Her birth occurred at Amsterdam, Holland, about 1602, or more probably 1622. She and her first husband, whom she married in Holland, sailed for New Amsterdam about 1620? (or 1640) in a vessel that was stranded at Sandy Hook. The passengers and crew of the vessel, however, all got safely ashore, although Penelope's husband was hurt in the wreck, and was so sick after landing that he was helpless. The rest, except his wife, on account of the hostile Indians in the vicinity, did not feel like remaining with the sick man, but made him and his faithful spouse as comfortable as they could, and started at once overland to the place of their destination, promising to send for their companions in the voyage, as soon as they arrived and could make arrangements. But Penelope and her husband had not been in the woods very long before the Indians came upon them, and, as they supposed, killed them both, stripping them to the skin. However, as it turned out, the woman was not killed,--only stunned. She was horribly cut and mangled, of course, her skull being fractured, her left shoulder so hacked that she could never afterwards use that arm like the other, while a great cut across the abdomen, which caused her bowels to protrude, left her in such a situation, that there was practically little hope of her ever recovering. Nevertheless, with all her injuries, she did really survive, or the history of New Jersey in subsequent times would have been very different from what it is, to say nothing of the existence of multitudes who otherwise would never have lived. Penelope, after the Indians had gone, coming to, kept her bowels in place with her hand, and managed to crawl for shelter into a hollow log or tree near by, eating the excrescence of it for nourishment, and remaining there in that condition until the seventh day; when she saw a deer pass with arrows sticking in it, and soon after two Indians came along, one a young man and the other an old man, whom she was glad to see, hoping they would put her out of her misery. The young man indeed made toward her to knock her on the head and would have done this, had not the elderly man prevented him, who, throwing her over his shoulder, he carried her to his wigwam, where he dressed her wounds, s There her wounds were sewn with fish bone needles and vegetable fibre, and soon cured her. Penelope lived with him for some time until the old Indian took the her to New Amsterdam, and made a present of her to her countrymen,--an Indian thus, when making a present, expecting a large reward.

Penelope Stout, lived to the age of 90 or 110, and saw her offspring in about 88 years at the time of her death, either in 1712 or 1732 or thereabouts, multiplied into 502 persons, --surely a multitude, who, along with all their descendants, would never have lived had she not recovered from her wounds. As we have said, when Penelope married Richard Stout, she was in her 22nd year, and he in his 40th. This was about 1644. In about a year they went to Graves End, Long Island, where Richard Stout was a prominent land owner as late as 1657. In 1667 they moved across the Lower Bay into Monmouth Co., NJ, at which time two of their children were of age, and three were yet unborn, viz.: Jonathan, David and Benjamin. The career of the family, after the above date, has had very much to do with the settlement of Monmouth Co. They settled there among Dutch families where Penelope especially was at home.

From : "Stout and Allied Families, Vol. One," by Herald F. Stout , c1951:

The encomiums passed upon Penelope by many historians indicate that she was rather more than a mediocre woman. She is credited in large part with the idea of the settlement of East Jersey, persuading her husband along with several others to bargain with the Indians, the chief who rescued her among them, for that tract in Monmouth county in which they settled. The nameless Indian who saved Penelope's life was a frequent visitor and friend. He later alerted the community to a potential confrontation with another band of Marauding natives.

Penelope is believed to be buried on farm land along the Hopp Brook in New Jersey, which was conveyed to Richard's son, David. The house on this property stands in the east end of Pleasant Valley on the northeast side of the road from Everett to Hominy, across the road from the Bell Laboratories Experimental Station. The owner of the property in 1932 was John Clausen.

From: Descendants of Jonathan Stout II and David Stout II, by James S. Stout, pg. 7.

About the time the English took over the rule of New Amsterdam, Richard and a few other men started exploring the main land of the New jersey coast, near the place where the Indian had saved Penelope's life. About 1648, Richard with eleven others purchased a large section of east New Jersey, called Monmouth, from Governor Nichols. Richard bought lot #6 and some upland country, in all 745 acres. Thirteen years later he had accumulated so much land that he was able to deed eighteen hundred acres to his heirs. Considered the largest landed proprietor, Richard served as overseer of the district of Middletown.

One day, the story goes, not long after they founded Middletown, the old Indian who had saved Penelope, appeared at their home. When he refused to eat with her family, Penelope followed him out of the house to learn what was wrong. He had come to warn Penelope that the tribes were coming to attack the settlement. He urged her to take her family and flee to safety in his canoe. When she told Richard the news, he refused to believe it. Penelope then gathered the children to the boat and paddled away as best she could to seek aid at New Amsterdam. After Penelope left, Richard reconsidered and gathered the men of the settlement together to make plans. They armed themselves, sent the women and children in canoes to wait off-shore while they prepared to watch all night. At midnight the Indians came. When the whites from a point of advantage attacked, the Indians armed with only bows and arrows were soon on the run. Then Richard Sout walked into the open and demanded a parley. After a conference, the whites and Indians held a two-day ceremonial to celebrate a treaty of peace. When the whites agreed to buy the lands on which they had built thier town, an alliance for mutual assistance was formed. This treaty was faithfully kept. Though other settlements had war, this one was able to avoid it. The date of the purchase of land from the Indians was January 25, 1664. Governor Nichols gave the settlers a statement called the "Monmouth Patent" which guaranteed them religious and political freedom. There was supposed to be fifty families of whites and 500 Indians inhabiting the area at this time.

As the settlement in New Jersey grew into the town of Middletown, Richard Stout was appointed to assist in laying out the lots. In 1668, Richard, Penelope, and their family met with others in the kitchen of the Stout home to organize the first Baptist Church of New Jersey. Richard and John, his oldest son, were among the eighteen male charter members. Every Sunday the group met at the homes of its members to sing hymns. Twenty years later a log church was built. Today a new church stands on the spot; but some of the materials of the old log church are carefully preserved even after two hundred years in this modern building.

Richard Stout who had left Nottingham, England, because of parental disapproval of his love affair with a girl they considered socially inferior. He enlisted in the navy, served for seven years and left ship in New Amsterdam when his enlistment ended. Penelope van Princis and Richard Stout were married in 1624 (according to tradition), when she was 22 and Richard was 40. Some time after, they moved to Middletown, where through the years their family grew and prospered. Several years after the Stouts came to Middletown, Penelope's old Indian benefactor called on her to warn of an impending attack by his tribe. Penelope and her children fled in a canoe, but Richard Stout and his neighbors stood up to the Indians and argued them out of an attack. So the Stouts lived on into the 18th century.

Richard Stout was born in 1604 (other accounts give 1615) in Nottinghamshire, England, son of John Stout. He ran away from home, possibly because his father was unhappy about a relationship he had with a woman below his standing. Richard joined or was impressed on a Man-of-War in the British Navy where he served for seven years. At New Amsterdam (now New York City area) he was discharged where he was docked when enlistment expired and through bearing arms he became a Netherland's subject. In 1643 he owned a plantation that covered a large section of New (East) Jersey. He married Penelope in 1644. At the time of his marriage he was about 40 and Penelope was 22. They left New Amsterdam in 1645 and took up their home at Gravesend, Long Island and became prominent land holders. Their final change was in moving to New Jersey with other settlers who together founded the village of Middletown.

"In the early days after his removal to Middletown, Richard became one of the purchasers of the Monmouth Tract of land embraced between the Raritan and Sandy Point."

From Tanner's "Province of New Jersey, pg. 61.

Richard found friends among some English settlers who because of their religion had fled to New Amsterdam from neighboring colonies, among them were Lady Deborah Moody, her son, Sir Henry Moody, Richard Salter, William Browne, and Thomas Applegate. Together they obtained a charter from the Dutch governor to found the first English settlement on Long Island at Graves End. Richard was a resident of New Amsterdam in the spring of 1643. He was employed by Governor Kieft as a soldier in the February uprising of that year. He was named under the 'Monmouth Patent' and accompanied Lady Moody and othes to settle Gravesend between her arrival in June and October of that year. Thirty-eight others joined Richard where he settled in 1644 on Plantation No. 18, which he had purchased five years earlier. In 1646, he received lot 16 in Gravesend where he grew tobacco. In 1657, 17 of his 20 acres were under cultivation. In 1661, he bought an adjoining farm of William Griffin. Richard became the largest land owner of the group. He may have married when he settled there, if so his first wife was dead when he met Penelope. Penelope convinced him to settle in Middletown near the Indian tribe that had helped her. There are recorde of Richard's attempts to settle Middletown in 1655; but because of Indian troubles this was aborted at that time.Later, a general conference was held in which the white men agreed to buy the lands from the Indians. Deeds were granted, signed and duly paid for and witnesses. This led to relative peace in the area.

From: Descendants of Jonathan Stout II and David Stout II, by James S. Stout, pg. 5.

Among the list of claimants for land in the office of the Surveyor General at Perth Amboy, Richard Stout heads the list: "Richard Stout, of Middletown, for his rights for himself, his wife and his two sons, John and Richard 120 acres each --- 480 acres."

"Item: For his sons and daughters that are to come of age since 1667, viz.: James, Peter, Mary, Alice, and Sarah, each 60 acres -- 300 acres. Total 780 acres."

In New Jersey Archives, First Series, Vol. XXI, p. 46, we find: "Richard Stout, of Midleton, wife, sons John, Richard, James, Peter, daughters Mary, Alice, Sarah. Mary Stout is the wife of James Bound, Alice Stout, wife of John Throgmorton, all 1800." The date or dates, after 1665 and before 1675. John Stout was married Jan. 13, 1671-2. David Stout, of Freehold, was born 1669. Richard ran away from home and joined or was pressed into the British Navy where he served for seven years. At New Amsterdam left his ship and through bearing arms, became a Netherlands subject (and eligible for the Huguenot Society.)

1643 Owned plantation #18 at Gravesend.

1664 With eleven others patented a large section of New (East) Jersey by Gov. Nichols in the vicinity of Monmouth.

1667 Held lot #6 and upland country at Middletown.

1669 Overseer.

1675 Deeded 1800 acres to his heirs.

1677 Received 745 acres by patent.

1705 Will proved 23 October 1705 at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Lib. 1, p 120, NJ wills.

From: "History of the City of New York", vol. I, 1877 by Lamb

"In June 1643, Lady Moody settled Gravesend. During an Indian attack, the town was defended by 40 men, and the Indians retreated. 1643 was known as "a year of blood". On March 1-4 the Indians waged an all-out war on the Dutch. Eleven tribes participated. In 1642, Ann Hutcheson, who had left Massachusetts for Rhode Island with other families and friends, seeking religious freedom, moved to New Netherlands, where she located at 'Annie's Hoeck' now Pelham Neck. John Throgmorton and 35 English families settled nearby and the Dutch Governor Kieft granted them freedom of worship. On 20 September 1643, Anne and all her family except one granddaughter were murdered by the Indians. The Indians then attacked Throgmorton's settlement and killed every person found at home.

Peace was established on 30 august 1645.

On 11 May 1647, the disastrous administration of Gov. Keift [sent by the Dutch West Indies Co., and landed at Manhattan 28 March 1638] ended. It is said that by that time one-fourth of New Amste4dam consisted of 'grog shops' and the city was so out of control under his mismanagement that Gov. Kieft sailed for Holland on the Princess, along with the Rev. EV. Bogardus. The ship was lost and all aboard perished. Kieft's successor as governor was Peter Stuyvesant.

From: "The History of Monmouth and Ocean Counties" :

The first deed from the Indians was dated 25th of the 1st month, 1664. This was for lands at Nevesink, from the Sachem Popomora and agreed to by his brother, Mishacoing, to James Hubbard, John Bowne, John Tilton Jr., Richard Stout, William Goulding and Samual Spicer. The articles given to the Indians in exchange for the land were 118 fathoms seaswamp (wampum), 68 fathoms of which were to be white and 50 black seaswamp, 5 coats, I gun, I clout capp(?), I shirt, 12 lbs. tobacco and I tanker wine; all of which were acknowledged as having been received; and in addition 82 fathoms of seaswamp was to be paid twelve months hence. The official record of this deed is in the office of Secretary of State at Albany, NY, in Liber 3, pp. I. A copy of it is also recorded in Proprietor's office, Perth Amboy, as is also a map of the land embraced in the purchase, and also in the Secretary of State's office, Trenton. The second purchase was dated April 7, 1665, and was from Indians named Taplawappammund, Mattamahickanick, Yawpochaminund, Kackenham, Mattanoh, Norchon and Qurrmeck and the deed was to John Tilton Sr., Samual Spicer, Willim Goulding, Richard Gibbons, James Grover and Richard Stout. The third purchase was dated June 5, 1665, and from Indians named Manavendo, Emmerdesolsee, Poppomermeen and Macca and the deed was to James Grover, John Bowne, Richard Stout, John Tilton, Richard Gibbons, William Goulding, Samual Spicer and "the rest of the Company."

1675: "Here begins the Rights of Land due according to the Concessions." Richard Stout, of Midleton, wife, sons John, Richard, James, Peter, daughters Mary, Alice, Sarah. Mary Stout is the wife of James Bound; Alice Stout, wife of John Trogmorton, all 1800 acres source: East Jersey Deeds, etc. Liber No 3, Reversed Side, pg. 1.

1677 June 4 : " Patent to Richard Stout senior of Midleton for 285 acres there in 6 parcels" described as before. Source Liber No. 1, pp 168.

Feb., 26, 1679-80. Property description, a home lot, bounded N. by a road, W. by John Smith, E. by Richard Gibbons, S. by land then not laid out. source: New Jersey Colonial Documents, East Jersey Deeds, Etc. Liber B, pp 150.

1682 April 10: Deed." Richard Hartshorne, as attorney for Thomas Snowsell, to John Crawfurd, for 40 acres bought from Richard Stout and wife Penelope"

1685 Dec 24: Richard Stoute senior witness to will of Edward Smith of Middletown. source- East Jersey Deeds, Etc. Liber A, pp 77.

1688 June 25: Patent to John Wilson, Junior, 156 acres in Monmouth Co., bounded W. Richard Stoutt senior. source: New Jersey Colonial Documents, East Jersey Deeds, Etc., Liber C, pp. H 7 4 Jan 1687-8: Deed." Richard Stoutt senior of Midletoun to his son Jonathan Stoutt, for part of the patent for land at Waramaness, Midletoun (June 4, 1677), S. John Bowne, E. the Hope R.., W. a barren hill, N. the division line; also 5 acres of meadow in Conesconk, to be taken from the E. side of grantors 30 acres lot." source Liber D, pp. 68 30 Aug. 1690: Deed. Richard Stout senior to his son Benjamin Stout "for the Joynture of my loving wife Penelope: for a lot at Romauis or Hop River, Monmouth Co., S. W. said river, N. W., David Stout, N. E. John Wilson, S. E. Peter Stout; also 6 2/3 acres of meadow at Conesconk, adjoining Peter Stout. source: New Jersey Colonial Documents, East Jersey Deeds, Etc., Liber D, pp. 385.

From: "Stout and Allies Families", Vol. one, by Herald F. Stout, pub, in 1951:

Little is known of the background of the most prominent English ancestor, Richard Stout. He apparently disagreed with his father as a result of a youthful attachment and either joined or was impressed into the British navy where he served for seven years. Leaving his ship at (then) New Amsterdam, (probably by "jumping ship") he became a Netherlands subject by bearing arms and is listed as "a soldiere at ye fforte in Monmouth." This citizenship apparently stuck, as when the English took over New Amsterdam, he remained unmolested. If they had considered him still English, they would have hanged him out of hand as a deserter.

From: "Richard Stout and Some Descendants" by Mabel Van Dyke Baer:

Richard Stout, one of the first settlers of Gravesend, New Netherlands in 1643, was born in 1615, died in 1705, the son of John Stout and his wife Elisabeth Bee, whom he married on November 13, 1609, the marriage recorded in the parish register of Burton Joyce Parish, Nottinghamshire, England. Richard Stout married Penelope Kent (or Lent) Van Princen, who was born 1622 and died in 1732. Richard Stout ran away from home and joined, or was pressed into, the British Navy where he served seven years, left his ship at New Amsterdam and became a subject of the New Netherlands. He was allotted plantation-lot No. 18, in 1646, in Gravesend, according to town records, having resided there since about 1643. He also bought on April 5, 1661, plantation lot No. 26, from Edward Griffen. With a number of his neighbors he left Gravesend and settled at Middletown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, where he was one of the patentees and original purchasers from the Indians. In 1664, he with eleven others patented a large section of East Jersey, the patents granted by Governor Nicholas in the vicinity of Monmouth. In 1667, he held lot No. 6, and upland country at Middletown. In 1669, he was an overseer.

In 1675, he deeded 1,800 acres to his heirs. In 1677, he received 745 acres by patent. Richard Stout was a member of the first General Assembly composed of deputies and patentees and convened at Portland Poyot, New Jersey, in 1671, and he was also an Indian commissioner. Because of these offices held by Richard Sout, descent from him is a qualification for the Society of the Colonial Dames of New Jersey. Descent from Richard Stout is also a qualification for membership in the Huguenot Society. The will of Richard Stout, Sr., dated 9 June 1703, in the office of the Secretary of State at Trenton, New Jersey, described him as of Middletown (Monmouth County), New Jersey. No wife is mentioned. Mentioned are his sons John, Richard, James, Jonathan, David, Benjamin; daughters Mary, Alicia, Sarah; daughter-in-law Mare Stout and her son John; and kinswoman Mary Stout, daughter of Peter Stout. He left real and personal property. Executors were his sons John and Jonathan. Witnesses were Richard Hartshorne, John Weekham and Peter Vandevandeter. It was proved 23 October 1705, records Lib. 1, p. 120, Monmouth Wills. An inventory of personal estate was made 6 October 1705, by Obadiah Bowne and James Hubbard, and totaled 64 pounds, comprising mostly livestock.

From "History of the Stout Family" by Nathan Stout, 1823.

The man and woman from whom the whole race of Stouts descended got into the city of New Amsterdam, where they became acquainted with each other and were married. And, not withstanding, it may be thought by some, that they conducted themselves with more fortitude than prudence, they immediately crossed the bay and settled in the above said Middletown where the said Penelope had lost her first husband by the Indians and had been so severely wounded herself. There was at that time but six white families in the settlement, including their own, (which was in the year 1648), where they continued until they became rich in prosperity and rich in children. They had together seven sons and three daughters, viz: John, Richard, Jonathan, Peter, James, Benjamin, David. The daughters were - Deliverance, Sarah, Penelope. All of which, sons and daughters, lived to raise large families.

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Notes for RICHARD STOUT: From "History of the Stout Family" by Nathan Stout, 1823

Richard Stout, the first of the name in America was born in Notinghamshire, in Old England, and his father's name was John. The said Richard, when quite young paid his addresses to a young woman that his father thought below his rank, upon which account some unpleasant conversation happened between the father and the son, on account of which, the said Richard left his father's house; and in a few days engaged on board a ship of war, where he served about seven years, after which time he got a discharge at New Amsterdam, now called New York, in America. About the same time a ship from Amsterdam, in Holland, on her way to the said New Amsterdam, was driven on the shore that is now called Middletown, in Monmouth County, in the State of new Jersey, which ship was loaded with passengers, who with much difficulty got on shore. But the Indians not long after fell upon them and butchered and killed the whole crew, as they thought, but soon after the Indians were gone, a certain Penelope Van Princes, whose husband the Indians had killed, found herself possessed of strength enough to creep to a hollow tree, where she remained some days. An Indian happening to come that way, whose dog coming to the tree, occasioned him to examine the inside of the tree, where he found the said Penelope in a forlorn, distressed condition. She was bruised very severely about the head, and her bowels protruded from a cut across her abdomen; she kept them in with her hand. She had been in this fearful condition seven days when the Indian found her. In his compassion he took her out of the tree and carried her to his wigwam where he treated her kindly and healed her wounds, and in a short time conveyed her in his canoe to New Amsterdam, where he sold her to the Dutch, who then owned that city, now called New York.

The man and woman from whom the whole race of Stouts descended, got into the city of New Amsterdam, where they became acquainted with each other and were married. And, not withstanding, it may be thought by some, that they conducted themselves with more fortitude than prudence, they immediately crossed the bay and settled in the above said Middletown, where the said Penelope had lost her first husband by the Indians and had been so severely wounded herself.

There was at that time but six white families in the settlement, including their own, (which was in the year 1648), where they continued until they became rich in prosperity and rich in children. They had together seven son and three daughters, viz: John, Richard, Jonathan, Peter, James, Benjamin, David. The daughters were - Deliverance, Sarah, Penelope. All of which sons and daughters lived to raise large families.