Storyteller leads BBMS students back in time

Her hands shook and a cough occasionally racked her body. She was tired. She was worn down. But the physical weariness she experienced was not enough to prevent her from sharing her story. 

Oney Judge had a story tell. Her story. One of captivity to freedom. She had lived her childhood as an enslaved person and by her own wits and will she became a free woman.

Her harrowing tale was told by professional storyteller Sheila Arnold, who visited Blind Brook Middle School. Seventh graders first met her in the persona of Oney Judge, who was a maid servant for Martha Washington, wearing a long skirt and cap.

“Good day to you,” Ms. Arnold as Oney began. 

She shared how at the age of 10, Mistress Washington told her she would be her personal servant, living at Mount Vernon, the Washington family estate. A typical day for Oney, she said, began at 5:30 a.m. where she would help Mistress Washington wash and change for the day, an experience demonstrated by BBMS Assistant Principal Karen Chalif (as Mrs. Washington) and student Julia G. (as Oney). The rest of the day would be spent following her mistress and helping her with tasks before assisting her to bed, or in this case following her around the auditorium and mimicking chores like sewing.

“That was not very kind,” Julia admitted having to do the work of a perfectly capable person.

“It was good having her do whatever I wanted,” Ms. Chalif said, sharing a different perspective.

“Since the time Mistress Washington was a baby, someone took care of her every need,” Oney/Sheila explained. “That’s all she knew.”

“I didn’t like it,” Julia admitted. “I didn’t like following her around. It made me feel weird and uncomfortable.”

Following her husband’s election win to become the first president of the United States, Oney, then 16, was among the enslaved staff that moved with the Washington family to the new country’s first capital, New York City.

Oney recalled travelling through the city to their house. There was a celebratory atmosphere in the streets, complete with fireworks, and dinner and dancing in the evening. She, of course, could not partake, but was there to serve. She had been, however, provided with a new wardrobe for the occasion one that reflected the Washington’s family new status.

“I felt like a Washington,” Oney said. “I was a Washington.”

That feeling of being a part of the family in some way continued for Oney when the Washington’s moved to Philadelphia, the second capital.

What astonished Oney was that this new city included blacks who owned their own businesses and had permission to move about the city. She did find it odd that Mistress Washington would take her and a few house staff back to Mount Vernon every five months. It was not until later that Oney learned the reason — legally any enslaved person who remained in Philadelphia could be freed after six months.

“I didn’t mind because I was a Washington and I knew her kindness,” Oney said of her mistress. “One day she would free me.”

It was not until Oney learned that she would be given to Mistress Washington’s granddaughter as a wedding present that Oney said she became alarmed.

“I thought I was a Washington,” Oney said. “I learned that day I was not.”

On May 21, Oney said she was given leave, to spend some time on her own. She packed what she could and made her way to the docks and found a ship captain willing to transport her.

Oney ended up settling in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

“I will never forget this,” Oney said. “I came out on the deck of the ship. I breathed the air. The air smelled clean because it be free air. I was free!”

Although the Washington family attempted to have her returned, Oney was protected by the then state commerce secretary who decided to let her stay. 

Oney settled in Greenland, NH, married and had three children, two of whom became indentured servants to help pay off family debt.

“This is what I want you to remember,” Oney told her young audience. “Freedom means everything. More than the shoes on your feet, the clothes on your back or the house you live in. With freedom comes responsibility. Get your education, care for your community. It means everything.”

Students had an opportunity to ask Oney/Sheila questions, wanting to know what it was like to be betrayed by the Washington family, what would have happened if she had asked for her freedom and how she was selected to be a personal maid.

Later that evening Ms. Arnold returned to the auditorium to share Oney’s story with parents and families. They first met her as Ms. Arnold and watched as she slowly transitioned into Oney Judge.

“I really loved her story about freedom,” Ms. Arnold said of why Oney’s stories speaks to her. She said the story is different from other enslaved people, which often consists of the brutality they faced. In contrast, while enslaved, Oney was treated well and convinced herself the kind treatment she received would eventually lead to her being freed.

Oney, she said, was treated kindly, had nice clothes, good food, had her own space in Philadelphia where she was allowed to go to the theater.