,” written in 1765, the passengers reached the shore but feared Indians were nearby. The others tried to persuade her to go with them, but her husband was badly injured and unable to move. The Indians killed her husband and left Penelope partially scalped and disemboweled, mangled from tomahawk wounds. They were left for dead; however, Penelope was not killed. She regained consciousness and managed to crawl into a hollow tree for several days, eating the moss that grew inside the log.
Two Indians of the Lenni Lenape or Delaware Tribe were out hunting and came upon Penelope. The youngest wanted to kill her, but the older Indian saw her courage and took her to his camp, where she was fed along with her wounds sewn up with fishbone needles and vegetable fiber. Penelope remained with the Indians for quite some time but eventually chose to leave for New Amsterdam. She remained connected with the older Indian, who considered her an adopted daughter.
Settling in New Amsterdam, Penelope met and married an Englishman named Richard Stout. Richard was born in 1605 in Nottingham and served on a British warship. It was said that he was instrumental in developing the Long Island settlement. Richard and Penelope married in 1644 and made their home near Middletown near those who saved her life. The old Indian came by to warn her of an attack and provide a canoe hidden near the river for her family. The wives and children fled while the men stayed to defend their village. An alliance was made with the men purchasing the land from the Indians, where Middletown flourished by many descendants. According to “A History of the Baptists,” written by Morgan Edwards in 1792, the first Baptist church in New Jersey was established at the home of Richard and Penelope’s son, Jonathan, in 1688.
Note - There is a commemorative medal depicting a scene of Penelope Stout based on the story that was shared above.
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