The Escape of Oney Judge: Martha Washington’s Slave Finds Freedom

by Emily Arnold McCully

When General George Washington is elected the first President of the United States, his wife chooses young Oney Judge, a house slave who works as a seamstress at Mount Vernon, to travel with her to the nation’s capital in New York City as her personal maid. When the capital is moved to Philadelphia, the Washingtons and Oney move, too, and there Oney meets free blacks for the first time. At first Oney can’t imagine being free – she depends on the Washingtons for food, warmth, and clothing. But then Mrs. Washington tells Oney that after her death she will be sent to live with Mrs. Washington’s granddaughter. Oney is horrified because she knows it is likely that she will then be sold to a stranger – the worst fate she can imagine. Oney realizes she must run. One day she sees an opportunity and takes it, ending up in New Hampshire, where she lives the rest of her life, poor but free.


Pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations bring to life this picture book biography of Oney Judge, a young woman who, in the end, has no mistress but herself.
 

The Escape of Oney Judge is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Biography, Childrens, Nonfiction, Historical, American History

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 23, 2007

About the author

Emily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOT easy reading, but good for an adult to read with a child. I anticipate a lot of questions since this is a chapter in American history about which young children know very little -- headquarters in Philadelphia, the Washington household, slavery.

My mother was glad she read the story, but she didn't like the art. I think the art is appropriate for the story.

Author's note -- much appreciated

2023: I'm almost finished with J.J. Ellis' bio of George Washington, and it includes a paragraph on Oney Judge -- essentially the same info as in this picture book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

11yo and I really enjoyed this one. We had read of Oney and Martha Washington in a more fictionalized book and found this more accurate one helpful in seeing the liberties an historical fiction author takes. Even though this is also fictionalized, it is clearly more research-based than the other. In and of itself, it is also just a great story and well told and illustrated.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Round about the time of that "George Washington's Birthday Cake" fiasco, one of my coworkers handed me this book and said, "Did you hear about that children's book? Yeah, this does it better." And damn if she wasn't right. Oney Judge is a slave in the Washington household, chosen to attend Martha Washington as her personal slave in New York when George is elected president. There Oney meets free black people, and finds out that when Martha Washington dies, she will be sent to live with a Washington granddaughter instead of freed. Oney is not down with this and runs. The book details her escape and her subsequent life, including multiple attempts to return her to the Washingtons. I really liked it; it's well-written, appropriately horrifying without being too much for kids, and extremely sympathetic to Oney (as well it should be). It also casts the Washingtons in a decidedly poor light, good for kids who may be taught that they were godlike in history class. I think my favorite (well, "favorite") part is the bit where the Washingtons wonder why Oney ran: she was well treated, wasn't she? Like a daughter to them.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true person, this is the story of Oney. She was born into Martha Washington's household and moved with them to New York and Philadelphia when George Washington became president. Oney, seeing her chance for freedom, took it and fled to New Hampshire abroad a ship.

Well told and nice illustrations.

Ages: 5 - 10

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[Bhebden Hebden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children acquainted with the historical portrayal of George Washington may find this story in sharp contrast to traditional teachings of Washington’s past and legacy. The story of Oney Judge, a young slave girl owned by George and Martha Washington, is vividly depicted by author/illustrator Emily McCully through her distinct watercolor illustrations and text that chronicles Oney’s childhood and events that ultimately lead to an adult life with freedom. The daughter of a white indentured servant and a black slave woman, Oney becomes a valued servant to Martha with her accomplished skills as a seamstress and bright tendencies. When General Washington was elected President of the United States, Oney moved with the family from Mount Vernon to Philadelphia, leaving her mother and everything she knew behind. Although Martha tells Oney she is like another of their children, her treatment was in stark contrast to the two grandchildren Mrs. Washington was raising. This is a story of courage, hardship, and the fulfillment of dreams.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can it be that this picture book has so few reviews and reads? It's excellent at showing how a young African-American woman knew that slavery was wrong and that she deserved better. It's also excellent at showing that the first President of the United States of America and his wife knew that, and didn't care about what she wanted. They wanted her back on their plantation serving them as an enslaved person. The book also does an excellent job at showing that the first President of the United States of America wasn't willing to go to court to get her back as that would 'cause a scandal in the North,' which he wasn't willing to do. Apparently, George Washington knew slavery was wrong and did it anyway.

This book is helpful to any Americans who are in denial about the brutality of the enslaved systems of labor that white people, and white leaders at the highest levels, created and maintained throughout the early years of our country.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to share with students in upper elementary school because it dispels the rumors that as long as a slave was treated kindly and weren't physically abused that they were happy, therefore making slavery okay. It shows that no matter the form slavery takes, the slave still does not have free will or independence. It also puts a tarnish on the Washington family's reputation as this novel clearly shows that they kept slaves and found loopholes in laws that would free their slaves in order to keep their "property."

[Kenna Coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Martha Washington nd her slaves fight for freedom. After realizing that she was never going to be free unless she ran away that's exactly what she did. She was brave and courageous and found people who were willing to help her be the person she was made to be. This story is one that sparks a pursuit of justice and hope and a better fit for those in grades 3-5. The illustrations are wonderful and aid the story well. Is a great story to discuss the historical events that took place in Americas history.

[Buffie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew Oney Judge’s story as the personal maid/slave to Martha Washington. As a children’s picture book, I’m sure many details were glossed over so it piques my curiosity to learn more. It seems Martha was self-righteous, inflexible, and blind to the inhumanity of people which fits the time period for which she lived but not the image sent through my history books.

[Myka Ellenwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Grade Level: 3-5
I enjoyed this book. I think it shows students why slaves wanted to be free, and teaches them that America was not always the land of the free. I think this would be a great book to use when you are teaching of the Civil War and slavery.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Oney moves to Philidelphia with the Washington's she sees free blacks and wonders how she can join this population. When she is told she'll be a wedding gift, she makes her move.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is quite a story. Oney Judge, a light-skinned black girl living as a slave to Martha Washington just after the American Revolution, longs primarily for two things: freedom, and the opportunity to stay with her family.

When George Washington is elected President of the United States, Oney's second desire becomes a thing of the past. She is brought with the Washingtons to the new headquarters of the United States President, where she works officially as a slave for Martha Washington but also enjoys status as, practically speaking, a child of the first family.

When the Washingtons near their times of death, Oney begins to hope that she will be freed. It becomes apparent that this will not happen, though, and Oney makes the biggest decision of her life. For the sake of freedom, she will leave the Washington family that she has served for as long as she can remember, to live a free life of poverty as a fugitive slave.

Oney Judge's story is an exciting one, and several times even after it seems that she has permanently escaped the remnants of her past, someone finds her where she now lives and tries to get her to go back to Washington. Oney continues always to live by her firm conviction that nothing was worth the sacrifice of her freedom, however, and she never allows any person to ensnare her again with the bondage from which she had so beautifully been set free.

Emily Arnold McCully has a nice way of telling solid non-fiction stories through the picture book medium. I would recommend The Escape of Oney Judge as a good historical story told in an accessible way.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Escape of Oney Judge
Author: Emily Arnold McCully
Illustrator: Symon Chow
A well written story about a black girl named Oney who was a slave for General Washington and Mrs. Washington. Even though she was a slave, Oney mastered sewing and she became Mrs. Washington’s dressmaker. As a child she lives with the Washington’s and then she moved with the Washington’s when the General was elected President of the United States.
All the while Oney longed to be free. Overhearing the words “The Creator never meant for us to be in chains,” Oney decided her own fate … to run away and become free .. and she did.
With the help of Mr. and Mrs. Jones who were black slaves that had bought their own freedom, Oney was able to board a ship that took her to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A free black family took her in and when she was older she met the man she was to marry, Jack Staines who was a free black sailor. They had a son together. As a run away slave, Oney was always on the lookout to be caught and then she would be returned to her master’s Mr. and Mrs. George Washington. After President Washington died his wife gave up on finding Oney and owning her again. Finally Oney was free.
The illustrations designed by Symon Chow are truly beautiful. The colors are done beautifully page after page after page.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this children's picture book was interesting because this is one of those things they don't teach us in school. Oney Judge was willed to Mrs. Washington when her first husband died along with several stipulations, so unlike George Washington's own slaves, she would not be granted freedom upon the Washingtons' death. When she learned that Mrs. Washington planned on willing Oney to a relative who was known for mistreating her slaves and whose husband was known for raping the females, Oney decided to run away. Oney paid a price for her freedom. She had been a house slave, living in comfort and treated almost like one of the Washingtons' own children, except of course she wasn't taught to read or allowed to mingle with them in society. But as a free woman, Oney lived the rest of her life in poverty. She refused opportunities to be forgiven and to return "home" to the Washingtons because, for her, freedom was worth more than anything they had to offer.

Emily Arnold McCully did a beautiful job. both in writing this story in a simplified version so children can understand Oney's motivations and also with the beautiful illustrations, colorfully depicting this early time in our nation's history.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that many of our Founding Fathers (including George Washington) owned slaves is one of those things that, as a country, we mostly try not to think about. It's not explicitly taught to children when they learn history, although they all of them learn that silly little story about the cherry tree (which never happened, incidentally). We want to view these people as larger than life, and it's hard to do when they had some major, major flaws.

Of course, hiding from the truth doesn't really get us anywhere, does it?

So this is a book about a slave of the Washingtons who escaped, and lived out the rest of her life in de facto freedom, although they twice tried to track her down and bring her back.

It's well-written, and clear. And those of you who wish to continue to idolize our national heroes will be pleased, the Washingtons aren't portrayed as being monstrous, but as being simply a product of their times.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary (CIP): Young Oney Judge risks everything to escape a life of slavery in the household of George and Martha Washington and to make her own way as a free black woman.

REVIEW: McCully tackles portraying the life of a mixed race slave girl who really lived in the Washington household. The story shows the mixed blessing of being a favored house slave – better off physically than most slaves, but still not free - and puts a little reality on the spotless reputation of the Washingtons. This is a sensitive portrayal of one slave child’s life and realities that will work for younger and older elementary children.

Booklist: Starred Review. "At the top of her game, McCully takes a rather sophisticated piece of history and writes it in a way that will draw in children."

Kirkus Reviews: Starred Review. "Gutsy--and very nicely done."

[Adriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated children's book about a slave of Martha Washington who escaped to freedom not because of abuse but because of her commitment to the right of humans to be allowed to decide their own life's destiny. It shows Martha Washington in a decidedly poor light, in every picture she has a grumpy face and the book states the fact that the Washingtons kept their slaves moving between their homes so as to avoid letting any of them go free from local laws. I like that the author brings up the reality of slavery that was not physically abusive, but was morally wrong nonetheless. The story was well written and interesting.

[Olivia Lagore]

This book shows the flawed side of the begins of America by telling the story of Oney Judge, a slave in the household of George Washington, who escaped to freedom.
Filled with many allusions to other famous historical persons, such as Senator John Langdon, this book provides a glance at the fact that freedom in the U.S. was not always that free, without disrespecting the nations ideals or prominent figures.
A good book to have students read when studying Lincoln, the civil war, Washington, the birth of the nation, or presidential history.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and unconventional book. I say unconventional because George and Martha Washington come off as being rather...unfair and ignorant, which is a bit of revisionist history. It's almost a little bit disturbing. But this would be a very interesting book to introduce the ugly history of slavery to children. It's not gruesome but it explains the principle of freedom very clearly and very well.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say I did like this book, but it wasn't the best of the best in my opinion. The storyline was good I'll admit. All of the pictures were nice, and big which I like. I didn't like how they treated Oney at times either. The use of colors were very nice as well. I also found the story a little interesting too. It's a good book for learning about History. I would recommend for young children to read.

[Jennesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really makes me appreciate my freedom. I couldn't imagine what my life would be like if I had to constantly worry about whether someone was going to come arrest me if I ran away. I think this book would be good for a history lesson. By relating the material through a book would be a great way to give some background information.

[Brandi North · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book truly makes me appreciate my freedom. I couldn't imagine going through every day having to do and listen to very thing someone else told me I had to do. I also couldn't imagine not being able to learn to read or write. It's almost as they want you to be handicapped. Very informative book, I think would be great for second gradersb

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Oney Judge risks everything to escape a life of slavery in the household of George and Martha Washington and to make her own way as a free black woman. www.hcpl.net

Subject: Slavery -- Juvenile fiction
African Americans -- Juvenile fiction

[Sandybear76]

Interesting story the author found hidden. The story was quite good and the pictures were good. I'll pull this out for the 4th graders unit on the Underground Railroad so they will know that slaves were running away long before the Civil War.

[Readersaurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent illustration of the truth that slavery is inenviable even if your masters treat you kindly. Lots to talk about with the kids who read it with you.

[adeservingporcupine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha Washington didn't come off so well here. But after years of hearing the tourguides at Mt. Vernon say wonderful things about the Washingtons, it was nice to see it from a different perspective.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to my kids and none of them cared much for it.

[Scbrajer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative book with bright illustrations. This book demonstrates the courage of a young girl fighting for her freedom.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story related to SLave holding and the Washington Family, Boston Area.

[Eme87 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a young woman who was a slave of Martha Washington. Martha felt she was practically one of their own but Oney was not free. She wanted freedom more than anything and when she found a chance she took it. Life was still precarious and there were dangers for her, but she was able to find a place to live and kind people to help her.