Rebecca Floride Pickens

Her grandfather Patrick Calhoun and wife Katherine came from Ireland. Her father Ezekiel Calhoun and wife Jane Calhoun had among other children a son James Ewing Calhoun who was a senator in Congress. John Calwell Calhoun, called the "Great Statesman" twice Vice President of the U.S., was her first cousin. He was a graduate of Yale University and one of the outstanding men of the South. She herself was a very brilliant woman, but quiet and home loving; sharing the hardships of her distinguished husband; rearing her family, while he was serving his country. In her son, Andrew, she gave a Governor to South Carolina His son, Francis W. Pickens, was elected Governor just before the Civil War broke out. Just before this, he had been Ambassador to Russia. Her eldest son, Ezekiel was named for her father. He had unusual business ability and helped to manage the vast holdings of his father. Afterward inheriting the bulk of his estate."

The Romance of General Andrew Pickens and Rebecca Calhoun

When the Pickens family moved from Pennsylvania to South Carolina, they settled in the small town of Abbeville. Later young Andrew had a prominent part in bringing about a permanent settlement with the Cherokee Indians. During the time of the Indian uprising, an event occurred destined to greatly effect his life.

Among those who escaped the Indian massacre was Ezekiel Calhoun and his pretty young daughter Rebecca, just 15 years of age. During their three years there young Andrew and Rebecca became friends. There was nothing unusual about that and nothing was thought about it at this time as he was away the greater part of the time. The separation of the young couple was not for long. His friendship with Rebecca grew into love and they were married March 19, 1765 , at the home of her father. They were married by a Justice of the Peace, Wm. Calhoun. Both families were loyal church members, but ministers were few and hard to reach. Tradition says it was the largest wedding party ever assembled in upper South Carolina up to this time. The festivities lasted three days without interruption . The beauty of the bride was the theme of all talks and the wedding was long talked of as the most important event of the decade. Andrew bought 250 acres of land and they built a house which is described elsewhere. She was said to be one of the most gifted women of her time, and was an equal match for her famous husband.

These are the children of General Andrew Pickens and Rebecca Calhoun: 1. Mary Pickens, married John Harris. 2. Ezekiel Pickens, married first Eliza Bonneau, second Eliza Barksdale. 3. Ann Pickens, married John Simpson. 4. Jane Pickens, married Dr. John Miller. 5. Margaret Pickens, married Dr. George Bowie. 6. Andrew Pickens, married first Susan Wilkinson, second Mary Nelson. 7. Rebecca Pickens, married William Noble, son of Major Alexander Noble. 8. Catherine, married Dr. John Hunter. 9. Joseph, married Caroline Henderson

Source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=syf&id=I7794