My Ancestral Story

While I was exploring my ancestral heritage I proved genealogically my 10th great grandmother was Penelope Van Princis. When she was a young girl in the 1600's she left Europe with her new husband, a group of people and headed for Gravesend Long Island, which was called The New Amsterdam. They were joining a small group who had already settled in the area, peacefully. The ship they were on had been on the ocean for several months sailing when it steered off course. The ship ran aground in a natural undeveloped wilderness area which was called Turtle Island by the Native American people who settled the area over 10,000. years prior. This area is known to us as the Atlantic Highlands New Jersey and back then named by the Europeans the New Netherlands. 

The ship was wrecked and Penelope and her husband were unable to settle on Turtle Island for they were considered invaders. They were attacked and scalped by the Native Americans and became severely wounded. Her husband did not survive the attack and she cut and mangled crawled into the hollow of a tree. Penelope was wounded, abandoned and all alone in a new world unbeknownst to her. She had to find the strength in order to survive, the only option was to go within, and find a safe place. People who learn to tap into their internal resources stay close to their intuitive self, remain rooted to the earth and grounded in nature.