The Slaven family

PostedAugust 29, 2026

UpdatedSeptember 5, 2026

Bybenwgarrett@gmail.com

The Slaven family in Scott County dates back to Richard Harve Slaven, who was the first settler of the No Business community on the Big South Fork River.

See Also: The Scott County Lineage Project

Origins

Richard Harve Slaven is the forefather of all Slavens in Scott, Fentress and McCreary counties today.

Slaven was born around 1775 in Virginia, but little is known about his ancestry. His father may have been John Slaven of Virginia, born in 1753. His mother’s identity is unknown. Slaven is sometimes said to have been a Revolutionary War veteran. However, that is extremely unlikely. The confusion likely stems from the fact that he was granted 1,000 acres of land on the Big South Fork River in the 1810s. While North Carolina commonly granted war veterans land in what is now East Tennessee for their military service, Kentucky commonly granted land in the Big South Fork region for the mining of saltpeter. The area of Scott County that included the Station Camp and No Business settlements was considered part of Kentucky in the early 1800s due to the erroneous “Walker Line” survey by Thomas Walker’s team of surveyors from Virginia in the 1770s. It wasn’t until the 1820s that the state legislatures of Tennessee and Kentucky reached an agreement on the border between the two states.

Slaven married Susanna Mabel Mounts (1778-1830) in 1798. They had as many as 15 children. (Genealogical sources usually state 13 children, but the 1820 census recorded 15 minors living in the Slaven household.) Little is also known about Susanna’s ancestry. However, she may have been a sister to a Mounce woman who was an early resident of the Cherry Fork community near Helenwood. Her parents may have been Matthias Mounts and Mary Montgomery.

It is believed that Richard Harve Slaven’s children were: Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860), Mary Slaven (1801-1840), Sarah Slaven (1803-1888), James R. Slaven (1805-1880), William Slaven (1805-1852), Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880), Ruth Slaven (born 1809), Absalom Slaven (1810-1877), Elisha Slaven (1817-1891), Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862), Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896), and Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901). Pleasant Slaven died while serving in the Union army during the Civil War. His brothers, Andrew and Absalom, also served in the Union army.

Other early families of the Big South Fork region included names like Blevins, Burke, Hatfield, Smith, and Boyatt. Descendants of Richard and Susanna Slaven married into each of those families, and heavily populated the No Business, Station Camp, and surrounding communities.

Timing the move

It has been written that Richard Slaven moved to No Business in the late 1700s. That is unlikely, since his marriage to Susanna Mounts took place in Garrard County, Ky., in 1798.

The first record of the Slavens in what is now Scott County came in 1817, when Slaven was granted 1,000 acres of land on the Big South Fork River, extending from Bear Creek to the No Business area. It has been written that he built a cabin on Tackett Creek. However, it’s not clear whether he actually made his home on Tackett Creek, or if he lived on No Business Creek. Tackett Creek is a major tributary of No Business Creek, and No Business Creek may have originally been known as Tackett Creek. Given that he owned significant land along the river, it seems unlikely that Slaven would’ve passed up the fertile valley of lower No Business Creek for the more rugged terrain around Tackett Creek.

When the 1820 census was taken, Slaven was listed as living in Wayne County, Ky. As noted previously, however, the No Business and Station Camp areas were sometimes considered to be in Kentucky in the 1810s and early 1820s.

Family Tree

First Generation

Richard Harve Slaven (1775-1840)

Born: Around 1775, Virginia.

Parents: Unknown. His father may have been a John Slaven.

Siblings: Unknown.

Married: Susanna Mabel Mounts (1778-1830), 1798, Garrard County, Ky.

Children: Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860), Mary Slaven (1801-1840), Sarah Slaven (1803-1888), James R. Slaven (1805-1880), William Slaven (1805-1852), Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880), Ruth Slaven (born 1809), Absalom Slaven (1810-1877), Elisha Slaven (1817-1891), Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862), Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896), Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901), and perhaps others.

Died: 1840, No Business. Buried in the Nancy Smith Cemetery at No Business.

+ Susanna Mabel Mounts Slaven (1778-1830)

Parents: Matthias Mounts and Mary Montgomery.

Siblings: Unknown.

Married: Richard Harve Slaven (1775-1840), 1798, Garrard County, Ky.

Second Generation

Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860)

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Mary Slaven (1801-1840)

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Sarah Slaven (1803-1888)

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James Slaven (1805-1880)

Born: About 1805.

Parents: Richard Harve Slaven (1775-1840) and Susanna Mabel Mounts (1778-1830).

Siblings: Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860), Mary Slaven (1801-1840), Sarah Slaven (1803-1888), William Slaven (1805-1852), Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880), Ruth Slaven (born 1809), Absalom Slaven (1810-1877), Elisha Slaven (1817-1891), Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862) Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896), Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901), and perhaps others.

Married: Unknown.

Children: John Slaven, Janie Slaven, Louis Slaven, Rachel Slaven, Mary Slaven.

Died: After 1880.

Note: When the 1850 census was taken, James Slaven was living with Josiah Terry. Little is known about his life. He was living in the Big South Fork when the 1880 census was taken, living with a daughter, Janie, and her two children. He was listed as a widower. Twenty years earlier, he was listed in a household with Janie, Louis, Rachel, and Mary. In 1870, he was also living with John Slaven, Elizabeth Slaven, and Sarah Slaven. However, all were under the age of 10. It’s not clear whether they were children or grandchildren.

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William Slaven (1805-1852)

Born: About 1805.

Parents: Richard Harve Slaven (1775-1840) and Susanna Mabel Mounts (1778-1830).

Siblings: Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860), Mary Slaven (1801-1840), Sarah Slaven (1803-1888), James R. Slaven (1805-1880), Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880), Ruth Slaven (born 1809), Absalom Slaven (1810-1877), Elisha Slaven (1817-1891), Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862) Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896), Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901), and perhaps others.

Married: Rebecca Caulfer.

Children: Sarah Slaven, Nancy Slaven, John Slaven, William Slaven.

Died: About 1852. Burial location unknown.

Note: Little is known about William Slaven. An online family tree lists him as the husband of Rebecca Caulfer and provides the names of four children: Sarah, Nancy, John, and William. The family tree states that he was buried at Chimney Rock Cemetery. However, if he is buried there, his grave is unmarked. He does not appear in census records for Scott County.

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Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880)

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Ruth Slaven (born 1809)

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Absalom Slaven (1810-1877)

Born: April 10, 1810.

Parents: Richard Harve Slaven (1775-1840) and Susanna Mabel Mounts (1778-1830).

Siblings: Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860), Mary Slaven (1801-1840), Sarah Slaven (1803-1888), James R. Slaven (1805-1880), William Slaven (1805-1852), Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880), Ruth Slaven (born 1809), Elisha Slaven (1817-1891), Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862) Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896), Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901), and perhaps others.

Married: Elizabeth “Betty” Wood (1814-1903), 1833.

Children: Nancy Jane Slaven Boyatt (1830–1880), Sara “Sally” Slaven Sweet (1834–1914), John Wesley Slaven (1838–1878), Richard D. Slaven (1841–1923), James A. Slaven (1841–1923), Elias Meshack “Shack” Slaven (1845–1922), Stuard Riley Slaven (1846–1911), Jefferson Slaven (1849–1908), Susanna Jane “Susan” Slaven Owens (1852–1935), Ale Thomas Slaven (1854–1926), Emerine Ruth Slaven Pennington (born 1855).

Died: May 18, 1877. Buried at Chimney Rock Cemetery.

+ Elizabeth “Betty” Wood Slaven (1814-1903)

Born: About 1812.

Parents: Unknown.

Siblings: Unknown.

Married: Absalom Slaven (1810-1877), 1831.

Died: Nov. 28, 1903. Buried at Chimney Rock Cemetery.

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Elisha Slaven (1817-1891)

Born: About 1817.

Parents: Richard Harve Slaven (1775-1840) and Susanna Mabel Mounts (1778-1830).

Siblings: Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860), Mary Slaven (1801-1840), Sarah Slaven (1803-1888), James R. Slaven (1805-1880), William Slaven (1805-1852), Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880), Ruth Slaven (born 1809), Absalom Slaven (1810-1877), Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862), Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896), Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901), and perhaps others.

Married: Mary Ann “Polly” Sweet (1827-1898), 1847.

Children: Elizabeth Slaven Davis (1847-1916), Andrew Slaven (1849-1910), John Slaven (born about 1851), James Slaven (born about 1852), George Slaven (born about 1853), William Slaven (born about 1854), Granville Slaven (born about 1856), Rebecca Slaven (born about 1858), Charles Slaven (born about 1862), Nancy Slaven Watson (1862-1945), Nimrod Slaven (1863-1927).

Died: About 1891. Burial location unknown.

Note: As is the case with so many other members of the Slaven family, very little is known about Elisha Slaven. He first appears in the 1860 census, with his wife, Mary, and children Elizabeth, Andrew, John, James, and George. When the 1870 census was taken, children in the home included Andrew, John, George, William, Granville, Rebecca, Charles, Nimrod, and Nancy. However, his wife wasn’t listed in that census. His wife was listed with him in the 1880 census, along with children Charles, Nimrod, and Nancy. His wife filed for a widow’s pension in 1899, stating that he served in the 4th Tennessee Infantry, Co. B.

+ Mary Ann “Polly” Sweet Slaven (1827-1898)

Born: About 1827.

Parents: Unknown.

Siblings: Unknown.

Married: Elisha Slaven (1817-1891), 1847.

Died: About 1898. Burial location unknown.

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Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896)

Born: Jan. 25, 1825.

Parents: Richard Harve Slaven (1775-1840) and Susanna Mabel Mounts (1778-1830).

Siblings: Rebecca Slaven (1792-1860), Mary Slaven (1801-1840), Sarah Slaven (1803-1888), James R. Slaven (1805-1880), William Slaven (1805-1852), Jonathan Slaven (1808-1880), Ruth Slaven (born 1809), Absalom Slaven (1810-1877), Elisha Slaven (1817-1891), Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862), Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901), and perhaps others.

Married: Unknown.

Children: James Granville Slaven (1850-1888), John Lafayette Slaven (1851-1931), Sarah Jane Slaven (born about 1854), Rebecca Slaven (born about 1853), Matthew Slaven (born about 1863), Nancy E. Slaven (born about 1864).

Married: Edith Susan Hill (1842-1918), 1871.

Children: Mary Slaven (born about 1871), Osha Slaven West (1872-1937), Missouri Slaven Duncan (1879-1958), General Washington Slaven (1880-1919).

Died: Aug. 25, 1896, Whitley County, Ky. Buried at Duncan Cemetery, Strunk, Ky.

Note: Like so many other members of the Slaven family, little is known about A.B. Slaven’s early life. He appears in the 1880 census with his wife, Edith Susan Hill, and five children: 17-year-old Matthew, 16-year-old Nancy, 9-year-old Mary, 6-year-old Oshea, and 3-year-old Zoora (Missouri). He earlier appeared in the 1860 and 1870 censuses as a single father. Children listed in his household in 1870 included 19-year-old John, 17-year-old James, and 13-year-old Rebecca. In 1860, the children in his home included 9-year-old John, 8-year-old James, 6-year-old Sarah Jane, and 3-year-old Rebecca. A marriage record from Wayne County, Ky., shows that he married Edith King on April 12, 1871.

+ Edith Susan Hill Slaven (1842-1918)

Born: Dec. 23, 1842.

Parents: Unknown.

Siblings: Unknown.

Married: Andrew Bailey Slaven (1825-1896), 1871.

Children: Mary Slaven (born about 1871), Osha Slaven West (1872-1937), Missouri Slaven Duncan (1879-1958), General Washington Slaven (1880-1919).

Died: Dec. 4, 1918. Buried at Perkins Cemetery, Winfield.

Note: Edith Hill first married Thomas King in 1859. He died in the 1860s.

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Pleasant Slaven (1823-1862)

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Nimrod Slaven (1830-1901)

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PostedAugust 29, 2026

UpdatedSeptember 5, 2026

Bybenwgarrett@gmail.com