Hendrick Marselis

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Hendrick Marselis was was born in October 1742. He was the eighth and last child born to the marriage of Albany residents John and Anna Beekman Marselis. However, his father died in 1746 leaving widow Anna to raise a large family.

In November 1766, he married Albany native Maria De Foreest at the Albany Dutch church. The marriage may have produced only one child who did not survive to maturity. He was a member and long time pewholder at the church.

In 1766, he was named heir and co-executor of his brother Gerrit's estate. In 1769, he was named as an heir and co-executor of his mother's estate. By that time, he had moved forward to establish himself as a merchant and shipper. In 1766 and 1771, he was appointed firemaster. In 1768, he petitioned for lots on Gallows Hill.

From the 1760s until his death, he was a first ward mainstay as his holdings were accorded modest assessments on Albany rolls.

In 1775, he stood for American liberties when his accounts for service were paid by the Albany Committee. Perhaps he was the Henry Marselis who, in June 1776, was appointed captain of the militia company raised in Albany County to reinforce the Continental army in Canada. That officer was on duty north of Albany throughout the summer. In June of 1777, he was elected to represent the first ward on the Albany Committee of Correspondence. Afterwards, he was accorded a land bounty right under the Albany militia regiment.

After the war, Henry and his wife settled into their Albany home and were enumerated on city census and assessment documents. In 1790, their household included one slave.

Hendrick Marselis died in October 1802 and was buried from his church. He had lived about sixty years. His widow survived until 1816.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Hendrick Marselis is CAP biography number 724. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. We are careful not to confuse this individual with his contemporary, Henry A. Marselis of Schenectady.




first posted: 7/30/07