Philippa Roet - Children

Children

It is probable that Chaucer and Philippa had “two sons and two daughters,” whose birthdates are unknown. It has been speculated that “one or two” of these children were actually fathered by John of Gaunt. H.A. Kelly, however, has effectively demonstrated that this belief is likely false as John of Gaunt having sexual relations with two sisters would have been considered incest and would have required additional papal dispensation for him to marry Katherine.

Elizabeth is thought to be the oldest of their children. She is likely the Elizabeth Chaucer who, along with a Margaret Swynford, was nominated a nun by royal privilege at the accession of Richard II in 1377, thus she may have been born as early as 1364. She may have been a nun in Barking Abbey; there are records of an “Elizabeth Chausier” and her nickname being “Chaucy” which leads historians to believe that she was their daughter. It has been suggested that she was named after Elizabeth of Ulster, however it is worth remembering that Philippa had an elder sister, named Elizabeth/Isabel.

Thomas, the eldest son and most well known, might have been born around 1367 judging from the dates he entered the military; it has been suggested that he was the son of John of Gaunt, whom he served under and received favors from; however, as stated previously, this parentage is unlikely. A strong relationship with Philippa has been suggested due to an assumption that Thomas chose to bear her coat of arms over Chaucer’s. However, in the Special Collections of the Harvard University library is a deed with the name and seal of Thomas Chaucer using the arms of his father Geoffrey and there is no known example of Thomas Chaucer ever using a seal with the arms of his mother. Confusion over this has likely come about because the tomb of he and his wife, constructed by their daughter, uses Roet rather than Chaucer arms.

Very little is known of Lewis and Agnes, the second son and youngest daughter. However, it is recorded that Lewis was born in 1381 and sent to the school at Oxford at age 10; it is also known that Chaucer’s “Treatise on the Astrolabe” was written for Lewis. Agnes, who is believed to be his second daughter, was a lady-in-waiting at Henry IV's coronation in 1399.