Washington District of Columbia
Biographies

Louis Deblois
circa 1761 - after 1821
Furnished by : John Sharp

Louis Deblois , U.S. Purser, (circa 1761 death after circa 1821) The Washington Navy Yard Pay Roll for 1811 contains a column for all workers receiving pay to sign a receipt "We Acknowledge to have received of Louis Deblois Purser the several sums opposite each of our names, in full for the work done at the Navy-Yard, Washington for the month July 1811". This column may well have caused some Yard mechanics and laborers trepidation and anxiety. The job of a naval purser was lucrative; for each purser acted in essence as a naval disbursing agent and was advanced large sums of money in ready cash to pay sailors and marines afloat or civilian workers and contractors at naval shipyard. Payments in cash preferably coin essential for military and civilians employees as paper currency was widely distrusted and was more readily subject to counterfeiting. Naval pursers made commissions afloat by selling sailors small luxuries like tobacco, clothing items and sweets. In the early 19th century purser's commissions were not regulated and were for the most part accepted by naval crews as a necessary evil but skimming money off wages or money due a crew could result in a purser's dismissal. On land too shipyard worker depended on pursers to disburse their wages promptly and at the rate agreed. Many pursers also made small loans to workers between paydays some for extravagant interest while such practices were illegal they were not uncommon. While early shipyard workers were tolerant of many of these practices some shipyard worker thought Louis Deblois had gone to far and kept a double set of books consequently they had reported a number of alleged abuses. Even by 1811, Louis Deblois had a history at the Washington Navy Yard as a poor manager of money and there were already some workers with serious questions about his financial integrity. In 1812 Deblois was about fifty one years of age when he was appointed by then Secretary of the Navy, Paul Hamilton, as a purser. Deblois was well acquainted with the powerful and elite of the District of Columbia. Deblois had served on the board of the Discount and Deposit Bank and had sufficient credit and reputation that he was able to secure substantial mortgages. Commodore Thomas Tingey and City Marshall (later DC Mayor) Daniel Brant both signed a $ 10, 000 security bond for him. But Lewis Deblois was far from an inspired choice, for during his brief tenure as purser's clerk at the Washington Navy Yard many workers had complained of alleged irregularities. Deblois lived the outward life of prosperous and well connected merchant but his career as a businessman and most importantly his financial ability always seemed to be exceeded by his ambition and all his endeavors always quickly floundered. Almost immediately after Paul Hamilton made his selection, he had reason to regret choosing Louis Deblois as conflict and discord over Deblois arose with a powerful U.S. Senator. Senator William Branch Giles, of Virginia, had recommended a different candidate for this coveted position and later Giles alleged that Secretary Hamilton had stated his accord with Giles candidate. Senator Giles quickly reminded the Secretary that during the administration of President John Adams, Louis Deblois, had worked for Navy Agent, William Marbury, as a clerk, where he "was found guilty" of hiring Washington Navy Yard workmen at one rate per diem and to have submitted a much higher rate for billing and reimbursement from the government. To add to Secretary Hamilton's dilemma, the U.S. Senate at Senators Giles urging quickly passed a bill that made it requisite for all U.S. Navy Pursers to be confirmed by the Senate. Giles of course found that Louis Deblois did not have the required approval and had not posted the requisite security bond. Such omissions would have normally quashed any such appointment but Louis Deblois name was sent forward before the Senate for confirmation and Deblois was actually confirmed as a USN Purser. Regardless of Purser Deblois's previously alleged guilt, it was his poor financial acumen that led to his eventual dismissal from the service. The Treasury auditor's office quickly found that Deblois could not balance his ledger book and that he was unable to make good the difference. Consequently those who had signed as surety for Debois $ 10, 000 security bond were liable for payment including Washington Navy Yard Commandant, Commodore, Thomas Tingey and Daniel Brant City Marshall and later Mayor of Washington DC. Louis Deblois in 1821 was dismissed from the naval service for failure to adequately account for the money he was entrusted. The exact date of his dismissal is unknown as is the date of his death.

Sources Louis Deblois Many of the above details regarding Naval Purser, Lewis Deblois comes from Christopher McKee's A Gentlemanly and Honorable Profession the Creation of the U.S. Naval Officer Corps, 1794-1815 pp 369-371, Naval Institute Press Annapolis MD 1991. McKee's history is s a superb treatment of the early U.S. Navy and serves as excellent induction to organization, structure and careers career paths of early naval officers. Lewis Deblois and the Discount and Deposit Bank See National Intelligencer dated February 8, 1808 which notes that Deblois and Thomas Tingey had been elected as bank directors Case of Lewis Deblois insolvent debtor National Intelligencer June 7, 1814 "Buller Cocke & Edmund Law trustees Sale of the residence of the said Deblois, all his rights and title & interests in the 2 story frame house in which he now resides in sq 948, with lots 1 & 2 adjoining. a large brick store occupied by Butler & Co in sq 907. A small frame house in lot 1 in sq 951 & all his household & kitchen furniture. also the lots subject to mortgage to Thomas Young & Thos Foyles in lot 1 sq 16, part of lot 2 in sq 16,part of lot 2 in sq 707, lot 16 in sq 667 & lot 2 in sq 667. " Louis Deblois Naval Purser see US Navy Historical Center, web page U.S. Navy Officers 1798-1900 for the dates of Louis Deblois naval service. http://www.history.navy.mil/books/callahan/reg-usn-d.htm US Naval Hospital The former US Naval Hospital is now a District of Columbia landmark. The old hospital site was Louis Deblois former property. The hospital was built on Pennsylvania Avenue SE between 9th and 10th Streets SE not only because it was close to the Navy Yard and Marine Barracks, but also because the Federal government already owned two of the four lots on this block following Deblois bankruptcy and insolvency in 1821. The property lots 1 and 2, were valued at $3,000, and transferred to the Federal government from the estate of Louis Deblois. See Old US Naval Hospital web page http://www.oldnavalhospital.org/index.html Commodore Thomas Tingey ( who had signed the bond for Deblois) and his heirs fought the financial claims of the government. This notable case was finally settled in a noted Supreme Court ruling. United States v. Tingey, 30 U.S. 5 Pet. 115 115 (1831) This suit was instituted in the circuit court by the United States against Thomas Tingey as one of the sureties of Lewis Deblois who had been appointed a purser in the navy of the United States. The declaration first filed was in the common form of debt on a joint and several bond, and the defendants prayed over of the bond and condition, and pleaded eight several pleas. On the first, second, and seventh pleas, issues in fact were joined; and to the other pleas the United States demurred generally. The circuit court overruled the demurrers and gave judgment against the United States, who prosecuted this writ of error. Pending the pleadings, the district attorney of the United States filed another count to the declaration, in which the bond and the condition were set forth, with averments that Lewis Deblois was a purser in the navy of the United States; that he received large sums of money in that capacity, and that he had refused to account for the same, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States, &c. By agreement of counsel all the pleadings were considered as applicable to this as well as to the first count in the declaration. The bond was executed on the 1st day of May 1812 by Lewis Deblois, Thomas Tingey, Franklin Wharton, Elias B. Caldwell, William Brent and Frederick May, in the sum of ten thousand dollars. The condition was as follows: 'The condition of the above obligation is such, that if the said above bound Lewis Deblois shall regularly account, when thereunto required, for all public moneys received by him from time to time, and for all public property committed to his care, with such person or persons, officer or officers of the government of the United States as shall be duly authorized to settle and adjust his accounts; and shall moreover pay over, as he may be directed, any sum or sums that may be found due to the United States upon such settlement or settlements, and shall faithfully discharge in every respect the trust reposed in him, then the obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.'

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