Phillis Shiner, was born enslaved in Loudoun Virginia circa 1808. Phillis was purchased by James Pumphrey in 1817, and moved into the District of Columbia in October of that year. She most likely worked as a domestic enslaved servant in the Pumphrey family household. James Pumphrey is enumerated on the 1820 U.S. Census for the District of Columbia, as a slaveholder, possessing, five enslaved individuals, three males and two female. One of the enslaved females is enumerated as being under fourteen years of age, while the second female is listed as over fourteen and under twenty six years of age. The first young person is most likely, Phillis, who in the year 1820 would have been 12 years of age.

About 1828, Phillis married enslaved Washington Navy Yard worker and famous diarist Michael Shiner. Michael Shiner was enslaved to James Pumphrey's brother William. In 1827 William Pumphrey died and in his will prospectively manumitted Michael Shiner in 15 years. Phillis and Michael would have had the opportunity to meet since the Pumphrey brothers families lived close to each other. In 1828 Michael Shiner was sold to Thomas Howard Clerk of the Washington Navy Yard. Phillis and Michael were apparently allowed to continue living together.

James Pumphrey's death, on 3 March 1832, led to his heir Levi Pumphrey to sell Phillis and her children to settle estate debts. The Phillis Shiner and her children were sold to the notorious slave dealers; John Armfeild and Isaac Franklin. In fact Phillis and her children were abducted off a street near their home in the District and according to the legal papers she was beaten “with force & arms, to wit with clubs, knives, sticks, & fists, made an assault upon the plffs & her the said plffs did then & there beat, wound, & ill-treat & other injuries to the plffs” and placed in the firms slave prison, at Alexandria.

Phillis Shiner was fortunate to secure the help of noted attorney Francis Scott Key, who filed a Petition For Freedom in District of Columbia Circuit Court, case of Phillis Shiner, Ann Shiner, Harriet Shiner and Mary Ann Shiner vs. Levi Pumphrey dated 1 May 1833 and For the dramatic story of their families harrowing abduction, imprisonment and manumission from slavery see The Diary of Michael Shiner, and his entries for 1832 -1833. http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/shinerdiary.html

Sometime after her manumission, the Shiners were able to purchase their own house. Thomas Howard, Michael Shiner's master's early death on December 4, 1832, triggered more uncertainty for the whole Shiner family. Shiner himself, though enslaved tenaciously pursued his freedom. On 26 March 1836 in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia he filed a petition for freedom, declaring that he was "unjustly, and illegally held in bondage" by the executors of Thomas Howard's estate, Ann Nancy Howard and William E. Howard. These legal challenges forced the Howard family to comply with the terms of the will and Michael Shiner was manumitted.

The United States Census for the District of Columbia dated 1 June 1840, confirms his manumission as all the Shiner family are enumerated as "free colored."

Michael and Phillis Shiner both attended Ebenezer Methodist Church. Phillis took part in the church school adult education classes. The couple had the following children: Ann, born 1829, Harriet, born 1830, Mary Ann, born 1833, Joseph, born 1836, Sarah, born 1838 and Isaac M., born 1845. Phillis died about 1848, probably in childbirth.

Transcription of the Manumission of Phillis Shiner
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Levi Pumphrey }
}
To }
}
Phillis Shiner} Recorded 13 June 1833
Manumission



Know all men by these presents that I Levi Pumphrey of the city of Washington in the District of Columbia for divers good and sufficient causes me thereunto moving have manumitted emancipated set free and released from Slavery, a negro woman named Philis and her three children named Ann, Harriet and Mary Ann purchased by me at a sale of my fathers property - the said Philis being at this time aged about twenty five years and her three children aged as follows, Ann about four years - Harriet three years and Mary Ann, about four months the Said Negro women Philis is in good health and entirely competent to obtain a livelyhood for herself and children by her labor - And that I do by these presents manumit emancipate & set free and discharge from Labor & Slavery the said Philis and her three children the witness whereof I have subscribed my name and affixed my seal hereto this 11th day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three -
Signed Sealed & delivered Levi Pumphrey {SEAL}
in the presence of us

Biography by John G. Sharp and Gene L. Sharp 23 July 2018