Penelope Van Princis  was born in 1622 in Amsterdam, one of the largest cities in the Netherlands. Penelope was born into a poor family, but longed to travel to the United States. Due to the status women held in this time, the only way she could achieve this was by marrying. So at the young age of eighteen, she married the wealthy John Kent, and the two sailed off to America. They were destined for New York City, the land of opportunities. However, due to a strange turn of events, the couple ended up in Monmouth County. On this long voyage across the ocean, John Kent grew ill. Other voyagers who also ended up in Monmouth County continued to their destinations on foot. Penelope, however decided to stay with her husband while he overcame his sickness. The couple remained in the area where they landed, the area that is now the Atlantic Highlands.

            Penelope and John stayed in a the Navesink Forest, near the location in the Atlantic Highlands where they landed. In the midst of caring for John, the couple was attacked by a group of local Native Americans. Unforchunately, John Kent did not survive the attack. Penelope suffered a hacked shoulder, a fractured skull, and various cuts all over her body, most prominently on her abdomen. Despite all of these injuries, Penelope fought back and was able to survive to make it to a somewhat safe spot. By a miracle, Penelope survived in a hollow tree for a few days, after being left for dead by the Native Americans.  Soon the Native Americans who attacked her found her again and attempted to kill her. One of the younger natives was about to do strike the final blow when luckily, and elderly native, who was not with the group who killed her husband, stopped the young Native. The old man brought her back to his camp and nursed her back to health. The old man stitched up all her wounds and made sure she was treated for her injuries. He could not justify killing an innocent woman, especially one who was in the condition she was.  

         Upon recovery Penelope went to New Amsterdam (Southern Tip of Manhattan) with the help of the native American man. After arriving in New Amsterdam,  Penelope met Richard Stout in 1642, when she was twenty years old. Stout was originally from Nottingham England, but left due to issues with his family. Stout ended up joining the navy, and later moved to New Amsterdam after serving for a few years. Penelope and Richard were married in 1644, when Penelope was twenty-two, and Richard was forty. They soon settled on a plantation in New Amsterdam where they grew tobacco, and  had a farm. After a few years there, the family eventually ended up in Middletown, close in proximity to where Penelope first landed. Richard Stout was one of the first patents in Middletown, and ended up with 745 acres of property. The family came to Middletown with some of their neighbors to get a fresh start, and open up new opportunities.

The elderly Native American Chief who saved Penelope was a frequent visitor of the Stout household in Middletown. The Chief’s tribe was focused mainly in the Navesink area.  He did a lot to protect the Stouts, including warn them of attacks that would take place near the Stout household.

The Stouts were a Baptist family with no place to practice their religion in New Jersey. There at this point was no Baptist church in New Jersey.  In 1668 Penelope and her family ended up organizing the first Baptist Church in New Jersey. It began as a small eighteen member church, and was later expanded into a larger log church. Due to his high status in Middletown, he was appointed as “Overseer”, which was essentially the Mayor, and Penelope was the First “First Lady” in Middletown.

Penelope lived a very long life since her arrival in Middletown. She was the first lady of Middletown, and lived long to tell the story of her journey. In her time she supported her church and raised her children. The Stout’s are known as one of the wealthiest families in Middletown. Their descendants outlived both Richard and Penelope.  Her age of death has been argued over years. Some local historians believe she died in 1712, at the age of ninety. Some believe she died in 1732 at the age of One-Hundred-Ten. Her grave-site is unknown, however it is thought that she is buried near Kings Highway. All that is known of her final resting place is that it is in Monmouth County.