Meet Jack Staines, a "Black Jack" in Historic Old Portsmouth

Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Garrett Walker

Step onto Portsmouth’s waterfront and into the world of Black mariners who found both opportunity and uncertainty on the open sea.

Between 1740 and 1865, seafaring offered one of the few paths to independence for Black men, both enslaved and free. Some were forced into labor aboard ships, while others seized the chance to earn wages, travel the world, and claim a measure of freedom beyond the constraints of life on land.

On this immersive walking tour, you’ll encounter the story of Jack Staines, a Black mariner whose life intersected with one of the most remarkable freedom stories in American history—his wife, Ona Judge Staines, who escaped enslavement by George and Martha Washington.

As you move through Portsmouth’s historic streets and along its waterfront, you’ll experience the city through the eyes of those who lived between land and sea, navigating danger, opportunity, and the constant question of freedom. This is a story of risk, resilience, and the search for independence in a world that offered few safe harbors.

Join the tour and discover how the sea shaped the lives of Portsmouth’s Black mariners.