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 184

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 September 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

4 July 1861

William Frederick Taylor
Elizabeth Austin Tarr

William Frederick Taylor
Elizabeth Austin Tarr
💍 1861/4044

Bachelor
Spinster

Carter

18
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

18 years
18 years

At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

William Taylor, father

4 July 1861

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	52
Date of Notice	4 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Frederick Taylor	Elizabeth Austin Tarr
	💍 1861/4044
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carter
Age	18	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	18 years	18 years
Marriage Place	At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent	William Taylor, father
Date of Certificate	4 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

8 July 1861

Edward Murrell
Mary Ann Kidson

Edward Murrell
Mary Ann Kidson
💍 1861/3641

Bachelor
Spinster

Watchmaker

24
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

5 months
19 years

At the residence of John Kidson the elder, Brook St. Valley, Nelson

John Kidson, father

9 July 1861

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	53
Date of Notice	8 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Murrell	Mary Ann Kidson
	💍 1861/3641
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Watchmaker
Age	24	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	5 months	19 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of John Kidson the elder, Brook St. Valley, Nelson
Folio
Consent	John Kidson, father
Date of Certificate	9 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

8 July 1861

Samuel Fowler
Jane Clark

Samuel Fowler
Jane Clark
💍 1861/3727

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

21
17

Riwaka
Wakefield

18 years
10 years

At the Episcopalian Church, Spring Grove

David Clark, father

8 July 1861

Rev. Samuel Poole

No	54
Date of Notice	8 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Samuel Fowler	Jane Clark
	💍 1861/3727
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	21	17
Dwelling Place	Riwaka	Wakefield
Length of Residence	18 years	10 years
Marriage Place	At the Episcopalian Church, Spring Grove
Folio
Consent	David Clark, father
Date of Certificate	8 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Samuel Poole

8 July 1861

Joseph Price
Ann Clark

Joseph Price
Ann Clark
💍 1861/3730

Bachelor
Spinster

Sawyer

24
19

Wakefield
Wakefield

18 years
10 years

At the Episcopalian Church, Spring Grove

David Clark, father

8 July 1861

Rev. Samuel Poole

No	55
Date of Notice	8 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Price	Ann Clark
	💍 1861/3730
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sawyer
Age	24	19
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	Wakefield
Length of Residence	18 years	10 years
Marriage Place	At the Episcopalian Church, Spring Grove
Folio
Consent	David Clark, father
Date of Certificate	8 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Samuel Poole

15 July 1861

Thomas Munster
Ellen Bary

Thomas Munster
Ellen Bary
💍 1861/3671

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

29
24

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
2 years

At the Catholic Chapel in Nelson

15 July 1861

Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

No	56
Date of Notice	15 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Munster	Ellen Bary
	💍 1861/3671
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	29	24
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	2 years
Marriage Place	At the Catholic Chapel in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

18 July 1861

Harry Eure
Elizabeth Ann Forsyth

Harry Eure
Elizabeth Ann Forsyth
💍 1861/4047

Bachelor
Widow

Mariner

25
25

Bridge St. Nelson
Bridge St. Nelson

2 years
2 years

At the residence of Hugh McDonald, joiner, Nelson

18 July 1861

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	57
Date of Notice	18 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Harry Eure	Elizabeth Ann Forsyth
	💍 1861/4047
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Mariner
Age	25	25
Dwelling Place	Bridge St. Nelson	Bridge St. Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	2 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Hugh McDonald, joiner, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

23 July 1861

Edward Goodall
Sarah Kidson

Edward Goodall
Sarah Kidson
💍 1861/3644

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

22
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

6 months
19 years

At the residence of John Kidson the elder, gardener, Brook St. Valley, Nelson

7 August 1861

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	58
Date of Notice	23 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Goodall	Sarah Kidson
	💍 1861/3644
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	6 months	19 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of John Kidson the elder, gardener, Brook St. Valley, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	7 August 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

24 July 1861

William Fairhall
Elizabeth Phoebe Cowles

William Fairhall
Elizabeth Phoebe Cowles
💍 1861/4050

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

38
35

Waimea South
City of Nelson

14 years
5 months

At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

24 July 1861

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	59
Date of Notice	24 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Fairhall	Elizabeth Phoebe Cowles
	💍 1861/4050
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	38	35
Dwelling Place	Waimea South	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	14 years	5 months
Marriage Place	At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

27 July 1861

Antoine Rose
Margaret Gray

Antoine Rose
Margaret Gray
💍 1861/3674

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

25
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 months
3 years

At the Catholic Chapel in Nelson

27 July 1861

Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

No	60
Date of Notice	27 July 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Antoine Rose	Margaret Gray
	💍 1861/3674
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	25	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 months	3 years
Marriage Place	At the Catholic Chapel in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 July 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

2 August 1861

William Davis
Jane Sclanders Burns

William Davis
Jane Sclanders Burns
💍 1861/4053

Widower
Spinster

Photographer

22
18

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

8 months
18 years

At the residence of Frances Burns widow, Washington Rd., Nelson

Frances Burns, mother

2 August 1861

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	61
Date of Notice	2 August 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Davis	Jane Sclanders Burns
	💍 1861/4053
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Photographer
Age	22	18
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	8 months	18 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Frances Burns widow, Washington Rd., Nelson
Folio
Consent	Frances Burns, mother
Date of Certificate	2 August 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

19 August 1861

William Henry Scott
Harriett Ranger

William Henry Scott
Harriet Ranger
💍 1861/4056

Bachelor
Spinster

Bootmaker

20
18

City of Nelson
Richmond Waimea East

6 years
18 years

At the residence of Henry Kudbars warehouseman, Bridge St., Nelson

James Ranger, father

19 August 1861

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	62
Date of Notice	19 August 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Henry Scott	Harriett Ranger
BDM Match (97%)	William Henry Scott	Harriet Ranger
	💍 1861/4056
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bootmaker
Age	20	18
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	Richmond Waimea East
Length of Residence	6 years	18 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Henry Kudbars warehouseman, Bridge St., Nelson
Folio
Consent	James Ranger, father
Date of Certificate	19 August 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

19 August 1861

George Twigdin Currin
Jane Eves

George Tungdin Currin
Jane Eves
💍 1861/3820

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

21
22

Waimea South
Waimea South

2 years
15 years

At the residence of William Eves farmer, Waimea South

10 September 1861

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	63
Date of Notice	19 August 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Twigdin Currin	Jane Eves
BDM Match (95%)	George Tungdin Currin	Jane Eves
	💍 1861/3820
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	21	22
Dwelling Place	Waimea South	Waimea South
Length of Residence	2 years	15 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of William Eves farmer, Waimea South
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 September 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

24 August 1861

Valentine Bunkell
Elizabeth Ann Hockey

Valentine Bunkell
Elizabeth Ann Hockey
💍 1861/3647

Bachelor
Spinster

Miner

24
15

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 days
3 months

At the residence of Valentine Bunkell joiner, Brook Street

Stephen Hockey, father

24 August 1861

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	64
Date of Notice	24 August 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Valentine Bunkell	Elizabeth Ann Hockey
	💍 1861/3647
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Miner
Age	24	15
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	3 months
Marriage Place	At the residence of Valentine Bunkell joiner, Brook Street
Folio
Consent	Stephen Hockey, father
Date of Certificate	24 August 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

26 August 1861

Joseph Guy
Mary Ann Millner

Joseph Guy
Mary Anne Millner
💍 1861/3707

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

28
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

12 months
12 months

At Christ Church, Nelson

Richard Millner, father

16 September 1861

Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

No	65
Date of Notice	26 August 1861
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Guy	Mary Ann Millner
BDM Match (97%)	Joseph Guy	Mary Anne Millner
	💍 1861/3707
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	28	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	12 months	12 months
Marriage Place	At Christ Church, Nelson
Folio
Consent	Richard Millner, father
Date of Certificate	16 September 1861
Officiating Minister	Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

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

100% Contrast

100% Brightness

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).