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

• Married: 19 MAR 1765 in Abbeville, South Carolina ¹

1. Mary Pickens b: 19 FEB 1766 in Abbeville, Abbeville, South Carolina
2. Ezekiel Pickens b: 30 MAR 1768 in Long Cane Creek, Abbeville, South Carolina
3. Anne Pickens b: 12 APR 1770 in Abbeville, South Carolina
4. Infant Pickens b: 12 FEB 1772
5. Jane Pickens b: MAR 1773
6. Jane Bonneau Pickens b: 09 NOV 1774
7. Margaret Pickens b: 13 JUL 1777 in Abbeville, Abbeville, South Carolina
8. Andrew Pickens b: 13 NOV 1779 in Waxhaw District, South Carolina
9. Joseph Pickens b: 13 NOV 1782 in Abbeville, South Carolina
10. Rebecca Pickens b: 03 JAN 1784 in Abbeville District, South Carolina
11. Catherine Pickens b: 09 JUN 1786 in Pendelton, South Carolina
12. Joseph Pickens b: 30 MAR 1791 in Pendelton, South Carolina

1. Author: Hunting For Bears, comp.
   Title: South Carolina Marriages, 1641-1965
   Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - South Carolina marriage information taken from various sources. Many of these records were extracted from copies of the original records in microfilm, microfiche, or b;
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Text: Marriage date: Mar 1774-1890Marriage place: Abbeville, South Carolina
2. Author: Yates Publishing
   Title: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
   Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was deriv;
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Source number: 273.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: TJ1.
   Text: Birth date: 1745Birth place:
3. Title: Ancestry Family Trees
   Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Note:
   This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.
   Page: Ancestry Family Trees
   Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=11819585&pid=-3 91158165