William Choice, the second child of Mary "Ann" (Small) and Charles "Edward" Choice, was born 24 Aug 1859, at Falbrook, New South Wales. Although William used the first name of James in personal relationships, William is the name which appears on his birth certificate. The name James is added before William on his marriage certificate as an apparent afterthought. Because this chapter is being written for his progeny, I shall refer to him for the most part as James, the name by which they know him.

James Choice, following his father's lead, worked as
a carrier; a transporter of goods from one place to another. Rugged Australian roads were often no more than a wide footpath in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Carrying was often done under the most violent weather conditions, which subjected the carrier to the extremes of temperatures, and the ravages of the elements.

William "James" Choice was married to Ann Maria Death, probably on 20 June 1887 (the year is obscured), at Orton Park, the Death family home at Goondiwindi, Queensland, which is about 80 miles north of Bingara. Ann Maria Death, the daughter of Mary Ann (Woodcock) and David Death, was born
15 Apr 1862, at Toowoomba, Queensland, about
115 miles north of Goondiwindi.