He was son of John Marshall, rector of St George, Bloomsbury, and entered as a pensioner of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 8 July 1696.
He was lecturer at Aldermanbury Church, and curate of Kentish Town in January 1715, when, at the recommendation of the Prince of Wales, who admired his preaching, he was appointed one of the king's chaplains.
On 26 March 1716 he became rector of the united parishes of St. Vedast, Foster Lane, and St. Michaelle-Querne, in the city of London); and in 1717 he was created D.D.
He was also lecturer of the united parishes of St. Laurence Jewry and St. Martin, Ironmonger Lane.
By his wife Margaret he had eight children, the eldest of whom was in 1730 rector of St John the Evangelist Friday Street.