William Penn Annex East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Mount Vernon to Philadelphia
A Path to FreedomFor Some
The nine enslaved men and women of the President's House were chosen by Washington to accompany him to Philadelphia. They were separated from their families back in Mount Vernon and rotated out of state regularly to prevent them from gaining freedom under Pennsylvania law.
Characters
Christopher Sheels, enslaved attendant to Washington
Hercules, enslaved cook
Richmond, Hercules' enslaved son
Giles, enslaved stable hand
Oney Judge, enslaved maid and seamstress to Martha
Austin, Ona's enslaved half brother, house servant
Paris, enslaved stable hand
Moll, enslaved maid to Martha
Joe Richardson, enslaved postillion for the presidential coach
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 57.029′ N, 75° 9.005′ W. Marker was in Philadelphia,
this page online
Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Pennsylvania. It was also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found 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 location: State of the Union (here, next to this marker); History Lost & Found (here, next to this marker); Treaties and Appointments (here, next to this marker); The Executive Mansion (here, next to this marker); William Howe (here, next to this marker); Commander in Chief (here, next to this marker); Selecting a President (here,
Other markers no longer nearby. The Keeper of the House (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The House & the People Who Worked & Lived In It (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Suppressing the Opposition (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); "I will fear no Evil" (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Dirty Business of Slavery (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).
Additional keywords. slavery, human trafficking
Credits. This page was last revised on July 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 334 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 15, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
