In 1324, his father John Chaucer was kidnapped by an aunt in the hope of marrying the 12 year-old to her daughter in an attempt to keep property in Ipswich.
I 1324 blev hans far, John Chaucer, kidnappet af hans tante som dermed håbede at få hans tyve år gamle søn til at gifte sig med hendes egen datter i et forsøg på at beholde familiens ejendomme i Ipswich.