Escape of Ona Judge. . Judge (c.1773-1848) was brought to Phila. in 1790 as the enslaved house servant of First Lady Martha Washington. She escaped from the President's House on May 21, 1796, to New Hampshire with the assistance of the city's African American community. President Washington's attempts to recapture her were unsuccessful, as he met resistance from federal officials who would not comply with the Fugitive Slave Act. Judge lived as a free woman for the rest of her life.
Judge (c.1773-1848) was brought to Phila. in 1790 as the enslaved house servant of First Lady Martha Washington. She escaped from the President's House on May 21, 1796, to New Hampshire with the assistance of the city's African American community. President Washington's attempts to recapture her were unsuccessful, as he met resistance from federal officials who would not comply with the Fugitive Slave Act. Judge lived as a free woman for the rest of her life.
Erected 2023 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Location. 39° 57.029′ N, 75° 9.033′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Washington Square East. It is on South 6th Street south of Market Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 S 6th St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in
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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 4 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 6th & Market (a few steps from this marker); Taking the Oath (within shouting distance of this marker); The Ambassadors Clause (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Other markers no longer nearby. Contagion and Liberty (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Chef Hercules (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The President's House Site 1790-1800 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another
marker now near it); Archeology Methods and Interpretation (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The President's House - Washington and Adams (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Enslaved Africans in the Household of George and Martha Washington (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Strengthening Ties with the United States (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Oney Escapes! (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Awarding a Peace Medal (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Mount Vernon to Philadelphia (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); History Lost & Found (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named History Lost & Found (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on June 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 671 times since then and 123 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
