Philadelphia to Honor Ona Judge with Official Recognition Day
City will establish official day honoring Martha Washington’s enslaved maid who courageously escaped to freedom from the first presidential mansion in 1796.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — The city of Philadelphia will establish Ona Judge Day to honor Martha Washington’s enslaved maid who executed a daring escape to freedom on May 21, 1796, from the nation’s first executive mansion.
Judge, who served as a chambermaid to Martha Washington, slipped out of President George Washington’s home at the intersection of 6th and Market streets while the first family dined. The house served as the first executive mansion and stood mere feet from Independence Hall, where the nation adopted its language regarding freedom.
A Risky Escape to Freedom
The escape carried remarkable risk considering the prominence of her owner, the laws of the time, and the dangerous trek to New Hampshire where she could discreetly live freely. Judge had carefully planned her departure with help from allies in the city.
“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 told Rev. Benjamin Chase years later in an interview for the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator.
Historical Significance
Judge’s story represents a powerful example of resistance and self-liberation during the early years of the American republic. Her escape from the presidential household highlighted the contradictions between the nation’s founding ideals of freedom and the reality of slavery.
The President’s House site in Philadelphia now features an exhibit telling Judge’s story, educating visitors about the enslaved individuals who lived and worked in the first executive mansion. The location serves as a reminder of the complex history surrounding the founding of the nation.
Judge successfully evaded recapture and lived the remainder of her life as a free woman in New Hampshire, despite efforts by the Washington family to retrieve her. Her courage in seeking freedom from one of the most powerful households in early America continues to inspire discussions about liberty and justice.
