I suppose Supply is related to Increase, as in, "I hope that God will Supply me with faith."
The surname is rather unfortunate, though (especially for a minister). Other members of this Massachusetts family include Experience Clap, Desire Clap, and Preserved Clap. Their patriarch was, of course, Roger Clap.
Terrible names: not new.
ETA: Of course, these names were not dirty/funny in the 17th and 18th centuries. The equivalent word in use then was "pox," a word so dirty that you could be fined for telling a joke that included it.
Beyond Hope is a recurring feature that highlights unusual virtue names.
It may not have been dirty, but surely Clap was still funny?
ReplyDeleteIf you take out the dirty meaning, then it still sounds like he's meant to supply applause, as if he spends all day clapping everyone!
Clap Family = Worst. Sibset. Ever.