John A. Fornery is listed in the tax records of May 15, 1841 for Lebanon County, Annville Township as "residing at the Widdow Forney"; his occupation is recorded as cabinetmaker. Annabel Forney, the widow, is listed as owning 19 acres and the owner of a house of Brick and Stone.

A similarly constructed chest with nearly identical peacock plume decoration is in the collection of the William Penn Memorial Museum, Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission.