Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: George and Martha Washington's Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away; Young Readers Edition

In 1780, the Gradual Abolition Act becomes law in Pennsylvania. Designed to end slavery in stages, it prohibits the import of newly enslaved people and makes the children of enslaved people indentured servants until age 28. Enslaved people brought to the state are granted freedom after residing in Pennsylvania for six months. However, members of Congress are exempt from this law.

Attorney General Edmund Randolph mistakenly believes the exemption applies to him as well. When he loses three of his enslaved people, he meets with the Washingtons to warn them they too risk losing their enslaved people if they reside in Philadelphia for six months. To skirt the law, the Washingtons plan to shuttle their enslaved people to and from President’s House and Mount Vernon.

When Martha learns of the six-month law, it’s early 1790 and her enslaved people have been in Pennsylvania for five months already. Ona’s half-brother, Austin, arrived even earlier, so Martha invents a story about needing to send him back to Mount Vernon for the sake of his wife. It is commonly known that free Black people inform enslaved people of the law, and the Washingtons hope to prevent this from happening.

Because Martha herself cannot immediately return to Mount Vernon, she invents a story about needing to travel to nearby New Jersey—where slavery remains legal—with her enslaved people. Hercules, however, learns of the six-month law. Fearing the Washingtons may punish his children if he leaves, he pretends to oppose freedom and stays.

Tobias Lear, Washington’s secretary, comes to oppose slavery and eventually makes this known to the couple. While the president suggests publicly that he will eventually free his enslaved people, he takes no steps to do so.

Ona likely learns of the abolition movement, the text suggests, due in large part to the proximity of the President’s House to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which is led by well-known free Black leader Richard Allen. Some of the enslaved people are sent back to Mount Vernon; this is likely done because of their knowledge of the opportunities for freedom in Philadelphia.

Legislation continues to be enacted in the north and south, promoting contradictory stances on slavery.

In the spring of 1793, mosquitos bring yellow fever, which grows into an epidemic. A leading physician—Dr. Benjamin Rush—falsely believes that Black people are genetically immune to the disease and calls on Black leaders to assist with digging graves and other tasks. The number of deaths among Black people, however, increases. Further, tensions mount as Black people are accused of plundering the houses of deceased white people.

The next year, Ona’s half-brother, Austin, dies in the river crossing on his return to Mount Vernon. Two years later, in 1795, their mother, Betty, dies. It is likely that Ona, busy with daily tasks, is not offered the opportunity to mourn either death.

In 1796, while Martha is preparing a celebration for George’s 64th birthday, her granddaughter, Eliza Custis, sends a letter. Eliza hopes to marry a man named Thomas Law. The Washingtons are shocked and upset, as Law is decades older than Eliza and is British. He also has several children living in India, though he is unmarried. When Law writes to George, however, George grants permission for Eliza to marry him.

In March 1796, Eliza and Thomas Law marry. George Washington announces that he is ending his public service. This likely brings anxiety to the enslaved people, the text states, as they are unsure what their future will bring as they are relocated to Mount Vernon. Though Ona is likely confident that she, having been so loyal to Martha, will continue to serve as Martha’s personal attendant, this proves untrue: Martha “gifts” Ona to her granddaughter, Eliza, as a wedding gift.

Angered by Martha’s giving Ona away, Ona plans her escape. Martha plans to transfer Ona to Eliza when the Washington household returns to Mount Vernon for the summer. Being a fugitive from slavery carries many risks: among them, the challenges posed by traveling in cold weather and, for women, the difficulty of keeping children with them safe. Ona has the advantage of reaching the age of 23 without having had any children, but she is likely to be recognized due to the Washingtons being public figures. However, if she is captured and returned to the Washingtons, it’s certain she will be punished severely.

In March of 1796, Richard Allen visits the Washington home to clean the chimneys, and Ona likely signals to him her desire to escape. On May 10, she visits his shoe business and purchases new shoes. On May 21, she exits the home during dinner—the one time she is not expected to be at Martha’s side—and walks to the ship called the Nancy docked in the harbor. The ship is docked for two weeks while its captain, John Bowles, sells goods and advertises transportation to New Hampshire. It’s unknown whether an arrangement is made for Bowles to transport Ona, whether he presumes she is a free Black person, or whether he merely ignores her, allowing her to board without questioning her. It is likely that she is instructed not to mention Bowles’s name and that someone will meet her when the ship arrives in New Hampshire.