Alexander Dobbins, Sr. was born about 1715 in either Dover or Derry Co., Ireland. He is believed to have descended from one of the Dobbin(s) families of Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, North Ireland. John, James and William Dobbin were among the sheriffs of Carrickfergus during the period 1576-1681.
Alexander, Sr. probably came to America sometime before 1736 with his brothers James and John and sisters Jane and Rosanna. It is not known whether they came to America with their parents, but it is possible they did, considering their ages.
Alexander, Sr. and his family first settled in Coln or Lower Darby Township, Chester Co., PA. About 1736, they moved to Hanover Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. Alexander Dobbins and his first wife (name not known) were probably married about 1736 in Lancaster Co.
They lived there until about the fall of 1749, when other family members and friends moved to the Granville District of NC, settling in the Irish settlement along Second Creek, a tributary of the South Yadkin River. The book "Carolina Cradle; Settlement of the Northwest Carolina Frontier, 1747-1762", by Robert W. Ramsey, shows Alexander Dobbins' land located about 30 miles southwest of the confluence of Second Creek and the South Yadkin River on the north side of Second Creek just before the fork with Withrow's Creek in 1747-49. Other families living in this Irish Settlement were: James, Georege, Jr., George, Sr., Alexander & Andrew Cathey; Richard, James, Jr., James, Sr. & John Graham; John, Jr., John, Sr., William & Richard Brandon; Matthew, John & George Lock; Thomas Gillespie; John Sill; James Marlin; Thomas Bell; John Holmes; Felix Kennedy; Alexander Dobbins; and John Withrow. Members of the Skiles and Cowan families accompanied the Dobbins to NC and settled in the same!
general area along with several Cathey, Graham and Withrow families, all having Scots-Irish ancestry.
