[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING ONA MARIE JUDGE STAINES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 28, 2024

  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ona Marie 
Judge Staines, a New Hampshire woman born in Virginia, who was enslaved 
by George and Martha Washington, and taken by them to Phildelphia 
during Washington's second term as United States president. Ona Judge 
self-emancipated from their household, as the Washingtons were 
preparing to return to Mount Vernon in their semi-annual effort to 
avoid the Pennsylvania law that enabled enslaved people to sue for 
their freedom if they remained in the state for more than six months. 
Recounting her story in 1845 she remarked on her escape, ``Whilst they 
were packing up to go to Virginia, I was packing to go, I didn't know 
where; for I knew that if I went back to Virginia, I should never get 
my liberty . . .''
  During her time in the city, Ona Judge had become acquainted with 
members of Philadelphia's large free Black community who provided her 
contact with a ship captain who would take her north. On May 21, 1796, 
she boarded the ship Nancy, bound for Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 
search of freedom.
  The Washingtons relentlessly pursued her, but Ona Judge found a home 
among Portsmouth's Black community. Washington learned of her 
whereabouts and sent one of his wife's relatives to convince her to 
return. She refused, saying ``I am free now, and choose to remain so.'' 
Rebuffed, the man determined to take her and her child back to Virginia 
by force and admitted his intentions to Senator John Langdon. Whether 
it was Langdon who alerted her to the impending capture, or his trusted 
free Black servant Cyrus Bruce, we do not know for sure. But Ona was 
determined to remain free and fled eight miles from Portsmouth into 
Greenland, New Hampshire, where she lived with her daughters and 
friends John and Phillis Jacks and their family until her death in 
1848.
  Several years before her death, Ona Judge Staines told her story to 
two abolitionist newspapers. The interviewer for the Granite State 
Freeman asked her if she ever regretted her decision, and she replied 
``No, I am free, and have, I trust, been made a child of God by the 
means.'' Her journey exemplifies the power of determination in the 
search for liberty, embodying our state motto ``Live Free or Die.'' On 
behalf of the constituents of New Hampshire's First Congressional 
District, I commend the bravery of Ona Judge Staines to assert her 
right to freedom at any cost. May her story never be forgotten.

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