Ona Judge: Self-Emancipated from the Presidential Mansion (WAMS E54)

Summary

Ona Judge, born into slavery on George Washington's plantation in 1774, became a personal maid to Martha Washington. Despite being promised to Martha's granddaughter, Ona escaped to New Hampshire in 1796, seeking freedom. Despite the Washingtons' attempts to recapture her, including using presidential influence, Ona remained free after George Washington's death in 1799. Her story highlights the contradictions of personal liberty in early America.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Ona Judge was born into slavery on George Washington's plantation in 1774.
• 👗 She was trained as a personal maid to Martha Washington.
• 🚢 Ona was moved with the Washingtons to New York and then Philadelphia, which separated her from her family.
• 🤝 In Philadelphia, Ona encountered a network of free Black Americans who taught her about emancipation.
• 🏃‍♀️ Fearing abuse from Martha's granddaughter Eliza, Ona chose to escape to freedom in 1796.
• 🚢 She fled to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she found work and married a free Black sailor, Jack Staines.
• 👶 Ona and her daughter were still legally considered Washington's property despite their escape.
• 💰 The Washingtons offered a large reward for Ona's capture after discovering her escape.
• ⚖️ George Washington attempted to use his presidential influence to recapture Ona without a court trial.
• 🛑 A sympathetic senator warned Ona of the impending capture attempt, allowing her to evade re-enslavement.
• 📰 After George Washington's death, Ona lived a long and prosperous life, giving interviews that highlighted the contradictions of early America.

Q & A

Who was Ona Judge and when was she born?

Ona Judge was an enslaved woman born in April 1774 on George Washington's plantation.

What role was Ona Judge trained for during her time as a slave?

Ona Judge was trained as a personal maid for George Washington's wife, Martha.

How did Ona's life change when she was 16 years old?

At 16, Ona was selected to move with the Washingtons to New York and later to Philadelphia, which separated her from her family.

What impact did moving to Philadelphia have on Ona Judge?

In Philadelphia, Ona encountered a network of free Black Americans who educated her about how enslaved people were emancipating themselves.

What prompted Ona Judge to escape and claim her freedom?

When Martha Washington announced she would give Ona to her granddaughter Eliza, who had a reputation for mistreating enslaved people, Ona chose to escape and claim her freedom.

How did Ona Judge escape, and where did she go?

Ona escaped on May 21, 1796, and took a ship to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

How did George Washington react to Ona Judge's escape?

George Washington offered a large reward for Ona's capture and later used his presidential influence to try to have her returned without going through the courts.

What was Ona Judge's life like after she escaped?

After escaping, Ona found work as a domestic servant in Portsmouth, married a free Black sailor named Jack Staines in 1797, and had a baby girl.

Did Ona Judge remain free after George Washington's death?

Yes, after George Washington's death in 1799, Ona was able to live a long life as a free woman.

How does Ona Judge's story challenge the narrative of personal liberty in early America?

Ona Judge's pursuit of freedom exposes the contradictions in the early United States' ideals of personal liberty, highlighting how slavery persisted even among prominent figures like George Washington.