St Pauls Papanui Cemetery - Christchurch City Libraries

to deaden the pain .... At noon Mr. Gresson was semi-conscious but in a
sinking condition, and his death occurred a quarter of an hour later.
Although mention was made of the fact that J. B. Gresson might have been suffering
depression as a result of the recent death of his bosom friend, Caleb Whitefoord,
suicide was not considered as a possible cause of death. Instead, the jury brought in a
verdict of ‘accidental death’. The Church news noted the death of J. B., only son of
the judge who, for many years, had been chancellor of the diocese. ‘It is with the
feeling of profound sorrow that we record … the untimely death of Mr. John Beatty
Gresson by misadventure while travelling in the northern train’.
J. B. Gresson was, in fact, playing fast and loose with his clients’ money and probably
committed suicide. In April 1891, one of his executors filed a statement of assets and
liabilities in the Supreme Court. Secured creditors were owed 12, 925 pounds three
shillings and seven pence. Unsecured creditors were owed 43, 133 pounds three
shillings and ten pence. Gresson senior, but one of many creditors, was owed 1954
pounds six shillings and sixpence.
W. E. Burke made the last, bitter comment on the Gressons. How little had the judge
foreseen ‘how some of his epithets and scorn might, in later years, be applied and his
own name be byword for fraud’.
On 18 July 1891 a posthumous son, Kenneth Macfarlane Gresson, was born to
Frances and John Beatty Gresson. He studied for an LL.B. degree, served at Gallipoli,
was severe- ly wounded, and came home to complete his studies. A lecturer at
Canterbury University College from 1923-47 and dean of the faculty from 1936-47,
Kenneth was a Wellington judge from 1947 and first President of the Court of Appeal
from 1957-63. From 1964-67 he was first chairman of the Indecent Publications
Tribunal. For his contribution to the legal profession, he was knighted.
On his retirement, Sir Kenneth retired to Christchurch. He had an operation to deal
with the continuing effects of his war wounds and, as a result, died on 7 October 1974
Members of the family who are buried with J. B. Gresson include a spinster daughter,
Kathleen Muriel, 85, who died on 30 December 1961; and Sir Kenneth. It would
appear that a new gravestone has been erected well into the 20 th century. Family
memers who provided information for the wording on the plaque have given J. B.
Gresson’s year of death as 1890. Sir Kenneth’s memorial, erected less than 30 years
ago, has been vandalized.
Row D
No. 651
Pattrick
The Canterbury Association ships were, supposedly, crowded with ‘men and women
of muscular pith and sap … the very best men and women of old England’. These
people were also, supposedly, Anglicans. However, a number of Methodists were
‘Church Methodists’, people who had received communion in parish churches and
presented their children for baptism. They claimed a link with the established church
St. Paul’s Papanui Cemetery
2007
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