Ballamy, Jane, of Woodford in Blackawton, widow.
Date of Will [i.e. date written] 23 Sept. 28 Geo. III. 1788.
Proved 18 Oct. 1788 by John Prowse, executor.
To niece Ann Rich wife of William Rich of Dartmouth,* mariner £50 and to her 2 children Ann Rich and William R. £5, and to said William, my late husband's silver cratch [watch?].
To Dorothy Gunn mother of said Ann Rich £10.
To my niece Jane Ching of Slapton wid. £50.
To my sister in law Mary Harris wid. £10.
To Richard Ferris of Modbury, husbandmen £50 and 6 silver teaspoons marked I B.
To my brother in law William Bellamy £20.
To my nephew John Roope s. of John R. the younger of Woodford, woolcomber £10.
To Ann Hawkins of Woodford spinster £6 and to her daughter Ann Hawkins £10, my clock and gold ring etc.
To my brother in law William Burgin of Dartmouth, tayler £5 and to his sons John and William B. 2 guineas.
To my kinswomen Mary wife of Nicholas Ryder of Dartmouth tayler, Ann Hamlyn wife of James H. of Blackawton, blacksmith, Sarah Tell wife of Geo. Tall of Blackawton, mariner and Elizabeth wife of John Weeks of Sherford, carpenter 2 guineas each.
To my nephew John Gunn £10.
To my godson Samuel Lambell s. of John L. of Blackawton, blacksmith.
To Mary Ching, Thomas C., John C., Will. C., Sally C., Nicholas C., and Grace C. all children of my abovenamed niece Jane Ching £5 each.
To my niece Mary Ching of Sherford, spinster 10s 6d.
To Thomas Harris Prowse s. of John Prowse of E. Allington yeoman £50 at 21.
Residue to said John Prowse, executor.
Seal a thistle
Witnesses: Mary Jellard, Walt. Prideaux, juniro.
Not only are the bequests to a mix of Jane's relations and her late husband's, but she seems to sometimes refer to Matthew's relations as though hers, sometimes as in-laws. Although it is possible that Jane and Matthew were relations before they married and so had nephews and nieces in common, referring to in-laws as though relations is common in older wills, and I think that is probably all that is happening here. When Jane uses 'in law' it is to refer to her husband's siblings, when she omits it it is to refer to his nephews and nieces. Some nieces she refers to simply as 'kinswomen'. (*inter lined over Kingwear deleted)