His mother died when was around two years old and he was bought up by his uncle, Thomas Price and learnt the tinsmith trade.

He arrived in Queensland in 1890 and opened his own business in Ruthven Street, Toowoomba, The City Dustpan, which he sold in 1926.

[1] On 1 June 1934, he travelled to Southport, where he told friends there that he was on a visit for the day and to them he seemed in normal health.

[5] Roberts was an alderman on the Toowoomba City Council for 10 years, including part of the time he spent in the Queensland Parliament.

He was involved in many sporting organisations on the Darling Downs including women's hockey, both forms of rugby, and the rifle club.