The HIC was of the Presbyterian denomination. It was located less than a mile from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, which was the location of a large settlement of Choice and Choyce families, many named John.

HIC records reveal births for four children born to "John and Elizabeth Choyce of Hinckley." These children were: Elizabeth Choyce, born 1769; Ann Choyce, born 1773; Sarah Choyce, born 23 Sep 1774, baptized 28 Jun 1775, buried 20 Feb 1784; and Thomas Choyce, born 1781, baptized 28 Jun 1783.

The difference in the spelling of the surname between John's marriage and the surname of his children should be viewed with suspicion, considering the abundance of Choices and Choyces in that immediate area. But, the practice of changing surname spelling was not without precedence.

A death record reading, "Elizabeth Choice, wife of John Choice, buried September 20th, 1773, at Hinckley", may pertain to Elizabeth (Harrold) Choice, in spite of the relapse in the spelling of the surname. Another record indicates that "John Choice, Widower, and Elizabeth Linthwaite, both of Hinckley, were married November 29th, 1773, at Hinckley." John's occupation was not recorded.

The two following records also require close scrutiny: "Elizabeth Choice, wife of John Choice, died October 9th, 1781, at Hinckley"; "John Choice, widower, and Jane Lee, married December 25th, 1781 at Nuneaton, Warwickshire."

Do all of these records pertain to the same John Choice? I think not. If Elizabeth (Harrold) Choice died in September of 1773, she would have been the mother of only Elizabeth Choyce, born in 1769. If John Choice, widower of Elizabeth (Harrold) Choice, married Elizabeth Linthwaite, in November of 1773, she would have given birth to baby Ann Choyce only one month later.

Perhaps Elizabeth (Harrold) Choyce, is the woman who died 9 Oct 1781 (in childbirth?), the year that her son, Thomas, was born. The child may have been sickly because there is a burial record for a Thomas Choice 20 Feb 1784, at Hinckley.

With four young children in his care, perhaps John did rush into a second marriage to Jane Lee in December of 1781. But there are barriers to that assumption: John was not referred to as a widower when he married Jane Lee; and he would have been 20 years older than Jane. Both of those conditions could be explained.

However, in a will for "John Choice, Framework Knitter, of Hinckley," dated 11 Oct 1812, John names his wife as Jane. Also named, (presumably his daughters), are Elizabeth Grimsley, Ann Carter, and Phebe Robinson. His sons were John, Joseph and James, all of Hinckley. I felt that this document pulled the children of Elizabeth and Jane into one family, but I may be wrong. A transcription of John's lengthy will appears later in this chapter. If one pursues the clues offered, more substantial relationships could be proved, especially through the use of land records and census returns.

ELIZABETH (CHOYCE/CHOICE) AND JOHN GRIMSLEY, OF HINCKLEY

I have speculated that Elizabeth Choyce was the daughter of Elizabeth (Harrold) and John Choyce. She was baptized 13 Sep 1769, at the HIC.

There is a marriage record for Elizabeth Choice (note spelling) who married John Grimsley, of Hinckley, 19 Mar 1792,at Hinckley. In an article which appeared in the "Leicester Mercury" newspaper, Elizabeth was identified as the daughter of
John Choice and Elizabeth Harrold.

According to Mrs. Pat Plowman, a Grimsley researcher, Elizabeth (Choice) and John Grimsley had a son named John, along with other children whose names are not known. Some information pertaining to this Grimsley family appears in "A Thumbnail Sketch of the GRIMSLEY Family", at the end of this chapter.

ANN (CHOYCE/CHOICE) AND MR. CARTER, OF HINCKLEY

If Ann Choyce were the daughter of Elizabeth (Harrold) and John Choyce, she was born 25 Dec 1773, and baptized 28 Jun 1775. There is a marriage record at St. Mary's Church, Hinckley, for Ann Choice who married Robert Garratt, 6 Jun 1795. Their ages were not given. Ann is described as the daughter of John Choice, but I cannot say that she was the daughter of John Choice,the framework knitter.

However,in the will of John Choice of 1812, Ann is named Carter, but I have not been able to locate a marriage record for her. Ann may have been a widow when she married Mr. Carter.

ABIGAIL (GARRATT) AND JOHN CHOICE, JR., OF HINCKLEY

If this John Choice., Jr.(I have added the Jr. for clarification) were the son of John Choice and his speculative second wife, Jane Lee, he would have been born about 1784, based on further speculation which follows. I have placed John, Jr. in this
family because of his identification in the will of John Choice, Sr., who died in 1812.