298 THE FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA 



A I^eader 

 Among the 

 Masons 



Daniel 

 Roberdeau 



likewise named Andrew, became widely known as a 

 thoroughly public-spirited citizen and gave away large 

 sums of money for those days, to numerous charitable 

 and philanthroi)ic institutions of the city. Other Hugue- 

 nots who were citizens of Philadelphia at a very early 

 date were Samuel Robiuett, Gabriel Rappe, and Nicholas 

 Eeboteau, of the Isle of Rhe, and Andrew of Nismes. 



In 1684 Andros Souplis and his wife came to Philadel- 

 phia. He had been an officer in the French army, was a 

 very brilliant young man, and soon became a great 

 favourite with Penn. He left behind him one son, 

 Andrew, who changed the name to its present form of 

 Suplee. 



Isaac Roberdeau, with his wife Mary Cunyngham, a 

 descendant of the Earl of Glencairn, fled to Philadelphia 

 fi'om St. Christopher at an early date. His son, Daniel, 

 became one of the leading merchants and first citizens of 

 Philadelphia. By the year 1756 he had become one of 

 the managers of the Pennsylvania hospital, and was a 

 leader among the early Masons, being closely associated 

 with Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and 

 others. During the years 1756-60 he was a member of 

 the Pennsylvania assembly, and five years later he was 

 made an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was an 

 ardent patriot and gave himself unsparingly to the cause 

 of independence. In 1775 he served as a colonel of 

 Pennsylvania troops. In 1776 he presided over a public 

 meeting in Philadelphia which wielded a large influence 

 in favour of the Declaration of Independence. Shortly 

 afterwards he fitted out a couple of privateers, and when 

 one of these vessels captured a rich prize with $22,000 in 

 silver aboard, he promj^tly placed the money at the dis- 

 posal of Congress. On July 4, 1776, while he was a 

 member of the council of srrfety, he was chosen as first 

 brigadier-general of the Pennsylvania troops. Later he 

 was elected as delegate to the Continental Congress. In 

 1778 there was a scarcity of lead in the American army, 



