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
COXHEDD, 1558D/A1/167/103MF96000
COXHEDD, JohnWest Ginge, East LockingeYeoman1564D/A1/8/311MF10043C
COXHEDD, RichardBucklebury1559D/A1/8/021MF10043C
COXHEDDE, RichardBucklebury1558D/A1/181/042/2MF96021
COXSETTER, WilliamHurleyHusbandman1610D/A1/53/209 D/A1/15/053MF472 MF10065
COXSETTER, WilliamAbingdonCordwainer1647D/A1/55/168MF474
COYLES, Thomas SnrNewburyMason1630D/A1/168/197MF96001
COZENS, HughMarchamBlacksmith1640D/A1/55/116MF474
COZENS, HughMarcham1680D/A1/184/20MF96026
COZENS, JohnMarchamBlacksmith1672D/A1/183/120MF96025
COZENS, MaryOf AbingdonSackcloth Weaver1670D/A1/183/104MF96025
COZENS, ThomasAbingdonCordwainer1647D/A1/55/175MF474
COZENS, WilliamLetcombe BassettLabourer1825D/A1/227/31MF96124
CRAB, WilliamNewburyCloth Worker1698D/A1/58/35MF476
CRACE, ArthurBasildonHusbandman1605D/A1/53/157 D/A1/13/1381MF472 MF10049
CRACE, EdwardHaw Court, Hampstead NorrisYeoman1707D/A1/58/107MF476
CRACE, EleanorBasildon1559D/A1/8/017MF10043C
CRACE, JoanBasildon1604D/A1/53/159 D/A1/13/1291MF472 MF10049
CRACE, JohnBasildonYeoman1599D/A1/53/103 D/A1/13/456MF472 MF10049
CRACE, JohnBasildonYeoman1629D/A1/54/152MF473
CRACE, JohnHampstead NorrisYeoman1664D/A1/56/64/2 MF474
CRACE, JohnWhitley Park, Reading St GilesYeoman1694D/A1/58/15MF476
CRACE, JohnBishamHusbandman1768D/A1/60/67MF513
CRACE, John JnrWhitley, Reading St GilesYeoman1693D/A1/184/74MF96026
CRADOCK, ElizabethAbingdon1548D/A1/2/113MF604
CRAENE, JohnNorth Fawley, Fawley1588D/A1/52/156 D/A1/11/274MF472 MF10047B
CRAFORD, ThomasShinfieldHusbandman1639D/A1/55/090MF474
CRAFTE, RobertMarcham1596D/A1/53/067 D/A1/12/433MF472 MF10048
CRAFTE, WilliamAbingdonVictualler1629D/A1/54/150MF473
CRAFTON, WilliamBasildonTailor1607D/A1/53/177 D/A1/14/280MF472 MF10064
CRAGG, JenetEast Ilsley1597D/A1/181/149MF96022
CRAGG, RowlandEast Ilsley1578D/A1/181/086MF96021
CRAGGE, JenetEast Ilsley1597D/A1/13/183MF10049
CRANADGE, KatherineSpeenhamland, Speen1606D/A1/168/011MF96001
CRANAGE, HenrySpeenhamland, SpeenTapster1555D/A1/4/050 D/A1/233/356 D/A1/7/088MF604 MF96132 MF10040
CRANAGE, JoanUffington1680D/A1/57/16MF475
CRANAGE, RichardReading St LaurenceButcher1691D/A1/184/70MF96026
CRANE, FrancesLambourn1709D/A1/58/116MF476
CRANE, HenryEast GarstonHusbandman1630D/A1/54/164MF473
CRANE, JoanFawler, Sparsholt1567D/A1/52/006 D/A1/9/084MF471 MF10046
CRANE, JohnFawley1566D/A1/51/182 D/A1/9/027MF470 MF10046
CRANE, JohnFawley1566D/A1/167/133MF96000
CRANE, RichardWallingford 1548D/A1/233/061MF96132
CRANE, RichardWallingford1549D/A1/2/118MF604
CRANE, ThomasEast HendredYeoman1619D/A1/54/051MF473
CRANE, WilliamFawler, Sparsholt1557D/A1/233/078MF96132
CRANE, WilliamFawler, SparsholtHusbandman1557D/A1/2/143MF604
CRANEDGE, WilliamReading St LaurenceButcher1629D/A1/54/156MF473
CRANFORD, RobertSwallowfieldCarpenter1669D/A1/56/112MF474
CRANFORD, WilliamSwallowfieldYeoman1686D/A1/184/52MF96026
CRANFORD, WilliamSwallowfield1716D/A1/185/1MF96028
CRANIDGE, FrancisSpeenhamland, SpeenButcher1668D/A1/56/105MF474
CRANIDGE, RichardReading St Laurence1683D/A1/57/43MF475
CRANK, JohnReading St Giles1745D/A1/59/219MF513
CRANKE, ElizabethReading1727D/A1/59/86MF476
CRANMER, GeorgeOxford, Oxfordshire1564D/A1/167/123MF96000
CRANNAGE, KatherineSpeenhamland, Speen1606D/A1/181/196MF96022
CRANNAGE, RichardReading1711D/A1/184/173MF96027
CRANNEDGE, HumfreyNewburyButcher1667D/A1/56/91MF474
CRANNEDGE, JohnNewburyButcher1676D/A1/184/3MF96026
CRANNEDGE, Thomas SnrSpeenhamland, SpeenButcher1606D/A1/53/167 D/A1/14/153MF472 MF10064
CRANNOLE, RobertClewerYeoman1602D/A1/53/134 D/A1/53/136 D/A1/13/901MF472 MF472 MF10049
CRANOLL, RogerBray1583D/A1/181/102MF96021
CRANOLL, RogerBray1583D/A1/10/416MF10047A
CRANSHEW, EdwardBrayClerk, Vicar1621D/A1/54/068MF473
CRANWELL, ThomasCookhamWaterman1626D/A1/182/052MF96023
CRAPPER, ThomasAbingdon St HelenParish Clerk1813D/A1/147/100MF558
CRAPPER, ThomasAbingdon1836D/A1/227/49MF96124
CRAS, ThomasBasildon1542D/A1/233/064MF96132
CRAS, ThomasBasildon1542D/A1/2/120MF604
CRASE, EleanorBasildon1558D/A1/51/147MF470
CRASTON, RichardBasildonYeoman1671D/A1/56/133MF475
CRASWELL, JoanNewbury1611D/A1/15/170 D/A1/53/220MF10065 MF472
CRASWELL, ThomasStratfield MortimerYeoman1825D/A1/148/25MF558
CRATEN, RichardBasildonYeoman1662D/A1/56/45MF474
CRATON, RichardThatchamYeoman1731D/A1/185/76MF96028
CRAWLEY, ChristopherBuscotLabourer1640D/A1/183/006MF96025
CRAWLEY, FrancisCookhamClerk1694D/A1/58/6MF476
CRAWLEY, MarthaReading1841D/A1/148/69MF558
CRAWLEY, RichardBuscotLabourer1641D/A1/183/002MF96025
CRAY , Thomas SnrComptonYeoman1712D/A1/58/134MF476
CRAY, AbrahamReading St LaurenceClerk1604D/A1/191/098MF96041
CRAY, FrancisBeedon1787D/A1/60/138MF513
CRAY, JohnComptonBlacksmith1724D/A1/59/60MF476
CRAY, JohnBuckleburyYeoman1758D/A1/60/30MF513
CRAY, RichardBeedonBlacksmith1739D/A1/185/106MF96028
CRAY, RobertPangbourneHusbandman1599D/A1/13/475 D/A1/53/098MF10049 MF472
CRAY, ThomasComptonBlacksmith1756D/A1/60/19MF513
CRAYE, AbrahamReadingClerk1603D/A1/181/184MF96022
CRAYER, WilliamAbingdonBoatman1718D/A1/59/12MF476
CRAYER, William SnrAbingdonJoiner1682D/A1/57/30MF475
CRAYSE, JohnBasildon1549D/A1/233/054MF96132
CRAYSE, JohnBasildon1549D/A1/2/106MF604
CRECKWELL, WilliamBenham, SpeenYeoman1659D/A1/56/5MF474
CREECHER, ThomasSwallowfieldYeoman1748D/A1/185/135MF96028
CREED, EdwardReading, Reading St LaurenceButcher 1661D/A1/56/24MF474
CREED, EsraReading1643D/A1/55/153MF474
CREED, JoaneReading1712D/A1/58/139MF476
CREED, JohnReadingBaker1664D/A1/56/66MF474
CREED, LawrenceReading St LaurenceTailor1643D/A1/55/154MF474