Along about 186ff,Prof.H.I).Cope of Philadelphia 
received a number of fossil bones from a James T. 
Thomas of Charles County,Maryland. These bones 
were collected Charles county,near the mouth of 
the Patuxent River. 
Mr.Louis H.Steffens,surveyor at La Plata, Md. 
states that the County Land records show that a 
man by name of James T•Thomas owned land near the 
village of Benedict along about 1866. An old 
colored man of that name who died recently was 
locally known as ,f Jim poke ;! . His son is now a 
steward in the Hew Hotel at Benedict. Consult 
Capt.Benjamin Henderson,former oysterraan,and one 
of oldest residents of village of Benedict. 
