Marselis Janse (1628 - bef. 1722)

Born 1628 in Bommel, Gelderland, Netherlands

Husband of Annatie (Gerritse) Marselis — married about 1658 in New Netherland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 22 May 1722 before age 94 in Albany, Albany, New York

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Biography

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Marselis was born between Feb. 1628 and Feb. 1629, since he testified in Feb. 1654 that he was at that time 25 years old, born in Bommel.^[1]

According to Stefan Bielinski: ^[2]

"Marcellus Jans was from Bommel in Gelderland, Holland. By 1655 he was a tavern owner in Beverwyck, and was a corporal with the West India Company. In subsequent decades he acquired land in and near Albany. He married Anna Gerrits. His will of 1690 names five children. They took the surname "Marcelis." He died before 1700."

Marselis purchased a house in September 1654, a few months after his release from service, and no doubt set up his tavern there.

A public notice appears in Albany County Records for a sale of clothing and other items on 5 February 1655 at the house of Marselis Janse. ^[3]

Pearson calls him "a man of good capacity and large business."^[4] In addition to his tavern trade, he served a number of terms as a "tax farmer", purchasing the right to collect taxes on commission, including the excise on beer and wine and on livestock slaughtering,^[5] appearing several times in court to collect delinquencies (won some, lost some).^[6]

He did appear in court occasionally on the wrong side of the law. In 1660 he was charged with sending a servant "into the woods to get Indians with beavers", evidently meaning illegal fur trading with the Indians. He denied the charge and the case was continued, outcome unknown.^[7]

He was cited a couple of times for serving liquor on Sunday during church services.^[8] In 1660 it was alleged that he had "ventured at night, after the ringing of the bell, to entertain guests and to serve drinks." When confronted by a court officer he said "I shall tap the entire night in spite of Montagne." No doubt he was partaking along with this guests. Johannes La Montagne was the Vice-Director of the New Netherlands colony and chief magistrate for the upstate district. Marselis plead not guilty but was fined for the offense and additionally "for his insolent remarks".^[9]

Name

Some family historians and research databases have interpreted Marselis as a family surname, and have given his name as Janse Van Bommel Marselis.^[10][11] This interpretation is erroneous; the name "Janse" is a patronymic form that would not have been a first name. In his will, this man called himself "Marcelis Janse" (first name of Marcelis and patronymic name Janse) and signed his name "Marcelus Jansx" or Marcelus Jansen.^[12]

See Research Note and Surname Marselis: The Legend of Gabriel.

Immigration

Marselis was a servant of Johan de Hulter and must have arrived with him in 1653, departing Amsterdam in May, in the ship Graef. He is identified as de Hulter's servant in court records in Dec. 1653. In Feb. 1654 he was "the former servant" of de Hulter, so his term of employment or indenture expired around the end of 1653.^[13][14]

In 1663 to 1664 Marselis made a return voyage to the Netherlands.

Two records from 6 and 8 August 1663 state that he was at that time "proposing to depart for Holland by the first ships now ready to sail". The references are in an authorization to collect an inheritance for a local baker from relatives in Netherlands, to satisfy the baker's debt to Marselis -- and a power of attorney to collect furniture belonging to another Beverwyck resident.^[15] It seems unlikely that he was making the arduous journey just for these reasons but there are no other clues to his purposes.

His wife rented a house on her own account on 22 March 1664, indicating that her husband was away. Marselis took a lease on another house in May 1662, due to expire April 1664.^[16]

"Marselis Jansen, farmer, from Bommel" is listed as embarking from Amsterdam on 20 January 1664 aboard the vessel Trouw ("Faith").^{[17][18][19][20]}

This note previously posted indicates that he returned in April, which seems right, but the source is unclear:

Arrived on Ship: Faith - Source LDS/Pearsons Schenectady & Albany Ship Reports Sailed from Amsterdam Jan 20 1664 Arrived New York/New Netherland Apr 1664

Marriage and Children

Marselis Janse married Annetie Gerritse. The date and place of their marriage are not known. Several online sources say they married in New York on 20 January 1664, but there is no record of their marriage in the New Amsterdam church records, and the source cited for this date of marriage in an Ancestry database ("A List of Early Immigrants to New Netherland," by Van Brunt Bergen, Van Brunt, 1884) indicates this to be the date when "Marselis Jansen Van Bommel," a farmer, was believed to have immigrated to New Netherland.^[21] This was a return visit to the Netherlands, not original immigration, see above.

Children:

1. Child: Guysbert Marselis
2. Child: Huybertje Marselis
3. Child: Gerrit Marselis
4. Child: Seitje Zytje Marselis
5. Child: Judith Marselis
6. Child: Ahasuerus Marselis

Death

Marselis Janse made his will on 11 June 1690, in the city of Albany, New York. He signed his name Marselis Jansx. He died before 22 May 1722, when the will was proved.^[12] Stefan Bielinski states that he died before 1700.^[2]

In his will, he designated his wife Annetie to be his sole heir, and directed that after her death the estate should be divided equally among their children, without regard to male or female sex or, in case of their death, to the grandchildren, taking the place of their deceased parent or parents. Children named in the will were Gysbercht, Huybertje, Sytie, Judith and Aasuerus.

Research Notes

Parentage

There is no evidence to support the notion that this man was the son of Gabriel Marcelis or Anna L'Hermite, nor the brother of New Netherland immigrant Hendrick Marselis. See Surname Marselis: The Legend of Gabriel regarding the source of this prevalent confusion.

Name and parentage

The "x" in the printed transcript of the will must originally have been a long "z", which was an abbreviation for the suffixes "se" and "sen". "Se" is possessive, so Marselis Janse meant "Marselis Jan's", understood to mean son or daughter. "Sen" means son, so Marselis Jansen likewise meant Marselis, Jan's son. (James N. Churchyard, "Introduction to Dutch Names".

The signature on the will properly interpreted is "Marselis Jansen", which is how Pearson reads it, or Janssen (indistinguishable with the terminal abbreviation). Likewise the handwritten transcript in the court records. Thus, Marselis was not Gabriel's son.

Marselis signed a number of documents in the "Early Records", most often read as "Maercelys Janssen", but with spelling variations. When he was cited in the text it was as "Marcelis Janssen [Van Bommel]", with variants of Marcelis and sometimes Jansen. Van Bommel was an editorial insertion, so evidently it was not used at the time as part of his name (Pearson, v. 1, index, "Van Bommel, Marsellis Janse".)

As noted, his descendants adopted Marselis as an English-style surname. But the marriage record for son Ahasuerus in 1697 was still using the "z" suffix, i.e. Marselisen, son of Marselis.^[22] In 1701 both Ahasuerus and Gysbert were recorded with surname Marselis at the baptisms of children.

Some sources, including Schenectady County historian Austin Yates,^[23] have asserted that the name Marcelis was a surname of Spanish origin and should properly be spelled Marcellus -- "the right & and original spelling of this name of the Spanish conquest."^[23] There is no basis in the records for this romantic notion.

Sources

1. ↑ A.J.F. Van Laer, ed., Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck, 1652-1656 (Albany: University of the State of New York, 1920), v.1, p. 106, HathiTrust.org.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Bielinski, Stefan. Marcellus Jans, "The People of Colonial Albany." New York State Museum website.
3. ↑ Albany County Records, [page 220.
4. ↑ Jonathan Pearson, et al., Early Records of the City and County of Albany and Colony of Rensselaerswyck (Albany, NY: University of the State of New York, 1916-1919), v. 1, p. 16n, Archive.org.
5. ↑ Pearson, Early Records, pp. 54, 258, 287, 296, 388.
6. ↑ A.J.F. Van Laer, ed., Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck, 1652-1656 (Albany: University of the State of New York, 1920), v.1, pp. 225, 253, 268, HathiTrust.org.
7. ↑ Van Laer, Minutes, v. 2, p. 280. In another case the wording is clearer: The defendant had "ventured to send his servant into the woods and to employ him there as a broker to fetch Indians with beavers." The "woods" presumably meaning beyond the settlement boundaries; p. 298.
8. ↑ Minutes, v. 1, pp. 13, 255.
9. ↑ Minutes, v. 2, p. 312.
10. ↑ Gale Research. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data - Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010. Place: New Netherland; Year: 1655; Ancestry Record pili354 #4644550
11. ↑ Ancestry Family Trees: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/7547870/person/-978200279/facts
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Will of Marcelis Jansen - 1690 (English-language translation of will written in Dutch). New York State Museum website. Digital image of the will from FamilySearch microfilm, Original records of administrations of estates, inventories and accounts (New York), 1600's-1700's, 1700-1825. New York. Surrogate's Court (Albany County), Vol. 1, page 179.
13. ↑ A.J.F. Van Laer, ed., Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck, 1652-1656 (Albany: University of the State of New York, 1920), v.1, pp. 88, 106, HathiTrust.org.
14. ↑ A letter from the West Indies Company directors notifying New Amsterdam of the embarkation of the de Hulter party references an "enclosed list" of the settlers. Lamentably the list is not included with the printed transcript. Joel Munsell, Annals of Albany (Albany NY: J. Munsell, 1850-1859), v. 4, p. 85, HathiTrust.org.
15. ↑ Jonathan Pearson, et al., Early Records of the City and County of Albany and Colony of Rensselaerswyck (Albany, NY: University of the State of New York, 1916-1919), v. 3, pp. 238, 240 Archive.org.
16. ↑ Early Records, v. 3, pp. 145, 279.
17. ↑ Michael Tepper, New World Immigrants: A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists and Associated Data from Periodical Literature ( Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979), v. 1, p. 192, Ancestry.com.
18. ↑ Bergen, Van Brunt. "A List of Early Immigrants to New Netherland," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York, NY: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Vol. 15 (1884), page 72.
19. ↑ Faith - Source LDS/Pearsons Schenectady & Albany Ship Reports Sailed from Amsterdam Jan 20 1664 Arrived New York/New Netherland Apr 1664
20. ↑ Olive Tree Genealogy website, Ships' Lists: [To New Netherland (NY) 1624-1664: [de Trouw 1664 http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/nnship34.shtml]. Accessed 21 May 2020.
21. ↑ Bergen, Van Brunt. "A List of Early Immigrants to New Netherland," The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York, NY: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Vol. 15 (1884), page 72.
22. ↑ Ancestry Record NYDutchChurch #2040216
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} Yates, Austin A. Schenectady County, New York: Its History to the Close of the Nineteenth Century. The New York History Company, 1902. Pages 248-250, Chapter 24.

• Ancestry Family Trees. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.
• Bielinski, Stefan. Marcellus Jans. "The People of Colonial Albany" (website). New York State Museum, Albany. Accessed 03 Nov 2016.
• Bielinski, Stefan. Marselis Family. "The People of Colonial Albany" (website). New York State Museum, Albany.
• Pearson, Genealogy of the1st Settlers of Schenectady
• Desc of Simon Volkerse Veeder www.fortklock.org/vaderex gives complete date
• New York City Marriages, 1600s-1800s. Genealogical Research Library, comp.Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
• Gale Research, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s: Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Filby, P. William, ed.. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2006.
• Wardell, Patricia. Early Bergen County Families. File: BCFam-Merselis.pdf: "Marselis, Janse (Janse Marselis Van Bommel". Accessed 28 Jan 2017. http://njgsbc.org/indexes/bergen-county-families/
• Will of Marcelis Jansen, New York State Museum website.

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of Reba Family Tree_2011-03-12.ged on 13 March 2011.
• WikiTree profile Marselis-46 created through the import of Morrison Family Tree.ged on Aug 15, 2012 by Shawna Morrison. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Shawna and others.

Misc.

NOTE: a Dutch Land Grant for Marcelis, Hendrick, a lot Beverwyck 24 Mar 1654. http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/resources/yates/gen-marcellus.html

MARCELIS, Janse Van Bommel, " born at Bommel in Gelderland," one of the first sellers of Beverwyck and ancestor of those bearing the name of Marselis. in this region, was farmer of the excise for several years following 1655. His wife was Aunatie Gerritse. In 1690, June 11, he made his will, and was not living in 1700. Ch : Gysbert ; Huybertje, m. Joseph Yates ; Sytje, m. Joseph Janse Van Santen [Zandt] : Judith, m. Lucas Hooghkerk i Ahasuerns settled in Schenectady : Gerrit with wife and child was killed in the massacre at Schenectady, Feb. 9, 1690.

Charles Smith and Rachel Amy Bryant A 1C9 p 213 a/c NY & New Eng Fam. p 172 will dtd 11 Jun 1690--not lvg 1700; will prvd & recorded 22 May 1722 in Kingston, NY. He names ch as given in this rec.; prob lvd Kingston latter life; called Janse Marselis Van Bommel. 1655 and some years later was called "Farmer of the excise, a man of good capacity and large business."

from Coll on Hist of Albany p 146 & Gen of the 1st Settlers of Albany p 78: "born at Bommel in Gelderland"; one of first settlers at Beverwyck and ancestor of those bearing name of Marcelis in Albany area. Made his will 11 Jun 1690--was not lvg in 1700." One of first settlers in Beverwyck. New Netherlands Vital Rec 1600s #1797 says he came on ship "de Trouw" 1/20/1664. He was a farmer.

Collections on the History of Albany NY Vol 4 p 184 L

Also known as Marcelis Janse/Van Bommel a/c Charlotte M. Hix, P.O. Box 2277, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-2277 AF97-121539. a/c to Charlotte, he b 1620-30 Holland and d bef 1700

also known as Janse Marselis a/c Genealogy.com Fam. Archive 1614-1668 a/c Martin Hogan

New York and New England families p 172, 176

Prob he was a bro of Hendrick Marselis, one of Melyn's Colonists of Staten Island, having come over w/others in "New Netherland's Fortune" in 1650. Hendrick fled with w and 2 ch (dtrs) and servant to Ft Orange (Albany) when Island attacked by Indians in 1655. Settled permanently in Albany. see NY & New Engl Fam p 172 also a/c Gen of the 1st Settlers of Albany p 78

Arr America 1664; came on "de Trouw 20 Jan 1664. p 980 a/c Gen of the 1st Settlers of Schenectady: he b at Bommel in Guilderland, Holland, came early to Beverwyck where for many years he was an innkeeper and farmer of the burger and tapster excise of beer etc. He seems to have been a man of good capacity and large business. His ch settled in Albany, except Ahasuerus and Gerrit who removed to Schenectady. Made his will 11 Jun 1690, proved in Kingston, 22 May 1722, and d bef 1700. His wife was Annatie Gerritse. the "Van Bommel" in his name prob means from Bommel, Gelderland

Marriages in Zaltbommel, Gelderland: "Netherlands, Gelderland Province, Church Records, 1405-1966," images, FamilySearch (FamilySearch.org : accessed 13 October 2021), Alle Gezindten > Zaltbommel > Burgerboek 1620-1808 Trouwen 1627-1659 > image 41 of 189; Gelders Archives, Arnhem.