Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: George and Martha Washington's Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away; Young Readers Edition

Nonfiction | Biography | Middle Grade | Published in 2019

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-8

Chapters 9-17

Chapter 18-Epilogue

Key Figures

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

The HMS Savage

The book explains that during the Revolutionary War, British soldiers attempt to gain the support of enslaved people by offering them freedom if they align with the British. It is thought that when the British ship the HMS Savage docks in the Potomac River near Mount Vernon, it is done to intentionally lure enslaved people away from Washington’s estate. The ship itself symbolizes freedom and opportunity to the enslaved, and 17 of them take advantage by fleeing. Importantly, this demonstrates that the British understand and acknowledge the desire of enslaved people to be free—as opposed to the justification by American enslavers that the enslaved are “better off” in their subservient positions or that they are not intelligent enough to desire liberty. It speaks, too, to the theme of loyalty, demonstrating that the enslaved have no reason to remain loyal to their enslavers. The presence of the Savage represents an opportunity for a new life.

The authors speculate that witnessing the escape of 17 of Mount Vernon’s enslaved people onto the HMS Savage could serve as inspiration to Ona Judge. It may plant the seed of the possibility of freedom, as Ona then carries the image of the fleeing enslaved people with her as she ages. It’s also by ship that Ona finds freedom when she flees as an adult years later. Because transportation is much more difficult at this time, travel by boat to the nearby state of New Hampshire puts distance between Ona and the Washingtons, making it difficult for them to locate her upon discovering she is missing. A ship, too, carries with it ironic echoes of the slave ships that transported the enslaved from parts of Africa, the West Indies, and other nations to the United States.

Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia takes on multiple significances throughout the book. As the nation’s capital at the time of the Revolutionary War, it is regarded as the heart of the nation itself. In this way, it represents all of the values that the Founding Fathers endorse—including liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. However, these values are withheld from enslaved people, despite documents such as the Declaration of Independence asserting otherwise. Philadelphia, importantly, becomes the center of the abolitionist movement, due in part to the fact that Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers who opposed slavery.

Because of its efforts to abolish slavery, Philadelphia is home to numerous free Black people at the time Ona arrives there with Martha Washington. Their presence demonstrates to Ona that another way of life is possible for her. Further, she is presented not only with examples of Black people living freely but also with Black people who are pillars of their community and important social leaders. Individuals like Richard Allen provide models for others to emulate. Because Ona can interact with free Black people, she is able to successfully free herself. By establishing allies who aid her in fleeing, Ona achieves what she could not have achieved were she residing entirely at Mount Vernon. The city itself represents liberty and the similar values the Unites States is founded upon.

Eliza’s Wedding Gift

When Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Eliza Custis, informs her of her desire to marry, Martha is dismayed. She and George both disapprove of the husband Eliza has set her sights on, fearful, most likely, of the potential scandal their union could bring to the family name. Nevertheless, George grants permission for the union to take place. The book portrays Eliza as flighty and ill-equipped to run a household. It is to combat this that Martha decides to “give” Ona to Eliza as a wedding gift. Because Ona’s mother was legally the property of Martha’s first husband, Martha herself holds the legal rights to Ona. In “gifting” her, the legal ownership of Ona will be transferred to Eliza Custis. This “gifting” is symbolic of the racist beliefs that underlie the institute of slavery: Enslavers, such as the Washingtons, operate under the false belief that the enslaved are not human, that they are inferior to white people. They therefore believe it is permissible to define enslaved people as property and to keep them in subservient positions. Giving Ona to Eliza shows that Martha views Ona as an object. This greatly contradicts the insistence the Washingtons will later make when they assert that they treat Ona as though she were their own child.

It is Martha’s decision to give Ona away that is the final straw for Ona. This cements her decision to flee, as she is determined not to become Eliza’s servant. The authors suggest it is because this act objectifies Ona that she is the most angered by it. Ona may also, the text states, regard this transaction as an affront to the loyalty she has shown to the Washingtons, just as, ironically, they later regard her fleeing as a personal insult.