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

No	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
18	13 July 1861	Edwin Dee Mary Wilson	Edwin Dee Mary Wilson 💍 1861/3138	Bachelor Widow	Carpenter	43 40	Waikonaiti Waikonaiti	12 months 5 months	St John's Church			13 July 1861	Rev. I.A. Fenton
19	09 September 1861	Hugh McGregor Mary Morrison	Hugh McGregor Mary Morrison 💍 1861/3141	Widower Spinster	Veterinary Surgeon Domestic Servant	33 30	Waikouaiti Waikonaiti	6 months 12 months	St John's Church			23 September 1861	Rev. I.A. Fenton

No	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
1	15 June 1861	George Ford Amelia Brummond Bruce	George Ford Amelia Drummond Bruce 💍 1861/2975	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist Domestic Servant	27 19	Pitlower, West Taieri Airdale Bank Saddlehill	3 years 1 month	House of Mr Donald Bruce, Airdale Bank, Saddle Hill		Donald Bruce, Father	5 June 1861	Rev William Hill

No	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
2	2 July 1861	Campbell Thom-son Sarah Juliana Leffreys	Campbell Thomson Sarah Juliana Jeffreys 💍 1861/2758	Bachelor Spinster	Run holder	29 21	Rocklands North Taieri Forbury	3 years 5 years	dwelling house of the Rev.			2 July 1861	Rev. Edward G. Edwards
3	2 September 1861	William Fisher Findlay Jane Gillespie	William Fisher Findlay Jane Gillespie 💍 1861/2919	Bachelor Spinster	Schoolmaster Dress-maker	35	Setherby Cottage North Taieri	12 years 6 weeks	Setherby Cottage		Thomas Hope, Guardian	2 September 1861	Rev. James Urie

No	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	23 November 1861	John Andrew Ann Paton		Bachelor Spinster	Farmer	28 23	Grange East Taieri North Taieri	2 1/2 yrs 3 1/2 month	dwellinghouse of Mr David Andrew, Peir Hill, Green Island.			23 November 1861	Rev. Wm Mill

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
1	24 May 1861	John Millar Jane Cramond	John Millar Jane Cramond 💍 1861/2972	Bachelor Spinster	Tailor	23 21	Dowling Street Dunedin East Taieri	7 years 3 years	Dwellinghouse of Robert Cramond, East Taieri		24 May 1861	Rev William Will of East Taieri
2	14 June 1861	George Ford Amelia Drummond	George Ford Amelia Drummond Bruce 💍 1861/2975	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	27 19	Pittous West Taieri Saddlehill	3 years 1 month	Dwelling House of Donald Bruce North Taieri	Donald Bruce Father	14 June 1861	Rev. William Will of East Taieri
3	28 June 1861	Alexander Russell Jane Gold	Alexander Russell Jane Gold 💍 1861/2978	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	21 21	Howden Saddlehill Cramond Hill East Taieri	1 year 1 month	Dwellinghouse of Mrs Andrew Russell, Howden, Saddle Hill		28 June 1861	Rev William Will of East Taieri

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
4	12 July 1861	John Currie Alice Fairbairn	John Currie Alice Fairbairn 💍 1861/2981	Bachelor Spinster	Stone Mason	25 22	Dunedin East Taieri	9 months 6 months	Dwelling house of Alexander Fairbairn East Taieri		12 July 1861	Rev William Will
5	19 July 1861	John Allan Mary Jane Blackie	John Allan Mary Jane Blackie 💍 1861/1885	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	30 18	East Taieri East Taieri	10 years	Dwelling house of Mr William Blackie, East Taieri	William Blackie, Father	19 July 1861	Rev William Will
6	9 September 1861	James Allison Flora McDonald	James Allison Flora McDonald 💍 1861/1915	Bachelor Spinster	Carpenter	23 18	Saddlehill Saddlehill	8 months 4 months	Dwelling house of Ann McDonald, Saddle Hill	Ann McDonald, Mother	9 September 1861	Rev William Will
7	23 September 1861	John Hislop Christina Biggar	John Hislop Christina Biggar 💍 1861/2922	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	23 22	Silverhow East Taieri Silverhow East Taieri	1 year	Dwelling house of Mr James Hislop, Silverhow East Taieri		23 September 1861	Rev James Urie

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
19	3 January 1861	Samuel Stephens Catherine Cameron	Samuel Stephens Catherine Ann Cameron 💍 1861/2843	Bachelor Spinster	Farmer	28 22	Nuri Bush Dunedin	1 year 9 months	Dwelling house of W Edmund		5 January 1861	Rev. Thomas Burns of Dunedin
20	5 January 1861	Alexander Storie Jane Johnston	Alexander Stone Jane Johnston 💍 1861/2951	Bachelor Spinster	Shepherd	31 30	Rosemains South Clutha Rosemains South Clutha	4 days 3 weeks	Dwelling house of W James Johnston		5 January 1861	Rev. William Bannerman of Clutha
21	29 January 1861	Samuel Barnes Jessie McCormack		Bachelor Spinster	Carter	20 17	Dunedin East Taieri	3 years 1 year	Episcopal Church Dunedin	John Barnes Father. No person whose consent is required, resident in the colony of New Zealand.	29 January 1861	Rev. Edward G. Edwards of Dunedin
22	2 February 1861	Eric Sinclair Jane Campbell	Eric Sinclair Jane Campbell 💍 1861/2954	Bachelor Spinster	Sawyer	22 18	Taieri Ferry Taieri Ferry	3 years 5 years	Dwellinghouse of Antoine Joseph	Peter Campbell Father	2 February 1861	Rev. John M Nicol of Waihola
23	9 February 1861	Peter Campbell Mary M Enally	Peter Campbell Mary McEnaby 💍 1861/2957	Widower Widow	Sawyer	45 35	Taieri Village Taieri Village	5 years 8 days	Dwellinghouse of said Peter Campbell		9 February 1861	Rev. John M Nicol of Waihola
24	18 February 1861	David Hughan Hannah Jane Turner	David Hughan Hannah Jane Turner 💍 1861/3356	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	30 17	Taieri Beach Lower Taieri Ferry	4 years 5 months	Dwelling house of W Lorelon	Samuel Turner Father	18 February 1861	Rev. John M Nicol of Waihola
25	22 February 1861	William Brown Allan Helen Webster Speed	William Brown Allan Helen Webster Speid 💍 1861/1891	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	24 20	East Taieri Dunedin	10 years 8 days	Dwelling house of W William Barr, Princes Street, Dunedin	Alexander Speed Father	28 February 1861	Rev. Thomas Burns of Dunedin

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
26	1 March 1861	William Carson Janet Lawrence	William Carson Janet Lawrence 💍 1861/2942	Bachelor Spinster	Labourer	25 19	Clutha Coal Field Clutha Coal Field	2 years 8 months	Dwellinghouse of Mr Thomas Lawrance Clutha Coal Field	Thomas Lawrence, Father	1 March 1861	Rev William Bannerman of Clutha
27	7 March 1861	William McMillan Eliza Watson	William McMillan Eliza Watson 💍 1861/3159	Bachelor Spinster	Farm Servant	24 28	North Taieri Dunedin	3 months 2 weeks	Dwellinghouse of Angus McMillan Halfwaybush (Dunedin) by Dunedin		7 March 1861	Rev D. Mc. Stuart of Dunedin
28	21 March 1861	Robert Show Ann Finlay	Robert Thow Ann Findlay 💍 1861/2930	Bachelor Spinster	Farm Servant Domestic Servant	28 22	Tokomairiro Tokomairiro	3 years 6 months	Dwellinghouse of Peter Milne Tokomairiro		21 March 1861	Rev Alexander B. Todd of Tokomairiro
29	29 March 1861	John Dunbar Helen Watt	John Dunbar Helen Watt 💍 1861/2933	Bachelor Spinster	Carpenter	28 24	Tokomairiro Tokomairiro	2 years 2 years	Dwellinghouse of James Watt Tokomairiro		29 March 1861	Rev Alexander B. Todd of Tokomairiro

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
30	03 April 1861	John Squires Catherine Dewe	John Squires Catherine Dewe 💍 1861/2924	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	25 17	Tokomairiro Tokomairiro	1 year 12 years	Episcopal Church	John Dewe, Father	03 April 1861	The Right Reverend H.J.C Harper, Bishop of Christchurch
31	05 April 1861	James Scott Mary Murray	James Scott Mary Murray 💍 1861/2960	Bachelor Spinster	Lawyer	24 22	Waipori Moeraki Bush	1 year 1 week	Dwelling house		05 April 1861	Rev John McNeill of Waiholi
32	06 April 1861	Arthur John Burns Sarah Scott Dixon	Arthur John Burns Sarah Scott Dixon 💍 1861/2814	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	30 18	Mosgiel Mosgiel	6 years 4 years	Mosgiel House, East Taieri	Andrew Dixon, Father	15 April 1861	Rev Thomas Burns D.D of Dunedin
33	12 April 1861	William Treacy Brown Margaret Shand	William Treacy Brown Margaret Shand 💍 1861/2969	Bachelor Spinster	Agriculturist	29 25	Mount Pleasant, Saddlehill Green Island	2 years 10 years	Dwelling house		12 April 1861	Rev. William Will of East Taieri
34	19 April 1861	Alexander Archbold Agnes Hopes Gregor	Alexander Archbald Agnes Hoyes Grigor 💍 1861/2945	Bachelor Spinster	Stockowner	Full Full	Pomahaka Schoolhouse, Inch Clutha	4 years 3 years	Schoolhouse, Inch Clutha		19 April 1861	Rev William Bannerman of Clutha

No	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
1	20 June 1861	William Morley Emily Frances Boland	William Marley Emily Francis Boland 💍 1861/2832	Widower Spinster	Stock Holder	29 29	Waitaki Popotunoa	10 days 10 Day	The House of Gerard Spooner Esq Popotunoa			20 June 1861	Rev. Mr. Andrews
2	25 June 1861	Albert Pillans Maria Elphinston	Albert Pillans Maria Elphiston 💍 1861/2882	Bachelor Spinster	Gent	26 20	Inch Clutha Do	1 year 1 year	The House of Alex Elphinston Inch Clutha			25 June 1861	Rev. Mr. Andrews

No	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
3	3 December 1861	Michael Muir Mary Mitchell	Michael Muir Mary Mitchell 💍 1862/2672	Bachelor Spinster	Farmer	27 22	Inchclutha Inchclutha	3 years 2 years	The house of Mr Wm Mitchell, Inchclutha			5 December 1861	Rev. W. Bannerman
4	13 December 1861	David Munn Christina Ford	David Munro Christina Ford 💍 1861/2948	Bachelor Spinster	Labourer	22 23	Southclutha Southclutha	1 week 8 months	Mr Robert Carricks house, Southclutha			13 December 1861	Rev. W. Bannerman

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
2	18 December 1860	John McLay Ellen Bray	John McLay Ellen Bray 💍 1861/3374	Bachelor Spinster	Bullock Driver Spinster	19 18	Waikouaiti Waikouaiti	7 years 2 years	In St John's Church, Waikouaiti	Thomas McLay, Father. Benjamin Bray, Father.	13 February	The Reverend J. Fenton
14	14 January 1861	Christian Hille Dinah Schulter	Christian Hille Dinah Schulter 💍 1861/3362	Bachelor Spinster	Shepherd Spinster	34 21	Korori Waitaupi Popokaio Waitaupi	4 years 1 year	In a house of W. H. Dunoly Esq Waitangi		14 January	The Reverend J.C. Andrew
15	5 February 1861	William Ward Agnes Swan	William Ward Agnes Swan 💍 1861/3371	Bachelor Spinster	Seaman Spinster	24 21	Oamaroo Oamaroo	9 months 2 months	In St John's Church, Waikouaiti		5 February	The Reverend J. A. Fenton
16	29 March 1861	Henry Fleming Cumberland Mary Ann Alice Shead	Henry Fleming Cumberland Mary Ann Alice Shead 💍 1861/3132	Bachelor Spinster	Sawyer Spinster	27 18	Waikouaiti Waikouaiti	5 months 18 months	In St John's Church Waikouaiti

No	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
16	29 March 1861	Henry Fleming Mary Ann Alice Thead	Henry Fleming Cumberland Mary Ann Alice Shead 💍 1861/3132	Bachelor Spinster	Sawyer	27 18	Waikouaiti Waikouaiti	5 months 10 months	St. James Church, Waikouaiti		William Shead, Father	20 April 1861	Revd J.A. Fenton

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
22	06 February 1861	Robert Mitchell Margaret Dick	Robert Mitchell Margaret Dick 💍 1861/2938	Bachelor Spinster	Storekeeper	24 25	Invercargill Invercargill	18 months 8 days	The Residence of H. Calder	7 February 1861	Andrew Hamilton Stobo
23	21 February 1861	Frederick Ford Twemlow Emily Rosetta Tarlton	Frederick Ford Twemlow Emily Rosetta Tarlton 💍 1861/2885	Bachelor Spinster	Farmer	24 16	Ryal Bush Woodlands	2 years 3 years	The Residence of W.F. Tarlton Esq. Woodlands	21 February 1861	Andrew Hamilton Stobo
24	01 April 1861	George McLeod Ann McDonald	George Macleod Anne Macdonald 💍 1861/2888	Bachelor Spinster	Carpenter	25 19	Invercargill Invercargill	2 months 6 weeks	At the Residence of Mr Christopher McRae near Invercargill.	1 April 1861	Andrew Hamilton Stobo
25	03 April 1861	James Henry Martin Agnes Watson	James Henry Martin Agnes Watson 💍 1861/2891	Widower Spinster	Surgeon	45 35	Invercargill Marirura [?]	2 1/2 years 8 days	At the Residence of Robert Stuart Esq., Marirura [?], Mataura	22 April 1861	Andrew Hamilton Stobo

No	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
26	4 May 1861	Henry Foster Stone Lucy Pelett	Henry Foster Stone Lucy Reynolds Pellett 💍 1861/2894	Bachelor Widow	Mariner	40 49	Invercargill Invercargill	8 3	The Residence of George Ablett, Invercargill			4 May 1861	Rev A. H. Stobo
27	30 May 1861	James Parker Joyce Jane Cayd Zien	James Parker Joyce Jane Caydzien 💍 1861/2897	Bachelor Spinster	Sawyer	28 22	Invercargill Invercargill	3 1	The Residence of James Baker, Tay St, Invercargill			30 May 1861	Rev A. H. Stobo

No	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
28	19 August 1861	William Rankin Euphemia Cossar Bain	William Rankin Euphemia Cossar Bain 💍 1861/2900	Bachelor Spinster	Tailor	25 25	Invercargill do	2 years 6 months 1 year	At the house of John Bain, Tay Street, Invercargill			19 August 1861	Rev? A. H. Stobo
29	29 August 1861	Joseph Edward Clarke Helen Sinclair	Joseph Edward Clarke Helen Sinclair 💍 1861/2903	Bachelor Spinster	Architect	38 25	Invercargill do	2 years 8 months	At the house of Robert Sinclair Inver. cargil Hundreds			29 August 1861	Rev? A. H. Stobo

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
30	5 October 1861	James Blacklock Teresa Louisa Macloskey	James Blacklock Teresa Louise Macloskey 💍 1861/2855	Bachelor Spinster	Merchant	27 18	Invercargill Invercargill	6 days 9 days	at the House of John Blacklock, Tay St, Invercargill	Declaration made under the provisions of .... .... of the Marriage Act Amendment Act 1858	5 October 1861	Rev. A. H. Stobo
31	26 October 1861	William Vessie Wilson Jane Porter Brown	William Vessie Wilson Jane Porter Brown 💍 1861/2906	Bachelor Spinster	Carpenter	38 20	Invercargill Invercargill	2 years 8 months	at the House of Mary Brown Kelvin St Invercargill	Mary Brown, Mother	26 October 1861	Rev. A. H. Stobo
32	5 November 1861	John Evans Grace Sim	John Evans Grace Sim 💍 1861/2909	Bachelor Spinster	Mariner	23 21	Invercargill Invercargill	3 years 1 year	at the House of David Heggie. Town Belt, Invercargill		5 November 1861	Rev. A. H. Stobo
33	25 November 1861	John Peterson Anne Sloan	John Peterson Anne Sloan 💍 1861/2912	Bachelor Spinster	Farmer	26 17	Invercargill Invercargill	2 years 3 years	at the House of James Sloan Myross Bush	James Sloan, Father	25 November 1861	Rev. A. H. Stobo

No	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
34	30 November 1861	Alfred Baldey Elizabeth Laing	Alfred Baldey Elizabeth Laing 💍 1861/2858	Bachelor Spinster	Merchant	24 20	Invercargill Invercargill	1 month 2 weeks	at the House of James Laing, Esk St, Invercargill		James Laing, father	30 November 1861	Rev. A. H. Stobo

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
1	04 May 1861	Samuel Bradby Margaret McKay	Samuel Bradley Margaret McKay 💍 1861/2867	Bachelor Spinster	Sawyer Dom Servant	32 25	Riverton Riverton	18 months 6 do	Minister House	04 May 1861	Rev Lachlan McGilivray
2	06 May 1861	George Pauley Ann Williams	George Pauley Ann Williams 💍 1861/2870	Bachelor Spinster	Setter Dom Servant	24 18	Riverton Riverton	24 years 18 years	Minister House	06 May 1861	Rev Lachlan McGilivray
3	18 May 1861	Mabille Wood Bridget Jonson	Mabille Wood Bridget Jonson 💍 1861/2861	Bachelor Widow	Setler Lady	32 29	Wild Bush Wild Bush	2 years 2 years	Registrar's House	18 May 1861	Benj Bailey Reg

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District of Riverton Quarter ending 30 September 1861

No	Date of Notice	Names and Surnames of Parties	BDM Match	Condition	Calling or Profession	Age	Dwelling Place	Length of Residence	Marriage Place	Consent	Date of Certificate	Officiating Minister
4	13 July 1861	Thomas Smith Wright Frances Marian Mervyn Jackson	Thomas Smith Knight Frances Marian Margery Jackson 💍 1861/2873	Bachelor Spinster	Stockowner Lady	24 17	Dipton Bush Birchwood	3 1/2 year 2 year	Mr Taylers	Charlotte Jackson, mother, Birchwood	19 July 1861	Rev Mr Sorboe
5	29 July 1861	Daniel Durbridge Annie Meldrum	Daniel Durbridge Annie Meldrum 💍 1861/2876	Bachelor Spinster	Stockowner Domt. Servt.	26 21	Pahi Station Riverton	18 m 1 m	Mr Hursts		29 July 1861	Rev Lachlan McGillevray
6	6 September 1861	James Dodds Harriet Ann Tillyard	James Dodds Harriet Ann Tillyard 💍 1861/2864	Bachelor Spinster	Butcher Dt. Servt.	27 22	Riverton Riverton	14 m 9 m	Registrars Office		6 September 1861	Benj. Bailey Registrar

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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 1894. More registers will be added as the project continues.

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).

NZ Intentions to Marry Project

Intentions to Marry, 1861

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