The ancestral homeland in the United States for the descendants of Alexander Joyce (1719-1778) and Thomas Joyce (1722-1780), originated in Virginia. However, by the early 19th century it had spread to Rockngham County, North Carolina, Guilford County, North Carolina, and beyond. As the lineages of both brothers migrated to the west and south, those who remained in North Carolina would sometimes move back to southern Virginia.
Born in 1813 to Thomas Joyce (b. 1771-1842) and Nancy Joyce (b. 1774-1849), in North Carolina, Crowing Tom Joyce followed a similar pattern.
Descended from the "Coon" line of Joyces, Crowing Tom's grandparents were John "Coon" Joyce (b. 1750-1814)) and Peggy. Accustomed to the rolling, green hills along the familiar Mayo River in Stokes and Rockingham County, North Carolina, Thomas like his brother, Alexander Joyce, was given land by his father, Thomas Joyce (b. 1771-1842). Deeded 211 acres of land in Henry County, Virginia, on November 27, 1840. he spent the rest of his life there,
From him descend part of the Joyces of modern day, Henry County, Virginia. As a 3rd great grandchild of Thomas Joyce (1813-1893), I still cherish my childhood memories of visiting this Ancestral homeland. From those years, I remember the origin story on why they called him "Crowing Tom". Blessed with the talent of mimicking roosters, he could make roosters from miles around answer his call.
By the end of his life, Crowing Tom and his wife, Martha hill, had raised a total of eight children. From Sarah Joyce (b. 1843), Nancy E Joyce (b. abt 1845), William Thomas Joyce (1848-1922), John David Joyce (1851-1904), Martha Ellen (b. 1858), Ida Mae Joyce (1859-1922), Rosa Parrie Joyce (1861-1932), and Robert Lee Joyce (1865-1943), he helped to permanently plant the lineage of Alexander and Thomas Joyce in Henry County, Virginia.