Cornelia Ray Lansing
by
Stefan Bielinski


Cornelia Ray was born about 1758. She was a daughter of the Ray family of New York City. She was the niece of Manhattan businessman Robert Ray who fled to Albany during the War for Independence.

In April 1781, she married attorney and Revolutionary officer John Lansing, Jr. at the Albany Dutch church. By 1800, their ten children had been baptized there.

After the war, their large, new home was a Market Street landmark as Lansing rose through the political ranks to become mayor of Albany in 1786. With a large and growing family and with her husband in often away on business, Cornelia's household was attended by several household servants.

Her long marriage ended when Chancellor Lansing disappeared in 1829. The following year, letters of administration were issued on his estate. "Widow" Cornelia Ray Lansing died on January 24, 1834. She had lived seventy-six years.

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notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Cornelia Ray Lansing is CAP biography number 6944. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. We seek information on her precise origins!

In 1784, she was named heir and co-executor of her uncle's estate along with her brother, Cornelius Ray.




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first posted: 9/15/02