Robert, born in Middlesex about 1540, was eldest son of Sir Thomas Wroth (1516-1573) by his wife Mary, daughter of Richard, Lord Rich. Accompanying his father in his exile, he returned to England soon after the accession of Elizabeth I. He afterwards entered public life, and the rest of his career was devoted to politics and the administration of a large estate.
Street John"s College.
He was admitted a pensioner of Saint 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. He was elected for the first time to parliament for Street Albans on 11 January 1563. He was returned for Trevena on 2 April 1571.
He took his seat as member for the important constituency of Middlesex on 8 May 1572, and was re-elected to four later parliaments (23 November 1585, 4 February 1589, 7 October 1601, and 9 March 1604).
He was High Sheriff of Essex in 1587. He was appointed to the command of two hundred untrained men, forty harquebusiers, and forty musketeers of Essex in the army which was raised in 1588 to resist the Spanish Armada.
He was knighted in 1597. Wroth retained the favour of the government under James I. On 22 May 1603 the new king granted him a walkership in Waltham Forest for life, and on 19 February next year he and others were directed to see to the erection of bridges across the river Lea between Hackney and Hoddesdon for the king"s convenience when hawking.
On 18 and 19 July 1605 he entertained James I at his residence at Loughton in Essex for two days.
His estates in Essex were increased by the death of Francis Stonard, his father-in-law, on 13 September 1604. He was a juryman at the trial of Sir Walter Ralegh on 15 September 1603, when through some misunderstanding he incurred the displeasure of the attorney-general. 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.
Wroth died on 27 January 1606, and was buried on the following day at Enfield.
His obsequies were formally celebrated on 3 March. Sir Robert married Susan, daughter and heiress of John Stonard of Loughton, through whom he acquired the estate of Loughton.
He seems to have had at least four surviving sons:
Sir Robert (1576?–1614) who married Lady Mary Wroth. John, who was admitted a student of the Inner Temple, 1596, was afterwards described as a captain, and succeeded to Durrants (also spelt Durants), the family"s estate at Enfield in Middlesex,
Thomas.
Henry, who is styled "of Woodbury in Herefordshire".
Sir Henry Wroth (died 1671), second son of Henry, Sir Robert"s youngest son, acquired some fame as a royalist during the civil wars.
