__ __|__ __| | | __ | |__|__ _Richard CHILTON _| | | __ | | __|__ | |__| | | __ | |__|__ _Lyonell CHILTON _| | | __ | | __|__ | | __| | | | | __ | | | |__|__ | |_Isabell _________| | | __ | | __|__ | |__| | | __ | |__|__ | |--James CHILTON | | __ | __|__ | __| | | | __ | | |__|__ | __________________| | | | __ | | | __|__ | | |__| | | | __ | | |__|__ |_UNKNOWN _________| | __ | __|__ | __| | | | __ | | |__|__ |__________________| | __ | __|__ |__| | __ |__|__
Vol.2, pp. 3-4:
James Chilton was the oldest passenger on the "Mayflower" with
the possible exception of Elder William Brewster. James was born before
1563 in Canterbury, Kent County, England.
James Chilton, tailor, was listed as a freeman of Canterbury in
1583. He married, before 1587 just possibly Susanna Furner, daughter of
his step-mother and her first husband Francis Furner. Seven children
were baptized in Canterbury to James, then about 1600 the family moved
to neighboring Sandwich where three more cildren were baptized,
including youngest daghter Mary, who was baptizeed at St. Peter's in
1607. Here he undoubtedly met Moses Fletcher, who was destined to be a
fellow "Mayflower" passenger, as well as other Pilgrims who later went
to Holland, and so was drawn into the Pilgrim movement.
From 1607 to 1620 we lose sight of James, but since his daughter
"Ysabel Tgiltron spinster from Canterbury" was married in Leyden,
Holland in 1615, and probably a second daughter Ingle, listed as
"Engeltgen Gilten," was married there in 1622, it is likely that James
took his family to Holland, where Lelyden betrothal records include
several Pilgrims from Sandwich and Canterbury. On the other hand,
James Chilton's name has not been found in Leyden as owner of property,
as a citizen, as friend of a betrothed couple, or even as witness at the
betrothal of his own daughter. Possibly this apparent lack of record
might be ascribed to the difficulty the Dutch had with writing the name
Chilton.
Descent from James Chilton has been proved through only his eldest
daughter Isabella and his youngest daugter Mary. "Engeltgen Gilten"
mentioned above, who married Robert Nelson, could not be followed
further. None of the other children appears to have lived to maturity.