Family background
William Roberts was born in Sydney in 1821, son of William and his wife Susannah Jane, née Moss. On 2 April 1842, he married Louisa Wilhelmina (1825–1906), the daughter of Richard and Susannah Kemp, and had four sons and two daughters. His youngest daughter Louise Marion (b.1858) married solicitor and NSW Premier Joseph Hector Carruthers. William Roberts died at Moss Vale on1 July 1900, aged 80, and received a Church of England funeral.
Occupation & interests
William Roberts was admitted to practise as a solicitor in 1845. From 1851 to 1858, his practice was at 121 King Street and his private residence was at 379 Castlereagh Street. From 1858 he spent time practising in Goulburn but was back in Sydney in 1863 when he took over the practice of George Robert Nichols at 201 York Street. His son William had joined him in the York Street practice by 1895. His private residence was Ravenswood, Carrington Road, Randwick.
Parliamentary service
He was member of the NSW Legislative Assembly for Goulburn from 14 June 1859 to 10 November 1860.
Local government service
Roberts was Alderman for Macquarie Ward, 1 November 1849 until 31 December 1853 when the Council was replaced by City Commissioners. He was re-elected for the same ward on 11 April 1857 to 30 November 1860.
References
Parliament of New South Wales, Former Members, Mr William Roberts
“The Late Mr William Roberts’, The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1900, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237307804
’Passing away’, Evening News, 15 February 1912, p. 10, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113818718