Elizabeth Chaucer (abt. 1366 - aft. 1397)

Born about 1366 in England

Ancestors

Died after 1397 after about age 31 in Barking Abbey, London, England

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Biography

Elizabeth Chaucer was probably the daughter of Geoffrey Chaucer and wife Philippa Roet. Her parents were both in the royal service, and it is possible that they met at court. Elizabeth may have been born shortly after their marriage, perhaps in 1366, and might have been the eldest child, perhaps named after Elizabeth of Ulster, in whose service her father was. ^{[1] [2]}

On 27 1377, when she was about ten years of age, royal warrants were issued nominating Margaret Swynford and "Elizabeth Chausier" as nuns in, respectively, Barking Abbey and St Helen's BIshopsgate. ^[3] While these warrants were issued in the name of King Richard II, then age 10, they were clearly ordered by his uncle John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Margaret Swynford was a daughter of Lancaster's mistress Katherine Swynford, making it quite likely that Elizabeth Chaucer was her cousin, the daughter of Katherine Swynford's sister, and they lived together as one household following the death of Queen Philippa, whom Philippa Chaucer had served. ^[4]

Further, in 1381, Lancaster paid £51 8s. 2d. to sponsor Elizabeth on the occasion of her transfer as a nun to Barking Abbey. ^[2] This generosity is strong evidence for the connection between Lancaster, his mistress (later wife) and her sister's family.

Margaret Swynford was elected Abbess of Barking in 1419; she died in 1433. ^[5]

Elizabeth Chaucer was still living 1397 when she took a vow of obedience to a new abbess, probably the predecessor of Margaret Swynford - Sybil de Fenton. ^{[6] [5]}

Sources

1. ↑ Galway, Margaret. "Philippa Pan., Philippa Chaucer". The Modern Language Review Vol. 55, No. 4 (Oct., 1960), pp. 481-487 JSTOR
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993 HOP
3. ↑ Life-Records of Chaucer, pp. 337-338. Chaucer Society, 1900. Life-Records
4. ↑ Turner, Marion. <i<Chaucer: A European Life</i>, pp. 204-205. Princeton University Press: 2019.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "Houses of Benedictine nuns: Abbey of Barking." A History of the County of Essex: Volume 2. Eds. William Page, and J Horace Round. London: Victoria County History, 1907. 115-122. British History Online. Web. 27 March 2022. BHO
6. ↑ Life-Records of Chaucer, p. 580. Chaucer Society, 1900. Life-Records

• Perry, Judy. "KATHERINE ROET 'S SWYNFORDS : A RE - EXAMINATION OF INTERFAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND DESCENT – PART 1". Foundations (2003) 1 (2): 122-131. Perry