George Washington owned hundreds of slaves. He rotated them every few months to evade Philadelphia’s first abolition law.

Among them was a girl named Ona Judge.

She successfully escaped while they ate dinner.

Ona served Martha Washington beginning at age 12. After 7 years, they planned to “gift” her to their volatile granddaughter.

She made contact with a free Black community and made her move at age 20.

He spent years trying to capture and re-enslave her, pressuring powerful men to take her by force.

Ona married and had children, remaining free until until her death in 1848. As she was smart and determined, she evaded multiple attempts at capture. She openly criticized slavery in newspaper interviews while Washington used presidential powers and connections to chase her until his death.

He remained unsuccessful.