Ona Judge, Gone But Not Forgotten!
Oni Lasana IS Ona Judge
Experience a powerful living history come alive as Oni (oh-nee) brings to life Ona Judge.
Learn the intriguing story of Ona's journey as an enslaved African American woman to President George and Martha Washington.
Ona Judge, like General Washington and the colonial communities of the Revolutionary War, fought to be free. Washington from British Rule and Ona from human bondage.
Ona's desire for personal freedom was 69 years before the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman and the end of the Civil War.
The daughter of Betty Davis, an enslaved African woman and Andrew Judge, an European indentured servant to the Washington's,
Her recorded birth name was Ona Maria Judge.
"Oney" a childhood nickname is listed on a monument at the Washington's home site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and on a historical marker in Virginia.
Upcoming on Zoom - June 14, 2025 - 7 PM EST
Presenting an excerpt from Ona Judge, Gone But Not Forgotten, Oni Lasana presents as Ona Judge, telling her story of how and why she escaped. Ona lived and died a free woman in the state of New Hampshire.
Don't miss it!
Washington Plantation, Mt. Vernon, Virginia
Presidential Mansion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Born in 1773 in the slave quarters on the Washington's Mt. Vernon plantation.
At the age of 10 she was sent up to the big house to work as a personal servant to Martha Washington.
Ona was 16 when the Washington's moved to
New York City and later to Philadelphia. It was this move to the north where President George Washington became the first president of the United States.
Presidential Mansion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Presidential Mansion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 21, 1796 at the age of 23 Ona ran awsy from the Washington's Presidential Mansion on Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
With the assistance of the free Black community Ona escaped on a ship called the Nancy, which carried her to a new life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Twice the Washington's attempts to kidnap her and her child, back into slavery, proved futile.
Oni tells Ona's story as she was interviewed by several newspapers in 1840.
Today, President Washington's Memorial Site
Today, President Washington's Memorial Site
Today this memorial wall recognizes the enslaved African's who served the Washington's in what was the site of the Presidential Mansion in Philadelphia.
Austin (Ona's Brother)
Paris
Hercules
Christopher Sheels
Richmond
Giles
Oney Judge
Moll
Joe
American History Tours in Philadelphia, PA
What Students Say...
"Why did they not teach us about Ona Judge in high school? Such an inspiring story."
"I never heard somebody tell a story like that before. She was amazing,
I loved it!"
Oni did a fantastic job portraying Ona Judge, I learned so much about her."
"Oni is a fantastic story teller, she kept the group engaged as they learned about the amazing story of Ona Judge."
