Susanna du Plessis

Who was Susanna du Plessis?

Susanna du Plessis, or Maria Susanna Duplessis was a Dutch plantation owner in Dutch Surinam. She is a legendary figure in the history of Surinam, where she has became a metaphor of a cruel and sadistic slave owner. She is the subject of songs, plays, fairy tales and legends as well as books.

Susanna was the daughter of Dutch lawyer Solomon du Plessis and the plantation owner Johanna Margaretha van Strijp. She descended form French Huguenot refugees. She married in 1754 at the age of 15 to Frans Laurens Willem Grand; he died early, the marriage having produced no children. She was a plantation owner at age 23. In 1767 she marries Frederik Cornelis Stolkert, son of Elisabeth Buys and 8 years younger than Susanna.

Susaana du Plessis was a successful plantation owner who created a fortune on her plantations, which she managed personally, as she had secured the right to manage her own property in her marriage contract. They because Susanna accuses Frederik of cruelty, and claims she fears for her life. She then moved to the capital Paramaribo.