Intentions to Marry, 1861

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840373, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke Howison at Archives NZ Wellington, December 11 2024

Page 185

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 December 1861 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

20 September 1861

Alfred Amos
Mary Ann Parmenter

Alfred Amos
Mary Ann Parmenter
💍 1861/1920

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

29
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

5 years
4 years

at the residence of Job Aldridge farmer

5 October 1861

Rev. Jonathan Innes

No	72
Date of Notice	20 September 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred Amos	Mary Ann Parmenter
	💍 1861/1920
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	29	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	5 years	4 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Job Aldridge farmer
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 October 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jonathan Innes

18 October 1861

John Livingston
Janet Coventry Dewar

John Livingston
Janet Coventry Dewar
💍 1861/3709

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

40
36

Waimea West
City of Nelson

6 years
6 years

At the protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson

2 November 1861

Rev. Henry M. Turton

No	75
Date of Notice	18 October 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Livingston	Janet Coventry Dewar
	💍 1861/3709
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	40	36
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	6 years	6 years
Marriage Place	At the protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Henry M. Turton

18 October 1861

John Thomas Hodgson
Sarah Ann Hill

John Thomas Hodgson
Sarah Ann Hill
💍 1861/3799

Bachelor
Widow

Artist

29
36

Collingwood St. Nelson
Collingwood St. Nelson

6 months
2 years

At the residence of John Thomas Hodgson artist, Collingwood St., Nelson

18 October 1861

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	76
Date of Notice	18 October 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Thomas Hodgson	Sarah Ann Hill
	💍 1861/3799
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Artist
Age	29	36
Dwelling Place	Collingwood St. Nelson	Collingwood St. Nelson
Length of Residence	6 months	2 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of John Thomas Hodgson artist, Collingwood St., Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 October 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

19 October 1861

Thomas Henry Foy
Eliza Wimsett

Thomas Henry Foy
Eliza Winsett
💍 1861/3753

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

21
22

Franklin St. Nelson
Waimea Road Nelson

18 years
7 years

at the residence of Thomas Henry Foy, Franklyn St., Nelson

19 October 1861

Rev. Jonathan Innes

No	77
Date of Notice	19 October 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Henry Foy	Eliza Wimsett
BDM Match (96%)	Thomas Henry Foy	Eliza Winsett
	💍 1861/3753
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	21	22
Dwelling Place	Franklin St. Nelson	Waimea Road Nelson
Length of Residence	18 years	7 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Thomas Henry Foy, Franklyn St., Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 October 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jonathan Innes

28 October 1861

Israel Johns
Ellen Fowler

Israel Johns
Ellen Fowler
💍 1861/4201

Bachelor
Spinster

Baker

22
23

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
3 years

at the residence of Thomas Trewheelan baker, Haven Road, Nelson

28 October 1861

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	78
Date of Notice	28 October 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Israel Johns	Ellen Fowler
	💍 1861/4201
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Baker
Age	22	23
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	3 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Thomas Trewheelan baker, Haven Road, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 October 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

29 October 1861

Thomas Henry Chisnall
Adeline Buxton

Thomas Henry Chisnell
Adeline Buxton
💍 1861/3772

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

24
31

Suburban South
Suburban South

6 years
9 years

at the residence of Edmund Buxton merchant, Suburban South

29 October 1861

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	79
Date of Notice	29 October 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Henry Chisnall	Adeline Buxton
BDM Match (98%)	Thomas Henry Chisnell	Adeline Buxton
	💍 1861/3772
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	24	31
Dwelling Place	Suburban South	Suburban South
Length of Residence	6 years	9 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Edmund Buxton merchant, Suburban South
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	29 October 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

30 October 1861

William Best
Elizabeth Drummond

William Best
Elizabeth Drummond
💍 1861/3802

Widower
Spinster

Farmer

41
36

City of Nelson
Waimea East

6 days
6 days

at the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

30 October 1861

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	80
Date of Notice	30 October 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Best	Elizabeth Drummond
	💍 1861/3802
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	41	36
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	Waimea East
Length of Residence	6 days	6 days
Marriage Place	at the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 October 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

6 November 1861

Lawrence Hargreaves
Eliza Rosam

Lawrence Hargreaves
Eliza Rosam
💍 1861/3712

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

35
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

20 years
2 years

at the protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson

20 November 1861

Rev. Henry M. Turton

No	81
Date of Notice	6 November 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Lawrence Hargreaves	Eliza Rosam
	💍 1861/3712
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	35	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	20 years	2 years
Marriage Place	at the protestant Episcopalian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Henry M. Turton

6 November 1861

Israel Johns
Ellen Fowler

Israel Johns
Ellen Fowler
💍 1861/4201

Bachelor
Spinster

Baker

22
23

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
3 years

at the residence of William Fowler farmer, Richmond

6 November 1861

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	82
Date of Notice	6 November 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Israel Johns	Ellen Fowler
	💍 1861/4201
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Baker
Age	22	23
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	3 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of William Fowler farmer, Richmond
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

11 November 1861

John Coleman
Sarah Ann Ball

John Coleman
Sarah Ann Ball
💍 1861/3756

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

20
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
4 years

at the residence of William Ball carpenter, Washington Road

William Ball, father

11 November 1861

Rev. Jonathan Innes

No	83
Date of Notice	11 November 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Coleman	Sarah Ann Ball
	💍 1861/3756
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	20	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	4 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of William Ball carpenter, Washington Road
Folio
Consent	William Ball, father
Date of Certificate	11 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jonathan Innes

13 November 1861

Joseph Francis East
Susan Frost

Joseph Francis East
Susan Frost
💍 1861/3653

Bachelor
Spinster

Painter

27
20

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

6 years
12 years

at the residence of Hugh McDonald engineer, Bridge Street

Dennis Frost, father

15 November 1861

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	84
Date of Notice	13 November 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Francis East	Susan Frost
	💍 1861/3653
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Painter
Age	27	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	6 years	12 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Hugh McDonald engineer, Bridge Street
Folio
Consent	Dennis Frost, father
Date of Certificate	15 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

18 November 1861

Israel Johns
Ellen Fowler

Israel Johns
Ellen Fowler
💍 1861/4201

Bachelor
Spinster

Baker

22
23

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
3 years

at the residence of Mr. Charles Muntz, Waimea East

18 November 1861

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	85
Date of Notice	18 November 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Israel Johns	Ellen Fowler
	💍 1861/4201
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Baker
Age	22	23
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	3 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Mr. Charles Muntz, Waimea East
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

19 November 1861

Vere Bogle
Elizabeth Williamson Bruce

Vere Bogle
Elizabeth Williamson Bruce
💍 1861/3656

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer

31
30

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

1 month
3 years

at the residence of Elizabeth Williamson Bruce, Haven Road

19 November 1861

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	86
Date of Notice	19 November 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Vere Bogle	Elizabeth Williamson Bruce
	💍 1861/3656
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer
Age	31	30
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	1 month	3 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Elizabeth Williamson Bruce, Haven Road
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

22 November 1861

James Alfred McCuat
Annie Beamsley

James Alfred McCuat
Annie Bramsley
💍 1861/3659

Bachelor
Spinster

Sawyer

25
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

6 months
14 years

at the residence of Henry Boyd labourer, Bridge Street

22 November 1861

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	87
Date of Notice	22 November 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Alfred McCuat	Annie Beamsley
BDM Match (96%)	James Alfred McCuat	Annie Bramsley
	💍 1861/3659
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sawyer
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	6 months	14 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Henry Boyd labourer, Bridge Street
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 November 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

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).