The Women of the Enslaved Community
A large amount of the women who lived and labored at Mount Vernon were enslaved. They labored on the farms, in the kitchens, within the fields, inside the estate, and elsewhere. The women who labored on the Mount Vernon plantation found ways to both survive and resist their situation. Scroll to learn more about the women who were enslaved by and maintained the Washington's household and plantation.
Caroline Branham
Caroline labored as a housemaid in the Mount Vernon mansion, often working from before sunrise to after sunset. She was married to Peter and had at least eight children.
Caroline's Story
Kate
Kate was an enslaved field worker and served as the midwife for enslaved women. She was set free through Washington's will in 1801, but her husband remained enslaved in the Custis estate.
Kate's Story
Ona Judge
Ona Judge was an enslaved seamstress who gained freedom after journeying to New Hampshire in 1796. She remained free for the rest of her life, despite Washington's attempts to bring her back into enslavement.
Ona's StoryDatabase of Mount Vernon's Enslaved Community
Click the link to access a collection of data about the women enslaved at the Mount Vernon plantation
Start researching
The Women Slave Quarters
Where did women who worked in the mansion house live? Some lived near their positions of work, while others lived in cabins. Still, a large majority of these women lived in the Women's Slave Quarters. Click the link to explore the spaces they occupied.
A Day in the Life
Explore this interactive timeline to learn about the daily life of Lucy, a cook that was enslaved at Mount Vernon and labored from sun-up to sun-down.
HMS Savage
During the Revolutionary War, Deborah (16 years old), Esther (18 years old), and Lucy (20 years old) sought their freedom when the British warship HMS Savage approached Mount Vernon. Lucy and Esther were recaptured in Yorktown
Deborah appeared once more in the historical record. It was recorded that she was living in Nova Scotia, Canada - free, and married.
Additional Resources
Interested in researching women who were enslaved at Mount Vernon? Explore additional sources!
- Primary Sources on Enslavement
- Biographies of Enslaved Peoples
- Family Life
- Labor in the Mansion
- The Slave Memorial
- Explore: The Women's Slave Quarters
- Explore: The Slave Cabin
- Explore: The Slave Memorial
- Martha Washington as an Enslaver
- Researching Slavery
- House for Families Archaeological Site
- House for Families Archaeological Artifacts
- Archaeological Slave Cemetery Survey
- Podcast: Intertwined: the Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon
Back to Women in the 18th Century
Click the link to go back to Women in the 18th Century Resources
More Women's History