Never Caught : the Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave Ona Judge

Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge is a non-fiction book by American historian Erica Armstrong Dunbar, published in 2017. The book chronicles the life of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman owned by George and Martha Washington, and her escape from the President's household in Philadelphia in 1796. Summary The beginning of the book depicts Ona Judge and her life as a slave in the household of George and Martha Washington. This includes information about the daily life of enslaved people, including backbreaking labor, cruel punishments, and the constant threat of being sold to another plantation. Dunbar also details the unique challenges that Judge faced as a slave in the Washingtons' household, including the pressure to conform to the expectations of her powerful and demanding owners. The next section of the book focuses on Judge’s escape and the Washingtons' relentless pursuit of her. Dunbar describes the network of allies that Ona relied on to make her escape, as well as the extensive efforts that the Washingtons made to try and recapture her. The book describes the brutal realities of slavery in the United States during the late 18th century. It also details the lengths to which the Washingtons went to try and recover their "property," including using their extensive network of contacts, newspaper advertisements, and threatening legal action. Dunbar also explores the broader historical context of slavery in the United States, including the Fugitive Slave Act and the legal and social systems that supported slavery.