William L "Leff" JOYCE/JOICE was born 16 March 1850 and died 19 June 1911. He was the son of Elijah and Catherine [MOORMAN/MOMAN] JOYCE/JOICE.

He was married at least twice:

1.] 5 April 1874, in Maries Co, to Eliza Jane JOHNSON.
2.] About 1883 to Eliza Jane [JOHNSON] MOMAN

Confused? Things get worse.

In the census records for 1850, 1860 AND 1870 he is unmarried and living with his parents. So far, so good but…

In the census of 1880 his household includes five children three of whom were born BEFORE the1870 census and BEFORE his 1874 marriage:

Martha A. JOICE Dau 14
John JOICE Son 12
Laura JOICE Dau 10
George E. JOICE Son 4
Belle M. JOICE Dau 2

Not too likely that the first three children belong to his wife as she's only 28 at the time of the 1880 census. Yet they are NOT with their father in the 1870 census NOR can I find them anywhere else in the 1870 census OR in subsequent census records.

"Leff's" second marriage is an estimate based on the census for 1900 [12 years] and 1910 [27y] and conforms to the births of his two surviving children by his second wife [Newt Nov 1885 and Myrtle March 1890]. The second marriage is proven by the obituary of his second wife which states, in part, "After the death of her first husband she was married to Leff Joyce, and to this union were born 5 children, 3 having died in infancy."

My questions:

1.] Can any one identify his first wife Eliza Jane JOHNSON?

2.] Can any one identify the first three JOYCE/JOICE children or their parent[s]?

3.] Can any one tell me what happened to these five children?

I know what I can do to answer these questions but I'm hoping one of you kind folks KNOWS the answer and can help save me loads of time [and $$$] working it all out.