Intentions to Marry, 1860

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840372, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

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

Page 155

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 September 1860 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

19 June 1860

Ford
Woolley

"Vide Returns for the June quarter"

No	28
Date of Notice	19 June 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Ford	Woolley
	💍 "Vide Returns for the June quarter"
Condition
Profession
Age
Dwelling Place
Length of Residence
Marriage Place
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate
Officiating Minister

25 June 1860

Edmonson
Robinson

"Vide Returns for the June quarter"

No	29
Date of Notice	25 June 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edmonson	Robinson
	💍 "Vide Returns for the June quarter"
Condition
Profession
Age
Dwelling Place
Length of Residence
Marriage Place
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate
Officiating Minister

3 July 1860

Richard Matthews
Margaret Bell

Richard Matthews
Margaret Bell
💍 1860/1837

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

25
22

Hardy Street Nelson
Brougham St Nelson

eighteen years
Twelve months

At the residence of Mr. William Bell farmer, Waimea West

18 July 1860

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	31
Date of Notice	3 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard Matthews	Margaret Bell
	💍 1860/1837
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	25	22
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street Nelson	Brougham St Nelson
Length of Residence	eighteen years	Twelve months
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr. William Bell farmer, Waimea West
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

4 July 1860

William Clarke
Mary Rourke

William Clark
Mary Rourke
💍 1860/3700

Bachelor
Spinster

Shearer

23
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

eighteen days
eighteen days

At the Catholic Church in Nelson

4 July 1860

Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

No	32
Date of Notice	4 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Clarke	Mary Rourke
BDM Match (96%)	William Clark	Mary Rourke
	💍 1860/3700
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shearer
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	eighteen days	eighteen days
Marriage Place	At the Catholic Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

5 July 1860

George Hambrook
Harriett Ann Gough

George Hamhook
Harriet Ann Gough
💍 1860/3941

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

26
25

Collingwood St Nelson
Collingwood St Nelson

Six weeks
Three days

at the residence of Mr. John Braddock chemist, Collingwood St., Nelson

6 July 1860

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	33
Date of Notice	5 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Hambrook	Harriett Ann Gough
BDM Match (91%)	George Hamhook	Harriet Ann Gough
	💍 1860/3941
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	26	25
Dwelling Place	Collingwood St Nelson	Collingwood St Nelson
Length of Residence	Six weeks	Three days
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. John Braddock chemist, Collingwood St., Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

11 July 1860

Edward Irvine
Margaret Gorman

Edward Irvine
Margaret Gorman
💍 1860/3944

Widower
Spinster

38
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

Two months
Two months

In the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

Declaration that no person in N.Z hath authority to consent

11 July 1860

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	34
Date of Notice	11 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Irvine	Margaret Gorman
	💍 1860/3944
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession
Age	38	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	Two months	Two months
Marriage Place	In the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent	Declaration that no person in N.Z hath authority to consent
Date of Certificate	11 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

11 July 1860

Andrew McDonald
Emma Hodgkinson

Andrew McDonald
Emma Hodgkinson
💍 1860/3670

Bachelor
Spinster

Sawyer

28
20

Wakefield
Wakefield

Seven days
fourteen yrs

at the residence of Mr. German Hodgkinson in Wakefield

German Hodgkinson father

11 July 1860

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	35
Date of Notice	11 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Andrew McDonald	Emma Hodgkinson
	💍 1860/3670
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sawyer
Age	28	20
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	Wakefield
Length of Residence	Seven days	fourteen yrs
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. German Hodgkinson in Wakefield
Folio
Consent	German Hodgkinson father
Date of Certificate	11 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

11 July 1860

Joachim Johann Friederich Bockmann
Maria Sophia Catharina Schwarz

Joachim Johann Friedrich Bockmann
Maria Sophia Cathrina Schwarz
💍 1860/3905

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

22
27

Ranzau Waimea East
Ranzau Waimea East

Two weeks
Two weeks

at the residence of Mr. Friederich Bockmann labourer, Ranzau, Waimea East

29 July 1860

Rev. Jno. Will. Chr. Heine

No	36
Date of Notice	11 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joachim Johann Friederich Bockmann	Maria Sophia Catharina Schwarz
BDM Match (97%)	Joachim Johann Friedrich Bockmann	Maria Sophia Cathrina Schwarz
	💍 1860/3905
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	22	27
Dwelling Place	Ranzau Waimea East	Ranzau Waimea East
Length of Residence	Two weeks	Two weeks
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. Friederich Bockmann labourer, Ranzau, Waimea East
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	29 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jno. Will. Chr. Heine

12 July 1860

Thomas Martin Wimsett
Jane Dane

Thomas Martin Kinsett
Jane Dane
💍 1860/3790

Widower
Widow

Blacksmith

48
48

Hardy Street, Nelson
Toi Toi Valley, Nelson

eight years
Fourteen yrs

at the residence of Mrs. Jane Dane, Toi Toi Valley, Nelson

12 July 1860

Rev. Edward Thomas.

No	37
Date of Notice	12 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Martin Wimsett	Jane Dane
BDM Match (95%)	Thomas Martin Kinsett	Jane Dane
	💍 1860/3790
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Blacksmith
Age	48	48
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street, Nelson	Toi Toi Valley, Nelson
Length of Residence	eight years	Fourteen yrs
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mrs. Jane Dane, Toi Toi Valley, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas.

18 July 1860

Frederick Dimmick
Mary Mercer

Frederick Dimmick
Mary Mercer
💍 1860/3778

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

25
23

Appleby Waimea East
Appleby Waimea East

nine mos
ten years

at the protestant Episcopalian Church in Richmond

1 August 1860

Rev. Samuel Poole

No	38
Date of Notice	18 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Dimmick	Mary Mercer
	💍 1860/3778
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	25	23
Dwelling Place	Appleby Waimea East	Appleby Waimea East
Length of Residence	nine mos	ten years
Marriage Place	at the protestant Episcopalian Church in Richmond
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 August 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Samuel Poole

26 July 1860

Francis William Flowerday
Ann Stanton

Francis William Flowerday
Ann Stanton
💍 1860/3718

Bachelor
Spinster

Baker

27
16

Waimea Road Nelson
Waimea Road Nelson

three mos
twelve mos

at the residence of Mr. Edward Stanton, Waimea Road, Nelson

Edward Stanton father

26 July 1860

Rev. Jonathan Innes

No	39
Date of Notice	26 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Francis William Flowerday	Ann Stanton
	💍 1860/3718
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Baker
Age	27	16
Dwelling Place	Waimea Road Nelson	Waimea Road Nelson
Length of Residence	three mos	twelve mos
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. Edward Stanton, Waimea Road, Nelson
Folio
Consent	Edward Stanton father
Date of Certificate	26 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jonathan Innes

26 July 1860

William Boddington
Agnes Wallace

William Boddington
Agnes Wallace
💍 1860/4054

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

22
21

Waimea South
Waimea South

fifteen years
Six years

at the residence of Mr. John Wallace blacksmith, Waimea South

26 July 1860

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	40
Date of Notice	26 July 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Boddington	Agnes Wallace
	💍 1860/4054
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	Waimea South	Waimea South
Length of Residence	fifteen years	Six years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. John Wallace blacksmith, Waimea South
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	26 July 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

1 August 1860

George Craib
Emma Moore

George Caraib
Emma Moor
💍 1860/3950

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

32
23

Maitai Suburban North
Maitai Suburban North

nine mos
Eight days

at the residence of Mr. James Winter farmer, Maitai Valley

1 August 1860

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	41
Date of Notice	1 August 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Craib	Emma Moore
BDM Match (91%)	George Caraib	Emma Moor
	💍 1860/3950
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	32	23
Dwelling Place	Maitai Suburban North	Maitai Suburban North
Length of Residence	nine mos	Eight days
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. James Winter farmer, Maitai Valley
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 August 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

1 August 1860

Henry Edwards
Fanny Nixon

Henry Edwards
Fanny Nixon
💍 1860/3760

Bachelor
Spinster

Merchants clerk

22
21

Grove Street Nelson
Grove Street Nelson

Ten years
Ten years

at the protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson

15 August 1860

Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

No	42
Date of Notice	1 August 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Edwards	Fanny Nixon
	💍 1860/3760
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Merchants clerk
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	Grove Street Nelson	Grove Street Nelson
Length of Residence	Ten years	Ten years
Marriage Place	at the protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 August 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

1 August 1860

William Jeffries
Mary Leary

William Jeffries
Mary Leary
💍 1860/3676

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer

23
28

Waimea South
Waimea South

two weeks
two weeks

at the residence of Mr. William Jeffries sawyer, Waimea South

1 August 1860

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	43
Date of Notice	1 August 1860
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Jeffries	Mary Leary
	💍 1860/3676
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer
Age	23	28
Dwelling Place	Waimea South	Waimea South
Length of Residence	two weeks	two weeks
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. William Jeffries sawyer, Waimea South
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 August 1860
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

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).