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THE WILLIAMS'
of St. IVES ARMS & WHITE LION
Dyfatty, Burry Port

The St. Ives Arms appeared on the map of Burry Port, probably, one hundred and sixty years ago, in 1835. Although it was demolished around about 1960, the first family to occupy this public house did so for many years.

The first landlord was William Williams, born in Burry Port in 1811, and baptised at Pembrey Parish Church on 2 April 1st 1811 to David & Margaret Williams.

David Williams born in 1782 married Margaret Williams (also her maiden name) on 4th August 1809 at Pembrey, their first son David was born in 1809, followed by William in 1811, they were then living at 'Gwscwm', During this time there was an increase of non-conformist chapels in the area, and in 1812, Jerusalem was built, this is when David & Margaret changed from Church to Chapel and in 1814 Jane was born and baptized in Jerusalem, Achddu on the 30th May, their fourth surviving son John was born in 1816 and baptised at Jerusalem on 28 January 1817, by this time David Williams was a farmer in Towyn Bach.

Although David and Margaret had more children, Thomas, Mary & Margaret, there is no record of their Baptisms, this is probably because by now David & family had leased a farm called Dyffryn Aur' which is situated between Trimsaran and Carway and some considerable way from Pembrey & Burry Port, thus the lack of further baptisms for the younger children. David Williams died on 23rd of November 1849 at Dyffryn Farm at the age of 67 years, his eldest son David died just over a year later on 20th December 1850, as the farm was so far from any reasonable village or town there
was no medical attendant or doctor available at the death, only the daughter Jane who was present at both deaths.

Margaret Williams died between 1851 and 1861.
William Williams was Married to Mary David on 11th November 1834 at Pembrey, they took on the St.Ives Public House shortly after, they had six children, Elizabeth 1835, Margaret 1836, William 1840, John 1841, David 1844, and Richard 1848.

William (father) died in 1853 at the age of 43 years and is buried in 'Bethlehem' Pwll,

His wife Mary went on and kept the St. Ives for many years until the mid 1870's when she moved from Dyfatty Lane to Dyfatty road to keep the 'White Lion Inn', she kept this Pub for almost another 20 years by now she was 82 years old, at this ripe old age she took on the mortgage of the White Lion from the Brewery at £200.00.

Mary Williams died on the 9th January 1896 at the age of 86, and is buried with her husband William in Bethlehem Pwll, who had died 43 years previously, she never remarried.
Mary Williams' will was read on 21 April 1896, leaving the White Lion and Effects of £8 1s 0d to her sons John and David.

Note
William & Mary's son David (born 1844) married Elizabeth Griffiths from Abergwilli and had 9 children, of one these children Albert (born in 1884) had a son Emrys, who was the husband of Francis Gower daughter of the Gowers of the Engine Inn, New Street.

Richard James

1996-2000