Massachusetts Marriages (pilot.familysearch.org) has birthplace as Gere-Prinepy, Reuss, Germany (Gera?)
Cecile is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, TN. (Dunscombe family Bible. Mount Olivet Cemetery records cited in correspondence from Flo Perry to Edward Andrew Dunscombe 9/8/1990). Family legend suggests she may have been a nurse to Edward's first wife Ann during her illness in Germany.
From passport application, 1865: Height; 5'5"; Eyes: Blue, Hair: Black; Forehead: Broad; Nose: Straight; Mouth: Ordinary; Chin: Ordinary; Complexion: Sallow; Face: Oblong.
The entry for her in the 1860 census says she is a French teacher. The 1861 Boston, Mass. directory lists "Young ladies' school" after her name.
Cecile and Henry Messer were granted patent 39,321 on July 21, 1863 for an improvement in hot-air engines:
39,321 HENRY MESSER Roxbury to himself and Cecile G Dunscomb Boston Mass Hot Air Engines Patented July 21 1863 This invention consists first in a peculiar arrangement and combination of parts by which top or packed portion of the piston is kept cool the constant presence of fresh compressed air by which the heat which tends to radiate from top of the piston is utilized and second in provision herein shown and described the induction and eduction valves are easily in position and removed therefrom with stems attached and without the necessity breaking the connection between the valves their stems or rods.
1 The combination of a pump or pumps with a chamber in the piston of a hot air engine and with an outlet pipe from said chamber directly into the hot air reservoir when so arranged as to pass all of the compressed cool air into and through said chamber for the specified purpose.
2 Constructing the pipes which connect the valve chambers with the exterior of the engine and which incase the valve stems and prevent leakage into the valve chambers of a diameter equal to or in excess of that of the valves for the specified purpose.