HE WAS GENTLE, KIND AND JUST IN PRIVATE LIFE, WAS NOT LESS BELOVED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAN BY HIS GRATEFUL COUNTRY.
THE NUMBER AND OBJECTS OF HIS CHARITIES WILL BE KNOWN ONLY AT THAT TIME WHEN HIS DUST SHALL BE REANIMATED AND WHEN HE WHO SEES IN SECRET SHALL REWARD OPENLY.
IN THE FULL BELIEF IN THE DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL HE PEACEFULLY RESIGNED HIS SOUL INTO THE ARMS OF HIS REDEEMER
ON THE 13TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1803, IN THE 59TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.
HIS AFFECTIONATE WIDOW HATH CAUSED THIS MARBLE TO BE ERECTED TO PERPETUATE HIS NAME AFTER THE HEARTS OF HIS FELLOW-CITIZENS HAVE CEASED TO BE THE LIVING RECORD OF HIS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE VIRTUES.
As cut on the tombstone after revision the epitaph was substantially the same. "Interred" was changed to "deposited"; "theatre" was stricken out and "aim" inserted and "honor" added after "usefulness"; "became" was changed to "was"; "Virtues as a Man" was made to read "the power of the virtues which adorn private life"; "charitable" was added after "just" and the sentence relating to the number and objects of his charities stricken out; "in the 59th year of his age" was omitted.
[Illustration: TOMB OF COMMODORE BARRY, ST. MARY'S GRAVEYARD, PHILADELPHIA]
In 1876, the original tomb having fallen into decay, a new tomb--the present one--was erected by contributions of the members of St. Mary's Church. The epitaph having become illegible the compiler of this record supplied a copy of the epitaph as it had been cut on the first stone. But Rev. Wm. F. Martin, the Pastor of the church, had the epitaph cut so as to read, and now may be seen, as follows:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF COMMODORE JOHN BARRY, FATHER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.
LET THE CHRISTIAN, PATRIOT AND SOLDIER WHO VISITS THESE MANSIONS OF THE DEAD VIEW THIS MONUMENT WITH RESPECT AND VENERATION.
BENEATH IT RESTS THE REMAINS OF JOHN BARRY, WHO WAS BORN IN THE COUNTY WEXFORD, IRELAND, IN THE YEAR 1745.
AMERICA WAS THE OBJECT OF HIS PATRIOTISM AND THE AIM OF HIS USEFULNESS AND AMBITION.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR HE HELD THE COMMISSION OF CAPTAIN IN THE THEN LIMITED NAVY OF THE COLONIES.
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN BATTLE AND HIS RENOWNED NAVAL TACTICS MERITED FOR HIM THE POSITION OF COMMODORE AND TO BE JUSTLY REGARDED AS THE FATHER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.