Bethany Veney - First Marriage

First Marriage

Bethany first married Jerry Fickland after their masters consented to the union and told them to simply be together. Bethany, however, wanted to be legally married and the couple eventually found someone to marry them. Bethany wrote of how the couple, however, was unable to make traditional vows – like white people – because their circumstances as slaves could result in distancing the couple at the will of the owners.

A few months into their marriage, Jerry was arrested. He escaped and ran away but couldn't evade capture. His escape, attempts to avoid detection and subsequent capture seemed to have broken Jerry. He was sent away and Bethany and Jerry never saw each other again.

Read more about this topic:  Bethany Veney

Famous quotes containing the word marriage:

    Let a man do what he will by a single woman, the world is encouragingly apt to think Marriage a sufficient amends.
    Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)

    A marriage is no amusement but a solemn act, and generally a sad one.
    Victoria (1819–1901)