Washington District of Columbia
The Diary of Michael Shiner
Slave and Freeman at the Washington Navy Yard
1813-1869
Transcribed and edited by : John Sharp ©
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1840 Died in Washington Navy Yard Boatswain David Eaton of the United states Navy on the 22 day of February 1840 on Saturday and he wher as great seaman as ever stepped his foot on a ships deck he knew every practical about ship from truck lead down to the keelson.
(Note: This entry is undated but circa 1840 ) (Note: In 1840 President Martin Van Buren by Executive Order changed work hours in federal naval ship yards from 12 to 10 per day.)
1841 (Thomas Holdup Stevens Commandant WNY February 26, 1840 - January 21, 1841)Died in Washington in the presidents Mansion the Hon Major General Henry Harrison President of the United States the 4 of April 1841 on Sunday. The Hon old veteran wher buried on the 7 of April 1841 on Wednesday. A great procession it wher the United States flying Artillery wher here on that day commanded by Major Samuel Ringold of the United States Armmy and six company of United States Marines Commanded ( by ) Major Levi Twiggs and various other volunteer company from the District of Columbia and Different sections of the country and the whole of them wher under the Command of Major General Alexander McComb of the United States Armmy. The remains of the Hon Major General Henry Harrison wher takin from Washington by Brigadier general Archabald Henderson of the United States Marin Corps wher takein on the 20 day of June 1841 on Saturday. Sergeant Mundel went with the general sargent Marks and Sergeant Greigs to his residence in Ohio. The Death of Major General Alexander Mc Comb Commander in Cheif of the United States Armmy on the 25 day of June 1841 on Thursday and he wher buried on the 27 day of June 1841 on Saturday. The United States Flaying Artillery under the Command of Major Samuel Ringgold of the United States Armmy and wher in the procession that day and six company of the United States Marines under the Command of Major Levi Twiggs of the Marine Corps and al the volunteer company of the District of Columbia. Adjutant General Rodger Jones Unites states armmy Commanded the troops that day Major general Mc Comb wher both gentleman and soldiers. Captain Jacob Bright of the Marion Riffle Company of the 6 ward wher killed by the explosion of a shell in Washington Navy Yard and at that time he master of the Armmy he wher killed on the 1 of September 1841 on Monday. He left his wife and children after diner and never sein them no moore in life. But may the Lord grant that his soul is at rest.
1842
1843 Commodore John Aulick left the Washington Navy Yard on the 21 day of February 1846 on Saturday Commodore Shubrick taken Command of the Washington Navy Yard the 26 of February 1846 on Thursday (Captain John Aulick, Commandant WNY March 7, 1843 - February 21, 1846 Captain W.B. Shubrick Commandant WNY February 24, 1846 - July 9, 1846)It commenced snowing on the 16 day of March 1843 on Thursday and snowed all day the 17 day of March on Friday 1843 and about sun down it cleared off and it snowed in those 2 day without intermission. The 2 Steam frigates that belong to the United States Navy the Missouri and Mississippi arrived a the United States arsenal at Washington on the 18 day of March 1843 on Saturday and came up to the Washington Navy Yard the 20 day of March 19843 on Monday. The United States Sloop of War St Marys was put on the stocks at Washington Navy Yard in 1843 between April and May. The United States ion Steamer Water Witch wher put on the stocks at Washington Navy Yard between April and May. The works wher suspended in Washington Navy Yard the 13 of October on Tuesday 1843.
1844 (Phillip Inch Master Painter 1794- 1844 born in Plymouth England was Michael Shiner supervisor for many years. He is buried at Congressional Cemetery.)A distressing affaire takein place on board of the United States Steamer Frigate Princeton. By the explosion of a an iron cannon that was invented by Commodore Stockton and killed several Gentleman and the names were the Hon Judge Upshur were killed and the Honorable Mr Gilmore was killed and the Hon Mr. Maxwell were killed and Commodore Berdy Cannon and a Colerd young man were killed. The Hon Colonel John Tyler ex President of the United States was on board that day and members of the Cabinet members of the Congress and various Gentlemen and Commodore John Haluck and other officers were on board that day. This happen on the 28 day of February 1844 on Wednesday. On that day Mr. Gustavus Higdon and My. Self wher up on ninth street West and a singular Mark appeared in the elements and it ran from the Northwest and from the North West divided the sky between the South East and North Eastward i said to Mr Higdon Come here and look at this singular Mark across the elements and Mr Higdon came and said i Never saw anything like that befor sias i to him The Lord hav Mercy on us something surely going to happen and that evening that sad affair occurred and the Lord have Mercy on them and i hope that ther souls are at Rest. (Note: Gustavus Higdon was the owner of a dry goods store on L Street. He did a lot of business with WNY and probably knew Michael Shiner through these transactions.)The launching of the United States Sloop of War St Marys at Washington Navy Yard. Conel Charles Broady assistant Builder Mr Sidney D. Porter and Mr Benjamin King Quarterman on the 24 day of October on Thursday and the Hon Conel John Tyler the President of the United States wher present and all his Cabinet wher present. Commodore John H. Aulick present Captain J.G. Sanders present 1 Lieutenant Pinkey present Sailing master Charles Morris was present Boatswain Wm Watters wher present Washington Bright Gunner wher present and Citizens of all Classes wher ther that day 24 day of October 1844 on Thursday and they wher Dinner given that day to the Mechanics by Mr. Richard Harrington. The United States Sloop of War Saint Marys embarked from Washington Navy Yard on the 13 day of December 1844 on Friday under the Command of Captain John G. Sanders and first lieutenant Canady and his other subordinate officers and crew. A finer ship as floated on the water. She ran everything down in the Gulf of Mexico in the time of the Mexican War and when she had all her crew and ballast on board and stores she appeared on the water as if she hadn't anything in her. Colnel Charles Broady the Constructor and Mr. Sydney D. Porter deserve great credit for the moddel of that ship. They have been as finer ship build at Washington Navy Yard as ever wher in the built in the country for they are kept in commission longer. The united states Sloop of War St Marys 17 years. (Note: On February 28, 1844 the Princeton departed Alexandria VA on a pleasure and trial trip down the Potomac with President John Tyler and his cabinet and approximately two hundred guests on board. After the final firing of Stockton's Peacemaker cannon , the defective gun finally burst, instantly killing Secretary Upshur; Secretary Gilmer; Captain Beverly Kennon , Chief of the Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repairs; Vigil Maxcy of MD Charge d'Affaires to Belgium 1837[42; David Gardiner of New York, the father of Julia Gardiner who later married President Tyler; and the President's valet, a black slave named Armistead. The explosion also injured about 20 people, including Captain Stockton.)
1845 The National Theatre Burnt down on the 5 day of March 1845 on Wednesday. The Mexican Minister Demanded Passport the 6 day of March 1845. The uNited states iron Steamer Water Witch wher launch in Washington Navy Yard the 20 day of March 1845 on Thursday Commodore John H. Aulick wher present and Captain Aloious Doorening wher present on that day and first Lt Boil wher present and Sailing Master Charlles Morris wher present and Boatswain Wm Watter. Befor the vessel cleared her selve she stop and they had to get purchasing out on the Starboard and Larboard sides befor they could get her oft. The United States Slop of War St Marys embarked from Gasport Navy Yard with sealed orders in April 1845. The Death of the Hon Major General Andrew Jackson ex president of the United States the 21 day of June 1845 on Sunday at his Residence in Tennessee. The Hon Major General Jackson is gone and his voice is heard no more on earth but his name still lives in the heart of the American people his spirit has takin it flight it has gone to the one that first gave it and now i trust he is setting on the right hand of God reaping his reward. General Taylor received his orders in July 1845 from the president of the United States the Hon Colnel James K. Oplk and from the Hon Wm. L Marcy Secretary of War to take up his line of march to Corpus Christie and they reached their destination about first of August 1845 on Friday and he remained ther.
1846 Until the 11 of March 1846 Saturday he received his orders on the 11 of March 1846 on Wednesday General Taylor pursuant tot he orders left Corpus Cristi for Rio Grand with a armmy of a three thousand effective rank and file general Taylor arrived at Rio grand the 28 day of March 1846 on Saturday. Colonel Cross who had been missed from the camp on 11 April 1846 wher found on the 21 day of April 1846 on Tuesday mired in the chaparral, General Taylor dispatched an express with a requisition on the governors of Texas and Louisiana for five thousand volunteers. General Taylor left Point Isabel the 7 of May 1846 on Thursday and fought the Battle of Palo Alto on the 5 day of May 1846 on Friday. The second Battle wher fought at Resaca De La Palma by General Taylor and his officers and the United States armmy on the 9 day of Amy 1846 Saturday. An explosion takin place in the Washington Navy Yard in one of the Rocket Houses at the South end of the laboratory on the 9 day of May 1846. General Taylor's dispatch from the seat of war in Mexico arrived at the Department of in Washington on the 23 day of May 1846 on Saturday and great rejoicing wher among the American people that the good old war hawk had cleared his way through so handsomely. They dedicated the new Odd Fellows Hall in Washington on Seventh Street West on Monday 25 day of mat 1846 in Monday and a splendid procession they wher that day and i heard some of the Splendid speaking that day and singing as ever i heard in my life and the Mechanics of all the Branches wher out that day and everything went on peaceful and quite. The volunteers from the Baltimore that wher for Mexico under the command of Colonel Watson and Captain Stuart arrived in the city of Washington on the 28 of May on Thursday night. They marched right from the railroad down to the Marine Garrison and ther they takin ther quarters and learned the drill. The Battle of the Harrington Hotel on the Navy Yard on 8 Street on the 1 day of June 1846 on Monday it commenced with John Lloyd and one of the sergeants of the Baltimore Battalion as the Blessed Lord would have it that day was election day after dinner all the Mechanics and men of different classes were out of the yard if they had not been those Baltimore men would have killed all those. Lloyd against Mr. Adams Connor Mr. James Mead caught one fellow and threw him clear across the street and look around an ask if they were any more of them and every one of those fellows that jumped the garrison wall had a stick of wood with them. Those Navy Yard men got them all before them and moved them and some women helped them with a volley of stones as they pass along the Mechanics of the 6 Ward in Washington were going to give those Battalions a handsome presentation. But they behaved so wild that the people were glad to get rid of them this old Gentleman that i referenced to Mr. James Meads Sr. was a finer old Gentlemen as ever were born were kind to everybody but it would not do you to fool with him if you did he would make the fur fly out of you. They Commenced hauling up the United States Steamer Frigate Orion on the 2 day of September 1846 Wednesday and she was as hard a vessel to haul up for that quality as ever where she brake all the large ... block straps and some of them told Commodore McCauley that they didn't think they could get her up that she was breaking all of the ...so Commodore laid to them that wouldn't do that the vessel must come up and they never got her up until the 12 of September 1846 on Saturday. (Commodore Charles S. McCauley Commandant WNY September 1, 1846 - October 1, 1849)The last .... that wher riged for to finish hauling her up first lieutenant Zachary Johnston that wher first lieutenant of the Washington Navy Yard at that time had several fathoms of 1 class Frigate chain cable brought forward and strapped the block temporary with the cable and that brought her up and when she wher up they give all the mechanics and laborers part of the day. In route for Monterey he arrived within 2 miles of Monterey on the 18 of September 1846 on Saturday. The palace wher carried by the point of a bayonet by six companies of infantry and 2 companies of Texas Rifleman under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Childs on the 22 of September 1846 on Tuesday. All of this command belonging to Brigadier General Wm J. Worthes Division. He wher ordered by the Commander in Chief Major General Zachary Taylor to attack the east part of Monterey which wher done with great vigor while the Commander in Chief ...the attention of the enemy in front of Monterey the Commander in Chief attacked in front of Monterey the 23 of September 1846 on Wednesday and Brigadier General Wm. Butler wher wounded in front of Monterey and Colonel Watson of the Baltimore volunteers wher killed the city of Monterey wher surrendered to Major General Zachary Taylor of the United States Armmy by general amudia the Mexican General on the 24 of September 1846 on Thursday. Major General Winfield Scott embarked from the city of New York to the seat of war in Mexico on the 30 day of November 1846 on Monday. (The) launching of the United States Steamer Frigate Union on the 5 of December 1846 on Saturday Commodore Charles McCauley wher present and Captain Thomas Alious Dooring wher present and first Lieutenant Zachary Johnston wher present and Lieutenant Charles Poor wher present and Sailing Master Charles Morris wher present and Boatswain Wm Waters wher present and Mr John Smith Carpenter and other carpenters wher present and Mr Joseph Pagget and his gang wher present and the ordinary me wher there and that same evening she was hauled long side of the wharf and then she was moored handsomely .
1847 The explosion of the Copper Boiler of the Steam Engine No. 1 in Washington Navy Yard the 6 day of February 1847 on Saturday and it blasted the clothes oft a Mexican that was apprenticed and frighten him so that he left the yard shortly after that. On the 22 of February 1847 on Monday a salute wher fired in Washington navy yard for General Washington's Birthday by Second Lieut Mr Charles Poor and he fiered them as quick as you could discharge a musket and that was the day General Taylor let Buena Vista for Sertiler to strengthen it he escorted ther and back with the Mississippi and Kentucky Regiments and the Battle commenced before his arrival on the 23 of February 1847 on Tuesday that's the day it end The City of Vary Cruz (Veracruz) and Castle in Mexico were surrendered to Major General Winfield Scott and his officers and his men the 27 of March on Saturday. The Mexican Armmy wher allowed to leave the City of Vera Cruz by Major General consent on the conditions on the 29 of March 1847 on Monday. General Scott left Vera Cruz after some forty five or fifty miles he follin with a strong fortified position planed by General Santa Anna name Cerro Gordo when General Scott found they were such a strong position in the front the 14 of April 1848 on Wednesday he turned too and Cut a road through the Mountain for it to save his officers and men and on the fifteenth April 1847 on Thursday in the morning when General Scott had takein on surprise the Battle of Cerro Gordo wher ended on the 18 day of April 1847 Sunday it were said that General Scott stood on a pile of shot in person until the Height of Cerro Gordo were carried. The launching of the United States iron Steamer Water Witch in Washington Navy Yard on the 6 day of May 1847 on Thursday. Commodore Charles McCauley wher present an Captain Robert B Cunningham wher present and first lieutenant Hillary H. Roads wher present and Sailing Master Charles Morris and Boatswain Wm Water present. They wher a great a illuminations takein place on the 8 of May 1847 in the City of Washington Celebrating the grate Battles that were fought in Mexico by Major General Zachariah Taylor and his officers and men and the men that Constructed the Fire Works were named Mr Benjamin Franklin Costern and smarter little fellow as any you could scare up in the United States and it wher a splendid affaire. The United States Armmy arrived at publa on the 17 of May 1847 Monday under General Winfield Scott and his officers. Brigadier General Franklin Pierce forced his march from Vera Cruz with twenty five hundred men under his command and he arrived in pulela the first of August 1847 on Sunday to reinforce General Scott. Major General Scott takes up his line of march from publela and his officers and men enroute for the capitol of Mexico on the 7 of August 1847 on Saturday. Major General David E. Twiggs started on the 7 of August 1847 on Saturday. Major Gideon J. Pillow left on the 8 of August 1847 on Sunday. Major General John A Quitman left on the 9 of August 1847 on Monday and Brigadier General Shields left on the 10 of August 1847 on Tuesday Major General Wm G Worth left on the 11 of August 1847 on Wednesday. Brigadier General Franklin Peirce started on the 12 of August 1847 on Thursday and Major Gen. George Cadwalader left on the 12 of August 1847 on Friday all those Divisions wher in supporting distance of each other and all in the same Month. The Commander in Chief over took them and on the 7 of August 1847 the Commander in Chief left Brigadier General Thomas Childs in Command of Pueblo. Captain Thorton wher killed on the 18 of August 1847 in front of the City of Mexico 1847 on Wednesday. Five Battles wher fought on the 20 of August 1847 on Friday by the Americans right under the eye of General Scott Contreras and San Antonio and the Hacienda and the Tete du point and the Bear of Churubusco and then ther wher a flag of truce sent to General Scott having become convinced that the Mexicans wher trifling with him he dispatched on the 6 of September 1847 a letter to General Santa Anna complaining of certain breaches of the of the armistices and General Scott made preparations to carry the city by assault to this purpose he began on the 7 of September 1847 on Tuesday. The Battle of Molino del Rey wher fought on the 8 of September 1847 on Wednesday by Major General Wm.J Worht and Major General John A Quitman and ther officers and men and Lieutenant Colonel Graham fell that day and lieutenant Colonel Martin Scott fell at Molino del Rey and Major General Worth lost one third of his men that day but he carried that work by the point of the bayonet. Major General Scott commenced to rampart Chapultepac on the 12 of August on September 1847 on Sunday. Chapultatepac wher carried by the point of the bayonet by the orders of Major general Scott and Major general John A Quitman and Major General George Cadwalader on the 13 of day of September 1847 on Monday. Major General John A. Quitman wher the first to hoist the American Flag on the capitol in Mexico on the 14 of September 1847 on Tuesday. After General Scott and his officers and men made General Santa Anna leave the city of Mexico and all that wher with him he thought he would go to the publeola and route Lieutenant Colonel Childs ther on the 25 of September 1847 on Saturday. General Santa anna attacked Colonel Childs at Publo but Colonel Childs drove him off disorder so they didn't give hime no stopping place Lieutenant whil eth Mexican Amry wher in Mexico they kept him always skaird up .
1848 The Treaty of peace wher ratified in the United States Senate between Mexico and the United States in the early part of March 1848. All the Mechanics and Laborers of the Washington Navy Yard volunteered ther selves to carry the corner stone of General Washington's Monument and they carried from Fourteenth Street Bridge and Brigadier General Archabald Henderson of the U.S. Marines and they walked with it by the tune of Hail Columbia and Yankee Doodle on the 7 of June 1848 on Wednesday where it remains and they had to get the truck out of the Navy Yard and they got it off the stone wagon an put it on the truck and walked off with it handsomely. The coner stone of General Washington Monument wher laid in Washington by the Ho. Colonel James K. Polk ex president of the United States on the forth of July 1848 Tuesday and they wher a great procession that day. Different volunteer company and the United States dragoons from Carlisle Barracks Pennsylvania 3 or 4 company of them under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles May United States Armmy and one battery of flying artillery and several volunteer companies from Alexandria and from different parts of the country and ex governors of states and territory and senator and representative wher present and the Mayor of the city of Washington and alderman common councilors and the citizens of Washington and Georgetown and Alexandria and it wher a splendid day. Everything went on peacefully and quite that day an they had a good display of fier works that night. The fier works wher supplied by an old gentleman by the name of Mr. George Marshal a gunner in the United States Navy. The Whole of the military force that wher out that day wher commanded by Major General Quitman
1849 The iron United States Steamer Water Witch embark from Washington Navy Yard the 28 day of May 1849 on Monday under the Command of Lieutenant Tolten. Died at his residence in Tennessee the Hon. Colonel James R. Polk ex president of the United States on the 15 day of June 1849 on Friday as fine a man never was. When he came in as president of the U.S. he had his hands full for he had Oregon and Mexico to content with and with the assistance of almighty God when he left his chair he left everything good and faire. Mr Polk wher a gentleman and statesman and he followed the steps of the Hon Major General Jackson as much as any man i ever saw. (Note: On August 09, 1849 Michael Shiner married Jane Jackson in Washington DC. Michael Shiner diary has no indication of what became of his first wife Phillis nor is there any record of Janet Jackson or their life together.)The death of Charles McClain by the explosion of a gun wher he wher a gunner in the U.S. Navy at Washington Navy Yard on the 13 day of November 1849 on Tuesday. The Arrival of the Inglish Sloop of War Vacar with sire Lord Bullwer a minister from inland arrived in front of the arsenal at Washington the 21 day of December 1849 on Friday. A fier broke out at Phillip Welles and burnt his house down to ashes and 3 of his children and a man that wher living with them on the 25 day of December 1849 on Tuesday. The Inglish sloop of war Vacer left the arsenal in Washington on the 27 day of December 1849 on Thursday for England.
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Preface
Contents
Diary - first page of transcription Diary - second page of transcription Diary - next page of transcription
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Photogaph of Page 119 |
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