Ona Judge, George Washington's fugitive slave 

Even back then Congress was exempted from following the same law that others followed. This will obviously never stop

Ona Judge's story would make a FANTASTIC film.

The fact that Washington had to ask why she fled shows the mindset of the slave owners. "but I treated them well, why would they want to be free". Coupled with the preamble of the constitution regarding all men are free, one can see the cognative dissonance that made the American slave owner of this era so uncomfortable with themselves.

What a remarkable woman, thanks for sharing her history with us.

Great story about personal courage and dignity. Imagine what it took to flee the home of the revered Washington and hold true to the idea of freedom.

Read the book: Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge Book by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. Great story, this was never taught in school, but should have been.

This is my first time hearing of this woman. Thank you

Congress passed a law that exempted themselves from the law, how quaint.

Excellent video. Even if your bondage is of velvet and leisure, it's still bondage.

Some of you're stories as of late have dealt with subjects few people want to remember or talk about. Not all history was fun and games or shows us in a great light. Your willingness to take on the tough subjects only deepens my respect and admiration of you. Thank you.

Such a sad and tragic story. But, very deserving of being remembered. Thank you History Guy!

How would you like to come back to Virginia and become a slave again? Ona: "Let me think....NOPE!!!" Thanks HG for another good epidsode.

This is why indentured servitude was not the same as slavery. As many people like to claim. Thank you for this American history.

I had not known about her, so thank you for bringing her story alive with such detail. She is worth remembering.

With everything that is going on in America to try to erase this time in our history, I applaud you for doing this video. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana

"Excuse me mam but would you kindly return to Virginia and resume your duties as a slave?" Did they really think that would work? Their sense of entitlement seemed to overshadow their common sense and intelligence.

This story should be made into a movie

Never heard about this lady before she sounds like a strong intelligent woman in a time when it was very hard to be one.

"We found her, sir." "You mean Judge?" "Yes, your Ona."

I grew up on the Maryland side of the Patomac river across from Mnt Vernon. Visited that plantation many times. I am of Scotch Irish desent, my mother made sure that I knew of Ona Judge as a very young boy. Slavery changed the way I looked at that hill across the river. Thanks for sharing this sir!

Please don't think she had a comfortable life because they dressed their slaves well. Her body, the fruit of her labor, her time, and even her children did not belong to her.

Not "forgotten history", Omitted history... Big Difference. This guy does America A great service! ... Regardless of the Subject.

I love the description of her hair; “big and bushy very black hair”. 🌹

Thank you for this story. Thank you Ona for your courage.

All of your stories are good. This may be the best, and a story definitely worthy of being remembered.

If you want another awesome story of a heroic free black man who refused to be taken into slavery, do a story on William Tillman. He was a black ship's steward who was captured when his vessel was taken by Confederate privateers at the outbreak of the Civil War, but rather than be taken into slavery, he staged a mutiny against the privateers, took back the ship, and sailed it back into New York harbor. The book "The Rest I Will Kill" by Brian McGinty recounts his tale. It's history worth remembering!

"Ona" or "Una" is an old gaelic/irish name (not that common nowadays). The surname "Judge" is very common in Ireland so I wouldn't be surprised if her father was Irish and not english.

Slavery is a sin of all humanity. And it still is today.

May I include my own "Thank You" as I had never heard of Ona Judge before. There is so much to be taught in the schools of the USA so future generations understand

Outstanding, as always. A great account of a brave woman who deserves to be remembered. William Penn and the Quakers were truly ahead of their time, considering other states.

A very sad story, especially in she and her daughters living in poverty and her daughters dying before her. A poor reflection on the ruling classes of the time.

I always bring up her case when people go on and on about the "perfect" Washington. Washington was a rich man in the 18th century trying to protect his property. Its not a pleasant fact but historical facts are often not.

You go Ona! Very interesting story! Thank you , once again for your diligence and and great work! Good day sir!

And we think life is complicated today......

It is so sad that Ona’s husband & all her children predeceased her. 😢 And good to know that she remained free despite being of fugitive status by stupid laws.

Thank you for mentioning the book about Ona judge, never caught! She lived and was buried very close to where I work off Route 33 in Greenland New Hampshire near Portsmouth

I love history too and this video taught me something I didn't know. History is so important to know how we built this country and how freedom and liberty came about . Thanks for another great video.

My mother's name was Ona. She too was a seamstress. But she was English and Irish. She would have done the same if she were in the other Ona's situation. Maybe the names we are given have something to do with the way we act. Thank you for this information. Not much is known about people with the name Ona.

Outstanding! A complex story told without bias but with sympathy and respect. When I first clicked on I was fearing another rant about the hypocrisy of our founders but you told the story without pre or post judgement, letting the facts speak for themselves. Thank you.

I've read several books about her. She was so brave! Not only to escape but from such a powerful family. I love 18th century history! Great video as usual. Thanks!

Thank you for your exciting description of the evolution of slavery in America. I was shocked to find that Ona was ASKED if she Wanted to return to slavery & that her declination was accepted .

It's great to hear a nuanced, detailed account, attemtping to be as fair and factual as possible, rather than the usual simplistic stories we are taught at school. The latter often omit what does not suit their worldview or politics, and gloss over their own evils while highlighting those of everyone else.

I'd never heard about this amazing woman. Thank you for sharing her story.

Thank you once again History Guy. You present the facts in a straightforward manner, nothing more. It's great. Of course, I have subscribed, and look forward to much more.

I look forward to sharing this one with my Granddaughters this weekend! Thank you history guy!

Beautiful ending.....I love her spirit.

This is by far one The most inspired and triumphing episode I've watched. As always very informative, and full of historic details. Thank you History Guy

Congratulations ONA JUDGE!!! A HUGE INSPIRATION YOU ARE.

People interested in this story needs to read or listen to "Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo" a Pulitzer prize-winning biographical book of Gen. Alexandre (Alex) Dumas, of THAT Dumas family. He wasn't a runaway slave, and it takes place on another continent. but its sooooo f-ing good! he is sho-nuff worth being remembered. Actually, everybody needs to read or listen to this book.

For someone from outside the U.S., that was a very interesting piece of history. Thank you.

Your telling of Ona's story touched me. Thank you.

The depth of these videos is so refreshing. Although I knew this story the way it was relayed was very enjoyable. Another job well done. Thank you.

By about 1800 it became nearly impossible to reclaim slaves the had fled to New England. There was a groundswell of opinion against slavery in states like New Hampshire, and an even greater resistance to having any now free slaves being removed by force. Even when slave recovery agents arrived with warrants to seize the slave, no one in local law enforcement would cooperate. In some case, the recovery agent himself would be arrested and thrown in jail, allowing the slave he was seeking to flee. One of the reasons the Underground Railroad worked was the collusion of local authorities with the "conductors ' of the railroad to move slaves north to free states and Canada. Ohio became a hotbed of opposition to slavery and support of the railroad. It was also the main route across Lake Erie to Canada for former slaves wanting to leave the country. Southerners were initially baffled by this. Slaves were their property, and why would another state refuse to help return their property? It was looked at then much as a stolen car today, where other state cooperate to recover the property. I obviously don't believe that slaves really were property, but the stolen car analogy is used to show how slave owners viewed the situation. The trickle of 1805 turned into a flood by 1850 with over 100,000 slaves successfully fleeing north to freedom. Southerners believed that this was going to drain the South of all its labor when even the federal government refused to help. Seeing the ruin of the plantation economy not far around the corner, the Underground Railroad was one of the proximate causes of the Southern states decision to secede and go to war if it came to that.

WOW. The founding fathers were a complex bunch. "Free slaves" after it won't inconvenience my house. Well, they fought for a set of ideals that were eventually recognized...ideals that even they did not totally embrace.

History that deserves to be remembered!!! Outstanding as usual History Guy!!!!

Well done, sir. Even her name is badass! ONA JUDGE

It's ironic/tragic that she had all that knowledge & experiance of working for a household to highest standards, yet didn't have the opportunity of using those very skills in a normal, paid job as a Maid.

What an AMAZING Woman !!! God bless you Ona

My god... Mr. History Guy, thank you for telling this tale. You use the term 'History that deserves to be remembered' as a tagline, but this made it hit home for me more than any other video.

The founding fathers? The founding monsters!

Please do the Tulsa Riots of 1921. No one knows about them because the city of Tulsa covered them up, but I think it's definately worth telling.

What a courageous and magnificent person; that if I could meet someone in forgotten history I would luv to meet her.

I enjoy all your shows but this is one the be best thank you

Excellent! How very interesting. Such a different time from our own with different struggles. Good for Ona Judge.

Truly a great episode H.G. I'm really surprised this story isn't better known. It would make a great mini-series..... Thanks for your great work in educating so many of our past.. both its finer moments and in tales like this one.

That ranks up with the tale(s) of Sally Hemmings. Thanks for this snippet from the days of the founders.

Outstanding. A. Lincoln, an avid reader, may have noted this story on his own way into history that deserves to be remembered . . .

I was born in Portsmouth, and still live here, thank you for your work!

"WELL IF YOU'RE A CONGRESSMAN SURE YOU CAN OWN PEOPLE" 👍👍👍

History is so interesting if people knew more of it then maybe we would have more understanding of our condition vs. than what’s being currently played out every day.

Yet another stellar story - from 'The History Guy'!

Thank you for this most enlightening story about Ona Judge. It also provides an interesting observation into the mindset of George Washington. While considered the "father" of this great country, he also had his shortcomings... Keep up the good work!

Never knew this, thank you for your work.

I literally just read a book on this this weekend.

Thank you for bringing to light 💡 so many things that I’ve never heard most enlightening,,, keep up the good good work

Thank you presenting the facts while walking the delicate line avoiding political commentary. Well done as always!

That was GREAT!!! Thank you for bringing this story to us!! ❤️

Bravo Ona 😇 !! What a life , George and Martha........shame on you ✅ Thank you once again History Guy !!

I love your channel so much . I’ve never actually enjoyed history much until my early twenties . You make even the most minute details enthralling

Thank you, History Guy and Gal.

We started as a deeply flawed nation,huh?

Great story about a person I had never heard of! Wow, this stuff is amazing

"I died free"....words to live by and to be remembered!

Thank you History Guy for your fascinating presentations on history. You should be in regular television. Your presentations are impeccably researched.

I really appreciate your show thank you so much

“Your Excellency”? Imagine that today. Thanks, George, for ending the use of that term in the new US.

THANK YOU! THIS STORY WAS AWESOME, A TOTAL DELIGHT..... YOUR CHANNEL COMES UP WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST STORIES THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD.

Thk you for sharing this wonderful bit of History about a slave girl who sought freedom over comfort!

I actually heard of her before thought she was from the under ground rail road . Thanks for the whole story.

Wow. Thank you. I had never heard of her before.

Thank you for such an enjoyable and well documented....and narrated...film.

Great video! Thank you for making it and telling her story! :)

What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing and take care.

if you constantly pick at a wound, it never heals.........

Thank you, very good account of more history that most definitely needs to be remembered!

Thank You ! Bitter Sweet but I never would have known about this. Love Your Channel 😎

Absolutely lovely video.

Love your channel and videos love history . Not to get political. People you can not change history no matter if was good or bad . It is history move on.

Another fascinating episode of The History Guy.. Well worth subscribing.

This was an intriguing story. Thank you once again. You are a gem!