Woolston / Heathcote Cemetery Tour - Christchurch City Libraries

Row O
No. 258
Nicholls
William Nicholls, a native of St. Austell, Cornwall, emigrated to Auckland on the
Warsprit in 1863. He came to Canterbury where, under Major Hornbrook, he served
an apprenticeship in the wool trade. At St. John’s, Woolston, on 12 May 1875,
William, 23, married Sarah Sheldon Dixon, 19, whose family were prominent
butchers.
Nicholls moved to Belfast and, with J. M. Watt, ran the New Zealand Provision and
Produce Company. On Watt’s death, Nicholls took over the wool scouring side of the
business, calling it the Kaputone Works. At Belfast Nicholls owned ‘Spring Grove’,
described as ‘a very fine residence and one hundred acres of first class land’.
Sarah, 56, ‘a loving mother and a good counsellor’, died at ‘Spring Grove’ on 17
October 1911. When Annie Quayle Townend died in 1914, William bought her
famed residence, ‘Mona Vale’.
Like many other Victorian parents, the Nicholls lost children. Robert, six died on 19
March 1889. On 8 June 1914 a married son, Charles, 29, was killed in an accident.
While in Christchurch, William was ‘a useful and much respected member of the city
council’. His business experience was of value to patriotic organisations during World
War I. William Nicholls, 69, ‘a good citizen in every respect’, died at ‘Mona Vale’ on
7 May 1920.
Row O
No. 266
Townend
William Potter Townend, brother of Dr. J. H. Townend, was a student at Guy’s
Hospital but never completed his studies. It was a common 19 th century practice for
busy doctors to refer their maternity patients to unqualified men. From about 1867
those of Dr. Townend’s women patients who were about to give birth came under the
care of W. P. Townend. He attended about 1500 births.
In 1876 W. P. Townend was attending Mrs. Isaacs and found there was going to be a
difficult birth. He sent for a large pair of household scissors and attempted to crush
the baby’s head, his idea being to sacrifice the baby and save the mother’s life. His
plans went awry, the child being born alive and dying of its injuries two days later. In
the Supreme Court, Dr. Townend spoke of his brother’s competence. However, he
was found guilty of manslaughter, Judge Johnston sentencing him to six months
imprisonment with hard labour. Five thousand people signed a petition in an attempt
to have the sentence annulled.
Woolston / Heathcote Cemetery
2006
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