Johannes Groesbeck was born in July 1731. He was the son of David and Maria Vanderpoel Groesbeck. He grew up as part of a large family in the home of an Albany mainliner.

In July 1765, he married Aaltje Van Arnhem. She died after bearing four children. In September 1773, he re-married, this time to Catharina Van Schaick. This second marriage produced ten children who were baptized at the Albany Dutch church where he was a long-time member.

Johannes Groesbeck was a shoemaker who lived on Fox Street in Albany's second ward. For a time, he lived with his brother, David Groesbeck. They owned or leased additional land in the Foxes Creek ravine. One of these lots had a tanning pit. In 1762, he was appointed constable in the second ward. The next year, he served as a firemaster. He also was a contractor of the city.

He served in the colonial militia and later was accorded a land bounty right for service to the Revolutionary cause in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

John D. Groesbeck was a Fox Street mainstay for more than fifty years. His household was configured on the census. In 1800, his second ward household included eight members. His holdings were included on assessment rolls. He was listed in the first city directory at 78 Fox Street.

John D. Groesbeck died in December 1815 at the age of seventy-four.

Sources: The life of Johannes Groesbeck (John D. Groesbeck) is CAP biography number 3355. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.