At this time we are still in the mountains of East Tennessee near Townsend.  I have found many of our relatives here, but haven’t been able to talk with them much.  It appears most everyone in Blount County has descended from a brother of my ancestor John.  There is much speculation here that John is part Indian or married into Indian bloodline.  I am having no luck proving or disproving the theories, but I am enjoying searching around.

      I have received notice that some that attended the reunion in Cleveland in 2001 have already met an untimely end.  We are saddened to know of family losses.  The more we loose, the more we have lost.  Please take the time to pass on your heritage, it is important in this day of fast media coverage and multi-tasking.  Take the time to share.  This is the only way for the memories to continue. 

      I have gotten the photos cleaned up and almost ready for mailing, but I am still trying to correctly name the people and their lineage.  I have submitted the photos for help from some who attended the reunion, so I hope that task will be accomplished soon.
 Just a note about my children: My daughter has met a wonderful man and married in April, 2002.  My son is once again living close to us and we are enjoying family time together.  The church is growing, and we are finding we love the mountains.   And …I look forward to hearing from some of you, in hopes of new information to trace.
            Anita….

     John Shimmon Crye, apparently named after his mother’s side of the family, does not show a register on joining the Civil War.  According to the following family lore, he was waiting for an unborn son to arrive and had delayed joining. 

     John Shimmon was written about in the August 1998 issue of the Crye/Cry Family Newsletter, Issue 3; Volume 1.  Here is an excerpt from “Memories from Uncle Frank” 

     The Civil War was at a white heat in 1863.  Grandpa Shimmon hadn’t yet enlisted.  He was still around home waiting for his third child to be born, John Riley Crye, my father.  He was born July 13, 1863.  In October, grandpa and two other friends of his were persuaded to go with these strangers who wanted also to enlist.  Grandpa Shimmon Crye was 33 years old when he was martyred.  That is what is says on his tombstone.  “Martyred”. 

     In a book entitled “The Churches of Blount County on page 113 there is this record.  There is a story that an unknown man killed on the Great WarPath was the first burial, also a man named George Best and his brother-in-law Simeon Crye were “bushwhacked” at Tomotley Ford during the Civil War and were buried here.  (Williamson Methodist Church Cemetery). 
 
 

I have applied to Washington for the records of a Samuel Crye, who fought from the state of Illinois, 33rd Inf. Co. B.  However, no records were found.  He is listed in the record books, but nothing showed up in the pension files.  The following is an account of the regiment he served in.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 56 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 250 Enlisted men by disease. Total 309. 
 

Francis Crye 7th Infantry, CO. H Missouri
I have applied to Washington for the records of a Francis Crye, who fought from the state of Missouri, 7th Inf. Co. H.  However, no records were found.  He is listed in the record books, but nothing showed up in the pension files.  The following is an account of the regiment he served in.

o Moved to Booneville, MO July 1-4, 1861, thence to Rolla August 30 and to Syracuse, MO October 5-10. 
o Fremont's Campaign against Springfield October 21-November 2. 
o Moved to Sedalia November 10-14, thence to Otterville December and duty there till February 1862.
o Expedition to Blue Springs January 20-February 3, 1862 (Cos. "B," "F" and "H" detached from Regiment November 21, 1861, and ordered to Kansas City.  Rejoined Regiment at Lexington, MO, February 1862.) 
o Moved to Lexington, MO, February 3-10, 1862, and duty there till May 9. 
o Reconnaissance from Greenville February 23-24 (Co. "H"). 
o Skirmish at Mingo Creek near St. Francisville, February 24 (Co. "H"). 
o Moved to Pittsburgh Landing, TN May 9-14, and guard and fatigue duty there till     August 15. 
o Moved to Jackson, TN, August 15-29, and duty there till October. 
o Medon Station, Mississippi Central Railroad, August 31. 
o Chewalla and Big Hill October 5. 
o Medon Station October 10. 
o Moved to Corinth with McPherson and to Jackson October 14. 
o To Lagrange November 2. 
o Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 2, 1862, to January 10, 1863. 
o At Memphis, TN January 17-February 21. 
o Moved to Lake Providence, LA February 21, and duty there till April. 
o Moved to Milliken's Bend, LA April 12. 
o Passage of Vicksburg batteries April 22 (Detachment). 
o Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-39. 
o Battle of Port Gibson May 1. 
o Bayou Pierrie May 2. 
o Battles of Raymond May 12.
o Champion Hill May 16. 
o Big Black River Bridge May 17. 
o Siege of Vicksburg, MS, May 18-July 4. 
o Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. 
o Surrender of Vicksburg July 4.  Provost duty there till June 1864. 
o Stevenson's Expedition from Vicksburg to Monroe, LA, August 20-September 2, 1863. 
o Expedition toward Canton October 14-22. 
o Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. 
o Expedition from Vicksburg to Sunnyside Landing, AR, January 10-16, 1864. 
o Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. 
o Clinton February 5. 
o Veterans on furlough March to May.  Non-Veterans mustered out June 14, 1864. 
o Veterans at Memphis, TN, and Vicksburg, MS, till July 29. 
o Moved to Morganza, LA, July 29 and duty there till September 3. 
o Moved to mouth of White River, AR, September 3-8 and duty there till October 18. 
o Movement to Memphis and return October 18-30. 
o Moved to Duvall's Bluff, AR, November 9, thence to Memphis, TN, November 28. 
o Consolidated with 11th Regiment Missouri Infantry December 17, 1864.

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 52 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 128 Enlisted men by disease. Total 186. 
 

Solomon Crye  Army, Infantry Maine
I have applied to Washington for the records of a Solomon Crye, who fought from the state of Maine, Army, Infantry.  However, no records were found.  He is listed in the record books, but nothing showed up in the pension files. 

     In previous issues of this publication I began a discussion of the children of John and Catherine Shimmin Crye.  I have been trying to complete sharing information on this family so this article is continued from the previous issue.  In John’s  will he lists his children as William, David, John, James, Isabella, Sarah, Catherine, and Margaret.   An additional son Hugh has been identified to me by LDS researchers but was not mentioned in the will.

WILLIAM CRYE  and  SARAH HAGINS CRYE

William Crye born ca 1755 m/Sarah Higgins/Hagan

Children are:

Catron	born	08/27/1780	NC		Mary	born	01/20/1794	GA/TN
William Jr	born	05/19/1782	SC		John	born	06/18/1796	GA/TN
Hugh	born	11/05/1784	GA/TN		Isabel	born	08/10/1798	GA/TN
Mary	born	12/08/1786	GA/TN		James	born	01/07/1801	GA/TN
Joseph	born	03/05/1789	GA/TN		David	born	02/05/1803	GA/TN
Sarah	born	09/12/1791	GA/TN		Jonathan	born	09/07/1806	GA/TN

   David (John, William, David) we will continue to discuss from the previous issue.  As stated earlier, David was married to Elizabeth Tuck and had seven children we know of.  William M.; John Alexander; Sarah Emeline; Hugh H.; Susannah L.; Joseph; and James.

   In the previous issue I did list these children and who they married, along with their children.  In this issue I want to take a closer look at each child of Elizabeth Tuck & David Crye.

   David (John; William; David) and Elizabeth Tuck‘s first child is William M. Crye who married Mary Jane Robinson/Robeson in Blount Co. TN.  Their children were:

#1  Joseph M. m/ Eveline Best

Children:
Charlie E. (never married)
Elizabeth J. (never married)
Joseph Leroy (never married)
Edith Inez m/ Lloyd Walker
Vera Lillian m/ Charles F. Hunt
Robert C. m/ Helen Margaret Unk

     Eveline Best died in 1909 and Joseph married Ida McGhee. 

Children:
G. Ruth
Kenneth Earl m/ Gladys Irene Carroll
John Kermit (never married)
Roberta “Toby” (never married)

#2  Elizabeth J. m/ William H. Woods

Children:
Helen V.
Bittle?

    Elizabeth died in 1917 and William married a Molly Unknown.  They had a daughter Charlotte.

#3.  Mary E. (whom I have no information on).  Can someone share with me who she married or what happened to her?  Thank you.

#4.  Martha V. (also whom I have no information on).  Can you also share with me about her? 

#5.  John R. m/ Roberta R. and moved to Henderson Co. NC. 

Children:
Mary E.
Katherine
Nellie L.

#6.  William Earl m/ Lillian E. Cooper Bryson. 

Children:
Mary Frances
William Earl Jr.
Margaret C. 

   David (John; William; David) & Elizabeth Tuck’s second child was John Alexander who married Sallie R. Peterson. 

John Alexander and Sallie Peterson were married in Loudon Co. TN in 1879 and had five children on record.

#1  William Tobias m/ Ninnie Ellen McCollum.

Children:
Bessie m/ John David Lands
Jessie Albert m/ Minnie Lands 
 m 2nd / Ada McConkey
Carl (never married)
Annie Mae m/ Gibb Harris
Edith m/ Horace Torbett
Iva m/ Larkin Cook
James Truman (never married)
J. Wilma m/ David Harris
Georgia Ruth m/ Elard Torbett
Johnnie m/ William White

#2  Nannie  (never married)

#3  Robert Ira Lee (never married?)

#4  David Henry m/ Dessie Velver Thompson

Children:
Richard H. 

#5  Etta m/ Thomas O’Toole

Children:
Ruth
Paul

  m/ 2nd Frank Steztler/Sitzer

   David (John; William; David) & Elizabeth Tuck’s third child was Sarah Emeline.  In the previous newsletter I had not found any information on her, however, I did find land transactions that gave me new information on her life. 

   Marriage records for Cumberland Co. TN were lost prior to 1864 and Sarah Emeline married in 1859/60.  I could not find her.  However after the death of David her father in 1861 and then her mother in 1863 the 1500 acres of land David & Elizabeth had received in a land grant in 1858 had to be dealt with.  In 1868-69 the children met at the court house to deal with the property.  In the following court record I found the identity of Sarah Emeline, and also confirmed that the two younger children James & Joseph were no longer considered in the family leaving me to believe that they had both died prior to 1868.  Please keep in mind that the oldest child, William M. would be the typical child who would inherit the estate, or at least be the one who finalized all the details, however the following document gave us a totally different view of this family line. 

Cumberland Co. Deed book    #       ,    page 134-135
     Know all men by their presents that we, William M. Cry, Hugh H. Cry of Blount County, State of Tennessee and Sarah E. Hasler, William Hasler, Susan J. C. Hyder and Joseph Hyder all of the County of Cumberland and State aforesaid of the first part and John A. Cry of the County of Cumberland and state aforesaid of the second part.  Witnessed that we, the said parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to us in hand will and truly paid by the said John A. Cry the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and in consideration also of the natural love and affection entertained by each of us for the said John A. Cry, do by their presents bargain sell and grant claim unto the said John A. Cry and his heirs and assigns forever all our and each of our right, title, intent claim, and dismiss both at law and in equity as well in possession as in expecting of in and to all that certain tract and parcel of land lying and being in the 5th civil district of Cumberland Co. in the state aforesaid and is bounded as follows to with.....   containing one hundred and eighty two acres, but to be the same more or less with all and singular the heraditaments and appurtenances hereto belonging or in any wise attached to have and to hold the said piece or parcel of land and every part thereof to the said John A. Cry his heirs and assigns forever and we the said parties of the first part for ourselves our heirs and representatives do command with the said John A. Cry his heirs and assigns that the above granted premises are free from all incumbencies made or suffered by us and that we will forever warrant and defend the same to the said John A. Cry against the lawful claims of all persons claiming by through from or under us, but against none other.  In witness whereof we have here unto set our hand and affixed our seal.

   In 1859 David Crye purchased 180 acres in Cumberland from a Calvin & Sarah Crook for $200.00.  It is possible that David sold or deeded the 1500 acres prior to his death, leaving certain tracts to his three living sons.   The remainder of land left after David & Elizabeth’s death may have only amounted to 180 acres.  I really cannot judge what happened without a paper trail.  I do know that Hugh, another of the sons, sold and bought land quite a bit in Cumberland Co. TN during this time frame.  I do think it was his own purchases and sells, not the family farm.

   No other land records were noted where David might have sold additional property between 1858 and 1861 when he died.  No additional records were noted if Elizabeth sold property after David died between 1861 and 1863.  These two tracts of land amount to 362 acres, not 1500, but I think this gives us a clue regarding the final outcome of the original 1500 acres. 

   NOTE:  The Deed Book entry, the land was given over to John A. for their natural love and affection they held for their brother.  Giving the land to John for a dollar and love and affection could have just been the way to get around taxes, or simple legal talk, I am not sure.  The first five children were listed with their spouses, but not the youngest two, James and Joseph.  Speculating that they must not have been alive at the selling of the property in 1868-9.  It is highly possible that they died about the same time as David & Elizabeth 1861-63. 

  In 1866 William M. Crye deeded 182 acres to a woman named Elizabeth Graham for a debt he owed in the amount of $80.00.  I don’t have where he purchased any land, but this note of transfer of property was found.

   John A. and his wife Sally Peterson lived in Loudon and Monroe Co. TN, never in Cumberland, and John died in 1889.  His wife remarried and continued to live in Monroe Co. TN, near Cumberland & Blount.  So, his heirs didn’t appear to inherit the property there. 

 

THE WEEKLY OFFICIAL REPORT

An Abstract of the reports made to the Surgeon-General of the Marine Hospital Service. Washington, Aug. 17.

     New Orleans.---Since last report, 471 cases of yellow fever and 121 deaths, making a total of 902 cases and 232 deaths, of which 108 cases and 29 deaths occurred during the 24 hours to noon yesterday.

     Port Eads.---Thirty three cases of yellow fever and five deaths during the week to yesterday evening. 

     Grenada, Miss.---The first case of yellow fever occurred July 25. To noon yesterday there had been 125 cases and 47 deaths. 

     Mobile.---One death from yellow fever yesterday--a colored woman--who, it is reported, had been on an excursion to Biloxi, Miss., July 24.

EDITOR'S NOTE:    This piece goes on with reports from Cincinnati, Memphis, Vicksburg, Havana, Cardenas and Sagua la Grande, Cuba, Matanzas, and cholera deaths from Calcutta and Bombay.  The article also includes more information, but has been edited for size.  The epidemic referenced in this article lasted until the first frost in October, which killed the mosquitoes that carried it.  It has been estimated that between 13,000 and 15,000 lives were lost to yellow fever in the Mississippi Valley that year.