Henry St. George
Nationality: Irish
Born: ca.1744
Regimental commission dates:
Chaplain, 18 December 1766
Location during the Northern Campaign of 1777: probably Ireland
Retired: 25 October 1786
Died: 1831
The aptly-named Revered Henry St. George served as chaplain to the 62nd Regiment of Foot for nearly 20 years. Little is known of his life apart from a brief family sketch. Named after his paternal grandfather, the Reverend Henry St. George was the youngest son of the Very Reverend Arthur St. George, D.D. (1681-1772), who served as Dean of Ross 1744-1772, and his wife Jane (née Molyneux, died 1788), who was a daughter of Physician-General Sir Thomas Molyneaux, 1st Bt. , M.D. (1661-1733). One of Henry's older brothers, Arthur (died 1768), served as an officer in the 62nd Regiment. Thirteen days after Arthur become the 62nd Regiment's major (5 December 1766), younger brother Henry received the regiment's chaplaincy. Hailing from Great Island, Wexford, The Reverend Henry St. George married Mary (née Percival) on 30 October 1775 and had one son, Arthur (1776-1845). Mary may have died in childbirth (she died in 1776), and Henry's second marriage was to Jane (née Walsh), with whom he had eight more children: Henry, Oliver, Nelson, William, Elizabeth, Jane, Henrietta, and Isabella.
Little is known about Reverend St. George aside from the fact that he served little, if ever, with his regiment. While every British regiment in the army had a chaplain, these gentlemen rarely actively served. Chaplain St. George was no exception, being continually returned on staff lists as “on the King's leave,” or something similar. However, the regiment was not left without spiritual guidance. Serving in the chaplain's place was a deputy chaplain, who officiated over the services of the Church of England for the officers and men of the 62nd Regiment throughout the Northern Campaign of 1777. This was Deputy Chaplain, the Reverend Charles Mongan.
St. George was later listed as being from Altamont and served as the rector of Aghadoe, both in County Carlow, Ireland. His death was published in the 1831 issue of The Gentleman's Magazine and simply stated that he was an "Incumbent of the Union of Aghado, co. Carlow."