That version was written in 1765, and is found in The history of the colony of Nova-Cæsaria, or New-Jersey: containing, an account of its first settlement, progressive improvements, the original and present constitution, and other events, to the year 1721. With some particulars since; and a short view of its present state.  Samuel Smith (J. Parker, 1765), and appears as follows:

"While New York was in the possession of the Dutch, about the time of the Indian war in New England, a Dutch ship, coming from Amsterdam, was stranded on Sandy Hook, but the passengers got ashore - among them was a young Dutchman who had been sick most of the voyage; he was so bad after landing that he could not travel, and the other passengers, being afraid of the Indians, would not stay until he recovered; his wife, however, would not leave him, and the rest promised to send for them as soon as they arrived at New Amsterdam (New York). They had not been gone long before a company of Indians, coming to the water side, discovered them on the beach, and hastening to the spot, soon killed the man and cut and mangled the woman in such a manner that they left her for dead. She had strength enough to crawl to some logs not far distant, and getting into a hollow one lived within it for several days, subsisting in part by eating the excrescences that grew from it. The Indians had left some fire on the shore, which she kept together for the warmth. Having remained in that manner for some time, an old Indian and a young one coming down the beach found her; they were soon in high words, which she afterwards understood was a dispute; the old Indian was for keeping her alive, the other for dispatching her. After they had debated the point awhile, the oldest Indian hastily took her up and tossing her upon his shoulder, carried her to a place near where Middletown now stands, where he dressed her wounds and soon cured her. After some time the Dutch at New Amsterdam, hearing of a white woman among the Indians, concluded who it must be, and some of them came to her relief; the old man, her preserver, gave her the choice to go or stay; she chose to go. A while after, marrying one Stout, they lived together at Middletown among other Dutch inhabitants. The old Indian who saved her life used frequently to visit her; at one of his visits she observed him to be more pensive than common, and sitting down, he gave three heavy sighs; after the last, she thought herself at liberty to ask him what was the matter. He told her he had something to tell her in friendship, though at the risk of his own life, which was that the Indians were that night to kill all the whites, and he advised her to go to New Amsterdam; she asked him how she could get off? He told her he had provided a canoe at a place which he named. Being gone from her she sent for her husband out of the field, and discovered the matter to him, who, not believing it, she told him the old man never deceived her, and that she with her children would go; accordingly at the place appointed they found the canoe and paddled off. When they were gone, the husband began to consider the matter, and sending for five or six of his neighbors, they set upon there guard. About midnight they heard the dismal warwhoop; presently came up a company of Indians; they first expostulated and then told the Indians if they persisted in their bloody designs, they would sell their lives very dear. Their arguments prevailed, the Indians desisted, and entered into a league of peace, which kept without violation. From this woman, thus remarkable saved, is descended a numerous posterity of the name of Stout, now inhabitants of New Jersey. At that time there were supposed to be about fifty families of white people, and five hundred Indians inhabiting those parts."

Everyone and their sister has been writing versions of this story since Smith’s 1765 history (and maybe even before).  Scholars have questioned the dates, primarily concluding the shipwreck occurred in or about 1640 rather than 1620, and all the dates are about 20 years too early.  They also shed some doubt the account of her role in later relations with the Native Americans.  Nevertheless the story of her survival was documented not long after her death by people who knew her and memorialized by Smith in 1765.

One person apparently found enough material to write an entire book about Penelope’s story.  The paperback is available at Amazon. 

My favorite image related to Penelope is the collage at right, “Penelope Stout lived in a tree,” created by Jen Lowe Designs

The story is that Penelope lived to 110, had 10 children, and over 500 descendants when she died.  The internet is full of people descended from Penelope, but I can never tell how many of them descend through multiple lines.  Carol is descended from four (yes, four!) of Penelope’s sons, making Penelope Carol’s 11th great-grandmother through sons John and Jonathan, her 10th great-grandmother through son James, and her 9th great-grandmother through son David.  And through them all she descends from a woman who lived in a tree.