Donald McBride &Isabella McDonald

Descendants

Ancestors

We are descended from Donald McBride who was born in 1799 in Sheanochie, Arran, Scotland. He moved with his family to New Mills in New Brunswick, Canada in 1851, following other families (McCormacks, Cooks and others) who had moved about 20 years earlier. They probably sailed from Lamlash on the Isle of Arran to Dalhousie just north of New Mills, New Brunswick. Many people from Arran moved to the US, Canada, and other British colonies in the early to middle 1800's.
Other McBrides moved from Arran to New Zeland and South Africa.
See Immigration

Much of this Immigration was a result of changes instituted by the Duke of Hamilton, who owned most of Arran. In 1815 he transformed it from cultivation on a communal system to subdividing it into separate farms, but there were not enough farms to go around.

See History of the Early Settlements Around New Mills for more information.

Three of Donald's children and many grandchildren moved to California, Thomas (1839-1892) and John moved to Antelope Calif. around 1887. Christina who married John McKenzie moved to Lodi, CA and Grandsons Daniel & Thomas McCormack moved to Rio Vista, CA in 1891.

22 of his 27 grandchildren (McBrides, McCormacks & McKenzies) either moved to California or were born there between 1870 and 1900.

While in Arran they were crofters (i.e. they lived on plots land called crofts.) It is unclear whether the McBrides ended up in Arran as a result the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, or actually came to Arran earlier.

The McBrides were thought to be of the MacDonald Clan Ranald,who helped Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), who was defeated at the battle of Culloden in 1746 which ended the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion.

The Highland Clearances in 1785, affected mainly the northern part of Arran, however the old croft, about 1 mi. north of Shannochie (1.3 mi. on the dirt road.), may have been abandoned as a consequence. The McBrides moved several times to farms within a 1 mi. radius Sheanochie after that.

DNA testing indicates we may have come from N. Ireland.
In the McBride Genealogy, Deanna Taylor says: "The Sept was located in County Donegal in the North West of the country. Some descendants may be of Scottish origin, the name having been brought into Ulster by Scottish settlers in the seventeenth century."
See the history of the McBride Name

Our Clan was thought to be MacDonald Clan Ranald

Arms Irish

Arms

Badge

Tartan (WR427)

The MacDonald's Clan Ranald take their name from Ranald, the son John Islay, 1st Lord the Isles and Amy Macruari. Ranald was the obvious heir to chiefship Clan Donald. However, when the succession occurred it was Donald, Ranald's younger half-brother who became chief. Ranald however did receive the territories Moydart, Lochaber and Arisaig.

The Clan Ranald was also well represented in the 1745 rebellion for which the chief was forced into exile once more in France.

The "Book of Arran" suggests some connection with Robert The Bruce.

Clan MacDonald

Clan Gatherings:
In the 60's - 80's the McBride, McKenzie and McCormack families held clan gatherings in central California, where Roberta McKenzie created and updated a family tree.
The baby boomer generation has dropped the ball and there haven't been any recent gatherings. I'd like to get them started again, so let me know if you're interested in helping.

Family Businesses:
Businesses run by descendants of the families here:
McCormack Ranch - Natural Lamb and Goat, Rio Vista, CA
Café Rouge, Berkeley, CA (Sold in 2016)
McKenzie Vineyards, Lodi, CA
There are probably many more; Let me know and I can add you to the list.

Reference/Links:
Some of Donald's brothers for whom I've tracked down cousins in our generation.

John (1781-1809) Scotland
Robert (1808-1843)
Robert (1839-1892) (I've got to check why I have 2 Roberts)
James
DNA testing
Scottish History
Early Origins of the McBride family | houseofnames.com Sources of Information.
Roseville Cemetery
Obituaries

Return to Early California Families Page