Records of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Relating to Slaves, 1851-1863.

National Archives Microfilm Publication M433, Roll 3
“Manumission Papers, 1857-1863.”

Deed of Manumission, Chas. Shiles
Filed 29th July 1857

To all whom it may concern, be it known that I, John Austin of Washington County in the District of Columbia, for divers good causes and considerations me thereunto moving and also in further consideration of five dollars (illegible) money to me in hand paid, have released from slavery, liberated and set free my negro man named Charles Shiles being of the age of thirty-three (33) years and able to work and gain a sufficient livelihood and maintenance, and him the said negro man named Charles Shiles I do declare to be henceforth free, manumitted and discharged from all manner of servitude or service to me, my executors or administrators forever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twenty second day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred & fifty seven.

John Austin

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of G. B. Barnard, Henry Reeves

District of Columbia
Washington County, to wit:

On this 29th day of July 1857 personally appeared John Austin, party to the above instrument of writing, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in & for said County and acknowledged the same to be his act & deed for the purposes within mentioned and the said Negro man within named to be henceforth manumitted & discharged from all services to him or to any claiming under him and to be free and manumitted according to the act of assembly in such case made & provided.

Acknowledged before me
Henry ?Beaver, J. Peace