To Joseph Whipple, 28 November 1796

What it is

This letter was written by George Washington to Joseph Whipple, the United States Collector of Customs in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 28 November 1796 from Philadelphia. In it, Washington responds to Whipple's earlier attempt to persuade an enslaved woman named Oney (Ona) Judge, who had escaped from Washington's household, to return. Washington rejects a proposed compromise and insists on her return without conditions.

Why it matters

This letter is direct evidence of Washington's active role as an enslaver, showing he personally pursued an enslaved woman who had fled seeking freedom. It complicates the popular image of Washington as a champion of liberty and reveals the contradiction between the nation's founding ideals and the reality of slavery in his own household.

Look closer

• How does Washington describe Ona Judge, and what does his language reveal about how he viewed her?
• Why might Washington have been so determined to have her returned rather than let her go?
• What does this letter add to our understanding of Washington that is missing from accounts that focus only on his public achievements?