The family of "Chile" Williams

Captain William Williams of Fishguard was known by many as “Chile” Williams – it is said this was because of his trading links as a timber merchant with the South American country.  Perhaps this was the case but it may well have more to do with the fact that for around 7 years, he and his wife Anne lived in various towns in Chile and it was here that five of their seven surviving children were born.

William Williams was born in Narberth in 1835  the son of John Williams, an accountant. He went to sea as a young boy and by 1863 had become a Master Mariner. It was in January of that year that he married Anne James of St Nicholas who was the daughter of Levi James, a farmer of Llwyn yr Onnen – at this time William gave Fishguard as his address. It appears that soon after their marriage the young couple travelled to Chile in South America and here they stayed until around 1870. Although no doubt, William was well travelled having been at sea for almost 20 years it must have been a very strange time for his wife Anne, so far away from home and family.

Their sons Llewellyn b. 1864, George b.1865, William b.1867, Walter b. 1868   and
Arthur b.1870 were all born in Chile. The family then returned to Fishguard, to Tower Hill, where their only daughter Anita  b.1871 and youngest son, Alfred b.1873, were born.

Captain William Williams died in 1899 – his wife, Anne, survived him by almost 30 years and was 89 years old when she died at Cefn y Dre in 1928. All of the children had successful careers – some of them stayed in Fishguard or returned in later years.

Llewellyn Yorwerth Williams was the inventor of the very popular Mannina Herbal Ointment which was believed to have been based on a formula developed from his time in South Africa as a young man. This was manufactured locally and supplied across Wales, South of England and across the water in Ireland. He died in 1947 aged 83.

George James Williams became a medical practitioner. He practised for some years in Fishguard before moving to Haltwhistle in Northumberland. He then moved to  Peterstone Super Ely, Cardiff where he died just days short of his 77th birthday in 1941.

William Richards Williams worked overseas for many years employed in the Public Works Department in India and Egypt where his children were born.  Upon returning to the UK he lived with his family in Sussex however his death occurred in 1920 at his mother’s family home, Llys yr Onnen in St Nicholas and he was buried at St Nicholas at the age of 53.

Walter Levi Williams was an important personage within Fishguard. He started out as a farmer at Cefn y Dre  prior to training as an auctioneer and valuation agent.  In around 1910 he  became a Solicitor and established a  practise in the town; He also served as HM Coroner. He later acquired the former Great Western Hotel for the offices of the practise and this then became 3 Main Street. He made his family home at Cefn y Dre.  It was the Williams family of Cefn y Dre who so generously gave the land for public amenity which in later years became the location for  Lota Park.  His wife, Mrs Martha Phillips Williams was also the lady who laid the foundation stone for the Temperance Hall in West Street.

Arthur John Williams became a Chartered civil engineer and played an important role during the first World War when he served as a Brigadier General. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire and also a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services in civil engineering. He died in Sussex in 1949 aged 79.

Anita Williams was the first of the Williams children to be born in Fishguard upon her parents return from Chile.  As a young woman, Anita worked as a teacher in a Ladies College as well as a nurse in a busy hospital – she also spent time overseas. She married relatively late, at the age of 38 to William George who was the brother of David Lloyd George. Their wedding was reported in the County Echo as the wedding of the century!  Anita’s brother, Walter Williams hosted the wedding at Cefn y Dre where many important guests would have been spotted, including the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George. Anita and her husband William spent much of their married life in Criccieth, North Wales. Anita died in 1943 at 71 years – her husband William lived to the grand old age of 101 years.

Alfred Benjamin Williams was the youngest child of the family. He trained as a solicitor in Haverfordwest – and was the only one of his siblings who did not marry. In later life he shared a home with his widowed brother, Llewellyn Williams in Fishguard Road, Haverfordwest. He died in 1962 aged 88 years.

The group photograph above taken at Cefn y Dre, includes all the family with the exception of William – it is possible this photograph by Charles Edwards was taken after William’s death in 1920.
Back row left to right:- Alfred; Arthur; Walter and George
Front row left to right:- Anita; Llewellyn and their mother, Anne.