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
COUSINS, EdwardAbingdonMaltster1839D/A1/148/61MF558
COUSINS, EdwardsAbingdon1793D/A1/185/213MF96028
COUZENS, WilliamKintburyCoal Merchant1849D/A1/149/46MF559
COVE, JohnShinfieldYeoman1827D/A1/148/29MF558
COVE, JohnShinfieldFarmer1844D/A1/227/61MF96124
COVELL, JohnBinfieldHusbandman1697D/A1/184/101MF96026
COVENTRE, ElizabethFawley1541D/A1/2/125MF604
COVENTRE, WilliamWhatcombe, Fawley1527D/A1/1/082MF10041
COVENTRY , John SnrChildreyWheelwright1832D/A1/148/46MF558
COVENTRY, EdmundWest HendredYeoman1818D/A1/148/8MF558
COVENTRY, JohnLambournHusbandman1679D/A1/57/8MF475
COVENTRY, WilliamHurleyInnkeeper1852D/A1/149/55MF559
COVINGTON, Mary AnnAbingdon1842D/A1/148/77MF558
COVINGTON, SarahAbingdon1831D/A1/227/42MF96124
COWARD, MaryPeasemore1709D/A1/58/120MF476
COWARD, WilliamPeasemore1740D/A1/59/180MF513
COWBERY, JohnBradfield1612D/A1/53/236MF472
COWBORNE, JohnBourton, ShrivenhamHusbandman1638D/A1/182/130MF96024
COWBOROUGH, WilliamAldworthWheeler1701D/A1/184/128MF96026
COWBOROW, AliceAylesbury, Buckinghamshire1547D/A1/2/108 D/A1/6/026MF604 MF10043B
COWBOROW, JohnAshburyYeoman1687D/A1/57/75MF475
COWBOROW, ThomasAshburyHusbandman1631D/A1/54/188MF473
COWBROW, HenryAshburyHusbandman1673D/A1/56/140MF475
COWDEN, RobertBrayLabourer1629D/A1/54/154MF473
COWDEROY, WilliamLambournWarrener1719D/A1/59/27MF476
COWDEROY, WilliamStanford In The ValeYeoman1854D/A1/149/60MF559
COWDERY , Ralph SnrGrazeley, Sulhamstead AbbotsYeoman1715D/A1/58/157MF476
COWDERY , Thomas JnrSwallowfield1729D/A1/185/68MF96028
COWDERY, PhillisEast Hendred1852D/A1/149/53MF559
COWDERY, WilliamEast Hendred1828D/A1/227/35MF96124
COWDERY, William SnrReadingCordwainer1684D/A1/57/46MF475
COWDRAY, JohnSpeenhamland, Speen1571D/A1/181/064MF96021
COWDREL, WilliamReading St Mary1558D/A1/7/132MF10040
COWDRELL, WilliamReading St Mary1556D/A1/51/082MF469
COWDREY, JamesReadingMaltster1667D/A1/56/86MF474
COWDREY, JoanSutton Courtenay1609D/A1/53/204 D/A1/15/007MF472 MF10065
COWDREY, JohnSpeenhamland, Speen1570D/A1/167/142MF96000
COWDREY, RalphMidgham, Thatcham Yeoman1724D/A1/185/37MF96028
COWDREY, RichardReadingInnholder1691D/A1/57/109MF475
COWDREY, RichardMidgham, Thatcham 1725D/A1/185/45MF96028
COWDREY, ThomasWargraveLabourer1621D/A1/54/071MF473
COWDREY, WilliamAbingdonWaggoner1749D/A1/185/141MF96028
COWDRIE, JamesBasildon1597D/A1/13/186MF10049
COWDRIE, JohnReading1551D/A1/181/019MF96021
COWDRIE, WilliamPadworth1582D/A1/10/331MF10047A
COWDRIE, WilliamPadworth1583D/A1/181/096MF96021
COWDRY, HenryEast Challow, Letcombe RegisHusbandman1617D/A1/54/032 D/A1/15/762MF473 MF10065
COWDRY, NicholasSutton CourtenayYeoman1607D/A1/53/172 D/A1/14/251MF472 MF10064
COWDRY, ThomasInkpenYeoman1661D/A1/56/31MF474
COWDRY, ThomasInkpenYeoman1710D/A1/58/121MF476
COWDRY, ThomasInkpenYeoman1710D/A1/58/121MF476
COWDRY, WilliamReading St Mary1561D/A1/7/333MF10040
COWDRY, WilliamHurleyDay Labourer1697D/A1/184/95MF96026
COWDRY, William JnrReadingCordwainer1708D/A1/184/161MF96027
COWLDREY, LeonardAppleton1725D/A1/59/69MF476
COWLDREY, SarahAppleton1824D/A1/148/21MF558
COWLES, JohnPuseyHusbandman1639D/A1/55/102MF474
COWLES, JohnPuseyHusbandman1639D/A1/16/515MF10066
COWLES, RobertGreat CoxwellHusbandman1639D/A1/55/097MF474
COWLES, WilliamSteventon1588D/A1/52/166 D/A1/11/170MF472 MF10047B
COWLEY, BarbaraWoolstone, Uffington1621D/A1/182/038MF96023
COWLEY, JohnEast GarstonLabourer1714D/A1/184/184MF96027
COWLEY, JohnWest Challow, Letcombe RegisYeoman1734D/A1/59/141MF513
COWLEY, RogerEast GarstonLabourer1731D/A1/185/79MF96028
COWLEY, ThomasAshburyYeoman1816D/A1/147/112MF558
COWLEY, WilliamLambournYeoman1791D/A1/60/155MF513
COWLLES, MarianArdington1557D/A1/233/077MF96132
COWLLES, MarianArdington1557D/A1/2/142MF604
COWLY, RobertEast GarstonYeoman1749D/A1/59/241MF513
COWPAGE, WilliamChaddleworthClerk, Vicar1587D/A1/52/150 D/A1/11/279MF472 MF10047B
COWPER, AlexanderPangbourne1551D/A1/51/057MF469
COWPER, AlexanderPangbourneHusbandman1551D/A1/5/124MF10043A
COWPER, AnneReading1626D/A1/54/130MF473
COWPER, FannyWantage1845D/A1/148/91MF558
COWPER, JohnNew Windsor, Windsor1557D/A1/51/081MF469
COWPER, JohnFinchampstead1608D/A1/181/198MF96022
COWPER, JohnFinchampstead1608D/A1/168/031MF96001
COWPER, John SnrStratfield Mortimer1556D/A1/51/075 D/A1/7/117MF469 MF10040
COWPER, RichardEnborne1558D/A1/51/149MF470
COWPER, RichardEnborneHusbandman1558D/A1/51/107 D/A1/8/075MF471 MF10043C
COWPER, RichardPangbourneWeaver1614D/A1/53/251 D/A1/15/463MF472 MF10065
COWPER, RichardThatchamHusbandman1697D/A1/58/25MF476
COWPER, RichardReading St LaurenceVictualler1704D/A1/184/142MF96027
COWPER, WilliamEnglefield1543D/A1/51/029MF469
COWPER, WilliamOld WindsorHusbandman1547D/A1/6/075MF10043B
COWPER, WilliamOld WindsorHusbandman1547D/A1/6/029MF10043B
COWPER, WilliamStratfield Mortimer1556D/A1/51/077 D/A1/7/118MF469 MF10040
COWRTNEY, WilliamClewer1563D/A1/51/211 D/A1/8/265MF470 MF10043C
COWRTYS, RichardTilehurstClothier1558D/A1/51/094 D/A1/7/198MF469 MF10040
COX , BeatriceLong Wittenham1631D/A1/16/210MF10066
COX , John SnrCharney Bassett, Longworth1726D/A1/59/80MF476
COX , John SnrSutton CourtenayYeoman1739D/A1/185/105MF96028
COX , MargaretAbingdon1565D/A1/181/053MF96021
COX , Thomas SnrCholseyYeoman1840D/A1/148/64MF558
COX, AnnEast Hanney, Hanney1590D/A1/53/014 D/A1/11/318MF472 MF10047B
COX, AnnBourton, Shrivenham1687D/A1/57/68MF475
COX, AnnDrayton1701D/A1/58/53MF476
COX, AnnMarcham1708D/A1/58/113MF476
COX, AnnHanney1781D/A1/185/201MF96028
COX, AnnPangbourne1803D/A1/227/3MF96124