"...for I knew that if I went back to Virginia, I should never get my liberty." Ona Judge

NPS photo
On May 21, 1796, enslaved maid Ona Judge seized her freedom from the President's House in Philadelphia while George and Martha Washington ate dinner. Judge had just learned that Mrs. Washington planned to bequeath her to Eliza Custis Law, Mrs. Washington's granddaughter.
In an 1845 interview published in the abolitionist newspaper The Granite Freeman (May 22, 1845), Judge says, "Whilst they were packing up to go to Virginia, I was packing to go, I didn't know where; for I knew that if I went back to Virginia, I should never get my liberty. I had friends among the colored people of Philadelphia, had my things carried there beforehand, and left Washington's house while they were eating dinner."
Whipple spoke to Judge, asking her to board a ship to return to a life of enslavement. She tried to negotiate with Whipple, saying that she would return if she could be freed upon the deaths of her owners. The Washingtons refused that offer, and Judge did not show up to board the ship.
Two years later, Washington asked his secretary and nephew, Burwell Bassett, Jr., to seize Judge and her child, born since her escape. Bassett confided his intentions to Senator Langdon, but this time, either the Langdons or someone in the Langdon household sent Judge a warning. She escaped yet again and fled the town with her child.
In an 1845 interview published in the abolitionist newspaper The Granite Freeman (May 22, 1845), Judge says, "Whilst they were packing up to go to Virginia, I was packing to go, I didn't know where; for I knew that if I went back to Virginia, I should never get my liberty. I had friends among the colored people of Philadelphia, had my things carried there beforehand, and left Washington's house while they were eating dinner."
Judge Escapes Recapture
After Judge escaped from Philadelphia, Washington attempted to recapture her. He discovered her whereabouts when Elizabeth Langdon, daughter of Senator John Langdon and a friend of Martha Washington's granddaughter, happened to encounter Judge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Langdon informed Washington and the President requested Treasury Secretary Oliver Wolcott's assistance in apprehending Judge. Wolcott in turn contacted Joseph Whipple, collector of customs in Portsmouth.Whipple spoke to Judge, asking her to board a ship to return to a life of enslavement. She tried to negotiate with Whipple, saying that she would return if she could be freed upon the deaths of her owners. The Washingtons refused that offer, and Judge did not show up to board the ship.
Two years later, Washington asked his secretary and nephew, Burwell Bassett, Jr., to seize Judge and her child, born since her escape. Bassett confided his intentions to Senator Langdon, but this time, either the Langdons or someone in the Langdon household sent Judge a warning. She escaped yet again and fled the town with her child.