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Benjamin
Choyce, Colliery Carpenter, of Hugglescote
MARY ANN (NEWBERRY) and BENJAMIN CHOYCE, COLLIERY
CARPENTER, of HUGGLESCOTE
Benjamin Choyce was born in England, in Leicestershire,
(the present family presumes) between 1852 and 1854.
The names of his parents are not known, although
his progeny are well documented.
There is a bit of family folklore concerning
the mother of Benjamin Choyce. This tale follows
similar tales heard in other English families.
It concerns the naive young girl who gains a place
of employment with the family of a local Lord
of the Manor in their resident castle. The tale
goes that the young, innocent girl awestruck by
her surroundings and eager to please her "betters",
slips into the position of victim to the concupiscence
of the Lord of the Manor. She eventually finds
herself the mother of a child whom she must struggle
to nourish and protect without the benefit of
a legal spouse to help.
Benjamin's mother may have had the lead role
in a scenario such as this, with a slight variation
on the theme. But the full script has been lost
to posterity.
The 1881 Census for Hugglescote shows Benjamin
born at Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. A record
of his birth has not yet been found, nor is one
listed in the indexes of St. Catherine's House,
London.
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COALVILLE,
LEICESTERSHIRE
CHOYCE FAMILY
From left, George Arthur Choyce, daughter
Lynne Choyce, wife, Shirley Marie (Bird)
Choyce and son, Andrew Choyce.
This photograph was taken in early 1988
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Benjamin Choyce married Mary Ann Newberry, 20
Jul 1873, "at the Register's Office in the
District of Ashby de la Zouch, in the Counties
of Leicester and Derby," according to their
marriage certificate. Witnesses were Joseph Newberry
and Elizabeth Gimson.
Mary Ann and Benjamin both gave their ages as
21. Neither of them had been married previously.
Benjamin was employed as a wagon builder, living
at Coalville, Leicestershire. Mary Ann, lived
at Hugglescote, Leicestershire, and was the daughter
of William Newberry, a collier. Her mother's maiden
name was Gimson.
Benjamin's father was identified on Benjamin's
marriage certificate as "Benjamin, labourer,
deceased."
Several family members have searched extensively
for the birth record for Benjamin, without success.
It is possible that he was not given the name
Benjamin at birth, but that he chose it at a later
date. Records available in a Carpenters Guild
should offer some genealogical information concerning
Benjamin. Guild records were kept in city record
offices. Or, they may be found in the Guildhall
Library, Aldermanbury, London, EC2, England.
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