"Friend Mansfield, I did accept her and honor her as my 'wife' from our personal exchange of vows on Christmas Eve, 1846." His face communicated a sweet memory.
"Mrs. Patc proved her friendship and was my advocate. I had told her of Rebecca's declaration, my feelings, and our terrible dilemma the afternoon of Rebecca's declaration.
"She said, 'Wash it is rare what Rebecca has offered you. Lordy, you know as well as I that it will never be permitted and you stay in this area…but if your heart tells you yes then yes it must be. But pray, Wash, discretion is the only way to deal with this if you want it. It must be secret and remain so forever!' "'I want it,' I told her. Tears sanctified my confession when I spoke those words.
"No, Miss Patc was exceeding correct, I could never have found the courage to acknowledge my marriage publicly. Miss Patc and those closest to me who cared about me knew that. No socially acceptable arrangement was possible. Miss Patc organized our deception and tended it with fidelity.
"Standing in the front parlor of Miss Patc's, with Cyrus, Josie, and the Stonebreakers as witnesses, Rebecca and I promised our fidelity. The curtains were pulled together with us inside and the world shut out.
"Friend Mansfield, In front of that warm fireplace on that cold December night, Miss Patc said, 'Here stand two people whom we know and love. They love one another. It is right and good that they be husband and wife. The good book says that where love is, God is. God bless us.' Cyrus placed a broom on the carpet and said, 'Mr. Wash and Rebecca cross over into matrimony,' and with his gesture and those words he smiled his blessings. Then Miss Patc admonished all of us, 'Let us never speak of this.' "No one did until now."
I suppose my smile was gentle. I know that my emotions were undefended and emerged as fear, joy, appreciation, wonder…and empathy.
His returning smile acknowledged my sentiments.
Remembering more of that time and place, he said, "My vow was, 'Rebecca I am your husband by love and honor.' With our eyes joined, she said, 'Mr. Wash I'm your wife…' then she stopped and look perplexed, smiled broadly and began again, 'George Washington Jones I'm your wife by love and honor.'' Mr. Jones eyes glistened and he smiled sweetly and fondly with that memory.
"We made a life together as best we could and had to be careful every moment. She would never let me tell our Fayette or Eliza that I was their father. They had my blood and, as was not unusual, they took my name when out of slavery. My Rebecca made me promise not to enlighten them with her appeal: 'It is not fair to them; it will hurt them and you…that is the way of our world. It is an evil thing but that is the way. You promised, dear Wash, to honor me. I call on that honor with this request.' They never knew they were my children. Rebecca spun some story about their father dying."