Thursday, March 30, 2023

George Washington’s Advertisement for the Return of Oney Judge, May 25, 1796

Ten Dollars Reward.

ABSCONDED from the household of the President of the United States, on Saturday afternoon, ONEY JUDGE, a light Mulatto girl, much freckled, with very black eyes, and bushy black hair—She is of middle stature, but slender and delicately made, about 20 years of age. She has many changes of very good clothes of all sorts, but they are not sufficiently recollected to describe.

 As there was no suspicion of her going off, and it happened without the least provocation, it is not easy to conjecture whither she has gone—or fully, what her design is; but as she may attempt to escape by water, all masters of vessels and others are cautioned against receiving her on board, altho’ she may, and probably will endeavour to pass for a free woman, and it is said has, wherewithal to pay her passage.

Ten dollars will be paid to any person, (white or black) who will bring her home, if taken in the city, or on board any vessel in the harbor; and a further reasonable sum if apprehended and brought  home , from a greater distance, and in proportion to the distance.

FRED. KITT, Steward.
May 24
#3

SOURCE: Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Never Caught: The Washington’s Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave Ona Judge, p. 99 which contains a photograph of the add above, originally published in Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1796.

No comments: