John Roberts (poet)

He was born in Chester in 1711 or 1712 the son of Edward Roberts the city registrar, and his wife, Elizabeth.

These included: Deputy Paymaster of Gibraltar 1743 to 1761; Inspector of the Out Ports (Exports) in the London Custom House 1746 to 1762; Receiver of Quit Rents in Virginia 1748 until death; a pension from the Irish Establishment of £800 per annum from 1754 until death; working at the Department of Trade 1761/2 and 1765–1772.From 1754 to 1756 he was paymaster to the British Secret Service (at that time mainly spying on France) under Pelham's nephew Pelham-Holles as Prime Minister.

Pelham had identified a vacancy and she obtained Prime Minister Newcastle's commitment that Roberts would be assigned the seat.

During this period, in October 1765 he became involved in the debates on the troubles in the American colonies and the Stamp Tax riots, and encouraged that the worst rioters should be made example of (i.e.

[6] His son John Christopher Roberts (1739–1810) held various civil service roles including Secretary to the Province of Quebec.