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Preface
 You
will find, as you progress through this
tome, that no Choice or Choyce has ever
applied to the Royal College of Arms,
in London, England, for a family Coat
of Arms.
However,
in order to foster a spirit of camaraderie
among our Choice and Choyce families throughout
the world, I feel that it is incumbent upon
me to incorporate an identifiable Family Crest
into this publication, one which we can use
for our personal use among our families.
The crest,
which appears at the front of this book, may
serve as a means to gather all of us together
under one international, identifiable, family
symbol.
This crest
is not meant to be an Heraldic emblem. It
is simply meant to be a Choice/Choyce family
identification. I will not be registering
it with the Royal College of Arms. However,
if any other family wishes to do so, be
my guest. That august authority would re-design
it to some degree in order to prepare it
to conform to the stringent directives of
Heraldic customs.
The helmet, shield, and swords offer an
imposing feeling of strength, honor and
loyalty, qualities found among our family
members.
The small Celtic cross on the shield represents
the Irish roots of a great many of our English
families and many of our collateral lines.
The two spellings of our surname are prominently
displayed on the banners at the top of the
crest. This indicates that although some
of us spell our name differently, we are
the same family.
The Family Motto, which appears under the
crest, is my doing. The Latin, "Ita
est memorabile nomen" translates to:
"Thus it is a memorable name."
This statement is not only fitting, but
accurate. I think we all can agree that
our surname is rather distinctive and a
name of which we can be proud.
This family crest and web site was designed
by our son, Patrick
Sheehan.
BCS
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For the purpose of fluidity of reading,
I shall write our surname with the spelling Choyce
for general purposes, but be aware that it includes
all Choices. Any record written as Choice has been
transcribed as Choice. By the same token, when pronouncing
the title of this book, the surname need only be
spoken once.
My research covered all of the major genealogical
and historical bibliographies in the United States,
Canada, England and Australia.
I also communicated with antiquarian and genealogical
booksellers in those countries and employed the
services of numerous reference librarians to conduct
research for me.
I advertised extensively in national and international
genealogical periodicals. After my efforts were
completed, no manuscript or book, published or unpublished,
pertaining solely to the surname Choice or Choyce,
was unearthed.
There are books which have been written by Choyces,
but no books have ever been published about Choyce
families with the exception of Kenneth A. Tucker's
Thesis. (See the General Bibliography.) A few Choice
and Choyce genealogies have been included in other
works. They will be identified as we progress with
this tome.
I feel confident in stating that THE CHOICE/CHOYCE
COMPENDIUM is the only comprehensive collection
of research material of this magnitude ever collected
and published on the subject of Choice and Choyce
families throughout the English speaking world.
I sincerely hope that your family has been included.
While writing THE CHOICE/CHOYCE COMPENDIUM, I
have endeavored to keep three equally important
objectives in mind: I want to preserve my collection
of Choyce statistics for posterity; I want to
generate a genealogical interest in individual
Choyce families; and I want to unite worldwide
Choyce families through their common heritage.
Eventually, it may come to light that we are all
cousins.
It has been my intention from the onset of this
work, to compile only partial family genealogies
and family histories from which each individual
family can begin a search for their own roots.
This book does not claim to include all information
on all families. Nor does it claim that all of
the statistics included here have been proven
for genealogical purposes. Completion of these
family genealogies and family histories, and proof
of the vital statistics contained herein, is left
to the individual family genealogist. I am merely
priming the pump.
When statistics and events are not presented,
that does not mean that there are no records extant.
It merely means that I have not found those records.
My notation "not known" more precisely
means, "not known to me". It would be
rather wishful of me to expect that I could complete
each of these family lines, or prove each of these
vital statistics, during my allotted time on this
mortal coil.
Genealogical purists may cast aspersions upon
the incompleteness of this work, and the lack
of proof offered. To them, I respectfully submit
that this book has not been written with genealogical
purists in mind. It has been written for the average
person who does not know anything about their
family heritage, and less about how to conduct
research. It has been my intention merely to start
the genealogical ball rolling. Each family must
pick it up and carry it to their goal. Perhaps,
based on information contained in this book, some
families will reach the stage of completeness
with their family genealogy which I have not been
able to achieve. When that happens, both author
and reader will have accomplished our objectives.
Prove me right, or prove me wrong, but do start
to work on your own family's line. Family genealogy
and history are endeavors in which the main characters
are your ancestors, your relatives, and yourself.
What could be more interesting?
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