1862 Intentions to Marry

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840374, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

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

Page 235

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 December 1862 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

3 October 1862

George Hopgood
Virtue Elizabeth Silcock

George Hopgood
Virtue Elizabeth Silcock
💍 1862/3922

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

21
17

Waimea South
Waimea South

16 years
17 years

At the residence of Simon Bonnett Silcock farmer, Waimea South

Simon Bonnett Silcock, father

3 October 1862

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	6
Date of Notice	3 October 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Hopgood	Virtue Elizabeth Silcock
	💍 1862/3922
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	21	17
Dwelling Place	Waimea South	Waimea South
Length of Residence	16 years	17 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Simon Bonnett Silcock farmer, Waimea South
Folio
Consent	Simon Bonnett Silcock, father
Date of Certificate	3 October 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

13 October 1862

John Mills
Isabella Biggs

John Mills
Isabella Biggs
💍 1862/4066

Bachelor
Spinster

Cloth weaver

32
25

Brook Street, Nelson
Waimea Road, Nelson

1 year
11 years

At the residence of William Mills, cloth weaver, Brook Street

13 October 1862

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	7
Date of Notice	13 October 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Mills	Isabella Biggs
	💍 1862/4066
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Cloth weaver
Age	32	25
Dwelling Place	Brook Street, Nelson	Waimea Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	1 year	11 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of William Mills, cloth weaver, Brook Street
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 October 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

18 October 1862

James Grove
Frances Jane Nattrass

James Grove
Frances Janne Nattrass
💍 1862/3907

Bachelor
Spinster

Schoolmaster

33
25

Appleby, Waimea East
Bridge Street, Nelson

2 months
17 years

At the office of the Registrar of marriages in Nelson

1 November 1862

John Poynter, Registrar of Marriages

No	8
Date of Notice	18 October 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Grove	Frances Jane Nattrass
BDM Match (98%)	James Grove	Frances Janne Nattrass
	💍 1862/3907
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Schoolmaster
Age	33	25
Dwelling Place	Appleby, Waimea East	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	2 months	17 years
Marriage Place	At the office of the Registrar of marriages in Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 November 1862
Officiating Minister	John Poynter, Registrar of Marriages

7 November 1862

John Armstrong
Elizabeth Armstrong

John Armstrong
Elizabeth Armstrong
💍 1862/3975

Widower
Spinster

Carter

44
42

Bridge Street, Nelson
Vanguard Street, Nelson

21 years
5 weeks

At the residence of Joseph Bradcock, constable, Bridge Street, Nelson

7 November 1862

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	9
Date of Notice	7 November 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Armstrong	Elizabeth Armstrong
	💍 1862/3975
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Carter
Age	44	42
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Vanguard Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	21 years	5 weeks
Marriage Place	At the residence of Joseph Bradcock, constable, Bridge Street, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	7 November 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

12 November 1862

Henry Bryant
Charlotte Neal

Henry Bryant
Charlotte Neal
💍 1862/3929

Bachelor
Spinster

Sawyer

28
18

Waimea South
Waimea East

15 months
3 years

At the residence of William Neal bricklayer, Waimea East

William Neal, father

12 November 1862

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	10
Date of Notice	12 November 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Bryant	Charlotte Neal
	💍 1862/3929
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sawyer
Age	28	18
Dwelling Place	Waimea South	Waimea East
Length of Residence	15 months	3 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of William Neal bricklayer, Waimea East
Folio
Consent	William Neal, father
Date of Certificate	12 November 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

24 November 1862

Hender Luke Noble Clarke
Amelia Matilda Agatha Oxley

Hender Luke Noble Clarke
Amelia Matilda Agatha Oxley
💍 1862/2047

Bachelor
Spinster

Saddler

34
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

10 years
1 year

At Christ church, Nelson

24 November 1862

Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

No	11
Date of Notice	24 November 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Hender Luke Noble Clarke	Amelia Matilda Agatha Oxley
	💍 1862/2047
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Saddler
Age	34	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	10 years	1 year
Marriage Place	At Christ church, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 November 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

29 November 1862

James Sutton
Mary Ann Whibby

James Sutton
Mary Ann Whebbly
💍 1862/3932

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

20
18

Waimea East
Waimea East

8 years
14 years

At the residence of Edward Whibby, farmer, Waimea East

George Sutton, father; Edward Whibby, father

29 November 1862

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	12
Date of Notice	29 November 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Sutton	Mary Ann Whibby
BDM Match (94%)	James Sutton	Mary Ann Whebbly
	💍 1862/3932
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	20	18
Dwelling Place	Waimea East	Waimea East
Length of Residence	8 years	14 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Edward Whibby, farmer, Waimea East
Folio
Consent	George Sutton, father; Edward Whibby, father
Date of Certificate	29 November 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

4 December 1862

Thomas Mckenzie
Dinah Hay

Thomas McKenzie
Dinah Hay
💍 1862/4105

Bachelor
Spinster

Settler

30
20

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
2 years

At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

Dinah Hay, mother

4 December 1862

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	13
Date of Notice	4 December 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Mckenzie	Dinah Hay
BDM Match (97%)	Thomas McKenzie	Dinah Hay
	💍 1862/4105
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Settler
Age	30	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	2 years
Marriage Place	At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent	Dinah Hay, mother
Date of Certificate	4 December 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

15 December 1862

Frederick Reed Mills
Sarah Webley

Frederick Reed Mills
Sarah Webley
💍 1862/4069

Bachelor
Spinster

Miner

23
26

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
3 years

At the residence of Frederick Reed Mills, miner, Grove Street, Nelson

30 December 1862

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	14
Date of Notice	15 December 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Reed Mills	Sarah Webley
	💍 1862/4069
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Miner
Age	23	26
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	3 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Frederick Reed Mills, miner, Grove Street, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 December 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

15 December 1862

Thomas Martin
Margaret Hall

Thomas Martin
Margaret Hall
💍 1862/3978

John Ward
Margaret Hall
💍 1862/3286

Widower
Widow

Labourer

41
51

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

9 months
2 years

At the residence of Thomas Martin, labourer, Brook Street, Nelson

15 December 1862

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	15
Date of Notice	15 December 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Martin	Margaret Hall
	💍 1862/3978
BDM Match (65%)	John Ward	Margaret Hall
	💍 1862/3286
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Labourer
Age	41	51
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	9 months	2 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Thomas Martin, labourer, Brook Street, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 December 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

20 December 1862

Thomas Berry
Bridget Catherine Shannon

Thomas Berrey
Bridget Shannon
💍 1863/6745

Bachelor
Spinster

Stevedore

21
17

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

6 weeks
8 years

At the Catholic Church in Nelson

Michael Shannon, father

20 December 1862

[UNCLEAR]

No	16
Date of Notice	20 December 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Berry	Bridget Catherine Shannon
BDM Match (76%)	Thomas Berrey	Bridget Shannon
	💍 1863/6745
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Stevedore
Age	21	17
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	6 weeks	8 years
Marriage Place	At the Catholic Church in Nelson
Folio
Consent	Michael Shannon, father
Date of Certificate	20 December 1862
Officiating Minister	[UNCLEAR]

27 December 1862

George William Pauling
Maria Louisa Smith

George William Pauling
Maria Louisa Smith
💍 1862/4025

Bachelor
Spinster

Land agent

42
20

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

8 years
10 years

At Christ church, Nelson

Elizabeth Smith, mother

27 December 1862

Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

No	17
Date of Notice	27 December 1862
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George William Pauling	Maria Louisa Smith
	💍 1862/4025
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Land agent
Age	42	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	8 years	10 years
Marriage Place	At Christ church, Nelson
Folio
Consent	Elizabeth Smith, mother
Date of Certificate	27 December 1862
Officiating Minister	Rev. Henry Meysey Turton

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).