Henry's birth was registered by his sister Mary under the name Henry Priest. His mother, Elizabeth Stewart, had had a relationship with John Saunders while her husband (John Priest) had been away from the colony (he went to Victoria and then California looking for gold). Elizabeth died not long after placing Henry in the orphan school, and he was raised by his older sister. He went on to become a policeman, and married and had 3 daughters. They lived in Bothwell, George Town, Lilydale, Railton and Launceston. He used the name Priest, and may not have known that his biological father was John Saunders. He died in Launceston in 1934.