The following is my opinion regarding the facts as given about the family of
Andrew and Margaret (GILLESPIE) PICKENS of Fayette Co., TN. I invite comments.
If anyone has additional information regarding this family and their
descendants, please help us out. Some of the facts regarding early records
of this family in Tennesse have been known to be confused with the records
of the family of William and Jane (HAMILTON?) PICKENS who came to Tennessee
at about the same time. William and Jane's family settled in the
Maury/Marshall Co. area, while Andrew and Margaret's family, almost
entirely, went to west Tennesse.
Thank you for your help.
Terry McLean        calgrups376[at]yahoo[dot]com

OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE MARRIAGE/S AND THE MOTHER OF THE CHILDREN OF 
ANDREW PICKENS OF FAYETTE CO., TN:

Andrew PICKENS, born 1873, died 1844 and was the son of John and Eleanor
PICKENS.  

Most records state that Andrew had 2 marriages - one in about 1775 and
another in 1790 to Margaret GILLESPIE; and that as many as 3 to 6 of his
children were from the first marriage. If he ever had a previous marriage,
the wife apparently died soon after, and there is no record of children. The
confusion apparently stems from the following miscalculation:  

Andrew died in 1844 and his obituary stated he had married Margaret
GILLESPIE, with whom he lived for 55 years. Subtracting 55 years from 1844,
you get 1790 - the date some have attributed to his mg. with Margaret.
Having had several children before 1790 led to the assumption that Andrew
must have had a previous marriage. However Margaret died 14 years BEFORE
Andrew - in 1830. If you substract 55 years from 1830, you have 1775 - a
date prior to the birth of any of Andrew's children, and consistent with the
statement, also to be found in his obituary, that he married Margaret in 1774.

The only problem to be found now with this couple is that it would have made
Margaret a bride at about age 12 - although very young, not unheard of.
It is also quite possible we do not have an accurate date of birth for
Margaret. The only reference I have seen is in an article about her son,
which states that Margaret lived to be 67 when she died in 1830. Newspaper
accounts can have errors, and those transcribing them can make mistakes. 
We do know that there are some discrepancies with infomation regarding some of
Andrew's children, so an open mind in regard to unproven dates is necessary.

Terry McLean - 1996

SUPPORTING NOTES:
=================
OBITUARY: unknown newspaper:
   "Dateline Lebanon TN, Friday May 2, 1845 'Died at residence of W. C.
Baldwin, Fayette Co TN, in 9/1844, Andrew PICKENS, a Rev. War soldier - age
91. Born in VA 12-10-1753. In 1765 he went with his father to South
Carolina. In 1774 he married Margaret GILLESPIE of Abbeville Dist South
Carolina, with whom he lived for 55 years. He removed to Tennesse about
1807. His wife died 8-13-1830, and he then lived with his sons, Israel and
Robert Pickens, alternately. The last six years he lived most of the time
with Rev. Israel S. Pickens. He was taken sick at residence of Mr. Baldwin,
a grandson-in-law."
===================
E. M. Sharp, PICKENS FAMILIES OF THE SOUTH (author, Memphis TN 1963, copy in
possession of Terry McLean, Anaheim CA)
  p. 58.  NOTES FROM A PUBLISHED BIOGRAPHY OF REV. ISRAEL SIDNEY PICKENS,
PUBLISHED SHORTLY AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1876 - FURNISHED BY THE LATE MR. IRA
PICKENS OF NEWPORT, ARK. 1941.
   "Mr. PICKENS (Israel Sidney)...[was the son of] Andrew and Margaret
PICKENS ...  The fruits of [Andrew's] marriage with Miss Margaret GILLESPIE
was twelve children, eight sons and four daughters ... Andrew PICKENS, Esq.
lived to the great age of ninety-one years and departed this life Sept. 15,
1844. His wife lived to the good age of 67 years and died August 13, 1830.
Their home for many years before their death was with their youngest son,
Israel Sidney."