THE INSCRIPTION ON THE TOMBSTONE OF JOSHUA THOMAS
Joshua Thomas, called "The Parson of the Islands" by the inhabitants of the Island in the Chesapeake Bay, was born on 4 July 1776 and died on 8 October 1853 at 77 years of age. He was buried in St. Peter's* Methodist Churchyard on Deal Island, Somerset Couny, MD, on the east side of the church. Similar inscriptions have been found on tombstones of those buried in and around the area. - Gail M. Walczyk
For a biography of Joshua Thomas click here: http://www.goldsboroughsmarine.com/goldmar/thomas/index.html.
* Gail got the name of the church wrong. Joshua Thomas is buried at the St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church and Joshua Thomas Chapel on Deal Island. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_Island,_Maryland and also http://mht.maryland.gov/nr/NRDetail.aspx?HDID=1075&COUNTY=Somerset&FROM=NRCountyList.aspx?COUNTY=Somerset). Thanks to Cynthia Johnson for pointing out this error!