George Roden was born around 1801 in England. He married Rachel Patrick, and they had at least five children: Agnes, born around 1838; Elizabeth, born around 1840; George, born around 1841; Ruth, born around 1845; and Robert, born around 1847. They immigrated to America around 1846 and settled in Troy, New York. Roden worked as a tailor. They moved to Newark, New Jersey, in the 1850s, and by 1860, he owned $60 of personal property. A decade later, he owned $300 of personal property. His wife died on February 20, 1888, and he passed away in Newark on September 22, 1890.