Cornelia Dunbar was born in 1761. She was the first child born to Albany area residents Gerrit and Catharina Bradt Dunbar.

By the 1780s, she had married newcomer James Chestney. By 1800, six of their children were baptized in the Albany Presbyterian church.

These Mc Chestneys/Chesneys lived on the State Street hill where James was a prominent businessman and chairmaker.

In 1802, she was left a chest by her widowed mother.

Cornelia Dunbar Chestney died in May 1826. She had lived sixty-four years. Her husband lived another twenty-one years.

Sources: The life of Cornelia Dunbar Chestney is CAP biography number 2252. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.