Roger’s parents did not at first conform to the Puritanism of the colony where they lived. It was at least seven years before they relented to have their children baptized by the local minister. When the opportunity arose they attached themselves to the freer faith of the Unitarians. It appears that Roger’s activities can be characterized by a liberal approach to doctrine, religious liberty and tolerance. While his oldest son was a vigorous loyalist to the crown of England, the next oldest son became a Methodist preacher. The oldest son of his second wife later settled in New York among Universalists. Another son in this family joined the Mormons.
Roger’s activities as a hatter made him dependent on the social life of the communities in which he dwelt. He would have dealt with sheep farmers and fur traders to supply him with raw materials out of which to craft head coverings and other objects of felt. One of his older sons pursued the trapping of wild animals for several years. I have tried to detect any trace of his following the course of the so-called “mad hatter.” In this I have been unsuccessful. It seems likely that the chemicals used in carroting, i.e., preparing the fur for becoming felt, did not include mercury at that time. On the other side of his trade he would have negotiated with merchants to provide him outlets for his products.