This consolidated reprint of three pamphlets by Mr. David Dobson endeavors to shed light on some 1,000 Irish men and women and their families who emigrated to North America between roughly 1775 and 1825. In the majority of cases, the lists provides us with most of the following particulars: name, date of birth, name of ship, occupation in Ireland, reason for emigration, sometimes place of origin in Ireland, place of disembarkation in the New World, date of arrival, number of persons in the household, and the source of the information. This volume is the first in a three-volume series by Mr. Dobson on early Irish emigration to America.

Family history and genealogical information about the descendants of John Shears Olliff and Johannah Jackson. John was born ca. 1752 in North Carolina. He was the son of J. Olliff and Mary Shears. Johannah was born ca. 1755. She was the daughter of Joseph Jackson and Ann Jarvis. John Olliff married Johanna Jackson ca. 1785 in North Carolina. They lived in Bulloch Co., Georgia and were the parents of three sons and three daughters. Descendants lived primarily in Georgia.

James Branch was born in North Carolina ca. 1760-1770. He married Rachel (?) who was born in 1766 and died in 1850. They moved to Laurens County, George around 1838. He pursuaded other family members to move to Laurens County. They are found in the 1820 census of that county. James and Rachel were the parents of four children (possibly more): David, Elias, Rachel and William. Descendants lived mostly in Georgia, with others moving to Florida and elsewhere.