I refer to Richard as being "of Sibson" because all of the vital statistics for Wellesborough were recorded at Sibson. A later chapter in this book refers to WILLIAM CHOYCE, FARMER, OF SIBSON. William was Richard's brother, but the chapters were too lengthy to combine. We know from various probate records that Richard and William had at least two other brothers, Samuel and James, and possibly sisters as well, but I have no details concerning them, nor do I know the rank of any of the brothers. I have resorted to alphabetical order to place Richard first.

Richard Choyce is my fourth great-grandfather. A parchment copy of his 1771 will has been in my family since it was written. It was this document, along with my father's urging, which planted the first seed of genealogical interest in my cranium, and which, over the years, has bloomed into this completed (but incomplete) work. My faded copy of Richard's will would not respond to reproduction. I have made the following transcription, complete with the original spelling and punctuation:

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This is the Last Will and Testament of Richard Choyce of Temple in the Parish of Sibson in the County of Leicester, Weaver.

And first I will that all such debts that I shall justly owe at the time of my decease and my funeral charges and expenses be in the first place paid by my Executor hereafter named Item I give to my wife Elizabeth Choyce the sum of twenty pounds of lawful Brittish money I likewise give her the bed and bedstead blankets and Curtains that stand in our lodging room being the same whereon we lie and likewise a coffer that stands in the same room and likewise the pillar and Claw Table and four chairs and also the sum of eight pounds a year to be payable by my executor by two equal amounts at Michalmas and Ladyday during her life I give to my Eldest Daughter Mary the wife of Sim Hopkins in consideration of what she has before had the sum of one guinea I give to my second Daughter Elizabeth the wife of William Neal on like consideration the sum of one guinea I give to my third daughter Ann Choyce the sum of seventyfive pounds and likewise the bed bedstead with the blankets and curtains that stand in the parlor I give to my fourth daughter Sarah Choyce the like amount of seventy five pounds of lawful British money and likewise the bed bedstead with the blanket and curtains that now stand in the best Chamber I leave all my goods that are not before devised Cattle Chattle Implements of Husbandry ready money rights and Credits and personal Estate whatsoever wheresoever and of what nature kind and quality soever chargeable for the payment of aforesaid debts funeral expenses and the above mentioned legacies and annuity of eight pounds a year to my aforesaid wife the same to be paid to them respectively by my Executor hereafter named within twelve months after my decease and all the rest residue and remainder of my Goods Cattle Chattles ready money rights credits and personal Estate whatsoever wheresoever and of what nature kind and quality soever I give to my son James Choyce and do hereby nominate and appoint my said son James Choyce full and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament my hand and seal the twelvth day of October in the year of Our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and seventy one Richard Choyce O Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Richard Choyce the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto

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Witness John Hall was probably the owner of Temple Hall and Temple Mill where Richard Choyce and his family lived. John Hall was a close personal friend of Richard. James Choyce was probably Richard's brother. John Pearson, who wrote with a very feeble hand, has not been identified.

No punctuation marks were used throughout the will. The reference to the items of husbandry indicate that Richard Choyce was also a farmer. It appears that he raised some cattle as well. Considering that he had already "settled" on his two married daughters, and still had a sizeable estate, he and his family must have lived a relatively comfortable life, for his time.

Although the rank of Richard's daughters is given, I haven't a clue as to where James, my ancestor, fits into the family. I have arbitrarily placed him between the two younger daughters.

Richard Choyce died 23 Oct 1775, at Temple. No death record or maiden name have been isolated for Elizabeth.

From Sibson Parish Registers, copied by hand by the Reverend Frank Best, former Rector of St. Botolph's Church, Sibson, we learn the following: Mary Choyce married Sim Hopkins, 23 Apr 1761, at Sibson; Elizabeth Choyce married William Neal, identified as being "of Hinckley", 5 Apr 1765, at Sibson. I have not been able to isolate marriage records for daughters Ann or Sarah, if indeed they married at all. The family of James Choyce will be considered in depth as we progress.

Reverend Best found a birth and death in 1744 for John Choyce, son of Elizabeth and Richard Choyce of Wellesborough. There are no birth records in Sibson for Richard's daughters. This could indicate that they were all older than John and James. It could also indicate that Richard did not live in the Sibson area prior to 1744, although Richard's friendship with John Hall appears to predate John's birth. It might also indicate that the girls are from an earlier marriage for Richard.

Frequent reference will be made throughout this chapter to the "Capner Letters". These letters, dating roughly from 1785 to 1830, are part of a larger "Capner Collection" presently in the holdings of the Hunterdon County Historical Society, at Flemington, New Jersey, USA. The Capner Letters are handwritten family letters, written between America and England by members of the interrelated families of Capner, Hall, Choyce, Exton, Hill, and others. Much of the family history I have compiled for this chapter has come from those letters. Many of the letters were written by John Hall. His older sister married a Capner, his younger sister married my ancestor, James Choyce.

I have drawn extensively from the diaries of John Hall, which are part of the Capner Collection. Some of John Hall's diaries are in the possession of David Parsons Brackett, of Sequim, Washington, a Capner descendant, who generously shared the contents with me.