Mrs. Price did not cite her sources. I have made extensive searches through Ohio research materials with little success. My research has been a cumbersome one, conducted through the mail which could explain the unsatisfactory results. I shall include my individual research reports at the end of this chapter. Because of the dearth of documentation, I'm inclined to think that perhaps Mrs. Price had access to precious family letters which provided details not ordinarily found in public records. She may also have passed along some family lore. Consider that Harriet (O'Dell) Price is the great-granddaughter of Margaret (May) and John Hall Choyce. Although her major research has been on her O'Dell ancestors, she was good enough to take the time to made a genealogical contribution to this Choyce line. In a letter received 22 Jul 1980, Mrs. Price, "...scratched off a few facts I know about the Choyces...." She wrote the following:

John Hall and James born in England. Came to America. No date known. James stayed in N.J. John Hall Choyce came to Hamilton Co. Ohio. His son John Hall Choyce married Margaret May Oct 1838.

John Hall Choyce and his wife Margaret May are buried in the cemetery at Camargo, Ill.

The Choyce family came from Ohio in a covered wagon to Illinois in 1854. Son James, age 12, drove the tool wagon for the surveyors who laid out Champagne. In 1855 the Choyces moved to Camargo. John Hall Choyce was a cabinet maker.

Here dates I have been given are confused. Mary Catherine married in 1859 to Dr. William Rockhold ODell in Hamilton Co., Ohio. I have written to Clerk of Records, Hamilton Co. for marriage license - negative reply. Also wrote to Douglas County, Tuscola County seat - negative response. My father was the second son in the family, b. May 8, 1864. His father, Wm. R. Odell died 1872.

When I first heard of John Hall Choyce, I was sure he must in some way be related to my family of RICHARD CHOYCE, WEAVER, OF SIBSON, or his brother, WILLIAM CHOYCE, FARMER, OF SIBSON. However, none of my research supports that wishful thinking. Perhaps a family researcher today will be able to find supporting evidence to make the connection.

MARGARET (MAY) and JOHN HALL CHOYCE, FARMER and CABINET MAKER, of OHIO, INDIANA, and ILLINOIS

John Hall Choyce is said to have been the son of John Hall Choyce. The name of his mother is not known. According to his memorial inscription, John Hall Choyce was born 20 Sep 1813. Some census records place his birth ten years earlier, in 1803. No place of birth has been determined, possibly he was born in England, although census records over the years claim either Ohio, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania. After John Hall Choyce's death, his children gave his place of birth as New Jersey when they responded to various census enumerations.

John Hall Choyce married Margaret May, in October 1838, in Hamilton County, Ohio. according to their great-grand-daughter, Mrs. Griswold Price. She said that John was a cabinet-maker. Census records indicate that he was also a farmer.

Margaret May, daughter of Mary Catherine and Andrew May, was born 1 Feb 1819. Margaret's mother, Mary Catherine May was born 26 Feb 1765, in England. Andrew May was born either 2 or 21 Mar 1766, in England. Andrew died in September of 1836. This sketchy information came from Mrs. Price.

It would appear that Mary Catherine and Andrew May were in their mid-50s when their daughter, Margaret was born. This could indicate that Margaret was a younger member of a large family.

May family researchers may be interested in Colonel C. A. May, Indian Agent, who was stationed at Abiquiu, New Mexico, among other assignments. Colonel May served with Cyrus Choice after the American Civil War. Limited information concerning Colonel May can be found in the chapter for TULLY CHOYCE, SR., SURVEYOR, OF VIRGINIA.

Margaret (May) and John Hall Choyce had 11 children: Mary Catherine, born in 1840; Elizabeth A, 1841; James, 1842;Jane F. 1843; Lulu A, 1844; Andrew M., 1846; Eleanor, 1848; Nancy, 1851; Margaret, 1853; Sarah E. 1855; and George W. Choyce, born in 1858. It would appear that this Choyce family was quite active. We have found records for them in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas.

John Hall Choyce died 15 Dec 1870, at a place unknown, but he is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Camargo Township, Douglas County, Illinois. Douglas County is located about 20 miles south of Champaign, Illinois.

Margaret (May) Choyce survived her husband by almost seven years. Margaret died 10 Apr 1877, and is buried beside her husband. Also buried in the same plot is "Lulu A. Choyce, dau. of J & M A, who died July 30, 1876, age 1 yr. 3m 6d."

I am indebted to Mrs. Virginia Biddle Thode for much of the information included here concerning this early family of Margaret (May) and John Hall Choyce. Mrs. Thode responded to the inquiries I had directed to the Douglas County (Illinois) Genealogical Society. In her letter of 10 Jun 1983, Mrs. Thode explained her intercession and detailed the research she had conducted on my behalf:

I am Virginia Biddle Thode. Your letter was handed to me to answer. I am Secretary of Douglas County Genealogical Secretary. Our corresponding secetary doesn't have time to answer all in quiries. I try to take care of ones concerning Newman and Camargo Township.

I am not a professional researcher and really there is not one in our county. I have been involved in genealogy 27 years and have finished my 5th history.

It seems you are compiling a book on any and all Choice & Choyces. For your information there are none listed in our
current phone book, which also covers Camargo and Newman. There were Choyces when I worked at Newman Post Office in 1942-44.

I copied the Choyces in Camargo Cemetery, and Villa Grove (there are none in Hammett). That is combined with V.G. and indexes are combined so probably why the V.G. librarian mentioned Hammett. I have copied the 1860 census records for Choyce and O'Dell. Also, we are publishing the 1870 soon, so I was able to get that for you, also.

Went to the County Clerk and got the month and year of 3 Choyce marriages before 1916, and 9 Choice and Choyce births. I looked in the Centennial book but no write-up on Choyce. The old folks died and descendants moved from the area.

So, I'll send all this as I copied it and feel I earned the $5.00. By the way, I checked the index of probate. If you want any of those let me know. Most are minor, deliq., a widow, and James. I could go to Newman (16 miles) and get obituaries of Andrew, Charles, John C. James had a probate (that costs 25 cents a page). I'm busy with my daughter's wedding August 27th but if you need this....I'd charge $5.00 an hour and I'd have to copy the obit. I'd say $15.00 would take care of what is available.

Mrs. Thode pointed out that John Hall Choyce is listed as age 57 in both the 1860 and the 1870 censuses, while Margaret (May) Choyce is reported as age 41 in the 1860 census and as 57 in the 1870 census (perhaps the 1 was transcribed as a 7?). Mrs. Thode was making the point that errors do exist in census records, and any researcher should proceed cautiously.

I thanked Mrs. Thode for the tremendous energy she exerted in my behalf. She certainly did earn her money. (I wonder why she does not consider herself a "professional" genealogist?) It would be interesting to know the identity of the Choyce family of the 40s, but I did not pursue that lead.

Mrs. Thode included many statistics, which I have incorporated into the Choyce Family Charts, using the initials VBT to signify her contributions.

It is frustrating that no trace of this Choyce family can be found in Ohio. If Margaret May were born there, and she and John Hall Choyce were married there, and their oldest child was born there, there should be some official government document to indicate their location. They may have lived in Ohio for two or three years before moving west. Location of their marriage record could include the name of John Hall Choyce's mother, which might offer a key to his ancestry.

There is no trace of this family in the 1840 U.S. Census for Indiana, which strengthens the possibility that they were still in Ohio. We can find no evidence of them in the State of Indiana, other than their presence there during the 1850 census. By 1860 through 1880, they appeared to have settled in Illinois. Some family member can have a grand time trying to retrace the migration pattern of this rambling Choyce family. With John Hall Choyce's skills as a cabinet-maker and a farmer, he probably had no trouble finding work.

Interestingly enough, in the 1860 U.S. Census for Camargo Township, Douglas County, Illinois, daughter, Mary, is already married and is living next door to her parents with her husband, William O'Dell, physician. Mary and William have a six-month old daughter, Anna, who did not survive infancy.