Andreas Souplis is a bit of a mystery. It is often repeated that he was born in 1634, a native of Alsace, a Huguenot and an officer in the French army, that he left France in 1682 for Germany and married a German woman named Gertrude Stressinger.1 Unfortunately it appears that most, if not all, of this is false. Andreas was probably born at least twenty years after 1634, was almost certainly not an army officer, and was probably not even a Huguenot. The fact that his name is often written as Supplee is probably what suggested the French ancestry, but there is some evidence that he was Dutch.

The earliest known records for Andreas are from New York. In September 1685 he was admitted as a burger and citizen of New York, with freedom to buy land and to trade.2 An ambiguous record in New York at the same time suggests that he was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church there, if in fact it refers to him. A record in the membership list for December 1684 said, “Andries Souplÿ, j.m. met attestatie van Amsterd” (young man with a certificate from Amsterdam). In the margin was added, “afgevallen en Quaeckers geworden daar na gestorven.” A footnote gave the translation, “Fell off from the faith and became a Quaker, and afterwards died.”3 This very interesting record gives several pieces of information: that this Andries Souply arrived from Amsterdam, that he came with a certificate from a Reformed church there, that he became a Quaker, and “afterwards died”. If this is the Andres Souplis who appeared soon after in Germantown, we have to assume that the recorder of the Dutch church could not tell the difference between a Quaker and a member of another sect such as a Mennonite, and that Souplis did not actually die but simply left the colony of New York.4 The designation of Souply as a “j.m.” (young man) is problematic, since this would usually refer to an unmarried man and by December 1684 Andreas was married.5

On Sept 20, 1684, a baptism record at the Dutch church of New York shows a baptism of a son Bartholomew to parents Annetie Bartholomeus and Andries. Andries’ last name was not given. The sponsors were Marten Clock and his wife Lysbeth Abrahams.6 This is interesting for three reasons: the timing is right for Andreas Souplis’ known children; his wife’s name was known to be Anneke (a variant of Annetje); Andreas and Anneke named their first son Bartholomew. Marten and Lysbeth are not known to be related. It certainly falls within the time when Andreas is believed to be in New York.

Some time before 1682 Andreas married Anneke. Her last name is unknown. They could have married in Holland or in New York. In 1686 they bought 50 acres in Germantown from William and Maricke Streepers. Andries was naturalized there in 1691 and acted as sheriff of Germantown.7 His service as sheriff in Germantown does not imply, as some have suggested, that he was “held in high esteem” by William Penn. At the time Germantown was a self-governing borough and many of the adult men served as one of the many officers, such as burgess, sheriff, road viewer, or fence overseer. In 1693 Andreas was taxed in Germantown for his 50-acre holding.8  He worked as a weaver, like many early Germantown residents.9 In 1692 Garrett Hendricks apprenticed his son Lambert to Andrew, presumably to learn the weaver’s trade.10 The same year Andrew and “Anneckie” Supplee were witnesses at the marriage of Henry Fry and Anna Levering in Germantown. She signed by mark.11  Also in 1692 Andreas signed a petition (as Andrew Seeply) against a tax bill, along with many of his Germantown neighbors.12

Anneke died between 1692 and 1697. After Anneke’s death Andreas sold the Germantown land with its “three story stone messuage” and moved, with his unmarried children, to Kingsessing, Philadelphia County.13 He bought land there from Peter Petersson Yocum.14 By 1697 he was married to Gertrude Enochson. She was probably the daughter of Hans Månsson , who deeded land around 1673 to Garret Enochson, her first husband, with whom she had two children. After Garret’s death she married his brother Harman. He died about 1702 and she married Lasse Bartleson (also known as Lasse Parker), a Finn.15 After his death she married Andreas Souplis, as her fourth husband.16

Andreas died in March 1727 in “Kingsess”, leaving his wife Gertra and five children. In his will he named them all, along with two of his sons-in-law. He signed the will as “Andris Souplis”, in a clear hand. His “well beloved wife Gertra” was to have a third of his goods, along with the house and land for her lifetime. After her death it was to be sold and the proceeds divided among his children, along with the other two-thirds of the personal estate.17 The inventory of his estate was taken on the first day of March 1726/27. It included the usual household goods and farm implements, plus 22 sheep, which must have provided the wool for his weaving.18

Gertrude was assessed in 1734 for forty acres in Kingsessing. She died there in 1738. In her will she asked to be buried at Wiccoco Church (the Swedish church) with her late husband, presumably Andreas. She named several of her own children (David, Henry and Catherine) and several grandchildren.19 Her inventory was taken on December 14, 1738 by Nathan Gibson and her neighbor John Bartram. It included the usual furniture, household and farm implements, plus a weaving loom with gears and thirty sheep.20

The land that Andreas and Gertra owned in Kingsessing had a later history of its own. After Gertra died, her stepson Andrew sold the tract to the botanist John Bartram.21 It became part of his holdings on the Schuylkill, and is preserved as the “south meadow” there, part of the oldest botanical garden in the country.22

Children of Andries and Anneke:23

Margaret, b. ab. 1682, died after February 1744 in Germantown24, m. 1) in 1700 Peter Keyser, 2) Michael Eccard of Germantown. She first married Peter Keyser, who had emigrated with his father from Amsterdam. They lived in Germantown and had ten children: Dirck, Andries, Peter Dirck, Jacob, Abraham, Elizabeth, Anneke, Catelyntje, Johannes, Margaret. Peter died in 1724, leaving most of the children under age, and Margaret married Michael Eccard, who owned a small farm in the “back part” of Germantown. Eccard was a generous man, in his will of 1763 leaving £50 to the Lutheran Church in Germantown, and £20 for a hospital for the poor.25

Bartholomew, alive in 1724, possibly died about 1744, lived in Blockley Township26. There is no evidence that he married or left children.

Andrew, b. 1688, d. 1747, lived in Upper Merion, a maltster and merchant, m. Deborah Thomas.27 Buried at Norris City Cemetery, Norristown.28 His will, written and proved in 1747, named his wife Deborah, and his children Hance, Jonas, Andrew, John, Catherine, Sarah, Susannah.29

Ann, died in 1755, m. before 1724 Claes (Charles) Yocum.

Jacob, m. Elizabeth Enoch in 1720 at First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.30 Born Elizabeth Vansant, she was the widow of John Enoch, Gertrude Enoch’s grandson. Jacob was named in Gertrude’s will as Jacob Supplee.31 They lived in Upper Merion.