PICKENS Ancestors
of France? to Ireland to PA to VA to SC

J.D.'s husband's Pickens line is provided by J.D. as follows:

1 Robert Picken/Picon m. Mrs. Picken/Picon - A Scotsman, who went to France during the reign of King Henry IV of France (1589-1610). There he held an obscure diplomatic post. Robert evidently returned to Scotland after 1610 & had a son, Andrew, born about 1624. ("Dozens of Cousins")

2 Andrew Picken/Picon b. c1624 m. Mrs. Andrew Picken/Picon - He fled from Scotland to France, possibly as early as 1651, when Charles II was defeated by Oliver Cromwell. ("Dozens of Cousins")

3 Robert Picken/Picon b. c1654 d. 1700 m. Esther Jeanne Benoit - Esther: A young widow of (Jean -?) Bonneau and a Protestant. This family fled France, 1685, for refuge in Scotland after recovation of the Edit of Nates because they had strong Protestant convictions. They lived in Scotland for a short time before going to Ulster, Northern Ireland where they "found blood kinsman of the Pickens family."

In 1811, Gen. Andrew Pickens wrote Gen. R. E. Lee, "There seems to be some support for the claim that one ROBERT PICON, a Scotchman or Briton at the court of France was a Protestant who fled from Scotland in 1661 . . ." ("Dozens of Cousins")

4 William Henry Pickens b. 1669 d. 1735 m. Margaret Pike - Immigrated from Ireland to Bucks Co., PA with some of their children. 1719/22 - Bensalem Church near Philadelphia. Their church membership identified them as being recent immigrants from Ireland. ("Dozens of Cousins")

5 Andrew Pickens b. 1695 d. 1756 m. Nancy Ann Davis - "...emigrated from Ireland, drifted south with the Scotch-Irish, sojourned 8 miles west of Staunton, Va., obtained 800 acres in Anson Co., N.C., & in 1752 were on Waxhaw Creek, S.C." ("Dictionary of American Biography")

6 (Brig. Gen.) Andrew Pickens - Congressman, 1793-95 Farmer & Justice of the Peace b. Sept. 19, 1739 near Paxtang, PA m. March 19, 1765 on Long Cane Creek, SC - Rebecca CALHOUN, d/o Ezekiel CALHOUN, gd/o James CALHOUN + Catherine. Rebecca was the 1st cousin of John Caldwell CALHOUN, (1782-1850) s/o Patrick CALHOUN + Martha CALDWELL, gs/o James CALHOUN + Catherine d. Aug. 11, 1817 - Tomassee, Pendleton Dist., SC. bur. at the Old Stone Church (Presbyterian, Oconee Co., SC) "He volunteered in James Grant's expedition in 1761 against the Cherokee under Oconostota. . . His defeat of Colonel Boyd at Kettle Creek, he himself considered the severest check the Loyalists ever received in South Carolina or in Georgia. . . His part in the victory at Cowpens brought him a sword from Congress & a brigadier's commission from the state. . . Active in the capture of Augusta, he cooperated with the Continentals in Gen. Nathanael Greene's unsuccessful siege of Ninety-six and in the dawn battle of Eutaw Springs, in which he was wounded.

"Elected to represent Ninety-six in the Jacksonboro Assembly in 1782, he continued in the legislature until sent to Congress for the session of 1793-95. The South Carolina legislature voted him thanks and a gold medal in 1783 for his services in the Revolution and later elected him major-general of the militia. . . For a number of years he lived at `Hopewell,' his plantation in Oconee where he had a store. He also carried on business in Charleston under the firm name of Andrew Pickens & Co. Later he settled at Tomassee in Pendleton District where he lived in retirement except during a brief interval in the War of 1812. There he died suddenly and was buried at the Old Stone Church, of which he was an elder and founder. Of medium height, lean & healthy, with strongly marked features. . .and conversed so guardedly that `he would first take the words out of his mouth, between his fingers, and examine them before he uttered them.'" ("Dictionary of American Biography")

7 (Gov.) Andrew Pickens b. 1779 m. Susannah Smith Wilkinson

8 Gov. Francis Wilkinson Pickens of South Carolina b. April 7, 1805 - St. Paul's Parish, Colleton Dist., SC d. Jan. 25, 1869 Congressman (Dec. 1834 - March 1843) US Minister to Russia (1858-1860) during reign of Alexander II Governor of SC - began his 2-year term on Dec. 17, 1860. m. 1st - Margaret Eliza SIMKINS (d. 1842), d/o Eldred SIMKINS, attorney at Edgefield, SC m. 2nd - Marion Antoinette Dearing of Georgia (she died) m. 3rd - 1858 - Lucy Petway Holcombe, d/o Beverly Lafayette Holcombe, a Virginian who had emigrated to Texas. They had a child. "He was educated at Franklin College, Ga., now part of the University of Georgia, and at the South Carolina College. . . He subsequently studied law at Edgefield under Eldred SIMKINS, was admitted to the bar in 1828, became SIMKINS' partner, and married the latter's daughter, Margaret Eliza. . . He was proud of his ancestors and of his own abilities, dogmatic in beliefs, impressive in speech, but prudent in action. Inheriting wealth from both parents & through his wife, he established near Edgefield Court House "Edgewood" a large estate. . . Surrounded by a large library & the luxuries of a Southern gentleman, he entertained lavishly. John C. Calhoun, a relative, declared that he was the most promising young man in the state."

1858 - His 3rd wife's influence was responsible for his acceptance of the mission to St. Petersburg, Russia for 2 years although he had previously turned down ones to France & England. "Foreseeing a crisis in South Carolina, he resigned in the fall of 1860 and returned home. . . He was nominated for governor by the conservative secessionists. The legislature, after three days of balloting, elected him, and on Dec. 17 he began his two- year term. He showed great ability in guiding the state in the perilous adventure of secession." ("Dictionary of American Biography")

"On Nov. 21, 1860, Major Robert Anderson of the Union Army took charge as commander of the three forts - Fort Moultrie, Fort Sumter, and Castle Pinckney - in Charleston Harbor. He occupied Fort Moultrie but, following the passing of the ordinance of secession by South Carolina on Dec. 20, 1860, Anderson realized that Fort Moultrie could not be defended against land attack, and removed his small garrison secretly on the evening of Dec. 26 to Fort Sumter farther from shore. Governor Francis Wilkinson (1805- 69) of South Carolina, seizing Fort Moultrie and other fortifications closer to shore, demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter, which Anderson refused." ("Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia")

9 Susan Wilkinson Pickens married Col. James Nathan Lipscombe, and resided on his plantation near Chappells Depot, Newberry Co., SC. "Pickens Families of the South" by Eron M. Sharp, 1963 is ref. for Col. James Nathan Lipscomb.

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