[Benjamin Roberts], born in Chilton, near Woolwich, Kent, he was the son of an ironmonger whose mode of life was secular, comfortable, independent, and permissive. As a boy Ben was "jovial and good-natured" but seemingly without a keen sense of responsibilitym, religious or otherwise, and he had a passionate drive for self-education which was later all but insatiable in his son[B.H. Roberts].
Ann described Ben as a sunny, genial, handsome man, proud of his six-feet-and-one-inch height. She told her daughters she had been quite "swept away" by their father. B.H. Roberts remembered his father's "pleasing character and genial good nature," but more especially his physical prowess.
. . .Roberts would vaguely remember his father's singing familiar road ballads, among them "Old Dog Tray" and "Old Horse," but would vividly remember a complete refrain about the home:

I've a darling little wife,
She's the comfort of my life,
And her, I always will adore.
I am sitting by the fire,
With my children by my side,
And what can a poor man ask for more.

(Defender of the Faith: The B.H. Roberts Story - Truman Madsen, pg. 5-6)

Benjamin Roberts, a main ancestor in the B.H. Roberts line, remained in the Charlton - Woolwich--Plumstead area for most of his life. Benjamin was born in Charlton, Kent County, England, 3 May 1826, and he was Christened 28 May 1826 in St. Luke's Church in Charlton. He was the son of William and Mary Cowen Roberts. The 1841 Census shows him as 15 years old, and living with his father's family at #4 Grew's Building, Sun Alley, Woolwich, Kent. Living nearby at #1 on Sun Alley in 1841 was the William and Elizabeth Everington Family, with a daughter Ann, age 15.

Growing up as neighbors was probably one of the factors that led to the marriage of Benjamin Roberts and Ann Everington on 15 June 1848 in the All Saints Parish Church of Poplar, Middlesex County, England.

(A History of the B.H. Roberts Family - Richard Roberts, pg. 75-76)