........ Conjecture, noun, the formation of judgments or opinions on the basis of incomplete or inconclusive information. Source: Encarta Dictionary

Thursday, January 2, 2014

A New Version of the Richard and Penelope Story

Thanks go to Jay R. Stout, who grew up in NJ and is a direct male descendant of R&P, for providing a copy of this article published in 1931 or ‘32 (exact date and page unknown) in the Keyport Weekly newspaper. This version of the Richard and Penelope story has a few details that I have never seen published. Jay states that this story is handed down over the generations by his ancestors. It is consistent with the 1765 and 1790 versions; furthermore, it has reasonable dates and no obvious errors and does not appear to be derived directly from either of the two original published versions.

Here is the two-paragraph R&P part, which is followed by the entire article.

                "Mr. Stout was a lineal descendant of Richard Stout, who married Penelope Van Princis, said to be the first white woman in the State of New Jersey. Penelope Van Princis and her husband, who was ill, (name unknown) were crossing the ocean on a Dutch ship bound for New Amsterdam, when the vessel was shipwrecked off Sandy Hook and came ashore near what is now the Highlands of New Jersey.  The passengers were able to get on shore, but being afraid of the Indians, would not stay until the sick man recovered. They set out to walk to New Amsterdam, but promised to send for them as soon as they arrived. The sick man’s wife, Penelope Van Princis, would not leave her husband. It was not long before two Indians discovered them and soon relieved the husband from all pain, mutilated the wife and left her for dead also, but Penelope was not dead. She found herself possessed with strength enough to creep into a hollow tree, and lived mostly in it for several days, when unexpectedly an old Indian discovered her hiding there and carried her to his little wigwam, near where Middletown now stands, and there nursed her with herbs, such as the Indians alone knew the value of, treated her kindly and she began to improve, gaining strength day by day, until she became entirely well. When the time came that Penelope wished to go to New Amsterdam to find her friends, he conveyed her in his canoe to that city. The old Indian remained faithful to her as long as she lived.

                "Among the people Penelope Van Princis met in New Amsterdam was one Richard Stout, an Englishman, aged about 42 years, having been born in 1602, while Penelope was about 22 years of age when they were married in 1644, and settled in Gravesend, L. I. Here, most, if not all of their ten children, seven sons and three daughters, were born. The date of Richard Stout’s arrival and permanent settlement on the Monmouth Tract (Old Middletown) was in 1664. Mr. Stout, one of the twelve Monmouth Patentees, was on the most respectable and respected men in his day in the Monmouth settlement. Richard Stout died in 1705 at the age of 103 years, while his wife, Penelope Stout, died in 1732, at the age of 110 years."

Begin the entire article:
Life-long Friends Nimrod Bedle and Thomas Bedle Stout

                Mr. Nimrod Bedle was born January 22, 1806, and Mr. Thomas Bedle Stout was born on December 17, 1807, Mr. Bedle being one year, ten months and twenty-five days older than Mr. Stout. Mr. Bedle’s parents’ farm was in what was called the “Newtown” section of the Bethany district, about two miles east of Keyport, while Mr. Stout was born on the old Stout farm at Centreville, near Bethany, in a locality then termed “Jericho.” The farms were not far apart. These boys, Nimrod and Thomas, went through life together; played together, both attended the old Bethany school; also attended the same Sunday school; both became members of Old Bethany Church, and were church workers there together. Both Mr. Bedle and Mr. Stout were class-leaders in three churches, viz: Bethany, old first Methodist Episcopal Church and Calvary M. E. Church, Keyport, and when Thomas Stout’s friend, Nimrod Bedle, decided to build a home in the wilderness, even though Mr. Stout thought it was a “crazy” idea for him to do so, he would be there to help.

                Mr. Thomas Bedle Stout was the son of John and Martha (daughter of Thomas and Amy Bedle) Stout. He was one of fourteen children, being the seventh child. There were nine sons and five daughters in this family.

                Mr. Stout was a lineal descendant of Richard Stout, who married Penelope Van Princis, said to be the first white woman in the State of New Jersey. Penelope Van Princis and her husband, who was ill, (name unknown) were crossing the ocean on a Dutch ship bound for New Amsterdam, when the vessel was shipwrecked off Sandy Hook and came ashore near what is now the Highlands of New Jersey.  The passengers were able to get on shore, but being afraid of the Indians, would not stay until the sick man recovered. They set out to walk to New Amsterdam, but promised to send for them as soon as they arrived. The sick man’s wife, Penelope Van Princis, would not leave her husband. It was not long before two Indians discovered them and soon relieved the husband from all pain, mutilated the wife and left her for dead also, but Penelope was not dead. She found herself possessed with strength enough to creep into a hollow tree, and lived mostly in it for several days, when unexpectedly an old Indian discovered her hiding there and carried her to his little wigwam, near where Middletown now stands, and there nursed her with herbs, such as the Indians alone knew the value of, treated her kindly and she began to improve, gaining strength day by day, until she became entirely well. When the time came that Penelope wished to go to New Amsterdam to find her friends, he conveyed her in his canoe to that city. The old Indian remained faithful to her as long as she lived.

                Among the people Penelope Van Princis met in New Amsterdam was one Richard Stout, an Englishman, aged about 42 years, having been born in 1602, while Penelope was about 22 years of age when they were married in 1644, and settled in Gravesend, L. I. Here, most, if not all of their ten children, seven sons and three daughters, were born. The date of Richard Stout’s arrival and permanent settlement on the Monmouth Tract (Old Middletown) was in 1664. Mr. Stout, one of the twelve Monmouth Patentees, was on the most respectable and respected men in his day in the Monmouth settlement. Richard Stout died in 1705 at the age of 103 years, while his wife, Penelope Stout, died in 1732, at the age of 110 years.

                Thomas Bedle Stout was the sixth generation, through the line of the eldest son of Richard and Penelope (van Princis) Stout, the first “Stout” settlers of Monmouth.

                Thomas Bedle Stout, when about twenty-three years of age, went into business as a blacksmith at Shrewsbury and carried it on successfully for a number of years. He was of inventive mind and patented quite a number of articles that were very salable.

                On September 25, 1832, Mr. Stout, then about twenty-five years of age, married Miss Amelia, daughter of Cornelius Walling and Elizabeth Murphy, his wife . The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Thomas G. Stewart, (this being Rev. Mr. Stewart’s first year as circuit preacher on the Freehold Circuit,) in the home of her parents, the old Walling homestead, then designated as being in “Bethany.” The “Walling” farm is now owned and occupied by Mr. John H. Curtis.

Mrs. Stout’s mother was the daughter of Mr. Timothy and Mary (Garrison) Murphy, who settled at “Bethany” about 1777, and from that date until they passed away, (over forty years) their home was a preaching place for all of the itinerant ministers on the Circuit, and “Friday” was their regular day for preaching services every two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Stout moved to Keyport from Shrewsbury in 1838, and were residents here from that time until they passed away. Mr. Stout never engaged in business here but invested largely in real estate.

                In 1855, he was elected to the assembly from this district after an exciting campaign, his opponent being Eusebius M. Walling, his brother-in-law. In his younger days, Mr. Stout was noted for his great strength, and many are the feats told of his prowess.

                On March 31, 1840, Isaac K. Lippincott and Caroline W., his wife, conveyed to Thomas B. Stout, one hundred and ninety-five acres of land covering “Key Grove,” the Mansion House tract, which property was a part of Mr. Lippincott’s purchase at the Partition Sale of the Captain Edmund Kearney estate on November 3 and 4, 1829. The consideration was $8,500. The eastern boundary of part of the tract was “Main Street.” It was about 1838 that William Bedle Sr. purchased of Isaac Lippincott a plot of ground located on the northwest corner of what is now Main and Stout Streets, erected a dwelling, brought his wife and family to reside in the new settlement, and was a resident here from that time until his death.

                Thomas B. Stout selected from that one hundred and ninety-five acres of land, for his homestead, the property that is now the southwest corner of Main and Stout Streets. He cut a street through his farm on the north edge of his homestead tract, naming in “Stout” Street. The home property extended the width of a block, east and west, along Stout Street, giving tow street entrances to it. The timber for the “mansion House” was piled on the plot for a year to be seasoned before commencing to build. While waiting for the timber to season, and while building, Mr. Stout and family occupied the “Key Grove-Mansion House,” his recent purchase, until his new home was ready for occupancy.

                The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stout was like the home of Mrs. Stout’s parents, Mr. Cornelius and Elizabeth (Murphy) Walling, and the home of her grandparents, Mr. Timothy and Mary (garrison) Murphy. Since the settlement of Mr. Murphy at Bethany in 1777, these homes have been the Methodist headquarters for all the itinerant ministers on the Circuit, and also for the ministers and their wives until they passed away.

                (Note: The Thomas B. Stout homestead (1931) is owned and occupied by Horace S. Burrowes.)

                It was on March 2, 1846, that Thomas B. Stout and Amelia, his wife, conveyed to Joseph I. Beers, William Walling and William H. Crawford, ninety-five acres (covering the Mansion House tract) of the one hundred and ninety-five acres of land purchased in 1840, of Isaac Lippincott. Consideration $9,000. The deed was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Francis Murphy.

                (Note: The “Key Grove-Mansion House tract (1931) is owned and occupied by Peter Sondergaard.)

                In the spring of 1842, (ninety years ago) the New Jersey Methodist Conference appointed the Rev. James K. White and the Rev. James Rogers, the preachers on the Keyport Circuit. During their pastorate there was a great revival, about seventy people were converted and added to the church membership. This necessitated the forming of new classes and Brother Nimrod Bedle, William Bedle and Thomas Bedle Stout were appointed leaders, the first that had been appointed in Keyport proper. At this time the class meetings were held in the new church.

                The children of these early class leaders were brought up in the Sunday school; later in life they entered the class of their fathers and took an active part in church work until they passed away.

                The three Methodist class leaders first settled on Main Street, but after five years, Mr. William Bedle purchased a larger piece of property on the corner of Broadway and Front Street, settled and remained there many years, leaving his brother class leaders to pass their days together. These life-long friends lived nearly opposite each other the remainder of their lives. They were church workers together, they had one common interest, the church, the Methodist Episcopal Church.

                There came a day when these life-long Methodist friends were to part. Mr. and Mrs. Nimrod Bedle, after living together over fifty-three happy years together, were the first to be separated. Mrs. Bedle passed away on January 15, 1882, at the age of 77 years, 9 months and 24 days. Mr. Bedle followed shortly after, his death occurring on July 17, 1883, at the age of 77 years, 5 months and 25 days, having outlived his wife about a year and a half.

                Mr. Thomas Bedle Stout outlived his life-long friend, Mr. Bedle, five years, having passed away on September 1, 1888, at the age of 80 years, 8 months and 14 days, while Mrs. Stout outlived her husband early ten years, she having passed away on May 16, 1898, at the age of 82 years and 9 days.

                These active, pioneer settlers have gone to their reward.

                The “Methodist” seed sown by Nimrod Bedle, (the first settler in the town of Keyport) when he invited the Methodist Circuit preachers, the Rev. Thomas Stewart, to conduct a prayer meeting and preaching service in his home on Main Street, (in December, 1831) has grown and multiplied to about ten hundred and forty Methodist Church members and Sunday school scholars during the century, 1831-1931.

                (Note: The population of Keyport given in the 1930 census was about 4,900.)

 

Sunday, June 2, 2013

The 1648 Slander Trial

Someone reminded me that I have never posted the details of the 1648 slander trial where the name Penelope Prince is written. That is a critical document in searching for the true Penelope because it is one of the few documents (or perhaps the only one) containing her name and created during her lifetime.

John Tilton, town clerk for Gravesend and long-time resident, recorded the village's transactions in English for many years in a ledger that has survived for over 350 years. I have never seen the actual book and can't locate it although I think it's buried deep in the New York library system. There is a microfilm copy in the NY library system and a transcript exists at the Brooklyn Historical Society,
128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201 (718-222-4111  library@brooklynhistory.org ) The BHS description is "3.0 items, in 3 folders. Transcriptions of early town records of Gravesend, dated 1646 to 1670, and a 100-page historical sketch of Gravesend. The transcribed records and the historical sketch were prepared by Works Progress Administration researchers of the Historical Records Survey, Service Division, New York, NY, in March of 1942. The transcribed records include town meeting minutes, dated 1646 to 1653, as well as property deeds and leases, dated 1653 to 1670.with call phrase 1977.308 box A0061."

An Internet entry ( http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Dutch-Colonies/2002-11/1038519631 ) provides an index in which Penelope Prince is mentioned on page 24 and Richard Stout in 19 places:  pp. 4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 38, 41, 43, 45, 46, 68, 69, 99, 103, 114. (No Van Princis listed.)

The slander trial has been posted on the Internet in several places. Do a Google search on the misspellings Penellopey Aplegate. Here's one from an Applegate site: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/APPLEGATE/2007-12/1197518311

12 Sep 1648:Ambrose London plaintive agt:ye wife of Tho: Aplegate defent in an action of slander for saying his wife did milke her Cowe.

The defent saith yt shee said noe otherwise but as Penellopey Prince tould her yt Ambrose his wife did milke her Cowe.
Rodger Scotte being deposed saith yt being in ye house of Tho: Aplegate hee did heare Pennellopy Prince saye yt ye wife of Ambrose London did milke ye Cowe of Tho: Aplegate.
Tho: Greedye being deposed saith yt Pennellope Prince being att his house hee did heare her saye yt shee and Aplegates Daughter must com as witnesses agat: Ambrose his wife milking Aplegates Coew.
Pennellope Prince being questationed adknowled her faulte in soe speaking and being sorrie her words she spake gave sattisfaction on both sides.

Here is a very clear summary from Ken Sajdak at http://this.ismyfamily.info/PhpGedView/note.php?nid=N60&ged=Sajdak : September 12, 1648. "Deposition was given by [Thomas] Applegate’s wife that Penelope Prince had stated in her presence that Ambrose London’s wife had milked Applegate’s cow. Rodger Scott also deposed that he had heard the same. Thomas Greedye further testified that Penelope Prince had stated while at his home that she and Thomas Applegate’s daughter would be summoned as witnesses against Ambrose London’s wife. Upon questioning, Penelope Prince acknowledged her error in speaking and 'gave satisfaction' on both sides."

Ken Sadjak further comments: " The appearance of Penelope’s surname as Prince in this record has caused many researchers to question the traditional belief that her surname was Van Princes. It might indeed suggest an attempt to give a Dutch appearance to her otherwise English surname in the traditional accounts. The fact that she was not at this time referred to by her married name of Stout may also imply that her marriage to Richard Stout did not take place until after this event in 1648."

Friday, May 31, 2013

What is an Indentured Servant?

An indentured servant was a person who signed a contract (also known as an indenture or a covenant) by which he agreed to work for a certain number of years in exchange for monetary compensation upfront. The term was often four to seven years for adults and younger for children if they were apprenticed to learn a trade. Often the monetary compensation paid off a debt or paid for transportation to America. I was not previously aware that indentured servitude was common in England at the time but that explains why no one thought it unusual for bringing workers to America.

Below is the format that Lord Baltimore recommended to use for indentured servants coming to Maryland. He suggested 5 years as a typical length of service.

The Indenture made the ____ day of ____ in the ____ yeere of our Sovereign Lord King Charles, etc between ______ of the one party and ________ on the other party, witnesseth that the said _____ doth hereby covenant promise and grant to and with the said ____ his Executer and Assinge, to serve him from the day of the date hereof, untill his first and next arrival in Maryland, and after for and during the term of ____ years in good service and employment, as the said ________ or ssigns shall him empoy him, according to the custome of the country. In consideration whereof, the said _______ doth promise and grant, to and with the said ______ to pay for his passage and to find him with Meat, Drinke, Apparell and Lodging with the necessaries during the said term; nad at the end of the said time, to give him one whole yeeres provision of Corne, and fifty acres of land, according to the custome of the Country. In witness whereof, the said _____ hath put his hand and seale, the day and yeere above written.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of __________
The most common problem with the whole process was cruel treatment (such as whippings and poor food) by the master (owner of the contract), thus leading to numerous runaways. The common punishment for runaways was more beatings and extension of the period of service.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

More information on Kent Island


The Facebook Group Penelope Stout Descendants is having a vigorous discussion of Kent Island and indentured servant Penelope Prince (who may or may not be famous Penelope of Sandy Hook), who was transported by Captain Robert Vaughan in 1644, who sold her contract to William Cox. She ran away in 1646.
From the following source, I have extracted detailed information about William Clayborne, Robert Vaughan and William Cox. This reference doesn't shed much light about the Times of Troubles on Kent Island around 1646-48, but does provide other background information.  

George A. Hanson. The Eastern Shore of Maryland: Notes Illustrative of the Most Ancient Records of Kent County, Maryland. Baltimore, 1876.


Timeline

1627-29: The governor of Virginia authorized William Clayborne, “the Secretary of State of this Kingdom,” to explore the Chesapeake Bay.

During 1627-1630: Clayborne established a trading post and brought in settlers as a part of Virginia.

May 1631: King Charles I gave Clayborne a license to trade in the Chesapeake Bay area.

June 20, 1632: King Charles I granted a charter for Maryland to Cecilius Calvert (Lord Baltimore).

July 1633: King Charles rejected the complaints of Clayborne and Virginia that Kent Island was part of Virginia.

March 27, 1634: An expedition led by Leonard Calvert (Lord Baltimore’s brother) founded a settlement at St. Mary's. Until 1650 the whole of the Western Shore was called "St. Mary's," to distinguish it from the Eastern Shore, or Kent. 
 
Sept 1634: Maryland established jurisdiction over Kent Island and confiscated Clayborne’s properties. Clayborne fled to Virginia and then to England.

 

December 30, 1637: Governor Calvert appointed his "good friend Captain George

Evelyn to be “Commander” of Kent Island.
 

April 22, 1638: Governor Calvert appointed William Brainthwayte to be Commander.

 
April 1638: King Charles re-affirmed Maryland’s jurisdiction over Kent Island
 
February 25, 1638/9: Two delegates, representing the 24 male heads of families of Kent Island, were accepted into the Maryland assembly. This implies a population of about 120 residents.
 
1639: Maryland refused Clayborne’s request for restitution.
 
February 3, 1639/40: Capt. Giles Brent became Commander.
August 14, 1640: William Brainthwayte became Commander again.
 
July 10, 1641: Governor proclaims it lawful to kill any Indians found on Kent Island.
 
1642: King Charles appointed Clayborne Treasurer of Virginia.
 

December 16, 1642: Giles Brent became Commander and chief captain in all matters of warfare. Robert Vaughan was appointed one of 3 commissioners.

 
1 Dec 1644: Governor Calvert proclaimed William Clayborne and Richard Thompson enemies of the Maryland for attempting to stir up the Indians.
 
Jan 1, 1644/5: William Brainthwayte became Commander again. Robert Vaughan and William Cox were commissioners.
 
1644: Clayborne persuaded the Indians to make war on Maryland. Then Clayborne occupied Kent Island while his associate Richard Ingle militarily drove Governor Calvert from Maryland and took over the western shore.
 
April 16, 1647: The inhabitants of Kent Island either fled or swore loyalty to Maryland.
 

April 18, 1647: Robert Vaughan became Commander. William Cox became a commissioner.

April 20, 1647: Governor Calvert ordered property of “late rebels” to be taken into protective custody.

June 9, 1647: Leonard Calvert died at St. Mary’s.
 
Jan 30, 1648/9: The puritans beheaded King Charles I.
 
1649: Capt. Robert Vaughan was Kent Island representative to Maryland legislature
 
Sept 1651: Lord Protector Cromwell authorizes Clayborne to conquer Maryland.
 
March 1651/2: Clayborne with help of English warships conquers Maryland.
 
July 1652: Clayborne allowed Governor Stone to have the western shore while Clayborne kept the eastern shore.
 
August 1652: Thomas Ward was arrested upon “suspicion of felony.” A servant had run away several times. Mrs. Ward whipped her with a peach tree rod and afterwards salted her. The court fined the Wards 300 pounds of tobacco for "unreasonable and unchristian-like punishment … considering her weak estate of body” but didn’t find them guilty of the maid’s death.
Edward Coppedge was fined 600 pounds of tobacco for "living in" with Elizabeth Kisby, who received 15 lashes.
Capt. Robert Vaughan was fined for insulting the “Puritan” court.
 
April 1, 1653: Robert Vaughan apologized and his fines were remitted.
 
Uncertain date: “In the year 1652, Mark Benton " petitioned against Robt. Vaughan for order from the Court for his freedom, with corne and clothes." The Court decided in his favor.”
 
Late 1654: Lord Baltimore claimed all of Maryland.
 
March 25, 1655: Clayborne defeated Governor Stone in battle.
 
1658: Governor Stone re-establishes permanent control of Kent Island.
 
 
genealogy notes: Major James Ringgold, of Huntingfield, " lord of the 
manor on Eastern Neck," son of Thomas Ringgold, was twice 
m. By his 1st wife he had one son, Thomas Ringgold. His 
2d wife was Mary Vaughan, dau. of Capt. Robert Vaughan, 
the Commander of Kent from 1647 to 1652,
 
January 26, 1668/9: Mrs. Mary Vaughan, the Relict of Capt. 
Robert Vaughan, brought a suit against John Muggison.
 
To the above, we can add from other sources that indentured servant Penelope Prince was transported to Kent Island in 1644 and ran away in 1646. The above reference doesn't shed much light about the Times of Troubles on Kent Island around 1648-48, but does provide other background information.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Documentation for Penelope Prince of Kent Island, Maryland colony



This week I just provide more documentation for Penelope Prince of Kent Island, Maryland colony. Still not sure what ot make of all this. 
Item 1
Archives of Maryland, LIV (vol 54), Proceedings of the County Courts of Kent (1648-1676), Talbot (1662-1674) and Somerset (1656-1668). Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1937.
Robert Vaughan, adiminstrator of the estate of William Coxe in 1648 and of his wife Francis Coxe in 1656 prepared an inventory for the orphan Elizabeth Coxe

P 99
A True Acct of The Estate That belongeth to Elizabeth Cox The Daughter of Will Cox Deseased & francis Being now in The hands of Capt Robt Vaughan Taken The 24th of August 1656
Itt one Planttation with housing Vpon it: And one Thousand Acres
of land Belonging Vnto it With A Pattent
Itt an Indenture for 5 yeares serves Dew from Penellope Prince
That Rann Away from Mistiris Cox Anno: Dom 1646:
etc
 
Item 2
The Maryland Calendar of Wills: Wills from 1635 (earliest probated) to 1685
Page 21
Mees (or Mee), George                                      probated 6th Aug 1662
To Joisas (Josiah?) Smith, house and ground
To John Vanheck, land on side of Deep Cr.
To wife (unnamed), residue of estate, real and personal during widowhood; if she marry, entire estate to John Vanheck, except dower rights. Caesar Prince to live with testator’s wife until he is 18 yrs. of age.
Exs: wife (unnamed) and John Vanheck
Test: Geo. Wilson and Thos. Ward.
Jim’s Note 1: Catherine was widow of Oliver van Heck of Virginia and mother of John van Heck, thus disposition of assets to widow’s son was typical
Jim’s Note 2: On page 16, Caesar Prince is “overseer” of will of William Martine, probated 4 Jul 1660. I think an overseer was a work foreman, implying that Caesar was probably a teenage in 1660 and thus near 18 in 1662.
Jim’s Note 3: Thus Caesar Prince was born likely between 1644 and 1646.
Item 3              
Provincial Court Proceedings, 1677/8.    Liber N N (Vol 66)  Pages 206 and 241
Lawsuit of  Edward Inglish   agt   Jno Stanesby Adr  and  Caesar Prince was settled. No details.
Item 4
Side-lights on Maryland history: with sketches of early Maryland families ...
“Eastern Neck” 200 acres surveyed October 24, 1692 for Caesar Prince and John Powell
Note: Archives of Maryland Online has very detailed biographies of Maryland legislators:  A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al.  see http://aomol.net/000001/000426/html/am426--849.html for example



Saturday, December 29, 2012

Penelope Prince, a runaway from Kent Island, Maryland?

The text below is a letter written by Nora James (please identify yourself) to the website WeRelate, where people work to "build a unified family tree containing the best information from all contributors." See  http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person_talk:Penelope_Kent_(1)

"After many years (approximately 10) of obsessive research about the identity of the person known in legend as Penelope Van Princis/Van Princess/Kent and Thomson before deciding that I needed to get on with actual life on this here Earth, it is my strong opinion that her name was Penelope Prince; that she was English, that she came to Kent Island (note, "Kent" Island) in the Chesapeake under indenture by Robert Vaughan (note the similarily in pronunciation to the "Van" in one version of the legends about her; that she was the same Penelope Prince whom Robert Vaughan testified in court records in about 1656 and who ran away from her indenture in 1646-7 or so during the time of troubles on Kent Island; that she was working out her indenture in the service of William Cox and his wife Frances on Kent Island and that they lived near Richard Thompson/Thomson (note the "Thompson/Thomson" in some versions of her name) on Kent Island who was involved in a big old major way in the "Time of Troubles" that led to her running away; that another version of her surname that pops up in some versions is "Lent" and there was a man named "Lent" living on Kent Island and who figured in that "Time of Troubles." It is also very possible (though by no means proven) that she was the Penelope Prince who was born in 1629 in Stepney and baptized at St. Dunstan's.

"Penelope Prince ran away from Kent Island in 1646-7 (according to the testimony of Robert Vaughan); the Penelope who marries Richard Stout appears in the historical record as "Penelope Prince" in 1648 on Gravesend in Long Island. It is an educated guess on my part, and based on extraordinarily strong circumstantial evidence contained in the legends about her, that the Penelope Prince who married Richard Stout is the same person who was the Penelope Prince living on Kent Island from 1644-6.

"Take this and run with it or ignore it, I don't much care at this point, but anyone who wants to see this for themselves can look at Filby's at the entry for Penelope Prince which references the court testimony of Robert Vaughan in 1656, and read about the history of Kent Island during the time of troubles with William Claiborne, and read the various versions of the legends of Penelope Van Princess in all of those old histories of New Jersey, and consider how it is that legends take shape over time and names become misunderstood, and begin to understand how it might be that those who wrote down the stories of Penelope Prince many years after her death might have misunderstood how a young English girl on "Kent" Island in the 1640's, who was brought to the island by Robert "Vaughan," and who ran away during a war in which her neighbor Richard "Thompson" figured prominently as did her neighbor "_____ Lent," and might have merged all of these names into hers in print, making it almost impossible to determine her identity without careful consideration.

"At another time I will try to explain all of this and source it better, including why I believe there is a strong chance that she was the same Penelope Prince born in England, but at least for now I offer you Filby's for Penelope Prince and the Gravesend Town Records for someone of the same name. And for whatever it's worth, the records of St. Dunstan's in the East where Penelope Prince was baptized in 1629, the child of Mary Kilburn and Lawrence Prince."

unsigned User:Norajames
posted at WeRelate by administrator Jennifer JBS66 19 April 2011

On another page http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Penelope_Prince_(2) of the same website is written:

"Penelope Prince was born in Stepney, in what is now the east end of London, in 1629. Her mother, Mary Kilburn, was a widow when she married Lawrence Prince, a tailor, at St. Dunstan's in the East on 17 May 1629. Penelope was baptized at St. Dunstan's three months later, on 20 Sep 1629. Lawrence died in 1630 and was buried at St. Dunstan's in February of that year. See the records of St. Dunstan's church for the records of all of these, which can be viewed on microfilm at a Family History Center....

"Penelope Prince was an indentured servant at home of William and Frances Cox on Kent Island from 1644 to 1646. The Coxes had a tobacco plantation on Kent Island, and two small children. Penelope ran away during the "time of troubles" on that island, in 1646. See Filby's for the reference to a record of a court proceeding in 1656 wherein Robert Vaughan testifies that Penelope ran away in that year. "

This is Jim writing now. I don't know what to make of this but if an indentured servant were fleeing Kent Island in 1646-7, the logical path would be northeast to the Swedish settlement of Fort Christina (now Wilmington, DE) on the Delaware River, about 40 miles as the crow flies. The economies of both Maryland and Virginia were built on indentured servitude at that time and the authorities in those colonies were sure to enforce the law by returning runaways to the master. New Sweden was a foreign country and, as far as I know, didn't have indentured servants.
I am intrigued because of Nicholas Stillwell, another ancestor of mine. Virginia Protestants settled Kent Island in Cheaspeake Bay, east of Annapolis, and did not take kindly to their king re-assigning their home to Catholic Maryland in the 1630s . The political squabbles and armed assaults led by William Claiborne resulted in Nicholas Stillwell (among others) being banished from both Maryland and Virginia. Stillwell settled in Manhattan and joined the Gravesend group in the original settlement of 1643, did not rejoin in 1645 resettlement but purchased a lot in 1648 and was elected magitrate in 1649.

In my novel Nicholas Stillwell and his wife are major characters who help Penelope.

If anyone has more to contribute to this subject, please let me know.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Was Penelope Scalped?

The earliest reference I’ve found that claims Indians scalped Penelope was printed in 1876 by John Carroll Power in Early Settlers of Sangamon County [IL] – 1876. Springfield, IL: E. L. Merritt & Bro., Printers, 1876. pp 690-3

Even though John Carroll Power cites Benedict’s book as a source, this 1876 version disagrees in many respects with Benedict. See how many you can identify.

This garbling of a cited source suggests that the scalping was invented or at least was an embellishment of the original.

“STOUT, the origin of this family in America is quite romantic. The principal points in their history may be found in Benedict's History of the Baptists. Some of his statements are based on the writings of an earlier historian. The following embraces all that is known on the subject:

“Some time during the seventeenth century, probably about 1680 or '90, a young couple just married in Holland, embarked on a vessel bound for America. The voyage was prosperous until they were nearing the port of New Amsterdam, now the city of New York. The vessel was wrecked off what is now the coast of New Jersey, and nearly all on board drowned. The young couple of Hollanders, escaped drowning and with a small number of the passengers and crew succeeded in reaching the shore. Upon landing they were attacked by Indians, who lay in ambush awaiting their arrival. The whole party were tomahawked, scalped and otherwise mutilated, and left for dead. All were dead except the wife, from Holland. She alone survived, and although her scalp was removed and she was otherwise horribly mangled, she had sufficient remaining strength to crawl away from the scene of the slaughter, and secreted herself in a hollow log which was concealed by underbrush. She lay there a day or two, during which time her mental and bodily suffering may be imagined but cannot be described. She finally made up her mind that there was no possibility of her escaping with life; that if she remained quiet she would certainly die of hunger and thirst, and if she attempted to seek sustenance, that would expose her to the Indians, who would be sure to kill her. At this juncture, a deer, with an arrow sticking in its body, ran past where she was. This led her to believe that Indians were near, and she reasoned that it would be a much easier death to let them kill her, than to endure the pangs of starvation by remaining where she was. She then summoned all her remaining strength and dragged her body out to an open space that the Indians might see her should they pursue the deer. In a short time three of the savages appeared on its trail. Two of them rushed upon her with uplifted tomahawks, but the third one, a chief, restrained them and saved her life. It was not humanity, but gain that prompted him to this act of mercy. He took his prisoner to New Amsterdam and there received a ransom for her. That placed her in the hands of friends who gave her the proper surgical treatment and nursing as she recovered. The name of her husband is not known, neither is her own family name, nothing but her first or given name, Penelope; a name that has stood for more than twenty-five centuries, in tradition and literature, as the highest ideal of a true and loyal wife. It will readily be understood that I allude to one of the creations of Homer, the father of Greek poetry. A brief statement of the case, gleaned from his works will not be out of place here.

"When the Greeks declared war against Troy...[omitting long paragraph on  Trojan War]

“This modern Penelope had no such doubts to contend with. The death of her first husband was only too sure, having been witnessed by her own eyes. After her recovery, she became acquainted with and married an Englishman by the name of Richard Stout. They then went over into New Jersey, made themselves a home and raised a family of twelve sons. One of them, Jonathan Stout, and his family, were the founders of the Hope well settlement, in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, where Hopewell Baptist Church was afterwards constituted. Of the first fifteen members, nine were Stouts. The church was organized at the house of a Stout, and for forty years their meetings were held chiefly at the houses of the Stouts; after which they erected their first house of worship. In 1790, two of the deacons and four of the elders were Stouts. Jonathan Stout lived until his descendants were multiplied to one hundred and seventeen....

“The Stouts very justly take pride in their family history, and being mostly Baptists, they take pride in their Baptist history also. When they meet a stranger by the name of Stout, who manifests a disposition to claim relationship, they apply one test only in their family history. They do not ask him to pronounce the word Shibboleth, but ascertain if he has any knowledge of PENELOPE, and if he knows nothing of her, they know nothing of him. In other words, they do not cultivate his acquaintance, in the direction of relationship, any further.”

The same passage (minus the long-winded paragraph about the Trojan War) also appeared in PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS , Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1891  p 493 and in PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS by Joseph Wallace, M. A. of the Springfield Bar (The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL 1904).

The novel ideas in this passage are
Voyage about 1680 or 1690
A mention of New Jersey but not Sandy Hook
Indians lay in ambush at time of shipwreck
Tomahawked and scalped
Three Indians rescued her
Twelve sons

However, I do like their method of distinguishing Stouts who are relatives from non-relatives.

If anyone knows of an earlier scalping reference, please let me know.