Learn About the Freedom Fighter March 12 at the Seymour Library
When Mike McBride, of Rochester, began studying his family’s ancestry, he never could have imagined the special “ancestral pot of gold” he was going to discover. A DNA sample from his Aunt Lily, a nun with the Sisters of St. Joseph, provided a crucial family link to human rights crusader John Joseph “Exile” McBride.
Exile McBride was internationally famous in his day. According to The Ottawa Citizen Newspaper, “His love for his mother country and his desire for her freedom from English rule led McBride to become one of the most ardent advocates of freedom for Ireland” (2/10/1911). However, none of the present-day McBrides had ever heard of him. Mike spent a great deal of time during the pandemic and in the years since researching his long-lost great-uncle. He has turned up a slew of old newspaper articles from both sides of the Atlantic, now numbering over 2,000. It has been a years-long journey filled with ups and downs, resulting in many great discoveries and mysteries yet to be solved.
The story of Exile McBride is an inspirational David vs. Goliath, underdog tale. Imagine an impoverished, 17-year-old Irish teenager, escaping Ireland as a wanted fugitive after a failed rebellion attempt against the tyrannical ruling British government. He made his way to America in 1864 and travelled along the Erie Canal, arriving in Brockport with nothing but the clothes on his back.
Exile took up the lucrative new field of photography, earning enough money to bring his parents and siblings to Brockport in just a few years. Along with photography, he sold political badges to fund his lifelong crusade for Ireland’s independence. He traveled throughout the United States at his own expense, passionately speaking out against British oppression in his homeland. McBride published his own newspaper promoting Irish independence and was a frequent contributor to other newspapers, writing inspirational columns about democracy and the importance of freedom, independence, and liberty – rights he believed every human being deserved. He gained considerable American support in opposing British control of Ireland.
Serving as an informal ambassador, Exile had extensive dealings with British Prime Minister William Gladstone, meeting with him on three occasions to promote Ireland’s independence. To strengthen his case, McBride hand-delivered petition books signed by tens of thousands of America’s most prominent and powerful citizens, including presidents. During his final visit, McBride stayed for a week as a guest at Gladstone’s historic Hawarden Castle — never mentioning that he was a wanted British fugitive. Instead of being arrested or executed for his treasonous crime of rebellion, Exile wined and dined with royalty and even attended flower shows.
Interestingly, old newspaper articles mentioned how much Gladstone treasured Exile’s American petition books. That prompted Mike to contact the Gladstone Library to see if any still existed. To his amazement, the archivist told him that a large, 600-page Memorial of Prominent American Citizens, compiled by John Joseph McBride in 1889, is preserved at the library. Mike plans to visit Hawarden Castle and the Gladstone Library this spring and hopes to digitize Exile’s historic petition book so he can bring a copy back to America for preservation.
Exile’s death in 1911 made international news. Although his funeral was held in Buffalo, several articles reported that Exile was given a second funeral at the Church of the Nativity and buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Brockport. Living nearby, Mike set out to find the gravesite. Given Exile’s notoriety, Mike said he went to Brockport expecting to find a big bronze statue of his famous ancestor. “I was shocked to discover that there was nothing in Brockport showing that he ever existed!” Since no trace of his gravesite could be found, the cemetery allowed the McBride family to honor their ancestor with a new memorial stone that they dedicated during a public ceremony on October 9, 2021.
Despite the wealth of information Mike has already uncovered, some mysteries remain. He is currently trying to find exactly where Exile lived locally and whether the structure is still standing. Exile’s primary residence was in Buffalo, and the city’s newspapers kept close tabs on his comings and goings in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Several articles mentioned Exile’s “country home” and farm in Brockport, while others referred to his country residence and his or his mother’s farm in Adams Basin. The locations seemed to be used interchangeably, even in articles written just days apart or by Exile himself. Mike believes there were two homes, and that perhaps Exile bought the Adams Basin farm for his mother, Jane.
An 1888 article from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle noted that Exile installed a banner in front of his residence at Salmon Creek (where Northampton Park is now situated). When a blaze broke out at Jane’s Adams Basin home in November 1893, the Buffalo Courier reported that Exile and a neighbor rescued “the old lady” from the fire and that Exile suspected it had been caused by arson. Later articles continue to mention an Adams Basin home. Mike hopes to find old maps or property records to fill in the missing information and potentially have a historic marker installed.
He would also like to find out more about the McBride siblings. Exile’s oldest brother, Patrick, lived in Brockport, and his 1896 obituary in The Brockport Republic mentioned that he died in East Sweden. Brother Stephen lived on Clinton Street in Brockport, James in Adams Basin, and sister Mary (John) Carney in Clarkson. Anyone with information can email Mike at rocksham1@yahoo.com.
Sharing Exile McBride’s Story
Mike sees it as his mission to bring recognition and credibility to his great-uncle. He has given 30 PowerPoint presentations, near and far, on Exile’s incredible life story. The next one is planned for Thursday, March 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Seymour Library, 161 East Avenue, Brockport. It is free and open to the public.
Mike is also writing a book about both Exile’s life and his own journey of discovery. Progress has been slow, though, because every time it nears completion, a new and noteworthy discovery comes to light. Mike hopes the book will finally be completed by this summer.
“Exile McBride dedicated his entire life as a human rights crusader, promoting the universal message that every human being was entitled to inalienable, God-given rights, along with their independence, freedom, and the ability to live in a democratic government,” Mike said. “Exile has now been dead – and until recently forgotten about – for 115 years. However, his noble cause is certainly very much alive and relevant today.”
Although Exile died before seeing Ireland gain its independence, he contributed to the effort for over 40 years. His heroic life is a lesson in relentless determination, patriotism, and a little luck of the Irish.
Provided photos
