George Washington Enslaves 317 People at Mount Vernon — and Enforces Bondage as President

At the time of his first inauguration, George Washington held 317 enslaved people at Mount Vernon. As president, he rotated enslaved household workers in and out of Philadelphia every six months to circumvent Pennsylvania's gradual abolition law, which freed enslaved people who resided in the state for six continuous months. When Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who served Martha Washington, escaped to New Hampshire in 1796, Washington deployed federal agents and a U.S. customs officer to recapture her repeatedly. She refused to return and died free in 1848. Washington's will freed his enslaved people only at Martha's death; the 153 enslaved people belonging to the Custis estate were never freed by him.