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Continued: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF RICHARD STOUT (abt.1610-1705)
compiled by Nick Sheedy (nsheedy@@yahoo.com)
According to tradition, Richard Stout was born between 1610 and 1615 in Nottinghamshire, England. His parents are believed to be as John Stout (or Staught) and Elizabeth Kee (often mistranscribed as Gee or Bee) who were married 13 November 1609. Hence, if these were his parents, Richard's birth year should not be calculated earlier than mid-1610.
According to traditions: Richard and his father had a falling out (say on account of a romance with a woman of whom his father disapproved). Richard is said to have ran away or was forced from his home and either joined or was pressed into the service of the British Navy where he served for seven years. (One account even has it that his father had him shanghaied.) According to tradition, at New Amsterdam (now New York), he jumped ship (deserted), or some say he was discharged, by early 1643.
Stout Family of Delaware, by Streets reads:
"Richard Stout is said to have left home because of parental interference in an affair of love with a young woman who was considered below him in the social scale. He enlisted on a man-of-war where he served seven years receiving his discharge at New Amsterdam where his vessel happened to be when his term of enlistment expired."
He might have been born as early as 1610, and he may have been as young as 18 when he left home (say in 1628), and so could have served seven years in the Navy by 1635. However, if he was born as late as 1615, had romantic design on a woman, by which time he was as old as 21 (say abt. 1636) and served seven years in the Navy, this would place his arrival in new Amsterdam in 1643--the same year when we find a record of him there. As such, we can safely assume that arrived in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam between 1635 and early 1643, most likely closer to the latter.
It is believed that Richard Stout was in New Amsterdam prior to February 1643, at which time he was employed by Director Governor Kieft, New Amsterdam, as a soldier in the Indian uprising which took place in February March. It has been surmised that, through bearing arms for the Dutch, he became a subject of The Netherlands (and as such would have been protected from prosecution for his earlier desertion from the British Navy, if that were the case, when the British took control and renamed the colony New York a few years later).
These claims seem to have come to light in the Stout account compiled by John Edwin Stillwell in “Early Settlers of New Jersey and their Descendants” Vol. 4 (New York, 1916), pp. 295-360. Under the dated of May 7, 1647, we find "Richard Stoute being sworn deposeth yt in the his being a soldiere at the ffort with Penneare and other his fellow soldieres," etc. Stillwell laments that the record was incomplete, but states that this record would indicate that he was employed by the Dutch as a soldier in 1643. There were two Indian uprisings in 1643: the earlier one being in February 1643, with peace being negotiated in March and April; the second uprising occurred some months later, during the winter of 1643-1644. Stillwell concludes that it is most probable that “Richard Stout was employed at the Fort in the Spring uprising of 1643, rather than in the Fall and Winter of 1643 and 1644, and that he left New Amsterdam, with Lady Moody, in the Summer of 1643, to found Gravesend …” (pp. 299-300).
Stillwell offers a few additional facts from abstracted records (p. 300-301):
“In the first allotments of house lots and farms in Gravesend, Feb. 20, 1646, he received
Plantation lot No. 16*, upon which he evidently grew tobacco, for Oct. 26, 1649, John Thomas
bought, for two hundred and ten guilders, Richard Stout's crop of tobacco.” (* As noted below, it would appear that Richard Stout received farm lot 14 in 1645 and house lot 11 in 1646.)
Additional Gravesend Town Records:
In 1657, of his twenty acre farm, he had seventeen acres under cultivation.
1661, Apr. 5. He bought an adjoining farm of Edward Griffin. 1663, Oct. 8. Richard Stout was plaintiff in a slander suit in Gravesend, and won his case.
In June 1643, Lady Deborah Moody (who previously sought religious freedom at Salem and in Rhode Island), with other English families, arrived at the fort of New Amsterdam to seek asylum under the Dutch. During the summer that year she and other English settlers founded a new colony: Gravesend, on Long Island, (New York). Richard is claimed to have accompanied Lady moody and her small colony to Gravesend in the summer of 1643. By 1645 the group was well organized and in December they were given a patent by Gov. Kieft. Richard Stout received lot no. 14 in the first division (apparently a division of 20 acre farm lots). A second division was made in 1646 (apparently for house lots), and Richard Stout owned lot no. 11. (Other accounts state that that he was granted or occupied lots 16 and 18 as well.)
The earliest settlers of Gravesend were granted a patent, and the lots were divided 10 December 1645, by Director Gov. Kieft’s administration. This patent was given up owing to the Indian wars of 1643. This division seems to have been for farm lots of about 20 acres each. Lot owners were:
l. Lady Moody
2. Sir Henry Moody
3. James Hubbard
4. George Baxter
5. John Morrell
6. Richard Ussell
7. Nicholas Stillwell
8. George Holmes
9. Thomas Hall
10. John Tilton
11. James Ellis
12. Cornelius Swellinant
13. Edward Browse
14. Richard Stout
15. Thomas Cornish
16. Thomas Greedy
17. Thomas Spicer
18. Walter Wall
19. John Cooke
20. James Grover
21. John Rinkman,
22. William Musgrm
23. Thomas Whitlock
24. Richard Gibbons
25. Randall Huet
26. Ralph Cardell
27. Robert Pennoyer
28. William Wilkins
On 20 February 1646 another division was made, laying out 40 house lots in the town of Gravesend:
1. Lady Deborah Moody
2. Sir Henry Moody
3. James Hubbard
4. George Baxter
5. John Morrell
6. Richard Ussell
7. John Tilton
8. James Ellis
9. Cornelius Swellinant
10. Edward Browse
11. Richard Stout
12. Thomas Cornish
13. George Holmes
14. Thomas Greedy
15. Thomas Spicer
16. Walter Wall
17. John Cooke
18. James Grover
19. Ambrose London [sic—Love]
20. John Rinkman
21. Francis Weeks
22. Ralph Cardell
23. Robert Pennoyer
24. William Wilkins
25. Thomas Applegate
26. William Goulding
27. Charles Morgan
28. Thomas Morrell
29. John Thomas
30. Rodger Scott
31. Randall Huett
32. William Compton
33. Enium Bennum
34. Samuel Chandler
35. Pete Simpson
36. Thomas Cornwall
37. William Musgrove
38. Thomas Whitlock
39. Richard Gibbons
There is an often repeated quote (with variations) which I have traced to the article "First Families of Monmouth, Stout Family" by Edwin Salter which appeared in the newspaper, "The Monmouth Inquirer", Thursday, dated 20 May 1886. It reads:
"October 13, 1643, Richard Aestin, Ambrose Love and Richard Stout made declaration that the crew of the Seven Stars and of the Privateer landed at the farm of Anthony Jansen of Sallee (New Utrecht) in the bay and took off 200 pumpkins and would have carried off a lot of hogs from Coney Island had they not learned they belonged to the Lady Moody."
Now, while this article is based on facts, it is not an exact transcription of the original record. From the Register of Provincial Secretary of New Amsterdam/New Netherlands, on 13 October 1643, Richard Stout, et al, of Gravesend, Long Island, gave a deposition to the Secretary of New Netherlands (transcribed from microfilm by Nick Sheedy):
[79] Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherlands, appeared the undersigned witnesses, who at the request of Antony Jensen from Zale attest, testify and declare, in place and with promise of a solomn oath, that it is true and truthful that yesterday, about noon, the crew of the [ship] "Sevenster" [Seven Star ?] and of the privateer [the ship "la Garce"] went together on the land of Antony Jensen from Zalee, situated in the bay there, as an Englishman who is a sailor on the said ships, took fully 200 pumpkins. The deponents asked what they were doing there and they answered: "we are in search of the hogs on "Konynen Eylant" [Coney Island]; if we find the hogs we shall take them all away with us." Thereupon the deponents replied: "Those that run there are Lady Moody's hogs." "Then we shall not go there," said the sailors. Done the 13th of October 1643.
"Richert Stout" signed his mark "X"; "Ritschert Aesten" [Richard Austin] with his mark "R"; and "Ambroisus Lovve" [Amrose Love] with his mark "A".
Richard Stout grew tobacco, and on 26 Oct. 1649 John Thomas bought Stout’s tobacco crop for 210 guilders. I did not find Richard in Gravesend records in the early 1650s. It may have been during this time, say around 1654 or 1655, that Richard and Penelope Stout and a few adventurers from Gravesend made an initial attempt to establish a settlement up the Raritan River on what is now Monmouth County, New Jersey. There is little evidence of this venture, and it is believe that they were forced to retreat due to Indian hostilities.
Richard Stout was farming in Gravesend in 1657 when 17 of his 20 acres were under cultivation; and in 1661 he bought an adjoining farm from William Griffin. The Town Court, of Gravesend, October 8, 1663, stated that “Richard Stout declareth that Nathaniel Brittain had slandered him; that he had sold wine to the Indians. The said Nathaniel denieth it, but said that the Indians told his wife that they had bought wine of Stout.” The Court, however, found in favor of Richard and ordered Nathaniel to pay the costs of prosecution.
By 1663 and 1664, some men from Gravesend had sailed up the Raritan River and began a general council to negotiate with the Sachem Indian tribe to purchase land in what was to become part of New Jersey. It is said they first tried to establish a community there about 1655 but that the earlier settlement was aborted because of Indian troubles.
Richard Stout and others bought the Sachem's right to the land embraced in the future Monmouth Patent:
The first deed from the Indians was dated 25th of 1st month (March), 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, 1 gun, 1 clout capp(?), 1 shirt, 12 lbs. tobacco and 1 anker 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, N.Y., in Liber 3, pp1. 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.
I have found reference that the second purchase was 8 April 1664, but may be confused with the purchase of 7 April 1665, from Indians named Taplawappammund, Mattamahickanick, Yawpochammund, 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 5 June 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."
Two other Indian deeds followed and were similarly recorded. By 1664 or 1665, they apparently had established a permanent settlement there. While the earliest settlers (often called "adventurers") typically negotiated with and purchased land from the Indians directly, it became necessary to obtain title from the European authorities to guarantee the claim. (And another affirmation of their title would be secured when the colony of East New Jersey was chartered in 1683.)
Richard Stout was among the twelve men named on the "Monmouth Patent" of 8 April 1665 which Governor Nicholls granted, and which reads as follows:
"To all whom these presents shall come: I Richard Nicholls Esq., Governor under his Royal Highness the Duke of York of all his Territories in America send greeting.
"Whereas there is a certain tract or parcel of land within this government, lying and being near Sandy Point, upon the Main; which said parcel of land hath been with my consent and approbation bought by some of the inhabitants of Gravesend upon Long Island of the Sachems (chief proprietors thereof) who before me have acknowledged to have received satisfaction for the same, to the end that the said land may be planted, manured and inhabited, and for divers other good causes and considerations, I have thought fit to give, confirm and grant, and by these presents do give confirm and grant unto WILLIAM GOULDING, SAMUEL SPICER, RICHARD GIBBONS, RICHARD STOUT, JAMES GROVER, JOHN BOWN, JOHN TILTON, NATHANIEL SYLVESTER, WILLIAM REAPE, WALTER CLARKE, NICHOLAS DAVIS, OBADIAH HOLMES, patentees, and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns, all that tract and part of the main land, beginning at a certain place commonly called or known by the name of Sandy Point and so running along the bay West North West, till it comes to the mouth of the Raritan River, from thence going along the said river to the westernmost part of the certain marsh land which divides the river into two parts, and from that part to run in a direct south-west line into the woods twelve miles, and thence to turn away south-east and by south, until it falls into the main ocean; together with all lands, soils, rivers, creeks, harbors, mines, minerals (Royal mines excepted), quarries, woods, meadows, pastures, marshes, waters, lakes, fishings, hawkings, huntings, and fowling, and all other profits, commodities and hereditaments to the said lands and premises belonging and appertaining, with their and every of their appurtenances hereby given and granted, or herein before mentioned to be given and granted to the only proper use and behoof of the said patentees and their associates, their heirs, successors and assigns forever …"
Stout sold his Gravesend property on Long Island and moved his family to New Jersey (are there deeds on record for this?) Others followed later (although only four of the original 12 patentees actually settled in Monmouth). Because he had settled on the land prior to January 1665 (this was probably O.S., being 1655/66), Richard Stout was able to claim an additional 780 acres for his family by 1675. Future settlement was restricted starting in July 1669 because Middletown was considered "wholly compleated, being full according to their number."
In 1667, Richard Stout held lot no. 6 and upland country in Middletown. In 1669, he was an Overseer of the Town. In 1675, he deeded 1,800 acres to his heirs. In 1677, he received 745 acres by patent.
From 1669 to 1671, Richard Stout served in an Assembly to govern the towns in Monmouth. He was frequently elected to fill other responsible positions in the town.
In 1664, January 25th, Richard Stout, John Bowne, John Tilton, Jr., and others bought a tract of land of Papomora, Chief of Indians, the deed for which is recorded at Albany, also other tracts from other Indians, April 7th, 1665 and June 5th, 1665.
In 1668, Richard and his family joined with others in forming the first Baptist Church of New Jersey.
DEEDS:
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 (Bowne); Alice Stout, wife of John Trogmorton, all 1800 acres source: East Jersey Deeds, etc. Liber No 3,
Reversed Side, pp1
1677 June 4:" Patent to Richard Stout senior of Midleton for 285 acres there in 6 parcels" described as before. source Liber No. 1, pp168.
1682 April 10: Deed." Richard Hartshorne, as attorney for Thomas Snowsell, to John Crawfurd, for 40 acres bought from Richard Stout and wife Penelope", Feb., 26, 1679-80. Property description, a homelot, 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, pp150
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 117
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, pp68
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, pp385
It is said Richard and Penelope had ten children (seven sons and three daughters): John, Richard, Jonathan, Peter, James, Benjamin, David, Deliverance, Sarah and Penelope.
Richard Stout's will, dated 9 June 1703, was proved 23 October 1705 at Perth Amboy, New Jersey (Lib. 1, p. 120, N.J. Wills). If Richard was born abt. 1610, as tradition would have us believe , he would have been about 95 years old when he died. As I have stated, he probably was not born prior to 1610. Otherwise, if he was born in 1615, he still would have been 90 years old. (See the sketch of Penelope for further discussion on their ages.--NMS)
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PROBATE RECORDS: Monmouth County, New Jersey
STOUT, Richard, His WILL, written 9 June 1703, was probated 23 Oct 1705 at Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey:
"Know all men by these presents that I, Richard Stout of Middletown, in the county of Monmouth, in East Jersey, being of sound Mind and disposing memory, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament which is as followeth: I will that all my just debts be paid: I give and devise unto my loving wife, during her natural life, all my orchard and that part of rooms of the home she now lives in, with the cellar, and all the land I now posses. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife, all my horse kind, excepting one mare and colt my son Benjamin is to have for keeping my cattle last year.
"I give unto my sons, John, Richard, James, Johnathan, David and Benjamin, one shilling each of them.
"I give unto my daughters, Mary, Alice and Sarah, each of them one shilling.
"I give to my daughter-in-law, Mary Stout, and her son John one shilling each of them.
"I give and bequeath unto my kinswoman Mary Stout, the daughter of formerly Peter Stout, one cow to be paid within six days after my wife's death.
"All the remainder of my personal estate whatsoever, I give and bequeath unto my loving wife, and to this, my last will and testament, I make my son John and my son Johanathan my executors to. For this my will performed, in witness hereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal, June the ninth day, in the year one thousand seven hundred and three. (signed) Richard Stout (his mark)--Signed, sealed and published in the presence of us: Richard Hartshorne, John Weakham, Peter Vandervere"
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According to the "History of the Stout Family" by Nathan Stout (originally published in 1823: I located an original copy in the Special Collections of Alexander Library at Rutgers University--NMS):
"Richard Stout, the first of the name in America was born in Nottinghamshire, 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 [this is at odds with other accounts-NMS], 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 [too early! -NMS], 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."
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The original church book for "Old First" Baptist church in Monmouth, New Jersey, is held by the Special Collections of Alexander Library at Rutgers University. It was located and examined in 2004 by Nick Sheedy. While some of the birth records extend back to the late 1600s, most of the book dates to the 1700s. Unfortunately, several of the earliest pages were torn out (apparently deliberately, and records started fresh about 1712 after some sort of controversy among the congregants of the church). The records contain very little useful genealogical data, and no records of the early Stout family.
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