Sometimes, in the course of our research, we come across stories that really make us wish we could travel back in time to learn more. We found one such story recently concerning the well-known Pennock family of Chester County. By all standards, Charles Pennock was an upstanding citizen – a successful Philadelphia businessman and very well-known president of the prestigious Delaware Valley Ornithological Society, where his work was considered among the finest in the country at the time. He was a justice of the peace and a devoted family man, and yet, on the evening of May 15, 1913, he disappeared without a trace.
His wife, the former Mary Scarlett, and family were no doubt frantic, and though the police were contacted, there was no sign anywhere of the 55-year-old man. Several years went by, and eventually Mary must have decided that he was gone for good, as even the birding club began listing him as a deceased member. In her despair, Mary gathered up all of his stuffed birds, eggs and books and donated the collection to the Philadelphia Academy of Science.
Meanwhile, superb bird reports were beginning to appear, coming from a John Williams in the village of St Marks near Tallahassee, Florida. No one questioned the newcomer to the field, but finally, nearly seven years after his disappearance, he blew his cover when he sent a manuscript to an old friend who recognized his handwriting and alerted the family. His brother-in-law made the trip to Florida and determined that John Williams was, in fact, Charles Pennock, though he had tried to disguise himself by shaving off his beard and changing his name.
Reportedly, he expressed anger when he returned to his Kennett Square home to find that his wife had given away all his birds. We have not yet found what response, if any, his wife made to his anger, but it would surely be notable as well!
An article from 1920 in the New York Times, has a slightly different twist to the tale, which, if anything, is even more bizarre:
Lost Ornithologist Found By His Writing
Pennock Disappeared Six Years Ago From Pennsylvania – Discovered in Florida Woods
Wilmington, Del., Dec 31. Charles J. Pennock, banker and former State Ornithologist, who disappeared from his home in Kennett Square, Pa., six years ago has been discovered through his love for birds, which led him to write an article for an ornithological journal under his own name.
Suffering form a nervous disease, he had become victim of a delusion that he had to leave everyone and bury himself. He was discovered by Dr. R. J. Phillips, his brother-in-law, of Philadelphia, buried in the forests of Florida where his only solace in his self-enforced exile was the companionship of the birds.
At the time of his disappearance, Mr. Pennock was one of the best known citizens in Kennett Square. In addition to extensive real estate interests he was connected with a bank at La Porte, Pa. Inspection of his accounts showed that everything was in good condition.
No matter which story is closer to the reality, Mr. Pennock was apparently quite a character.