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.
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.
He fought often and bled in the Cause of Freedom, but
his deeds of valor did not diminish in him the virtues
which adorn his private life.
He was eminently gentle, kind, just and charitable and
no less beloved by his family and friends than by his
grateful country.
Firm in the faith and practices of the Roman Catholic
Church, he departed this life on the 13th day of
September in the 59th year of his age.
In grateful remembrance, a few of his countrymen, members
of St. Mary's Church and Others have contributed
towards this second monument, erected July 1st, 1876.
Requiescat in pace.
STATUE OF COMMODORE BARRY, FAIRMOUNT PARK, PHILADELPHIA
In the Centennial year, 1876, the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America erected in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, at the foot of George's Hill, a fountain costing $55,000. One of its five statues of heroic size is that of Commodore John Barry. The sides of the base contain inscriptions as follows:
On the east:
John Barry,
First Commodore
of the
United States Navy.
Born in 1745
in Wexford County, Ireland.
Died September 13th, 1803,
at Philadelphia.