Nicholas Marselis

Nicholas Marselis was born in May 1740. "Claes" was the son of Gerrit and Margarita Bleecker Marselis. He grew up in a large family in the second ward home of an Albany shipper and councilman.

In August 1766, he married Margarita Groesbeck at the Albany Dutch church. By 1786, that marriage had produced eight children who were christened in the Albany church.

This Marselis family also made its home in the second ward where Nicholas held a number of service positions beginning in 1761. His accounts were paid from the city treasury. In 1767, his name was on a roster of an Albany militia company. Beginning in 1766, his modest second ward holdings were valued on city assessment rolls.

In 1766, he was one of those who signed the constitution of the Albany Sons of Liberty. A decade later, he was appointed captain of the First Regiment of the Albany militia and saw active duty during that time. In January 1778, he was elected to represent the second ward on the Albany Committee of Correspondence. A few months later he signed a petition for the release of a young prisoner. He also carried messages to Congress in Philadelphia in 1781.

In March 1779, his lot (no personal property) in the second ward was valued moderately. Located nearby, were the holdings of his widowed mother and brothers.

By 1790, Captain Nicholas Marselis was living in Rensselaersville. He probably was dead by 1803.

Sources: The life of Nicholas Marselis is CAP biography number 851. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.