnAbingdon1843D/A1/148/81MF558
COULDRIE, ThomasLongworthHusbandman1620D/A1/54/059MF473
COULDRY, ElizabethLongworth1742D/A1/185/123MF96028
COULDRY, FrancesLongworth1742D/A1/185/124MF96028
COULDRY, John SnrDraycott Moor, LongworthYeoman1690D/A1/57/95MF475
COULDRY, KatherineSouthmoor, Kingston Bagpuize1737D/A1/59/158MF513
COULDRY, LeonardAppleton1731D/A1/59/119MF513
COULDRY, MaryAppleton1771D/A1/60/75MF513
COULDRY, MosesLongworth1726D/A1/59/79MF476
COULDRY, ThomasMarchamLabourer1697D/A1/58/24MF476
COULDRY, ThomasAbingdonMaltster1752D/A1/59/265MF513
COULDRY, ThomasMarchamLabourer1780D/A1/60/114MF513
COULES, JohnChildreyWheelwright1803D/A1/147/68MF558
COULES, WilliamLetcombe RegisHusbandman1638D/A1/182/128MF96024
COULES, WilliamLetcombe RegisHusbandman1676D/A1/56/165MF475
COULING, ElizabethWootton1854D/A1/149/62MF559
COULING, HenryWoottonFarmer1837D/A1/148/52MF558
COULING, HenryWoottonYeoman1841D/A1/148/70MF558
COULING, StephenWoottonFarmer1841D/A1/227/54MF96124
COUM, JoanSparsholt1541D/A1/181/004MF96021
COUME, JoanSparsholt1542D/A1/2/107MF604
COUNSELL, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1589D/A1/181/127MF96021
COUNSELL, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1589D/A1/11/185MF10047B
COUPER, AlexanderPangbourneHusbandman1551D/A1/4/046MF604
COUPER, JohnBradfield1552D/A1/51/058MF469
COUPER, JohnBradfieldHusbandman1552D/A1/5/145MF10043A
COUPER, JohnEnborne1609D/A1/181/205MF96022
COURTEEN, RichardBagley WoodYeoman1698D/A1/184/107MF96026
COURTEYS, WilliamSutton CourtenayHusbandman1566D/A1/51/187 D/A1/9/008 D/A1/8/376MF470 MF10046 MF10043C
COURTICE, JohnCalcot, Tilehurst1616D/A1/54/018 D/A1/15/600MF473 MF10065
COURTICE, RichardTilehurstHusbandman1619D/A1/54/038 D/A1/15/927MF473 MF10065
COURTNEY, SarahWinkfield1677D/A1/138/40MF553
COURTNEY, WilliamLongworthYeoman1714D/A1/184/185MF96027
COURTNEY, WilliamPusey1718D/A1/59/9MF476
COUSENS, MarkMarchamVictualler1709D/A1/58/119MF476
COUSENS, WilliamAbingdonMaltman1707D/A1/58/101MF476
COUSINS , Edward SnrAbingdonMaltster1806D/A1/147/80MF558