Robert Dunbar was born in November 1709. He was the son of innkeeper John Dunbar and his first wife Bata Winne Dunbar. Following Bata's death and John Dunbar's second marriage in 1724, he seems to have re-located to Schenectady.

In October 1732, he (R. Tumbarr) married Albany native Cornelia Spoor at the Albany Dutch church. By 1744, six children had been baptized in Albany.

Robert Dunbar's child was buried from the Dutch church in March 1737. His name seems to have dropped from Albany rolls following the baptism of his son in 1744. Unlike his other brothers and sisters, Robert was not named in the will of his father filed in 1736. This omission is of grave concern in the development of Robert Dunbar's life profile.

However, "captured at Albany", a Robert Dunbar was among those incarcerated at Quebec in 1746 who escaped confinement in October are were believed to have drowned crossing Lake Champlain.

Perhaps, his widow was the "Cornelia Dun Barr" whose Albany property was valued along with her son Levinus Dunbar during the mid-1760s.

At this point, we have no reason to believe that Robert had followed his father in the hospitality business. As his name is conspicuously missing from the Albany-based record except for the family information noted above, perhaps his livelihood lay beyond the settlements of his ancestors. With so many unanswered questions regarding his life and passing, we move on for now.

Sources: The life of Robert Dunbar is CAP biography number 2268. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.