Review: Never Caught

Never Caught: The Washingtons'

Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway

Slave, Ona Judge

By Erica Armstrong Dunbar

Nearly every American knows the basic outlines of United States’ favorite founding father and his wife, George and Martha Washington, the country’s first President and First Lady. From grade school to high school Americans are taught about the rise of George Washington from soldier to president, his trials on the battlefield and tribulations of the presidency. Martha lurks largely in her husband’s historical shadow, and further back in the shadows are the people of color whom the Washington’s enslaved.

One of the Washington’s enslaved emerges from the shadows of her owners and their fame in Erica Armstrong Dunbar’s book, “Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless pursuit of their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge.”

Upon the death of George Washington, Martha burned all of the correspondence between them, only a had full of letters survived, making details of their relationship and what they discussed vanish in a cloud of smoke. The Washingtons placed a couple of “Fugitive Slave” ads in newspapers, and Ona Judge herself gave a couple of very short newspaper interviews. That is the skeleton on which Ms. Dunbar hangs her narrative. What does survive is the Washington’s correspondence with the rest of the Washington & Custis families and those entrusted with the care of Mount Vernon, which gives muscle to the author’s narrative. Ms. Dunbar relies on educated speculation using phrases such as “possibly” or “could have” to clothe the corpse of her subject with skin. And lastly she breathes life into Ona Judge by placing her in the correct historical light, relating the various laws and social mores of the time in which she lived.

My only criticism is the books’ sensationalistic subtitle, “The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge.” After Ona Judge gained her freedom in Pennsylvania, the Washingtons only made two serious and ultimately unsuccessful attempts to regain custody of their property and return her to Mount Vernon. I suspect this is at the hands of Ms. Dunbar’s publisher, 37 Ink, as a marketing ploy to sell more books.

“Never Caught” is meticulously researched and well written. At 272 pages it is a quick and easy read. It fills a void in the history of American slavery, the lives of George and Martha Washington, and of course Ona Judge herself.

ISBN 978-1501126390, 37 Ink, © 2017, Hardcover, 272 pages, Photograph & Illustrations, End Notes, Selected Bibliography & Index. Cover Price $26.00.  To purchase a copy of this book click HERE.

George Washington to Tobias Lear, 12 April 1791

RICHMOND, April 12th. 1791.

Dear Sir,

Since my last to you from Mount Vernon, your letters of the 3d. and 5th. Instant have been recd., the last at this place where I arrived yesterday to dinner.

If the case is as you suspect, it is expedient and proper to remove Washington to a School in which he will make some progress in his learning; and that it is so, I have had suspicions for some time, principally on account of his fondness of going to the College. Boys of his age are better pleased with relaxed discipline—and the inattention of their tutors, than with conduct that brings them forward. It would have been highly pleasing to me (for the reasons, which I have often expressed) to have continued Washington at the College, but, if after the enquiries you have made, it should appear, that there is either incompetency in the masters from the number of boys in the School, or from other causes, I will not waste his time in compliment to that Seminary,—but before you finally decide on this matter, it is my wish as Colo. Hamilton, Genl. Knox and the Attorney-General have sons in the same predicament (if they are not removed) that you would consult and act in Concert with them; & I shall be satisfied in whatever is done in consequence of it. And should like to have him at the same School that Hamilton's son goes to.

The Attorney-General's case and mine I conceive, from a conversation I had with him respecting our Slaves, is some what different. He in order to qualify himself for practice in the Courts of Pennsylvania, was obliged to take the Oaths of Citizenship to that State; whilst my residence is incidental as an Officer of Government only, but whether among people who are in the practice of enticing slaves even where there is no colour of law for it, this distinction will avail, I know not, and therefore beg you will take the best advise you can on the subject, and in case it shall be found that any of my Slaves may, or any for them shall attempt their freedom at the expiration of six months, it is my wish and desire that you would send the whole, or such part of them as Mrs. Washington may not chuse to keep, home—for although I do not think they would be benefitted by the change, yet the idea of freedom might be too great a temptation for them to resist. At any rate it might, if they conceived they had right to it, make them insolent in a State of Slavery. As all except Hercules and Paris are dower negroes, it behoves me to prevent the emancipation of them, otherwise I shall not only loose the use of them, but may have them to pay for. If upon taking good advise it is found expedient to send them back to Virginia, I wish to have it accomplished under pretext that may deceive both them and the Public;—and none I think would so effectually do this, as Mrs. Washington coming to Virginia next month (towards the middle or latter end of it, as she seemed to have a wish to do) if she can accomplish it by any convenient and agreeable means, with the assistance of the Stage Horses &c. This would naturally bring her maid and Austin and Hercules under the idea of coming home to Cook whilst we remained there, might be sent on in the Stage. Whether there is occasion for this or not according to the result of your enquiries, or issue the thing as it may, I request that these Sentiments and this advise may be known to none but yourself & Mrs. Washington. From the following expression in your letter "that those who were of age might follow the example of his (the Attorney's people) after a residence "of six months"—it would seem that none could apply before the end of May—& that the non age of Christopher, Richmond & Oney is a bar to them.

I offer Mrs. Lear the child and yourself my best wishes—and with Sincere Esteem I am

Your Affecte. friend

SOURCE: Doubleday, Page & Company, Publisher, Letters and Recollections of George Washington: Being Letters to Tobias Lear and others between 1990 and 1799, showing the First American in the management of his estate and domestic affairs. With a diary of Washington's last days, kept by Mr. Lear, p. 37-9