Hi, List- This is my first post to this list bearing the illustrious surname whose forbears Monmouth County schoolchildren study in history classes. (I'm hoping my copy to NJMONMOUTH List arrives there, too!) Penelope Stout's centuries-old historic escape from the Indians and her protection of the children are written into legend as symbolizing the quintessence of the resourcefulness and intelligence of the original European Jersey settlers. To do research on a collateral family history in 1997, I first visited The Old First Church, 69 Kings Highway, Middletown, NJ, est. 1688, (Denomination: Baptist). Builder: Oliver Sprout. Incidentally, the church building itself is a study in beauty and light, which seems to radiate and bounce from every angle around it. All of my research of local sources stated that in the early 1600's, Monmouth County Christians belonged to one of two established churches: Quakers of Shrewsbury or Baptists of Middletown. Their houses of worship are about 7 miles apart. Rev. Carol Von Pier of the Baptist First Church in Middletown was very cordial to me in allowing me to look at the old archived church records. THE TREASURES WRITTEN WITHIN THOSE PAGES CAN EVOKE INTEREST IN EVEN THE MOST INDIFFERENT GENEALOGIST! The reproduced records are contained in a 2 volumed atlas-type format, beautifully reprinted and bound. I recall the church office administrator's telling me that in 1976, these were presented as a gift to the congregation by neighboring Baptists in Atlantic Highlands. The original records were given to Rutgers University, where they are available for research in one of their archive libraries. Last week while browsing for the PATTERSON surname I'd noticed in 1997, I again toured the adjacent church cemetery, where beautiful headstones stand as silent memorials to the early patriots and settlers of this piece of heaven on earth, Monmouth County. Located on the right of the Old First Church, one of the largest monuments is a granite spire extending heavenward that is inscribed as follows: REV. DAVID B. STOUT B. JAN. 12, 1810 D. MAY 17, 1876 38 Years Pastor of The Middletown Baptist Church JANE MERRILL, HIS WIFE B. DEC. 22, 1806 D. SEPT. 3, 1877 " Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." Another inscription: ANN M. COOK Wife of Daniel Bray B. June 20, 1864 D. Jan. 4, 1880 Other surnnames inscribed on headstones are as follows: TAYLOR DORSET HOLMES OSBORN STILLWELL * APPLEGATE LEONARD SEABROOK PATTERSON MURRAY * FROST VAN BRUNT WHITMAN PARMLY HYDE FRITTS COOPER CRAWFORD SMITH TILTON ROBERTS WALLING LUPBOROUGH SHEPHERD MORRIS CONOVER REON CAMPBELL CHASEY VANSHOICK WILLETT COOPER BROWN SCHENCK CASLER TRUEX * Revolutionary War soldier Please forgive me for perhaps "singing to the choir" if this is well-known information to the STOUT researchers subscribing to this list. I simply could not help myself from broadcasting on the Internet the genealogical gold mine that is contained within the records of this extraordinarily beautiful church. Olivia Revits Shrewsbury, NJ [email protected]