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 abut 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 free was 69 years before the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman and the end of the Civil War.
The daughter of an enslaved African woman, Betty Davis and a European indentured servant to the Washington's, Andrew Judge.
Her recorded birth name was Ona Maria Judge.
"Oney" Judge's name is listed on the monument at the Washington's home site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and on a historical marker in Virginia.
"Oney" was a childhood nickname.
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 America.
Presidential Mansion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Presidential Mansion, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 21, 1796 at the age of 23 Ona escaped 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.
The Washington's attempts to kidnap her and her child, back into slavery, twice, 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."
