Pennsylvania law, but Washington remained unchallenged through his residency in Philadelphia. As the first six-month deadline approached in May 1791, Martha Washington took Sheels and Oney Judge on a two-day trip to Trenton, New Jersey, thus voiding their Pennsylvania residencies. Mount Vernon Sheels was permanently returned to Mount Vernon by January 1792, where he worked as a waiter, serving the family meals. Washington completed his second term as President in March 1797, and returned to Virginia. In September 1799, Washington discovered a note outlining an escape plan from Mount Vernon for Sheels and his fiancee. (The note proves that Sheels could read.) Washington foiled the escape. Three months later, Sheels was at his bedside when Washington died on December 14, 1799. As a dower slave, Sheels was not among the 123 slaves freed by George Washington under the terms of his 1799 will. Following Martha Washington's 1802 death, Sheels became one of the 153 dower slaves inherited by the four Custis grandchildren. There is no documentation of where he lived the rest of his life or when he died. See also List of enslaved people of Mount Vernon George Washington and slavery Samuel Osgood House – First Presidential Mansion Alexander Macomb House – Second Presidential Mansion President's House (Philadelphia) – Third Presidential Mansion References 1770s births 19th-century deaths Year of birth uncertain Year of death unknown Mount Vernon slaves People from Mount Vernon, Virginia Virginia colonial people