Robert, born in Middlesex about 1540, was eldest son of Sir Thomas Wroth (died 1573) by his wife Mary, daughter of Richard, Lord Rich.
He was admitted a pensioner of St John's College, Cambridge, on 21 April 1553, but, owing to the religious changes consequent on the accession of Mary I, he left the university without a degree soon after his admission.
During the closing years of Queen Elizabeth's reign he, as a staunch protestant and loyal supporter of the queen's government, was nominated to serve on many special commissions for the trial of persons charged with high treason, including Dr. William Parry (20 February 1584–5), Anthony Babington (5 September 1586), Patrick O'Cullen (21 February 1593), many Jesuits and suspected coiners (26 March 1593), and Valentine Thomas (22 July 1598).
In 1599 he wrote to Michael Hicks of Ducketts in Tottenham about robbers or highwaymen who gathered in the evening at Snaresbrook, Leyton Heath, and Temple Mill.
[3] He was in the special commission of oyer and terminer for Middlesex issued 16 January 1606 for the trial of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot conspirators.