Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!!

     I promised that I would start this family “connecting the dots” by December and I am a little behind already.  Let me make a few introductions.
     My name is Anita and I live in Cleveland, TN.  One day while doing some internet connecting at my local library I discovered a program that allowed me to type in a name and the computer would find where the majority of people with that last name lived, pin point it on the map and give me an idea of how many live in the United States.  Well, Tennessee came up solid blue (full of Crye’s ) and a small speck in Texas and Wisconsin.  I was amazed.
     Several years ago I purchased a book of “Crye’s in the United States”.  Yes, I fell for the oldest sell as I thought it would give me some connections, but all it gave me was a telephone database.  I have used that to get a collection of names for this mail-out, but that is all the book was good for.  My desire for a central location for information on our special and unique name began to be born in me.  Why, I ask myself, was there not a place where I could send queries, share information, exchange information and maybe learn just where we all came from.
     This is the first “newsletter” and my request to everyone is that you write me, sharing any story, tale, memory, copy of marriage, Bible, birth, or death record that you are willing to share.  If you have a will, or know of one that you could copy or even a history that someone in your family wrote for posterity reasons, please send this to me via mail or email and I will share this with everyone and maybe we can ‘connect all the dots”.
     There are only a few of us, 250 with the last name of Crye/Cry, but with relatives, I think we could come up with much to share.
     Happy hunting and I look forward to hearing from each of you with what history you might know.  This newsletter is free and will be published three times a year.  April, August and December.  If information and stories come in we may got o four a year, but that is in the future.  Today, I will concentrate on Issue one, volume one.
     Welcome to the Crye/Cry family newsletter,.  I earnestly request your input, queries, information, and help.           Anita
 

     William Crye applied for Revolutionary pension while he was living in McMinn County, TN where he drew a pension on the 1832 list.  He was 80 years old when he made his application, making him born about 1752/4.  He was a native of the Isle of Man, but came to America when he was a child and was reared in Chester, PA.  He moved to North Carolina and was volunteered under Capt. Hagan in Mecklenburg County, NC.  He volunteered again under Capt. John Drummond in Greenville, SC.  Other officers under who he served were Co.. Thomas Neel/Noel and Col. Ezekial Polk under whom he fought the Indians.  He was, for a time, at Prince’s Fort and then at Wofford’s Fort.  Next, he was in a company of horse under Capt. John Foster, Col Henry Hampton and General Sumter and was assigned the duty of searching for Tories.  In 1780 he served under General Gates.  After leaving North Carolina he lived in South Carolina, Hale County, GA, and in Tennessee.  He died August 30, 1835.  He married Sarah Hagan, April 8, 1779.  She drew a pension in Bradley County and died February 8, 1844.  I found on the internet that the annual allowance was $29.16 and the amount they received was $72.90.  A page from their Bible was enclosed with her application showing their marriage date.  (And the marriage of their son, William Crye, Jr. To Elizabeth Barker on August 11, 1822).
    William Crye and Sarah Hagan, daughter of Captain William and Mary Hagen, had twelve children that we are aware of.  In the abstract of the Revolutionary War Pension files the following children are listed.
 

      In the pension papers mention is made that the soldier’s brother, John Crye, made affidavit on December 18, 1839 in McMinn County, TN.  There was a John Crye in Blount/Monroe/McMinn Counties, TN during that time.
      I have received information from Larry Crye about a short history he received from his great uncle, Frank Crye, who is said to have had a great memory, especially for detail.  In those several pages “Uncle Frank” lists three brothers, and possibly a fourth who came to America from Ireland (?).  three of the brothers were John, Elias, and Elihu.  I am certain the fourth was William.
     A connection of mine in Blount County, TN told me that John Alexander Crye, born 1772 married Martha Jones and had 10 children.  Both are buried at Williamson Cemt in Blount County, TN.  I think these two Johns are the same one.  The paper from Larry Crye states that John, Elias, and Elihu are all buried in the Williamson Cemt.  There are two stones that read:
 

     John and William are pretty well guaranteed to be brothers because of John signing the affidavit for William in 1839.  The article I received also placed two additional brothers, Elias and Elihu as brothers to John.  It seems like the birth ages of these two, 1825 and 1819, compared to John’s birth in 1772, and William who married Sarah Hagen being born in 1752, are a little spaced, but I only have questions here.  Do you have the answer?  Are you a descendant from Elias or Elihu?  These could be the brothers to John, mentioned in the notes from Larry Crye.
     Taken from the Blount County Cemetery Book, Williamson Cemt. We find.
 

     The article from Larry mentions that John Crye, born 1772, had a son named John Shimmon Crye, born 1830 and died 1863 as a martyr in the Civil War.  He states that the name “Shimmon” came from his grandmother.  In another correspondence, from Earl Crye of New Mexico, he states that John’s grandmother’s name was Margaret Catherine Shimmon, daughter of John Shimmin of Kirk German, Isle of Mann.
      The will of John, b 1727, father of John b 1772 states:
 

     Now, the will gives us the names of his wife as Catherine, sons David, John, James and William.  He also lists daughters as Isabella, Sarah, Catherine, and Margaret. Reason has it that if John and William were born on the IOM, then this John, being their father, was also from there.  He must have married his wife there as his children appear to have been born there.
      So, we have our start.  John Crye, born 1727 on the IOM married Catherine  Shimmon and had eight children who are listed in his will.
 

     Let’s take a look at the will for a few moments.  John (b1727) leaves something to each of his children including his wife.  However, he left to his son William and daughter Margaret, wife of Thomas Walker, each a Spanish milled dollar.  Several people that I have spoken to claims that John (b1727) is trying to make a statement.  Either he was disowning them by giving them only a dollar or they were well enough off and didn’t need the inheritance as much as the others.  I do know that John Walker (father to Thomas and Andrew Walker) left his complete estate to son Thomas.  See the will which follows:
 

 Any thoughts on this?  Please share!!!
 

    There are three additional wills listed in Book B, abstracts of NC Wills.  One is for James Crye, one for Samuel Crye and one for William Hagen.
They are as follows:
 

    This will goes along with the fourth brother William Crye who married Sarah Hagan who came to Tennessee from NC after the Revolutionary War, settling in McMinn Co. TN and dying there.
 

     The most popular name for a Crye/Cry child is John, 2nd is William, 3rd is Charlie, 4th is Joseph, 5th is Mary, 6th is Albert, 7th Carl, 8th Ernest, 9th Esther, 10th George, 11th Hazel, 12th is Helen, 13th is James, 14th is Jennie, 15th is Lena, 16th is Ralph, 17th is Roosevelt, 18th is Ruth, 19th is Ada, 20th is Amanda, 21st is Arch, 22nd is Bennie, 23rd is Bobbie, 24th is C., 25th is Cass, 26 th is Charles, 27th is Clatie, 28th is Claude, 29th is Clayton, 30th is Curtis, 31st Daisy, 32nd Dave, 33rd David, and 34th Dean.

  Who was the Abraham Crye who witnessed a will in Burke Co. NC August 2, 1813 for Jacob Settlemire?

    I have listed the whole families when I had them in my files.  If you are interested in any of these with a copy of the original census record please write and I will get this for you and mail it back.
 
 

Virginia Military Records
    “An effective return of Capt. William Henry’s Company of Minute Men at Northhampton court-house in  Virginia, Feb 17, 1776”.  Listed among the men is John Crye.

   In the next issue, April 1998, I will be sending a questionnaire for you to fill out.  I am not asking you to give up your family secrets, but I am asking for their names, dates and time table of when they moved and traveled about.  This will help track who is related to whom and where they went and when.  I can’t thank you enough for your participation.  I know this will be a help to us all.
“Connecting the dots”   Anita
 

LETTERS
Dear Ms. Green
    My sister just called me to say you had contacted her my email.  I am so excited to think you are starting a “Crye/Cry” family newsletter.
    Please let me know about it and for sure I want to subscribe.  Rachel Crye was our great-grandmother.  She was born in Indiana (I think).  Then the family moved to Wisconsin when she was a child.  Her father was born in North Carolina and his name was John Crye.
   Patricia

Ms. Green
   I received your card a couple of weeks ago regarding the Crye family.  I am also working on the family history and would be very interested in your newsletter
 Ida

Anita:
   Please send forms as to what you want to know about our Crye family.  Also, does this Crye newsletter cost something?  If so, please inform.
 Thank you, Ms. Crye

Response:  I am so glad you are willing to share and help me with this endeavor.  The cost is nothing and I will be so glad to send you forms to fill out on your family, thank you, Anita.

1. Looking for information on JAMES CRYE, son of John & Catherine, born 4/25/1755 New Castle, Delaware.

2. CRYE, married Lydia Mills in Tulare County CA, 12/24/1875.  What family does he belong to and what are the children’s names.

3. Looking for any descendants from ELISHA or ELIHU CRYE who came to Blount County about 1820 and are buried in the Williamson Cemt.

4. Looking for anyone related to the JOHN CRYE who raised a family and lived on Sand Mountain, AL at the turn of the century.  Who is he related to?  Where are his descendants? And What is his lineage?

5. Who were the parents of Clayton Crye from Wisconsin?

6. I have information that the CRYE name is Manx and records at churches on the Isle of Man go back to the 1200’s.  My grandfather was JAMES SCOTT CRYE and great grandfather was JAMES HAWKINS CRYE.  Do you have any more information on these two men?

7. I received a letter from a CRYE in Australia.  He stated that the CRYEs came to Australia in the 1800’s.  They stayed there about 2 years and the oldest son stayed in Australia, but the rest of the family moved to the USA.  Can anyone Clarify who these CRYE’s are?

8. Searching for birth records for my great-grandfather JOHN CRYE who is in the 1850 Indiana Census.  He says he came from Virginia.  Was this a temporary stop?  Was he born there?  On some census records he says he was born in North Carolina.  He is married to Edney/Adney with 7 children in 1850.  Any help would be appreciated.

     I understand that there is a “Crye Family Reunion” some time in the late summer in Georgia.  Does anyone else know of this and who I can contact about it?
 Have you checked the internet for information to send to those who may not have and “email” connection?  If you are finding anything on the “net” email me at agcrye@bellsouth.net.  Or, copy the information and mail it to me at 1555 Lewis Street NE.  I can then put it in the newsletter.
      Looking forward to hearing from more of you.            Anita