History – from Gael, Scotland to Eden, Utah
THE FOLLOWERS OF ST. BRIDGET
The McBride's of our ancestral line were Scots. Diligent research has placed those whom we
believe to be the earliest of record as living in Ireland in the early 17th century A.D.
Pedigree Chart #1
Fairly certain are we that the earliest person of record in our ancestral line is a Captain John
McBride (#1 on the chart, circa 1620). Our first acquaintance with him centers in Ireland. Certain
evidence points to his birth in that country as being around 1620. (This approximate birth date is
based on the fact, that his signature appears on an important document dated April 8, 1644. No
doubt an adult at the time, we assume he may have been twenty to twenty-four years of age. That
his birth place is in Ireland is based on the further assumption that his parents came to Ireland
from Scotland, upon the settlement of the Ulster Plantation - 1603-1610, for which there is good
evidence). To get a focus on Captain John and those succeeding him with whom this history
deals, it is well to consider something of the early Scots, the origin of the name, McBride, and
why we find the McBride's, though Scots, living so much of their time in Ireland.
Just who the people were who first inhabited Scotland is uncertain. There is good evidence they
were remnants of the Israelites who migrated into the north countries of Europe, having escaped
the Assyrian captivity after 721 B.C. Some of these people evidently made their way into
northern Scotland, into the highlands that came to be known as Gael and from there spread
southward.
Early in their history, for purposes of identity and protection, they formed themselves into closeknit family groups called "clans." Out of a tangled web of clan struggles, Scotland's history
began to emerge.
At some period during these early centuries, fighting men developed the coats of arms by which
individuals and families (clans) identified themselves. The McBride coat of arms one of the
many developed by the early Scots.
In later centuries, after the introduction of Christianity, Catholicism became the predominant
religion. Many of the clans looked to Patron Saints for leadership, giving them a sense of unity
and a cause.
One particular group accepted "Saint Bridget" as their patron saint. Because they so religiously
followed the concepts of this adopted leader, they became known as the "The Followers of Saint
Bridget," or simply, "Saint Bridgets." Over the centuries the word "Saint" was replaced by the prefix
"Mac," meaning "son (s) of." Thus the appellation became Mac Bridget, literally, "Sons of Bridget."
Some years later the "g" in the middle and the "t" at the end were dropped, and with a slight
contraction in the prefix (from M-a-c to M-c) the name became McBride. The Scots of today are
descended from those early clans who gradually adopted modern names.
History reveals two major reasons for the presence of a large population of Scots in Ireland in the
early centuries. During the 1500's at the time of the Protestant Reformation, many of the people in
Scotland joined reform groups, notably the Presbyterians. Eventually there arose severe persecution
against the Presbyterian Faith in Scotland. In the early 1600's many of that persuasion, seeking
religious tolerance, moved to other countries, including Ireland.
The political climate of the period had an even more far-reaching effect. At the time of which wespeak, the English had strict control over both Scotland and Ireland. In the 1600's Irish Lords
rebelled against the oppressive rule of the English Government. Successfully quelling the uprising,
the English drove the rebellious Lords from the country, taking over their lands and holdings. The
displaced Lords, their lives at stake, fled to places of safety never to return. Their property, the land,
and political conditions were left in a devastated state. Likewise many hundreds of the Irish
citizenry, employed by the landholders, fled to the mountains.
To correct this situation the English Government made large land grants, called Baronies, to certain
chosen Scottish and English people. The grantees, however, were required to develop the land.
Consequently, large numbers of people from neighboring countries were invited in, causing a steady
influx of farmers and tradesmen to Ireland. Especially from Scotland they came, often whole
families; even big portions of clans moved en masse. These people became known as the ScotchIrish. (This term used to identify these particular people should not be construed to mean a mixture
of Scottish and Irish blood; merely that they were Scots who had made Ireland their home). They
occupied the dubious position of living in Ireland but having no Irish ancestors.
The masses who had fled were forced to live by robbing from the villages of the lowlands. They
eventually filtered back into the communities and took the menial jobs to survive. Being the native
Irish who had been so unjustly dealt with, they naturally held deep resentment for the Scots and
English who had taken over.
Though intermarriage of the Scots with the English became common practice, any such
integrating with the Irish remained a rare occurrence for many generations. This for both
political and religious reasons.
The exact time our ancestors moved from Scotland to Ireland is not known. The earliest people
we know of in the McBride ancestral line are believed to have been of the Presbyterian
persuasion. Such families as the McBride's, seeking good opportunity, may have come to Ireland
for either or both reasons mentioned. That they were a part of the so-called "Scotch-Irish" as
explained above seems certain.
The Captain John McBride with whom our story begins seems to have been a man of integrity,
seriously committed to his religious views and possessed of certain qualities of leadership. From
parish records of the period is gleaned the information that he was a Presbyterian born of
Scottish parents, and that he had a military career. It is highly probable that his parents came to
Ireland from Scotland in the early 1600's at the time of the settling of the Ulster Plantation, 16031610.
No doubt the early years of his life were in uncertain, rapidly changing times. An important issue
of those times centered around freedom of worship. In due course political and religious leaders
drafted a document called, The Solemn League and Covenant, which provided that religious
reform groups would be allowed their own forms of worship and still show allegiance to the
King. One in sympathy with this movement, John McBride attached his signature to the
document at Holywood, County Down, April 8, 1644. This act alone marks him as a man of firm
convictions, not adverse to being identified with the issues of the day. And judging from what
research has disclosed concerning the high moral and spiritual caliber of a great many of his
descendants, one cannot escape the feeling that this Captain John was a man of similar noble
endowments.
Just when John began his military career is not certain, but by the time Reformer-General Oliver
Cromwell did battle and took over the English Government in 1649, he was an officer (Captain)
of a certain contingent of Irish troops, a part of the standing army loyal to the English King,
Charles I. As such he would ostensibly be expected to defend the existing government against
Cromwell's campaign of government reform if called upon.
Evidently Captain John never engaged directly in any of the military encounters of Cromwell's
campaign. When the take-over was imminent, he and other officers surrendered without
bloodshed to one of Cromwell's generals. Captain John's name is listed among the "49er's" or
the" 49 Lot"* who capitulated at this time.
Cromwell's take-over marked the beginning of the "British Commonwealth," which lasted about
eight years, or until the General's death in 1658. It is believed the surrendering officers continued
to serve their country under the rule of the Commonwealth managed by the victorious Oliver
Cromwell.
About the time of the General's death there is a record of the "49 Lot" (Apparently this has
reference to the year 1649 - group) being called to headquarters to receive their "adjudicants,"
which evidently means they were given whatever citations or rewards were due them for their
military service. Among the long list of officers is the name of Captain John McBride.
Research of the period has revealed several persons by the name of McBride, ostensibly sons of
the Captain. Only one of them is documented as such. He became a minister and was known
thenceforth as Reverend John McBride. The Reverend, however, is not in the ancestral line of
the McBride's. Though documentation is lacking there is good evidence that a certain Robert
McBride is the one who fits the time and location to be the son of Captain John and the father of
Daniel, (#3). (A less likely candidate is one Thomas McBride, believed to be a brother of
Robert.).
As of this writing (1988), vital information about this Robert is lacking. Research is on-going
through correspondence with the Belfast Library and the Public Records Office of Northern
Ireland. In any event, the Daniel of whom we speak was the grandson of Captain John McBride.
(See chart). All those names descending from Daniel are well documented.
Though records are extremely sketchy, Daniel (#3) is established as a tenant on the Downshire,
or Hillsborough, Estates, in Down County, Ireland. The exact nature of his occupation is not
mentioned, but he was evidently a farmer or a tradesman.
Of Daniel McBride's family we know only of a son, John (#4) born about 1715 (or 19) given the
name of his great-grandfather. Though the place of his birth is not recorded, at the time of his
marriage he lived in Lisburn, Antrim County, Ireland. Very likely John's birth was at this same
place, at least at some town within the County Antrim. He married Mary Hull (#5), whom we
believe to be also of Scotch-Irish descent. That he became a man of some importance is
evidenced by the fact that he received a Government appointment to the Port Surveyor's Office at
Londonderry, Derry County, at which time he moved from Lisburn to Londonderry.
John McBride and Mary Hull were married sometime prior to 1750. Mary, the daughter of
Edward Hull, was born about 1724 at Blaris, County Down, in Ireland. The Hull family were in
the service of Lord Hillsborough, the father being the agent for the Hillsborough Estate. Edward
Hull died around 1748/49, leaving his estate to Mary and her brothers. The properties thus
inherited by Mary were later disposed of according to records of deeds dated 30 June, 1750, in
Blaris, and 24 July, 1756, in Londonderry.
It appears that John McBride's appointment to the position in the Port Surveyor's Office occurred
some time between the dates of the disposal of these properties (1750-56). Upon their move to
Londonderry, no doubt occasioned by the appointment, John and Mary lived in a house on
Bishop Street. His name appears on the tax rolls there from 1775 until 1778, presumably the time
of John's death, at about age sixty.
Mary continued to occupy the house until 1783, presumably the time of her death, she also near
age sixty, at which time their son Robert became the occupant. This is the person designated as
Robert 1st (#6) on the chart. (Of passing interest is the fact that there are two other names of
record, Reuben McBride and Samuel McBride, brothers. Whether they are sons of this Robert
just mentioned, or his brothers, the record is not clear. There is evidence, however, that they
migrated to Canada, and later to Maryland in the U.S.A. This would account for McBride's other
than those of our own line, being in America at an early date.)
Robert's son and grandson also bore the name of Robert. For identification purposes we
arbitrarily refer to these three individuals as Robert 1st, Robert 2nd, and Robert 3rd, although, as
noted, an earlier Robert, believed to be the son of Captain John, is part of the record.
As noted earlier Robert the 1st is assumed to have been born about 1750 in Lisburn, Antrim
County, Ireland, and upon the death of his parents, John and Mary, he occupied a house in
Londonderry, Derry County, Ireland. However, any further documented information about
Robert 1st in Londonderry is lacking. This is probably due to the fact that he followed a seagoing
profession and had little to do with life in the city. He probably never exercised the rights of
citizenship in Londonderry. Consequently his name does not appear on record as a "Freeman,"
one who has a voice in the city's government and other privileges of citizenship. This does not
mean that he was not deserving of such right, only that he probably was not at home enough to
be interested.
STEWARDS AND KINGS
Robert 1st married a Scottish Lass, Nancy Lakey (#7), in 1776. We have nothing of the personal
life of Nancy Lakey other than that she was born about 1755 in Londonderry, Derry County,
Ireland, to James Lakey and Margaret Cust. In a family of seven children, three brothers and
three sisters were all older than Nancy. Her extensive pedigree, suggests a solid family, proud of
its heritage. The fact of her father being a "Shopkeeper" suggests that he held an enviable
position in the business world of his day. Her grandfather, Thomas Lakey, is known to have been
a merchant and to have held the position of Alderman and Mayor in Derry, circa 1708.
It seems evident that the Lakey family had considerable knowledge about their progenitors and
that there existed a connection to Scottish Royalty, even to Robert Bruce I, King of Scotland.
(Known as Robert the Bruce. Evidently the term Bruce was originally a designation of a title or
station of nobility. Eventually the term Bruce was adopted as a surname). Whether there existed
any recorded pedigree in possession of the Lakey family is doubtful. Their knowledge of being a
one-time peerage family was primarily by word of mouth passed down through ten or more
generations. Furthermore, there is evidence that the tradition persisted in the McBride family
through the descendants of Robert and Nancy to modern times. (Robert Franklin McBride, father
of the authors, seems to have vaguely understood this oral tradition. It is said that the naming of
his seventh child Bruce was not only in admiration of the Scottish King hero, but with some
genealogical connection).
Research, of recent years, into the historical background of the Lakey family has resulted in a
genealogical windfall, a treasure trove of information about people and places of great renown,
of peerage families, stewards and kings. Truly, Nancy Lakey is deserving the appellation "Gem
of Genealogy." Not only is the tradition of relationship to Scottish Royalty now confirmed, but a
great deal else has come to light.
Since King Bruce figures prominently in genealogical material to be discussed, the reader will be
interested in reviewing the story of how this illustrious Scot came to prominence, an account
seen as one of special significance to the McBride family.
In 1313 a Scottish Baron, fugitive from battle, heartsick with discouragement, lay on a bed of
straw in a peasant's hovel hiding from his enemies while his troops were in disarray. Repeated
military defeats had reduced his fighting spirit to a low ebb. Idly he watched a spider hanging
from its web, vainly attempting to swing itself to the next beam of the wretched hut. Six times
the spider tried and failed.
"If it tries again and is successful," said the fugitive to himself, "I too will make another
attempt."
On the seventh try the spider succeeded.
This bedraggled soldier, the Scottish hero Robert Bruce, encouraged by the insect's stubborn
persistence, rallied his forces, and against great odds went forth to win the battle against his
enemies, and was soon thereafter crowned King of Scotland.
The story of the spider (it is more than legend) illustrates a dominant characteristic of our
Scottish progenitors. The dogged determination to prevail in the face of adversity, demonstrated
by the King and his contemporaries, has cropped up many times in their lineage since that distant
date, and is evident in their progeny even today. To persevere against great odds has been the
legacy of the McBride family, especially since the time one of their number, in 1837, threw in
his lot with the Latter-day Saints, the first of his clan to do so.
The story of our connection with King Bruce begins with his beautiful daughter, Princess
Margery. She married a man by the name of Walter Stewart, who held the office of Lord High
Steward of Scotland, the most important office in the kingdom next to the throne. From this
union was born a son whom they named Robert, after his grandfather, the King. This son, Robert
Stewart, eventually inherited the throne,(1371). He assumed the title King Robert Bruce II and
reigned until his death. His son, also named Robert Stewart, ascended the throne and reigned as
King Robert Bruce III. Thus the line of Stewart kings began to be perpetuated in Scotland.
From King Bruce III a genealogical line begins with his daughter, Princess Mary Stewart, then
descends through six succeeding generations to an Agness Cunningham who married a Walter
Leckie in the mid 1500's. Through five more generations of the Leckie (Lakey) family we arrive
at a James Lakey living in Ireland. (The term Leckie was originally applied as the name of a
geographical area, a person living there being designated by a given name and the place, such as
"Sir Walter of Leckie." In succeeding generations the area name was adopted as a surname and
has come down in the records with a variety of spellings: De Lecky, Leckie, Lecky and
eventually, Lakey).
James' daughter, Nancy Lakey, married Robert McBride 1st. (See accompanying chart). This
couple, Robert and Nancy, are the great, great, great-grandparents of the authors) The
accompanying chart shows at a glance five centuries of genealogy from King Robert Bruce I to
Robert McBride 3rd.
That Nancy Lakey was a descendant of a family of some note is evidenced by the fact that a
town of that name (then Lecky or Leckie) still exists near Dumbarton, Scotland. According to
available information the Leckies remained for many years a high ranking Peerage family
owning great Baronies and lands, fully aware of their relationship to Scottish Royalty through
the descendants of the Stewart (Bruce) Kings. Like many people of early times, through quarrels
among themselves, changes in rulers, wars and disagreements, the Lakeys (Leckies) eventually
lost their holdings and titles and became a solid working class of people. This small area near
Dumbarton is presumed to be all that remains of the vast holdings once owned by them.
The extensive research performed in recent years takes us back even farther than has been
mentioned. From King Bruce I an ancestral line can be traced to the Kings of Israel.
Furthermore, from that Walter Stewart who married the King's daughter, Margery, an ancestral
line can be traced to William the Conqueror, 1100 A.D., and thence to Biblical times, likewise
connecting to the Kings of Israel.
Although no attempt has been made on our part to verify it, genealogists tell us that these royal
lines, including Biblical lineage, form one straight line back to Adam. That we are all descended
from Adam is not new; but the fact we are actually able to verify it, and, in the process, acquaint
with those people whose blood flows in our veins, is sobering and exciting information.
The Cunningham's, mentioned in the ancestral line of Nancy Lakey, are in the pedigree
descending from the great Charlemagne. Other high-ranking and peerage families are found to be
intermarried with the Leckys and the Cunningham's, including the Setons, Sinclairs, the
Livingstouns, Stewarts and Edmonstounes. The brief outline of names and places mentioned here
represents only a small vein of the genealogical bonanza uncovered upon searching into the
background of the Scottish lass, Nancy Lakey. The story of her ancestry, branching as it does
through dozens of peerage families of the British Isles and Europe, though of great interest and
importance, lies outside the scope of this writing.
PEDIGREE CHART II - Showing line of descent from Robert Bruce I, King of Scotland, to
Robert McBride 3rd. (The dates shown are dates of births)
Pedigree Chart II
Editors' note - The demonstration of how the descendants of Robert McBride 1st are connected to
Scottish Royalty and other peerage families through his marriage to Nancy Lakey is not to be
construed as an attempt to claim any special distinction. To do so would not be in keeping with the
avowed purpose of genealogical research. Genealogists tell us that anyone who is willing to devote
time and effort may possibly trace his ancestry to Royalty of some sort. The real excitement is
getting acquainted with new (old) friends. Furthermore, every researcher knows as one searches out
his progenitors he runs the risk of associating not only with princes, but knaves as well, making any
claim to fame on that score questionable.
Pedigree Chart 3
Though all will admit that a few famous names add color and flavor, making the story more
palatable, the material is presented primarily to give credit to those who have shown great diligence
in the painstaking pursuit of genealogical research. Let us therefore be proud of the heroes and
forgiving of the rogues. Furtherance of the cause of truth is reward enough.