The Oney Judge Story: Performance by Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti

Description

Groton Public Library is pleased to welcome Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti, who will bring to life the extraordinary story of Oney Judge, an enslaved woman in the George Washington household who made a courageous escape to freedom. Quezaire-Presutti, a noted storyteller and historian of African American history, will share Oney’s journey in a performance.

Ona “Oney” Judge was born at Mount Vernon around 1773 and was enslaved as part of Martha Custis Washington’s dower estate. Serving as Martha’s personal attendant, she was brought to the Washingtons’ presidential household in 1789. In 1796, while in Philadelphia, she seized her freedom. With help from the free Black community, she fled by ship to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she established a new life, married, and raised three children.

This program tells the remarkable story of her courage and determination.