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The Slaven family history begins in Leswalt in the district of Stanraer in 1856. Future records will show that Peter Slaven was born in Ireland circa 1837. A search of the 1841 and 1851 census proved negative. Therefore it must be presumed that Peter Slaven came to Scotland at some point between 1851 and 1856.  

On the 17th day of January 1856 at Lun Street Leswalt marriage after banns was solemnised between us according to the forms of The Church of Scotland.

Peter Slaven, agricultural labourer, bachelor aged 19, residing at Leswalt. The son of Peter Slaven, farm servant and Margaret Slaven M/S Gibson

Sarah Jess, sewer of lace, spinster aged 19, residing at Lun Street Leswalt. The daughter of George Jess, shoemaker deceased and Janet Jess M/S Bald.

Neither Peter nor Sarah was able to sign their names. Their identity was witnessed by Edward Slaven and John Brown

Between 1856 and 1861 Peter and Sarah had two children.

On the 16th March 1856 at South Street Leswalt Peter Slaven, ploughman and his wife Sarah Jess had a daughter named Margaret. The birth was registered by the mother Sarah. She was unable to write and had placed an “X” witnessed by the registrar William Galbraith.

On the 30th August 1858 at Inchholm in the district of Inch Peter Slaven, agricultural labourer and his wife Sarah Slaven M/S Jess (Jefs) had a son named George.

1861 census residing at 28 Lunn Street

The census recorded that the child Edward was blind.

You will note the appearance of the child named Edward.  There was only one birth registered within the period. The details did not show the parents as being Peter and Sarah. However a transcription of his birth record is shown.

On the first of April 1861 at The Glebe in the parish of Leswalt  Edward Slaven, farm servant and his wife Roseanne Slaven M/S Gray had a son named Edward. Parents married July 1860 Stanraer.

It is not uncommon to find relationships between individuals on a census sheet inaccurate.  There was no record of a marriage between Edward Slaven and Roseanne Gray. Because of that we cannot prove a relationship between Edward and Peter Slaven. The child Edward may have been “taken in” by Peter and Sarah. As we have not found a matching birth certificate we have not included Edward on the family tree.

The census of 1871 was searched and the following entry was found.

The family were residing at Heggans Court off Lun Street Leswalt.

The most obvious matter of concern was the head of household being named Patrick rather than Peter.  Our first reaction was to consider that Peter Slaven had died and Sarah had remarried. On investigating the births of the three youngest children this theory was incorrect.

Janet 11^th November 1863

This record has been wrongly indexed requires looking at book record.

On the 18th April 1866 at 60 Lun Street Stanraer Peter Slaven, labourer and Sarah Slaven M/S Jess (Jefs) had a son named William.

Parents married 7th January 1856 in district of Stranraer.

You will note that the record has been indexed as “SLAVAN”. There is no doubt as to the spelling. As both parents were illiterate they would have been unaware of the registrar’s error.   For the purposes of the family tree we have used the spelling of “SLAVEN”

On the 2nd November 1867 at 59 Lun Street Stranraer Peter Slaven (SLAVAN) and his wife Sarah Slaven M/S Jess (Jefs) had a daughter named Elizabeth Parents married December 1856 Stranraer

On the 5th September 1870 at the Close off Lun Street Stranraer Peter Jess, Peter Slaven, labourer and his wife Sarah Slaven M/S Jess (Jefs) had a daughter named Mary. Parents married December 1856 Stranraer.

You will note that the mothers surname has been recorded as “JEFS”. As later records show “JESS” we have used that spelling in the family tree. The use of the letter “F” was not uncommon (In reading newspapers, books and magazines from the 18th Century you will invariably notice that an "f" is apparently used where there should be an "s."

For instance, the word "vessel" is printed as "veffel," the word "same" appears as "fame" and "castle" becomes "caftle.")

The Slaven family were found on the 1881 census residing at The Farm Cot House Port Patrick Wigtownshire. The entries have used the spelling “SLAVIN”. This is best explained by phonetics.

This census showed that Peter and Sarah had a further two children between 1871 and 1881.

On the 19th May 1873 at Auchterluce Inch Peter Slaven, agricultural labourer and his wife Sarah Slaven M/S Jess had a daughter named Catherine. Parents married 18th February 1854 at Lun Street Stanraer parish of Leswalt

On the 21st April 1875 at Auchterluce Inch Peter Slaven agricultural labourer and his wife Sarah Slaven M/S Jess had a son named William. Parents married 15th February 1854 at Lun Street Stanraer Leswalt

The census of 1891 found the Slaven family residing in the Cot House Number 4 Kirkcolm.

This particular census was of great interest. In Cot House Number 5 we found the following.

Peter Slaven died in 1898.

On the 11th April 1898 at Kirminnoch Kirkcolm Peter Slaven, farm servant died aged 53. He was married to Sarah Jess and the son of Edward Slaven ploughman deceased and Margaret Slaven M/S Gibson deceased. Death registered by William Slaven, son same address.

You will note that the fathers Christian name differs from that quoted on Peter’s marriage lines.  It is not unusual to find discrepancies on death records. The registrar took details at face value and the accuracy of the information provided depended on the informant’s knowledge.

The 1901 census found Sarah residing at Kirkcolm.

Sarah died in 1920.

On the 13th September 1920 at 23 Shenchan Street Leswalt Sarah Slaven died aged 75. She was the widow of Peter Slaven, ploughman and the daughter of George Jess, farm worker deceased and Margaret Jess M/S Gibson deceased.

There are some discrepancies both in age and the maiden surname of Sarah’s mother. We would refer you to our previous note on Peter’s death record.

The direct line of descent continues with the marriage of Margaret Slaven and James McClymont.

On the 16th June 1876 at Auchterless Port Patrick after banns according to the forms of the Church of Scotland.

James McClymont, ploughman, bachelor aged 21, residing at Auchterless The son of James McClymont, ploughman and Mary McClymont M/S  Stevenson.

Married Margaret Slaving, domestic servant, spinster aged 20 residing at Auchterluce Port Patrick. The daughter of Peter Slaving, ploughman and Sarah Slaving M/S Jess

On this record Margaret has been able to sign her name and it clearly shows the surname as “Slaving” rather than “Slaven”. This can be attributed to phonetics. Future record will show the spelling as “Slaven”.

Between 1876 and 1881 James and Margaret had three children.

On the 11th June 1877 at Challoch Leswalt James McClymont, farm servant and his wife Margaret McClymont had a daughter named Mary. Parents married 16th June 1876 Portpatrick.

On the 6th March 1879 at Challoch Leswalt James McClymont, farm servant and his wife Margaret McClymont M/S Slaven had a daughter named Janet McMillan. Parents married 16th June 1876 Portpatrick.

On the 12th May 1880 at Challoch Leswalt James McClymont, farm servant and his wife Margaret McClymont M/S Slaven had a daughter named Sarah. Parents married 16th June 1876 Portpatrick.

The 1881 census found the McClymont family residing at Challoch Cottages Leswalt.

Before we continue with the McClymont direct line of descent we investigate the
ancestry of James McClymont.

According to his marriage record his quoted aged in 1876 was 21. This gave an estimated birth
year of 1855.  Despite searching we were unable to find his birth record. As ages were often
 wrongly quoted we extended our search into the Scottish Old Parish Records prior to 1855. 
This search included all parishes in Wigtownshire. No record existed.

The census of 1851 found James and Mary residing at Landmile in the parish of
Stoneykirk. There was a tradition in the area for women to retain their maiden surname.
The census records

They had previously married in Stoneykirk on the 11^th November 1848

On searching the census of 1871 we found the McClymont family residing at

Cults Wigtownshire

You will note that James does not appear in the family unit.

1891 census Leswalt Road North side Challoch Cot house

 Draft research by: David Roseburgh-Genealogist. 

enquiries@grscotland.fsbusiness.co.uk  January 2006