His father was a freeman of the city and a yeoman and plied a trade as an innkeeper.
[1] Robert was a wealthy attorney and aligned politically to the Whig faction.
[1] He was also registered as a freeman of the city[2] He was granted the office of keeper of the King's manor house in York for services in bringing support of the city for the Prince of Orange in 1689.
On 7 March 1692 he was leased the site of St Mary's Abbey for 31 years.
[6] His failure to become Lord Mayor in 1694 may have been a factor in not standing for re-election to Parliament in 1695.