My Genealogy Hound

THE SUPLEE FAMILY. The pioneer of the Suplee family in America was Andris Souplis, a Frenchman, born in France, in the year 1634, a man of distinguished parentage, a soldier, an officer in the French army, and also a Huguenot.

He left France in 1682. France at that time was a monarchical government, and the established religion was Roman Catholic. The Huguenots, on account of their religious belief, were persecuted by the Roman Catholics under the reign of Louis XIV, who was then King of France. These persecutions became intolerable, and tens of thousands of Huguenots left France to seek homes in foreign lands. Amongst them was Andris Souplis, who left France in 1682 and went to Germany. He was virtually a refugee, fleeing from persecution. Whilst in Germany he married a German lady, Gertrude Stressinger, who was born in Germany in 1642.

They left Germany in 1683, and with a party of German emigrants came to America, arriving in Philadelphia in the early part of 1684. History informs us that Andris Souplis was a man of great intelligence and ability, and was held in high esteem by William Perm, who was then residing in Philadelphia, and was governor of the province of Pennsylvania at that time. Andris Souplis was sheriff of Philadelphia county in 1691. With his wife he settled in Germantown. They had five children, as follows in the order of birth: Bartholomew, Margaret, Andrew, Ann, and Jacob. Andris Souplis, in his will dated March 25th, 1724, states that he was aged, but of sound mind and good health. He also states that he was then living upon his plantation in Kingsessing township, Philadelphia county, in the province of Pennsylvania. He died in the early part of the year 1726, aged ninety-two years. His wife survived him, but we have no record of the time of her death.

Their eldest son Bartholomew settled upon a farm in Blockley township, which territory is now within the city limits of Philadelphia. His dwelling house stood whereon the Cathedral cemetery is now located in West Philadelphia. The remainder of the farm is now covered with streets and buildings. Upon this farm was erected a grist and saw mill. The ground where on the Blockley Baptist church now stands was a portion of this farm, and was donated by John Suplee. The eldest daughter Margaret married Peter Cayson, and Ann married Charles Yocum; the husbands of both were Swedes. The youngest son, Jacob, married Elizabeth Enoch. They purchased and settled upon a farm in Upper Merion, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) county, near Swedeland, and some of their descendants are now living in that neighborhood.

Andrew Supplee, second son of the emigrant, Andris Souplis, was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1688. Andrew was the ancestor of the branch of the family to which the writer of this sketch belongs, and who has confined his research to the territory of Andrew and his descendants. Andrew was twice married. His first wife was Anna Stackhouse, and his second wife was Deborah Thomas. There was but one child by the first marriage, a son, Hance. By the second wife there were four children-James, Andrew, John, and Sarah. Andrew purchased in 1712 and settled upon a farm in Upper Merion, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) county, near the village of Matsunk, and resided there the remainder of his life. He died in 1747, aged fifty-nine years. His remains, with those of sixteen others, were buried in a vault in Morris City cemetery, two miles north of Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Hance Supplee, eldest son of Andrew, was born in Upper Merion, July 14, 1714. His wife, Magdaline Deborah De Haven, was born November 25, 1716. They were married in Philadelphia, August 5, 1736. The De Havens were also French Huguenots. Hance Supplee and wife also resided in Upper Merion, until about 1750, when Hance purchased and with his family moved upon a farm in Worcester township, Montgomery county. This property is known as the “Supplee Homestead Farm.” The dwelling house built by Hance Supplee in 1753 is still standing, and although erected one hundred and fifty-one years ago is in very good condition, and from present appearances will endure another century at least. Hance Supplee and his wife Magdaline were the parents of a large family- six sons and eight daughters: Andrew, Elizabeth, Sarah, Deborah, Catharine, Peter, Abraham, Rebecca, Hannah, Rachel, Isaac, Jacob, John, and Mary. Hance Supplee in 1770 gave a plot of land from his farm and built thereon a meeting house which is now known as the Bethel Meeting House. He also donated an adjoining lot for a cemetery, which is named the Bethel cemetery. Strange to relate, Hance Supplee’s remains were the first to be buried in the grounds he donated. He died December 16, 1770, aged fifty-six years and five months. His widow, Magdaline, resided at the homestead place the remainder of her life, and died October 5, 1801, aged eighty-five years.

Peter Supplee, the Revolutionary soldier, became owner of this property after the death of his father. Peter was the sixth child of Hance and Magdaline Supplee, and was born in Upper Merion, September 2, 1745. His wife, Susanna Wagoner, was born in 1750. They were married in 1774, and had but two children-a daughter, Rachel, born January 18, 1775, and a son, Peter, born February 8, 1778. Peter Supplee and wife were living upon this homestead property when the Revolutionary war broke out. September 12, 1777, Deter volunteered as a soldier in, the Revolutionary army, joining Captain Charles Wilson Peale’s company of Philadelphia Militia. Captain Peale’s company belonged to the Fourth Battalion of the Philadelphia Regiment of Foot. Jacob and John Supplee, younger brothers of Peter Supplee, were also soldiers in the Revolutionary army, and served in the same company with Peter. Jacob was the twelfth, and John was the thirteenth child of the family. Their captain, Charles Wilson Peale, was a man of note, and was a warm friend of General Washington. In colonial days he was a noted landscape and portrait painter, and, when Washington’s army was encamped at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78, Captain Peale there painted the Washington portrait which is now the property of the Pennsylvania State Normal School at West Chester, Pennsylvania.

SOLDIERS’ CERTIFICATES.Harrisburg, Pa., May 1st, 1901.
To whom it may concern:
I hereby certify to the following military services of Peter Supplee. One Peter Supplee, of Worcester township, Philadelphia county, was a private soldier in Capt. Charles Wilson Peale’s Company, Philadelphia Militia, volunteered September 12, 1777. For this reference see Penna. MSS. Archives in possession of the State of Pennsylvania.

GEORGE EDWARD REED,
State Librarian and Editor Penna. Archives.

Harrisburg, Pa., March 10, 1904. To whom it may concern:
I hereby certify to the following Revolutionary record of one Jacob Supplee. Jacob Supplee was a private soldier in the war of the Revolution in Captain Chas. Wilson Peale’s Company. Enlisted Sept. 12, 1777. This company was of the Fourth class, Philada. Militia, now in the service of the United States, commanded by Lieut. Col. Will. For reference see Penna. Archives, 2d series, Vol. 13, Page 678.
THOS. L. MONTGOMERY, State Librarian and Editor Penna. Archives.

Harrisburg, Pa., March 10, 1904. To whom it may concern :
I hereby certify to the following Revolutionary record of one John Supplee. John Supplee was a private soldier in the war of the Revolution in Captain Charles Wilson Peale’s Company. Enlisted Sept. 12th, 1777. This company was of the Fourth class, Philada. Militia, now in the service of the United States, commanded by Lieut. Col. Will. For reference see Penna. Archives, second series, Vol. 13, Page 678.
THOS. L. MONTGOMERY,
State Librarian and Editor Penna. Archives.

The old Supplee homestead property is historic ground, a Revolutionary landmark. General Washington’s army was twice encamped upon this property in the month of October, 1777, when that distinguished soldier led his troops from Pennypacker’s Mills, at Perkiomen, about October 1, 1777, to give battle to the British army at Germantown. He came with the army to this place, and was encamped there on the second and third days of October. Whilst the army was encamped upon the farm, General Washington and General Greene had their headquarters in the Supplee dwelling house and October 3rd General Washington and his officers held a council of war on the lawn in front of the house. That afternoon the army broke camp and marched to Germantown. The battle of Germantown took place the next day, October 4, 1777. Owing to a dense fog existing at that time, that battle proved disastrous to the American Army. It was defeated, and on October 5 retreated to Pennypacker’s Mills, on the same road by which it had advanced to Germantown two days before. After resting at Pennypacker’s Mills until October 8, Washington advanced his army to Towamencin township, remaining there until October 15. The army again came to the Supplee homestead, and was encamped there from October 15 to October 21. The army then advanced to Whitpain township, remaining there until November 1. On November 2, Washington advanced his army to Whitemarsh, and took a position there, intending to give battle to the enemy. On December 3 General Howe, with the British army, marched out from Philadelphia and took a position at Chestnut Hill, some three miles distant from Washington’s army. After the armies had confronted each other in these positions without coming to a general engagement, General Howe, on December 10, suddenly withdrew his army and marched back to Philadelphia, where the troops went into winter quarters. December 11, General Washington took up his march with his army to Valley Forge, crossing the Schuylkill rives at Swedes’ Ford the 12, and the army arrived at the Gulf Mills on December 13. Peter, Jacob and John Supplee were soldiers in the ranks of the American army during the campaigns herein recited, and Peter’s teams were also used at that time in removing the army supplies from Whitemarsh to Valley Forge.

December 18 the army resumed its march from the Gulf Mills over the snow-covered roads to Valley Forge. That march, history informs us, could be traced by the blood stains upon the trodden snow left there by the shoeless feet of the American soldiers. December 19, 1777, the American army went into winter quarters among the snow clad hills of Valley Forge. That whole winter there was a panorama of suffering, endurance and patriotism, and there upon the bended knee Washington invoked the Divine assistance. On January 24, in that memorable cold winter of 1777-78, encamped with Washington’s army upon the bleak hills of Valley Forge, surrounded by his compatriots in arms, in the darkest days of the American Revolution, Peter Supplee, a martyr to liberty, gave his life for the liberty we now enjoy. After his death at Valley Forge, his remains were taken to the Bethel cemetery and there interred. After Peter Supplee had been dead one hundred and twenty-five years, his great-grandson, Edwin M. Suplee, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, after discovering his resting place, conceived the project of erecting a monument at his grave in grateful remembrance of his services and great sacrifice to his country’s cause, and after a year’s labor amongst Peter Supplee’s descendants succeeded in raising money enough to erect a monument. On November 28, 1903, the monument was erected at Bethel cemetery. It bears the following inscription:
In memory of Peter Supplee,
A Revolutionary Soldier,
Born Sept. 2nd, 1745, Enlisted Sept 12, 1777,
Died whilst encamped at Valley Forge,
January 24th, 1778,
A Martyr to Liberty.

Andrew, the eldest son of Hance and Magdaline Supplee, was born in Upper Merion, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1737. He was twice married. His first wife was Mary Zimmerman. By this marriage there were three children- Hance, Susanna, and Peter. By the second wife, Rachel Davis, there were five children-Ruth, Phoebe, Deborah, Randolph, and Mary. They resided in Worcester, Montgomery county. Andrew and both his wives were buried in Bethel cemetery.

Elizabeth, the second child, born in Upper Merion, November 30, 1738, and Catharine, the fifth child, born in Upper Merion, December 4, 1743, both died in infancy.

Sarah, the third child, born in Upper Merion, October 14, 1740, and Rachel, the tenth child, born in Worcester, March 6, 1753. No records of their lives are obtainable.

Deborah, the fourth child, born in Upper Merion, November 30, 1741, married Christopher Zimmerman, December 1, 1763.

Abraham, the seventh child, born in Upper Merion, April 1, 1748, was a local preacher. He died in 1826, leaving many descendants.

Hannah, the ninth child, born in Worcester, September 13, 1749, married Jacob Kern. They settled in Wallace township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, near Glen More. Some of their descendants are living in that vicinity.

Rebecca, the tenth child, born in Upper Merion, November 25, 1751, married David Wagoner, about the year 1785. They emigrated to Yates county, New York, where they settled.

Isaac, the eleventh child, was born in Worcester, September 7, 1754. He had three children-John, Magdaline, and Martha. Isaac became the owner of the farm which had belonged to his grandfather, Andrew Supplee, in Upper Merion. John succeeded to the farm of his father’s. He had several descendants living in Philadelphia.

Jacob, the twelfth child, born in Worcester, August 2, 1756, was a Revolutionary soldier, and a certificate of his military service is given in this sketch. He appears to have served throughout the whole war. After the war was ended he emigrated to Kentucky. He never married. Sometime after his death, some property belonging to his estate was discovered at Columbus, Ohio, which was disposed of, and the proceeds of the sale were divided amongst his nearest heirs.

John, the thirteenth child, born in Worcester, September 11, 1758, was also a Revolutionary soldier, and a copy of the certificate of his military service in the war of the Revolution is also given in this sketch. After the close of the war he emigrated to Yates county, New York. He there married Achsah Botsford, and they had three children-Peter, John, and Jonathan.

Mary, the fourteenth and youngest child, born in Worcester, December 3, 1761, also emigrated to Yates county, New York, in 1785. She married Isaac Sherman. Some of their descendants are living in that county. The writer of this sketch had the pleasure of visiting their homestead place in 1870. It was then owned by their sons.

Susanna Supplee, the widow of Peter Supplee, the Revolutionary soldier, some time after the close of the war emigrated to Yates county, New York. She took her daughter Rachel with her, leaving her son Peter with his grandmother Magdaline, at the old homestead place in Worcester, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Rachel belonged to the fifth generation of the Supplee family in America. She married Morris F. Sheppard, and their children were: Charles, George, and Sarah. Rachel died January 16, 1853, aged seventy-eight years. The eldest son Charles was a merchant and afterward a banker in the town of Penn Yan, New York. He was a prominent citizen and became wealthy. He married Jane Bradley, and their children were: Jane, John S., Morris, Bradley, and Sarah. George was a farmer living near Penn Yan. His children are: George S., and Walter B.

Peter Suplee, only son of Peter Supplee, the Revolutionary soldier, belonged to the fifth generation of the Suplee family. He was born in Worcester, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1778. Fifteen days after the death of his father, his mother, Susanna Supplee, with her daughter Rachel, emigrated to Penn Yan, New York, when he was but seven years old, leaving with his grandmother Magdaline to raise at the Supplee homestead in Worcester. After passing his boyhood days upon the farm he learned the carpenter trade. At the age of twenty-one years, in 1799, he married Hannah Eastburn of Upper Merion, Montgomery county. They purchased and settled upon a tract of three hundred acres of land in Charlestown (now Schuylkill) township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. This tract adjoined the Moore Hall tract on the north, and the James Anderson tract on the south. There they erected buildings and made their home. This property is historic ground. A tribe of Delaware Indians once had a village and also a graveyard on this property. The first white settlers in this neighborhood, James Anderson and wife, their first winter there, lived in a cave near the Indian village. Until quite recently the mounds in the Indian graveyard were visible. Many relice, such as stone axes, arrow heads, etc., were found upon this property when ploughing the ground. At the time Peter and his wife Hannah settled here, everything was very primitive. Their farming implements and means of conveyance were rude. No Dearborns or carriages existed among the farmers then. They attended Philadelphia market on horseback, using saddle bags to carry their farm and dairy products to market. The writer of this sketch in his boyhood days often heard his grandmother, Hannah Suplee, relate her experiences attending the Philadelphia market. That appears to have been one of the duties of the women folk during the busy seasons. The country at that time was sparsely settled, much of it being covered with woods. For company for each other they traveled to market in groups of eight and ten persons, and on their homeward journey they sometimes would test the speed of their steeds by doing a little horse racing. The distance they had to travel to Philadelphia market was twenty-five miles. Those sturdy pioneers did not have the conveniences we now enjoy. They, however, laid the foundation of this wonderful country. They now rest from their labors.

Peter and Hannah Suplee were the parents of eleven children, all born at the homestead where they settled in 1799. The children were: Rachel, born August 21, 1799; Samuel, April 27, 1801; Cadwalader E., July 30, 1804; Benjamin, November 5, 1806; Horatio J., November 8, 1808; Margaretta, February 10, 1811; Silas G., May 19, 1813; Susanna, August 18, 1815; Peter, December 23, 1817; Hannah E., June 9, 1822; Abigail Eliza, December 4, 1824. Abigail Eliza is the only one of the before named children now living (August 1, 1904). She is also the only living grandchild of Peter Supple, the Revolutionary soldier. Rachel and Benjamin Suplee, children of Peter and Hannah Suplee, died in 1807. The remaining nine children lived to a good age.

Samuel married Catharine Rinewalb, December 18, 1823. They purchased and settled upon a farm in Upper Providence, Montgomery county. Their children were: George K., Emeline, John R., and Mary S. Samuel died April 21, 1875, and Catharine died in 1885.

Cadwalader E. Suplee married Catharine Jones, of Lower Merion, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1827. The Jones family were Welsh Quakers, who came to Pennsylvania with William Penn on one of his trips to this country. Penn granted Silas Jones, the ancestor of the Jones family, a tract of land in Lower Merion, nearly opposite Manayunk, where he settled. After his death the land was divided between his three sons-Charles, Silas, and Cadwalader. The above named Catharine was the eldest child of Charles and Mary Alloway Jones. Cadwalader and Catharine Suplee purchased and settled upon a one hundred acre farm, which was a portion of the farm whereon Peter Suplee settled in 1799. Their children were: B. Franklin, born February 23, 1828, died February 5, 1862; Mary J., December 12, 1830; Edwin M., November 15, 1832; Hannah C., December 24, 1834, died in August, 1898; Adaline R., June 29, 1837; Sarah J., November 18, 1841; and Esther A., September 16 1844, died January 23, 1881.

Cadwalader E. Suplee was a successful farmer and dairyman. He attended Philadelphia market with farm products for a period of forty-three years in succession from the same farm. He was a man of few words, was very reliable and dependable, and was held in high esteem by all of his acquaintances. He died January 23, 1882, aged seventy-seven years and five months. His widow Catharine died January 1, 1892, aged eighty-eight years, eight months and eleven days. They were buried in Morris cemetery, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

Horatio J. Suplee married Elizabeth Kennedy, daughter of Alexander Kennedy, of Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1831. They purchased and resided upon a farm in Honeybrook, Chester county. Pennsylvania. Their children were: Margaret K., Peter, Rachel S., Robinson, Hannah, William A., Horatio J., and Esther. Horatio died in 1876, and Elizabeth in 1890. Their remains were buried in the village of Honeybrook.

Margaretta Suplee married Joseph H. Rapp, November 17, 1831. They purchased and resided upon a farm in East Pikeland, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: B. Franklin, Joseph E., George W., Silas S., Peter S., and Eliza J. Joseph died in 1884, and Margaretta in 1883.

Susanna Suplee married Samuel N. Rowland, October 31, 1837. They settled in East Coventry, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Thomas J., A. Judson, Albert, Daniel W., Howard, and Horace C. Samuel N. died August 7, 1893, and Susanna died March 26, 1860.

Silas G. married Sarah Cleaver, November 5, 1838. They settled upon a farm in Trumbull county, Ohio. Their children were: John, Euchid M., Peter Stiles, and Allen.

Peter married Elizabeth Kennedy, daughter of William Kennedy, November 5, 1845. They purchased and lived on a farm in Easttown township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: William, Louisa, Willard F., and Anna M.

Hannah E. Suplee married John Reese, of Norristown, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1861. They had but one child-Frank.

Abigail Eliza married William Robinson Kennedy, February 20, 1845. They purchased and resided upon a farm in Norriton, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: William E., Frank, John, Robinson, and Emma.

The name Suplee is of French origin. The emigrant, Andris, spelled his name Souplies. His son Bartholomew spelled it Suplee; his sons Andrew and Jacob spelled it Supplee. It would seem that Suplee is the proper pronunciation of the name. The family has become very numerous, and its members are scattered from New York city on the east to California on the west, from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans.

The following named grandsons of Peter Suplee, of Schuylkill, Chester county, Pennsylvania, were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion from 1861 to 1865:

Peter Suplee, son of Horatio and Elizabeth Suplee, served in Company F, Seventy-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Sirwell. This regiment served in the southwest.

Euchid M. Suplee, son of Silas G. and Sarah Suplee, served in the Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and the Sixth Ohio Cavalry, both raised in Trumbull county, Ohio. The Sixth Regiment served in the southwest, and also under General Sheridan at the closing of the war.

Silas S., son of Joseph H. and Margaretta Rapp, served in the ninety-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment of Infantry. He died at Hilton Head, South Carolina, May 10, 1862, while in the service of his country.

Thomas M., son of Samuel N. and Susanna Rowland, served in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was killed at the battle of Fredricksburg, Virginia, December 13, 1862. His remains were never recovered.

Howard G.; son of Samuel N. and Susanna Rowland, served in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which served in the Army of the Potomac.

A. Judson, son of Samuel and Susanna Rowland, was chaplain of the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry.

Captain Edwin M. Suplee, a grandson of Horatio J. and Elizabeth Suplee, is a graduate of West Point Military Academy. He has been in the service some fifteen years in the regular army, and is now (1904) stationed at Davenport, Iowa.

William A. Suplee, son of Horatio and Elizabeth Suplee, served in a volunteer regiment of emergency soldiers in Pennsylvania in 1863.