23 Facts About Michael Shiner

Michael Shiner's diary is the earliest-known by an African American resident of the District of Columbia.

Michael Shiner however wrote these early entries as recollections when he was an adult.

Michael Shiner never called his manuscript a diary, instead he simply inscribed the flyleaf "his book".

The 1870 report of Department of Education of the District of Columbia Special Report however confirms Michael Shiner achieved literacy as an adult:.

Michael Shiner mentions attending Ebenezer Methodist church services in the 1820s.

About 1828 Michael Shiner married a 20-year-old woman named Phillis, who had been purchased at the age of nine, by William Pumphrey's brother, James Pumphrey who worked and lived in Washington DC The young couple lived together near the naval yard and had six children.

Michael Shiner was treated on at least two occasions 1827 and 1829 for "fever".

At the Washington Navy Yard the names of enslaved men like Michael Shiner, were routinely entered on to military muster rolls as "ordinary seamen" to avoid congressional oversight.

Michael Shiner enjoyed the public events of the capitol and attended nearly all presidential inaugurations from John Quincy Adams to Abraham Lincoln's 2nd inaugural.

At Lincoln's second inaugural, Michael Shiner related the size of the large crowd, and the unusual weather, with rain and overcast skies.

Michael Shiner was to be freed, after another fifteen years of enslavement.

Michael Shiner was bought by Thomas Howard, clerk of the Navy Yard in 1828 for $250.

When Michael Shiner concluded Thomas Howard's heirs were defaulting on his promised manumission, he tenaciously pursued his own freedom.

Michael Shiner himself, worked as painters helper, "at the Navy Yard in the paint shop, grinding colors" until some time after 1870.

Michael Shiner utilized this method on 13 November 1849, when he placed a notice in the Daily National Intelligencer stating Samuel N Jackson was his indentured apprentice.

Michael Shiner was not intimidated and firmly denied any wrong doing by himself or Shepherd.

Michael Shiner acknowledged before the House committee, that he knew both Alexander Shepherd and his father, and that he believed them to be honest men.

Michael Shiner was an annual presence at the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation of the District of Columbia, District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act.

Michael Shiner was particularly concerned that Rear Admiral Charles Henry Poor in charge of the shipyard, was opposed to employing blacks or their white friends.

Michael Shiner then told the group "Michael Shiner has never sold out and never will be found to sell out" During the Civil War Shiner's son Joseph C Shiner, served as a private in the 3rd US Colored Infantry.

Michael G Shiner died of smallpox on 17 January 1880.

In 1867 Michael Shiner purchased Square 946, a 9,000-square foot, triangular property bordered by Ninth, Tenth, and D Streets, SE, and South Carolina Avenue, SE, and built a house there.

The address for the Michael Shiner house was 474 Ninth Street, after 1871; it became 338 Ninth Street.