Henry Bromfield Rogers was the son of the prominent Boston mercantile family which ran the firm of Bromfield and Rogers. Litchfield merchant Julius Deming had shipped goods from London with the firm since the 1780s. Following graduation from Harvard, his father, Daniel Denison Rogers, wrote to his business friend Julius Deming, saying, "The Law School in Litchfield has obtained so much reputation among us that I am desirous that a son of mine, if he may be admitted, pursue his studies there, instead of this place where there are so many temptations and interruptions to take off from study." He requested information as to when Henry should depart for Litchfield and added, "Shall I so far presume upon our former friendship as to ask the favor of you to give me the necessary information."