Stout family (continued...)

But amazingly, she did not die. Somehow she managed to hold her bowels in her abdomen, and apparently in grief, and pain, she lay there in a hollowed out tree for seven days, surviving on tree sap and fungi. On the eighth day a dog ran to her, followed by two "wild men." The story goes that the younger of the two Indians wanted to kill her (possibly at her own request) and put her out of her obvious misery but he was over ruled by the older Indian. The older Indian throw his dear skin coat over her and lifted her from the ground causing her to faint. The next thing Penelope recalled was that her pain had lessened and she had mud packs on her wounds. She opened her eyes to see she was in a bark dome house upon a reed mat. She could smell food, hear children playing, and realized she was in an Indian village. Much to her surprise the older Indian who had carried her there, could speak a little English. He was Chief Tisquantum, of the Lenni Lenape tribe, members of the Algonquian language family and now known as the Delaware. The Chief was said to have been named for a noble ancestor.

Penelope spent many weeks being nursed back to health and a trust and friendship grew between Penelope and the Lenni Lenape tribe members, especially Tisquantum. The Chief spoke a little English and insisted that Penelope teach him more. So he learned more English laced with a Dutch accent. When she was well, Tisquantum took her to New Amsterdam. Penelope and Tisquantum remained friends until his death some years later. One time, a few years after their parting, he warned Penelope of a planned Mohawk attack, again saving her life. He often visited, bringing gifts, and shared meals with Penelope and her family.

In 1644, Penelope married Richard Stout, an Englishman. They owned land plot No. 12, in Gravesend, Long Island, now part of Brooklyn. They had ten children: seven sons and three daughters. Their first child, John was born in 1645. Richard Stout died in 1705 at the age of ninety-five. Penelope died in 1732 at the age of one hundred-ten. At her death, she left five hundred and two descendants!

Richard and Penelope Stout were two of the founders of Middletown, Monmouth, New Jersey. In November 1665, Richard was recorded as one of twelve holders of the Monmouth Land Patent. Ten years later, he deeded sixty acres to each of two sons and three daughters. A monument has been erected in Penelope' honor in New Jersey and there is a Penelope Stout Commemorative Coin honoring the First Lady of Monmouth, 1622-1732. The coin also depicts Tisquantum.

original article by Linda Pendleton