He was the son of Claudius Berard and Mary Nichols Berard.
On December 12, 1842, he married Harriet W. Mearns.
They were the parents of six children.

There are discrepancies in the year of birth and year of death.
The Army and Navy Journal for August 6, 1892 stated Robert A. Berard died at his home at Highland Falls on Wednesday, July 27, but his private stone has July 27, 1893
His date of birth is listed as March 11, 1820 on his stone, but the Portrait and Biographical Record of Orange County, New York states March 11, 1821.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Orange County, New York, Chapman Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1895.
Robert A. Berard. In giving the history of this county, as told in the lives of its citizens, mention should surely be made of the gentleman above named, who, during the years of his residence in Highland Falls, did much to aid the section of country in which he lived. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits until about thirteen years ago, when he retired from business, living in his pleasant home in the suburbs of the city until his death, which occurred July 27, 1892.

Claudius Berard, the father of our subject, was of French extraction and was professor of that language at West Point. He was a native of Bordeaux, France, whence he came to this county when nineteen years of age. Later he was married to Miss Mary Nichols at West Point, where they both resided until their death. His demise occurred about forty-five years ago, his wife surviving him about fifteen years. To them were born six daughters and one son, five of whom are living at the present time.

Our subject was born March 11, 1821, at West Point, where he was reared to man's estate and where he received a good education. At the time his father was appointed Postmaster he was made deputy and gave his entire attention to the duties of that position, assuming the responsibility and management of affairs. He lived at West Point altogether twenty-five years and when he came to Highland Falls in 1845 at once engaged in the dry-goods business.

Our subject and Miss Harriet W. Mearns were united in marriage December 12, 1842. The lady was born March 10, 1820, in Highland Falls, her parents being Alexander and Catherine Garrison (Niles) Mearns. She is now living in a pleasant home in this place where she has numerous warm friends. A very refined and intelligent lady, she was of great assistance to her husband through their lifelong journey together. To Mr. and Mrs. Berard there was born a family of six children. Claude has been in the employ of Tiffany, of New York City, for a period of twenty years; he married Miss Ariadna Cressay, of New York and their four children are named, respectively, Emile, Ralph, Victor and Blanche. Grace married Lieut. H.M. Harrington, who was one of the victims of the Custer massacre; she has two children, Aline and Harry B. Harrington. Walter, who is a resident of Highland Falls, married Helen Whitney in 1891. Julia is now the wife of Deese Longstreet, and makes her home in Georgia; she has been twice married and by her first husband had a daughter, Pansy. John H., who is a civil engineer, was formerly a West Point cadet and for twenty years lived in the South, but is now in Seattle, Washington. Minnie married Edward Matthews and has been a resident of Texas since 1878; her four children are Edward, Berard, Jack and Harriett.

Although in no sense of the word a politician, yet our subject was a true-blue Republican and for a time was a member of the United American Order. He took an active and commendable interest in public affairs and possessed much influence in mercantile, religions and social circles. Besides being one of the pillars of the Presbyterian Church, he was also an Elder, and for some time was Superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a Christian in every sense of the term, and in Highland Falls, where his name was the synonym for love and charity, his place can never be filled.