Hi Gill,
I'm doing some research on the Crye family, but I guess this post comes about 10 years late. I recently discovered the 1911 Census of England and Wales record for William E Crye. According to the record, he was born about 1861 in the United States, but a naturalized British subject at the time of the census, living at 27 Elstow Street in Liverpool. He was a dock worker, married to Susannah Jane Davies (1871 - 1941) in 1899 in Lancashire, England.
At the time of the census they had five children living from a total of 8 children born:
Edith J - 11 years
Dora F - 7 years
William E - 6 years
Thomas Herbert - 3 years
George - 15 months
All the children were born in Liverpool Lanes. I believe William Crye died in Liverpool in 1918.
I have no solid evidence, but I believe William was the brother of James H Crye, born about 1859 in Virginia, USA. James was the son of John Crye, born about 1820 and Elizabeth Clayfield, born 1818 in Middlesex, England. John and Elizabeth were married in 1841 at the Church of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Liverpool. Elizabeth appears in the 1851 Census of England, living with her parents, John and Elizabeth Clayfield and her daughter Elizabeth born in 1850 in Liverpool. I can find no other reference for John Crye.
James H Crye married Mary Jane Boyd in 1879 in Liverpool. On the marriage certificate, his father, John Crye was described as a Mariner. James and his family appear in the 1891 and 1901 Censuses in the West Derby area of Liverpool. James was a naturalized British subject. Mary Jane, listed as married not widowed was recorded living with her married daughter in the 1911 census, but no mention of James.
If you have any new information I would love to see it.
John