IGI refers to the International Genealogical Index compiled by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more popularly known as Mormons. Joyce contributed these entries.

Thomas Choyce was born about 1727 or 1728 according to his marriage record and his Memorial Inscription (MI) at a place not yet identified. Thomas was described as being a ropemaker.

Thomas Choyce, "Gentleman", age 22, married Christian Hartley, age 21, "of Egremont", on 9 Feb 1749, at Egremont, Cumberland. Christian did not sign the marriage agreement. It was signed by one "William Tyson, Yeoman, of Egremont" in her name, although she was "of age". Christian's father was not named.

A Christian Hartley, daughter of Richard Hartley, was christened 26 Dec 1730, at St. John, Beckermet, Cumberland (IGI).It may be of interest to know that Richard Hartley died 27 Apr 1728, at Beckermet, before his daughter, Christian, was born. A Christian Hartley, daughter of William Hartley, was christened at Ponsonby, Cumberland, on 3 Jan 1732. One of these records may pertain to the wife of Thomas Choyce.

At the time of his marriage, Thomas Choyce was a resident of Calder, Ponsonby, Cumberland. Christian (Hartley) and Thomas Choyce had four children, all christened at Ponsonby (IGI). They were: Thomas Choyce, Jr., christened in 1756; Betty, in 1761; Anne, in 1765; and Curwen, in 1767. In addition, I am speculating that Mally Choyce, for whom I have no record of birth, was also a child of theirs. More on Mally later.

Thomas Choyce, Sr., never used the appellation, "Sr.", nor did his son use "Jr.". I am using them here for clarity.

Thomas Choyce, Sr., Ropemaker, of Ponsonby, died 23 Sep 1780, age 52 years. He is buried in Ponsonby churchyard. His MI described him as being "of Calder". Christian (Hartley) Choyce died 13 Jan 1822, at the age of 91 years. She is buried next to her husband.

My initial contact with Joyce (Deeter) Mavar was established in 1986 with her first letter received 14 August. Joyce said she had heard of my Choice/Choyce quest through an old copy of the periodical The Genealogical Helper, in which I had advertised. Joyce set out her Choyce line this way:

My fourth great-grandmother was Margaret "Peggy" Moore, born in Irton, Cumberland, England. She married Thomas Choice, 19 Sep 1785. They were the parents of my 3rd great-grandmother, Ann, who married Thomas Watson, 19 Dec 1908...Thomas's father was also named Thomas Choice/Choyce....

When I responded to Joyce's letter, I included all of the information I had on hand concerning Cumberland Choyces. She wasted no time in responding. In her letter of 25 Sep 1986, she said:

Loved your letter...I'm so interested in Thomas Choice (1795) who married Elizabeth Grayson...I never knew he went to Liverpool, or that he left a will....We have two Watson descendants of Thomas and Ann in Cumberland and one in New Zealand.... We all got stuck a little on Christian Hartley. She could either be the daughter of Richard or William....One of my Watson relatives (who is NOT interested in genealogy) wrote and said, "We cannot help you. What we can tell you is that a man called THOMAS CHOYCE, who was a DUTCH sailor, shipwrecked at Netherton, Cumberland. This was the beginning of our line...."

Joyce enclosed a photocopy of the Ponsonby Parish Church and churchyard, where her Choyce ancestors are buried. She included copies of the MI's which read:

- THOMAS CHOYCE of Calder died 23rd Sep 1780, aged 52 years
- CHRISTIAN CHOYCE his wife died 13 Jan 1822, aged 91 years
- THOMAS CHOYCE her son died 4th Nov 1794, aged 39 years
- THOMAS WATSON (1786-1868) and his wife
- ANN (CHOICE) WATSON (1787-1873) are also buried here

The apocryphal reference in Joyce's first letter that her ancestor, Thomas Choyce, was a Dutch sailor sent my mind reeling. Was Thomas of Dutch ancestry? Or was he a British sailor sailing on a Dutch ship? No one has ever even suggested that the origin of the surname Choyce might possibly be Dutch. Joyce has been trying to run this fox to ground, but she'll need a few more hounds for the job . It is interesting that Thomas Choyce evolved from "shipwrecked sailor" to "Gentleman" before he reached the age of 22 years. I hope we learn more about him.

MARGARET "PEGGY" (MOORE) AND THOMAS CHOYCE, JR., OF PONSONBY

Thomas Choyce, Jr., son of Christian (Hartley) and Thomas Choyce, Sr., was baptized 30 May 1756, at Ponsonby. Thomas Choyce married Margaret Moore, 19 Sep 1785, at Irton, Cumberland, according to their marriage record. It is of interest that Thomas's surname was spelled Choice in his marriage record, but the names of his children were spelled Choyce.

I have no information concerning Margaret, except that she has been referred to as "Peggy" in some records, and that she was born at Irton.

Margaret "Peggy" (Moore) and Thomas Choyce had four children born at Gosforth: Ann Choyce, christened 1787; Betty Choyce, 1790; Hannah Choyce, 1793; and Thomas Choyce, 1795 (IGI). In addition, I am speculating that Mary Choyce, date of birth calculated as 1786, may also have been their daughter.

Thomas Choyce, Jr., died 4 Nov 1794, at the age of 39 years. As noted he is buried in the Ponsonby Parish churchyard, with his parents. Note that Thomas Choyce, Jr., died four months before his son, Thomas Choyce, III, was christened. This would have left Margaret "Peggy" (Moore) Choyce with five little children under the age of seven years. With that thought in mind, it would not be surprising to find a record of a second marriage for Margaret (Moore) Choyce.

There is a record of marriage for a Margaret Choyce who married Henry Butler, 10 Aug 1806, at Whitehaven, Cumberland. That was twelve years after Thomas Choyce died. If this is "our" Margaret, how did she ever manage during those twelve years? We do not know the occupation of Thomas Choyce, Jr., so it is difficult to extrapolate.

I can offer no proof that the Margaret Choyce who married Henry Butler, was indeed Thomas's widow, especially since the marriage occurred at Whitehaven. That is the town where the family of JOSEPH CHOICE OF MANCETTER lived.