![]() Despite poverty and hardship, Ona Judge remained free, thwarting the most powerful man in America. In 1796, Martha Washington decided to give Ona as a wedding present to her granddaughter-but Ona made her escape by ship to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, setting up years of attempts by allies of Washington to return Ona to slavery. The Washingtons chose to rotate their enslaved out of the state to maintain ownership. ![]() “The criteria were clear: obedient, discreet, loyal slaves, preferably of mixed race.” After the seat of government moved to Philadelphia, the Washingtons were subject to the Gradual Abolition Act, a Pennsylvania law that mandated freedom for any enslaved person residing in state for more than six months. When George Washington was elected president, it was up to Martha to decide who among their enslaved would go with them. Ona Judge was the daughter of a white indentured servant, Andrew Judge, and an enslaved woman, Betty, on the Mount Vernon plantation, growing up to become Martha Washington’s personal maid. ![]() A young enslaved woman successfully escapes bondage in the household of George and Martha Washington. ![]()
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