Oney Judge Freedom Day

May 21, 2010 — Celebrate the 214th Anniversary of Oney Judge’s Daring 1796 Escape

Today, May 21, 2010 — exactly 214 years from the very day of her incredibly daring May 21, 1796 escape — Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) celebrates the heroic Oney Judge.

At the request of ATAC and in honor of Oney Judge, who passed away on February 25, 1848, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, precisely 160 years later on February 25, 2008, issued an Official Mayoral Tribute honoring Oney Judge. And on that same date, City Councilperson Blondell Reynolds Brown, with the assistance of Council President Anna Verna, issued an Official City Council Citation also honoring Oney Judge.

ATAC is the organization that since 2002 has led the successful battle to memorialize Oney Judge and the other eight African descendants enslaved by President George Washington here in Philadelphia at America’s first “White House,” located at the site of the new Liberty Bell Center at Sixth and Market.

Oney Judge is a fascinating woman whose amazing story of remarkable courage and daring escape is absolutely riveting. She was one of 316 black men, women, and children enslaved by President George Washington at his Mount Vernon, Virginia plantation and one of nine brought by him to America’s first “White House,” which was here in Philadelphia at the current site of the new Liberty Bell Center at Sixth and Market.

Oney was the younger half-sister of Austin (who was one of Washington’s other enslaved blacks brought to Philadelphia) and was held in bondage as Martha Washington’s personal servant and needlework expert. She was born sometime around 1773 and was approximately 17 years old when she was transported to Philadelphia. There is no record of her exact date of birth because, as a legally designated slave, she was considered to be nothing more than mere property — a “species of property” as described by George. However, she was much more than that and much better than that. She was a sentient human being. She was amazing. She was remarkable. She was courageous. She was daring. And she has a fascinating story that is absolutely riveting.

After discovering that she was to be given away as a wedding gift, meaning as a mere thing, by Martha to Martha’s eldest granddaughter, Oney finally had enough and planned an escape with the active assistance of Philadelphia’s large “free” black population. She executed the plan on MAY 21, 1796 — exactly 214 years from this very day — going from Pennsylvania, then apparently through New York, and ultimately settling in New Hampshire where she married John Staines and had two daughters (namely Eliza and Nancy) and one son (namely Will). Unfortunately, her husband and children predeceased her. Although Oney was able to escape and therefore avoid being given away as an inanimate gift, her younger sister Delphy did not fare so well. In fact, it was Delphy who became the wedding gift for Martha’s eldest granddaughter.

Even though Oney’s daring escape was successful, it was not restful because George, primarily as a result of Martha, was nearly unyielding in trying to hunt down and capture her. Despite George and Martha’s hounding, Oney lived as an otherwise “free,” albeit fugitive, woman until her death at about age 75 in New Hampshire on February 25, 1848, nearly 50 years after George’s 1799 and Martha’s 1802 respective deaths.