Intentions to Marry, 1859

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840371, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke Howison at Archives NZ Wellington, December 12 2024

Page 151

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 December 1859 Registrar John Poynter

Date of Notice

Names and Surnames of Parties

BDM Match

Condition

Calling or Profession

Age

Dwelling Place

Length of Residence

Marriage Place

Folio

Consent

Date of Certificate

Officiating Minister

4 October 1859

Benjamin Harford
Jane Allcock

Benjamin Harford
Sarah Alcott
💍 1859/1346

Bachelor
Spinster

Butcher

23
20

Richmond Waimea East
Town of Nelson

One month
Six months

At the Protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson

James Allecock father

4 October 1859

Rev. Rob Bateman Paul

No	36
Date of Notice	4 October 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Benjamin Harford	Jane Allcock
BDM Match (71%)	Benjamin Harford	Sarah Alcott
	💍 1859/1346
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Butcher
Age	23	20
Dwelling Place	Richmond Waimea East	Town of Nelson
Length of Residence	One month	Six months
Marriage Place	At the Protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent	James Allecock father
Date of Certificate	4 October 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. Rob Bateman Paul

19 October 1859

David Frazer
Eliza Gardner

David Frazer
Eliza Garnar
💍 1859/2012

Bachelor
Spinster

Storekeeper

28
22

Haven Road Nelson
Nelson

Eight years
Seventeen Yrs

At the residence of The Rev John Warren, Washington Road, Nelson

5 October 1859

Rev. John Warren

No	37
Date of Notice	19 October 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	David Frazer	Eliza Gardner
BDM Match (92%)	David Frazer	Eliza Garnar
	💍 1859/2012
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Storekeeper
Age	28	22
Dwelling Place	Haven Road Nelson	Nelson
Length of Residence	Eight years	Seventeen Yrs
Marriage Place	At the residence of The Rev John Warren, Washington Road, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 October 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Warren

22 October 1859

John Frederick Hans Bockmann
Catherine Elizabeth Kruger

John Frederick Hans Bockmann
Cathrine Maria Elisabeth Kruger
💍 1859/1994

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

28
28

Ranzau Waimea East
Waimea East

Two years
five months

At the residence of Mr. Henry Lankow farmer, Ranzau

19 October 1859

Rev. Jno Wm Christopher Heine

No	38
Date of Notice	22 October 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Frederick Hans Bockmann	Catherine Elizabeth Kruger
BDM Match (87%)	John Frederick Hans Bockmann	Cathrine Maria Elisabeth Kruger
	💍 1859/1994
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	28	28
Dwelling Place	Ranzau Waimea East	Waimea East
Length of Residence	Two years	five months
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr. Henry Lankow farmer, Ranzau
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 October 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jno Wm Christopher Heine

24 October 1859

John Nash
Sarah Newport

John Nash
Sarah Newport
💍 1859/2003

Bachelor
Spinster

Constable

32
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

Three years
Ten years

At the Wesleyan Chapel in Hardy St., Nelson

8 Nov 1859

Rev. John Warren

No	39
Date of Notice	24 October 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Nash	Sarah Newport
	💍 1859/2003
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Constable
Age	32	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	Three years	Ten years
Marriage Place	At the Wesleyan Chapel in Hardy St., Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 Nov 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Warren

1 November 1859

William Brinner
Mary Ann Richardson

William Brimer
Mary Ann Richardson
💍 1859/2009

Bachelor
Spinster

Maltster

30
20

Brook St. Nelson
Van Dieman St. Nelson

four years
eighteen yrs

At the residence of Mr Will Brinner, Brook St., Nelson

James Richardson Father

8 Nov 1859

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	40
Date of Notice	1 November 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Brinner	Mary Ann Richardson
BDM Match (93%)	William Brimer	Mary Ann Richardson
	💍 1859/2009
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Maltster
Age	30	20
Dwelling Place	Brook St. Nelson	Van Dieman St. Nelson
Length of Residence	four years	eighteen yrs
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr Will Brinner, Brook St., Nelson
Folio
Consent	James Richardson Father
Date of Certificate	8 Nov 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

11 November 1859

Joseph Hoult
Maria Brusnan

Joseph Hoult
Maria Brosnan
💍 1859/1990

Bachelor
Spinster

Shingle Splitter

27
20

Wakefield Waimea South
City of Nelson

Sixteen years
Four years

At the Catholic Chapel in Waimea West

Declaration that no person in the Colony had power to consent

11 Nov 1859

Rev. A.M. Garin

No	41
Date of Notice	11 November 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Hoult	Maria Brusnan
BDM Match (96%)	Joseph Hoult	Maria Brosnan
	💍 1859/1990
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shingle Splitter
Age	27	20
Dwelling Place	Wakefield Waimea South	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	Sixteen years	Four years
Marriage Place	At the Catholic Chapel in Waimea West
Folio
Consent	Declaration that no person in the Colony had power to consent
Date of Certificate	11 Nov 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. A.M. Garin

12 Nov 1859

William Craig
Martha Small

William Craig
Martha Small
💍 1859/2000

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

26
20

City of Nelson
Waimea South

Eight days
Four years

At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

James Small Father

12 Nov 1859

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	42
Date of Notice	12 Nov 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Craig	Martha Small
	💍 1859/2000
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	26	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	Waimea South
Length of Residence	Eight days	Four years
Marriage Place	At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent	James Small Father
Date of Certificate	12 Nov 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

14 November 1859

Thomas Tucker
Mary Astle

Thomas Tucker
Mary Astle
💍 1859/2006

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

27
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

Ten months
Twelve years

At the residence of Mr Thomas Tucker, Washington Valley

14 Nov 1859

Rev. John Warren

No	43
Date of Notice	14 November 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Tucker	Mary Astle
	💍 1859/2006
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	27	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	Ten months	Twelve years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr Thomas Tucker, Washington Valley
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 Nov 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Warren

15 November 1859

Henry Alexander Tarrant
Katherine Saxon

Henry Alexander Tarrant
Katharine Saxon
💍 1859/1997

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

26
20

Waimea West
Waimea West

Four days
Six years

At the Protestant Episcopalian Church in Waimea West

John Saxon Father

15 Nov 1859

Rev. Samuel Poole

No	44
Date of Notice	15 November 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Alexander Tarrant	Katherine Saxon
BDM Match (97%)	Henry Alexander Tarrant	Katharine Saxon
	💍 1859/1997
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	26	20
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Waimea West
Length of Residence	Four days	Six years
Marriage Place	At the Protestant Episcopalian Church in Waimea West
Folio
Consent	John Saxon Father
Date of Certificate	15 Nov 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. Samuel Poole

17 November 1859

Henry Benjamin Hart
Maria Matthews

Henry B Hart
Maria Mathews
💍 1859/1978

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer

25
27

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

Ten months
Nine years

At the Wesleyan Chapel in Hardy St., Nelson

17 Nov 1859

Rev. John Warren

No	45
Date of Notice	17 November 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Benjamin Hart	Maria Matthews
BDM Match (78%)	Henry B Hart	Maria Mathews
	💍 1859/1978
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer
Age	25	27
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	Ten months	Nine years
Marriage Place	At the Wesleyan Chapel in Hardy St., Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	17 Nov 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Warren

7 December 1859

Robson Walcot
Harriett Naomi Green

Robson Walcot
Harriet Naomi Green
💍 1859/1987

Bachelor
Spinster

Music Master

25
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

Eight months
Nine years

At the Protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson

Declaration that no person in the Colony had power to consent

7 Dec 1859

Rev. Lonsdale Pritt

No	46
Date of Notice	7 December 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robson Walcot	Harriett Naomi Green
BDM Match (98%)	Robson Walcot	Harriet Naomi Green
	💍 1859/1987
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Music Master
Age	25	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	Eight months	Nine years
Marriage Place	At the Protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent	Declaration that no person in the Colony had power to consent
Date of Certificate	7 Dec 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. Lonsdale Pritt

9 December 1859

John McKay
Harriett Wills

John Mackay
Harriett Wells
💍 1859/1984

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

29
20

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

Three yrs
Eight months

At the residence of Mr John McKay, Hardy St., Nelson

Thomas Wells Father

9 Dec 1859

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	47
Date of Notice	9 December 1859
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John McKay	Harriett Wills
BDM Match (87%)	John Mackay	Harriett Wells
	💍 1859/1984
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	29	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	Three yrs	Eight months
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr John McKay, Hardy St., Nelson
Folio
Consent	Thomas Wells Father
Date of Certificate	9 Dec 1859
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

These records have been automatically transcribed and must be verified using the page image (below)

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What is an Intention to Marry?

The 1854 Marriage Act required Pakeha settlers (and later Maori) to register their intention to marry from 1855. The resulting Notices of intention to marry were sent by the district registrars to the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages and bound into large volumes, each containing a year of notices. These registers were eventually deposited with Archives New Zealand.

What information does an ItM record?

A typical Intention to Marry notice records:

the bride and groom's full names
occupation of the groom (and sometimes the bride)
their ages
district where the marriage would take place
how long they had resided in the district
Where the marriage would take place (eg, a specific church)
Who would officiate the marriage (eg, a minister)
The date of the notice and also a date when the certificate was issued. Marriages had to take place within 3 months, and usually occurred within a week or so of the certificate date.
If one of the parties was under 21, a parent who consented to their marriage was usually specified

These details can provide clues for genealogical and historical research. Knowing the date and district makes it easier to look for wedding notices in Papers Past, and the amount of time that the parties had resided in a district can offer clues to whether a person was born in NZ, or when they immigrated.

However, finding individual records in the Intentions to Marry registers was typically a slow and manual process, usually requiring an in-person visit to Archives NZ's Wellington office (during limited opening hours) and using a handwritten card catalogue index to look up individual names.

Eight years of the registers had been digitised by Archives NZ prior to 2024, but even these digital versions required the use of a manual index and usually examining several pages to locate specific records.

What is the Intentions to Marry Project?

This project aims to transcribe the New Zealand Intentions to Marry registers (from 1855 to 1925) with the assistance of new technology (AI), making the records freely available and easily searchable.

The ITM records have also been cross-referenced with the registered marriages at DIA Births, Deaths and Marriages, where possible (a small fraction of the recorded intentions to marry did not become a registered marriage).

Currently we have almost all records between 1855 and 1903. More registers are being added almost every week.

The project is led by Luke Howison, a web developer who made the free genealogical research search tool NZ Ancestor Search Helper and Archway-style Collections Search. There are also some wonderful volunteers assisting with digitising the registers.

Can I volunteer to help?

Yes, you can! You can sign up to correct errors in the transcribed records and match ITMs with registered marriages.

I am also looking for Wellington-based volunteers to help me digitise more years of the registers. I can provide lighting equipment and a 'clicker' (to trigger your phone's camera).

How is the transcription done?

There are several steps to digitising and transcribing the records:

Digitising the registers (taking clean, straight, high-quality photos)
Processing the digitised pages by straightening, cropping and sharpening the images
Transcribing each page with a combination of AI tools
Matching each ITM with a registered marriage when possible
Human verification of the transcribed information

The main LLM (AI) used are the Google Gemini Pro and Flash models, which have excellent 'Vision' capabilities, and a generous free tier.

Archives NZ has released the register years they have digitised (1865-69, 1872, 1874 and 1880) under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.

The Intention to Marry registers (up to 1925) are more than 100 years old, so their Crown Copyright has expired, putting them in the public domain. This also applies to any 'mechanical reproductions' (eg, pictures or photocopies) of their content without substantial alteration.

The transcribed records on this website are released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal license, which allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, even for commercial purposes, while giving credit to the creator (NZ Intentions to Marry Project).