"I will fear no Evil"
Many evenings, Oney Judge would sit on her pallet where she slept at the foot of Martha Washington's bed, sewing and listening to the First Lady read the Bible, sing hymns, and pray with her two granddaughters in the next room.
In the 1840s, after nearly fifty years of freedom in New Hampshire, Oney (then Ona) Judge told her story to the press. Oney fled the President's House because she overheard Martha Washington state her intentions of giving the young woman to her granddaughter. Oney wanted to learn to read and know about religion. Oney recalled that she had "never received the least mental or moral instruction of any sort."
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans.
Location. 39° 57.029′ N, 75° 9.001′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in William Penn Annex East. It is at the intersection of Market Street and South Independence Mall West (6th Street), on the left when traveling east on Market Street. Touch for map.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Suppressing the Opposition (here, next to this marker); "An Act respecting fugitives from Justice" (here, next to this marker); The Keeper of the House (here, next to this marker); "We shall come to a civil war" (here, next to this marker); "Burn this treaty to Hell!" (here, next to this marker); The opener of the Way (here, next to this marker); A Day of Reciprocity (here, next to this marker); Washington's Death and a Renewed Hope for Freedom (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Other markers no
More about this marker. The marker is highly reflective and difficult to photograph straight on.
Also see . . .
1. Oney Judge. (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. The Story of Oney Judge (YouTube video). (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Oney Judge's Journey to Freedom (NPS Lesson Plan). (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
4. Oney Judge's Burial Site?. (Submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 611 times since then and 151 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 26, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
