Chilton's Challenge

This is a two act play which is the story of James Chilton, the oldest pilgrim passenger on the Mayflower. He was born a Roman Catholic in Canterbury, County Kent, England and died a committed separatist off Cape Cod in the new world. His wife Susanna was the only pilgrim female to have been excommunicated by the Church of England. James and his family were harried out of the country in the words of King James because of their religious beliefs and fled to Leiden in the Netherlands. James, his wife Susanna and his youngest daughter Mary were passengers on the Mayflower leaving their two older daughters behind in Leiden. The challenge of his life repents that of many of our pilgrim fathers and explains how and why they came to America. The second act of the play tells the story of the Pilgrims first years through the voice of Mary Chilton.