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George Choyce, Framework Knitter of Hinckley
and Leicester
Although the parentage of George Choyce remains
in doubt, we do know that he was baptized at Hinckley
in 1803. It is not certain that he was born there.
The family moved from Hinckley to Leicester, but
appears to have returned the 26 miles to Hinckley
to have their children baptized at the HIC. All
of the birth and baptismal records for this family
spell the surname as Choyce.
However, when George married, his surname
was spelled Choice, and all of his children were
baptized with the surname Choice.
George Choice married Elizabeth Smith, 4 Jul 1824,at
Hinckley. They had four children. Sarah Choice was
baptized in 1824 at St. Mary's Church of England,
Hinckley, as was her younger sister, Jane Choice,
in 1825. The two youngest children were both baptized
at the HIC, Samuel in 1828, and Catherine in 1830.
HIC records state that Samuel and Catherine were
born at Hinckley. From these records, it would appear
that George changed his religious affiliation after
his second child was born, and returned to the church
of his father.
ELIZABETH (TUNALEY) AND SAMUEL CHOICE, PROFESSIONAL
SOLDIER, OF HINCKLEY AND LEICESTER
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SAMUEL
CHOICE
Professional Soldier
Son of Elizabeth (Smith)
and George Choice
Born 1828 at Hinckley
Leicestershire, England
Married Elizabeth Tunaley
13 Apr 1869
At Litchurch, Derby
He died at Leicester in 1900
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Samuel Choice was the only son of Elizabeth (Smith)
and George Choice. He was born in 1828,at Hinckley,and
christened 17 Sep 1832, at the Hinckley Independent
Chapel at Hinckley. Samuel Choice joined the military
forces and became a professional soldier. He first
enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1849. During
one of Samuel's earlier enlistments, he was stationed
in New Brunswick, Canada. He ended his military
career as the Recruiting Sergeant in his home
town of Leicester.
Samuel Choice married Elizabeth Tunaley, 13 Apr
1869, at Litchurch, Derbyshire. Their certificate
of marriage describes Samuel as "of full
age, a bachelor, Sergeant in the Royal Artillery,
residence, Carrington Street." The marriage
was performed in "The Parish Church of St.
Andrew...", which has since been demolished.
Witnesses were William Moore and Catherine Sharp.
Samuel would have been 41 years old, with twenty
years in the military behind him, and Elizabeth
would have been 34 years old.
Elizabeth Tunaley was the daughter of Edward Tunaley
who came from Derby where the Tunaley family name
abounds. She was born about 1835, in Derby. Elizabeth
was "of full age, spinster, residence, Park
St." At the end of this chapter, there is
a listing of Tunaley birth records forwarded by
Frank Coleman Choice.
Elizabeth (Tunaley) and Samuel Choice had two
children both born at Leicester: Florence Kate
Choice, born in 1870; and Sam Tunaley Choice,
born in 1872. According to Frank Coleman Choyce,
son of Sam Tunaley Choice, his father and aunt
were both born at 23 Stoughton Street, Leicester.
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Frank says his knowledge of his grandparents
is scanty and explains the reasons in his letter
dated 14 Mar 1979:
My grandfather died 1st September 1900, at
which time my brother was just 5 years and two
days old, and I was just about six months of age.
You'll understand from the above that our
knowledge of our Choice forebears must be somewhat
limited, the more so because our father died 2
days before my 3rd birthday, at the age of 30
1/2.
My father was born...the only son of Samuel
Choice, a professional soldier in the then British
Army regiment of Royal Artillery, which he joined
in 1849, leaving the home of his father in Hinckley,
Leicestershire, himself employed as a framework
knitter.
Referring to my grandfather, I should state
that his Army papers show that he served some
period of his active Army life in New Brunswick,
but as he was single at that time I prefer to
believe that he was an honourable soldier, a Sergeant
in fact, who left no contribution to the Choice
Saga in Canada.
I recall my mother saying she'd been told
that my grandfather's grandfather served at the
Battle of Waterloo and lost a leg in that action.
In respect of this, the British War Office might
have evidence in its archives.
An imposing photograph of Samuel Choice
in full military dress, forwarded by Elisabeth
Jean Choice, daughter of Frank Coleman Choice,
appears at the beginning of this chapter.
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Following Frank's lead, I could find no list
of enlisted men who fought at the Battle of Waterloo.
A list of officers produced no Choice or Choyce.
Elizabeth (Tunaley) Choice died 12 Aug 1890 at
Leicester. She is buried in the Choice family
plot in the Welford Road Cemetery, Leicester,
next to her husband. Among the gravestones in
that Choice plot is a small stone for an infant
with the inscription, "Gladys Dora Choice,
granddaughter," with no dates. Her parentage
is not known to me.
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THE
THIN CHOICE LINE
Left to right
Frank Coleman Choice, born 1900
John Michael Choice, born 1934
Angus Michael Choice, born 1969
Photograph taken in 1983
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