Intentions to Marry, 1866

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840378, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Page 309

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1866 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 January 1866

George Sach Dyer
Emily Matilda Smith

George Sach Dyer
Emily Matilda Smith
💍 1866/6952

Bachelor
Spinster

Digger

20
18

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 weeks
4 months

at Christ church, Nelson

877

Declarations no person in N.Z. having authority to consent

3 January 1866

Rev Geo: Henry Johnstone

No	1
Date of Notice	3 January 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Sach Dyer	Emily Matilda Smith
	💍 1866/6952
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Digger
Age	20	18
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 weeks	4 months
Marriage Place	at Christ church, Nelson
Folio	877
Consent	Declarations no person in N.Z. having authority to consent
Date of Certificate	3 January 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev Geo: Henry Johnstone

3 January 1866

Albert Frederick Wayman
Angelina Berry

Albert Frederick Waxman
Angelina Berry
💍 1866/6949

Widower
Spinster

Sailor

35
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

10 years
18 years

at Christ church, Nelson

876

Thomas Berry Father

3 January 1866

Rev Geo: Henry Johnstone

No	2
Date of Notice	3 January 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Albert Frederick Wayman	Angelina Berry
BDM Match (98%)	Albert Frederick Waxman	Angelina Berry
	💍 1866/6949
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Sailor
Age	35	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	10 years	18 years
Marriage Place	at Christ church, Nelson
Folio	876
Consent	Thomas Berry Father
Date of Certificate	3 January 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev Geo: Henry Johnstone

5 January 1866

John Christian Frederick Schroder
Mary Catharina Dorothea Stely

John Christian Frederick Schroder
Maria Cathrina Maria Stelly
💍 1866/6940

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

26
17

Waimea West
Waimea West

4 years
3 days

at the residence of John Christian Frederick Schroder, Redwoods Valley, Waimea West

873

Hans Peter Asmus Stely Father

5 January 1866

Rev. Jno: Wm. Chr. Heine

No	3
Date of Notice	5 January 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Christian Frederick Schroder	Mary Catharina Dorothea Stely
BDM Match (83%)	John Christian Frederick Schroder	Maria Cathrina Maria Stelly
	💍 1866/6940
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	26	17
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Waimea West
Length of Residence	4 years	3 days
Marriage Place	at the residence of John Christian Frederick Schroder, Redwoods Valley, Waimea West
Folio	873
Consent	Hans Peter Asmus Stely Father
Date of Certificate	5 January 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jno: Wm. Chr. Heine

8 January 1866

Thomas Tasker
Mary Jordan

Thomas Tasker
Mary Jordan
💍 1866/6997

Widower
Widow

Butcher

43
22

Richmond
Richmond

6 years
20 years

At the Wesleyan chapel, Hardy St., Nelson

896

8 January 1866

Rev. William Kirk

No	4
Date of Notice	8 January 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Tasker	Mary Jordan
	💍 1866/6997
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Butcher
Age	43	22
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Richmond
Length of Residence	6 years	20 years
Marriage Place	At the Wesleyan chapel, Hardy St., Nelson
Folio	896
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 January 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Kirk

15 January 1866

Arthur Shuckburgh Collins
Erica Elspeth Mackay

Arthur Shuckburgh Collins
Erica Elspeth MacKay
💍 1866/6955

Widower
Spinster

Settler

33
22

Hillwood Suburban North
Drumduan Suburban North

12 years
20 years

at St. Andrews Church, Suburban North

878

15 January 1866

Rev. Geo: Henry Johnstone

No	5
Date of Notice	15 January 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Shuckburgh Collins	Erica Elspeth Mackay
BDM Match (98%)	Arthur Shuckburgh Collins	Erica Elspeth MacKay
	💍 1866/6955
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Settler
Age	33	22
Dwelling Place	Hillwood Suburban North	Drumduan Suburban North
Length of Residence	12 years	20 years
Marriage Place	at St. Andrews Church, Suburban North
Folio	878
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 January 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo: Henry Johnstone

26 January 1866

Anthony St. George White
Caroline Scadden

Anthony St George White
Caroline Scadden
💍 1866/4282

Bachelor
Spinster

Constable

22
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

10 months
2 years

at Christ Church, Nelson

879

Richd Scadden Father

12 February 1866

Rev. Geo: Henry Johnstone

No	6
Date of Notice	26 January 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Anthony St. George White	Caroline Scadden
BDM Match (98%)	Anthony St George White	Caroline Scadden
	💍 1866/4282
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Constable
Age	22	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	10 months	2 years
Marriage Place	at Christ Church, Nelson
Folio	879
Consent	Richd Scadden Father
Date of Certificate	12 February 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo: Henry Johnstone

3 February 1866

Walter Douglas
Penelope Mary Tennant

Walter Douglas
Penelope Mary Tennent
💍 1866/7000

Widower
Widow

Preacher of the Gospel

43
40

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 weeks
12 months

at the residence of Penelope Mary Tennant widow, Bronte St., Nelson

897

3 February 1866

Rev. William Kirk

No	7
Date of Notice	3 February 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Walter Douglas	Penelope Mary Tennant
BDM Match (98%)	Walter Douglas	Penelope Mary Tennent
	💍 1866/7000
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Preacher of the Gospel
Age	43	40
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 weeks	12 months
Marriage Place	at the residence of Penelope Mary Tennant widow, Bronte St., Nelson
Folio	897
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 February 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Kirk

14 February 1866

Joseph Rothwell Junr
Alice Elizabeth Gardner

Joseph Rothwell
Alice Elizabeth Gardner
💍 1866/4146

Bachelor
Spinster

Gardener

24
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

23 years
21 years

at the residence of Joseph Rothwell Junr, Weka St., Nelson

926

28 February 1866

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	8
Date of Notice	14 February 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Rothwell Junr	Alice Elizabeth Gardner
BDM Match (88%)	Joseph Rothwell	Alice Elizabeth Gardner
	💍 1866/4146
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gardener
Age	24	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years	21 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Joseph Rothwell Junr, Weka St., Nelson
Folio	926
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 February 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

16 February 1866

Alexander Finlayson
Harriot Beacher Eden

Alexander Findlayson
Harriet Beacher Eden
💍 1866/6871

Bachelor
Spinster

Master Mariner

25
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 days
4 days

At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

850

16 February 1866

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	9
Date of Notice	16 February 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alexander Finlayson	Harriot Beacher Eden
BDM Match (95%)	Alexander Findlayson	Harriet Beacher Eden
	💍 1866/6871
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Master Mariner
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	4 days
Marriage Place	At the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio	850
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 February 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

16 February 1866

Robert Martin Smith
Ellen Hurford

Robert Martin Smith
Ellen Hurford
💍 1866/6868

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

28
17

Wakefield
Suburban South

15 years
2 years

at the Custom House Hotel, Haven Road, Nelson

849

Ann Shedy mother

16 February 1866

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	10
Date of Notice	16 February 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Martin Smith	Ellen Hurford
	💍 1866/6868
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	28	17
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	Suburban South
Length of Residence	15 years	2 years
Marriage Place	at the Custom House Hotel, Haven Road, Nelson
Folio	849
Consent	Ann Shedy mother
Date of Certificate	16 February 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

17 February 1866

John William Slatter
Mary Anne Cooper

John William Slatter
Mary Ann Cooper
💍 1866/7003

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

23
18

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

1 week
6 months

at the residence of Sarah Slatter widow, Nile Street East

898

Mary Ann Franklyn mother

17 February 1866

Rev. William Kirk

No	11
Date of Notice	17 February 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John William Slatter	Mary Anne Cooper
BDM Match (97%)	John William Slatter	Mary Ann Cooper
	💍 1866/7003
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	23	18
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	1 week	6 months
Marriage Place	at the residence of Sarah Slatter widow, Nile Street East
Folio	898
Consent	Mary Ann Franklyn mother
Date of Certificate	17 February 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Kirk

22 February 1866

Robert Barnes
Helen Stewart

Robert Barnes
Helen Stewart
💍 1866/6880

Widower
Spinster

Glass & china dealer

49
40

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

18 months
3 days

at the residence of Robert Barnes, Bridge St., Nelson

852

8 March 1866

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	12
Date of Notice	22 February 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Barnes	Helen Stewart
	💍 1866/6880
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Glass & china dealer
Age	49	40
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	18 months	3 days
Marriage Place	at the residence of Robert Barnes, Bridge St., Nelson
Folio	852
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 March 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

26 February 1866

John Adolphus Wilson Lang
Anna Cates

John Adolphus Wilson Lang
Anna Cate
💍 1866/6874

Bachelor
Spinster

Digger

28
18

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 weeks
18 years

at the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

857

William Cates Father

26 February 1866

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	13
Date of Notice	26 February 1866
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Adolphus Wilson Lang	Anna Cates
BDM Match (95%)	John Adolphus Wilson Lang	Anna Cate
	💍 1866/6874
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Digger
Age	28	18
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 weeks	18 years
Marriage Place	at the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio	857
Consent	William Cates Father
Date of Certificate	26 February 1866
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

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

100% Contrast

100% Brightness

Attribution: This image was digitised by Archives NZ Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga and is republished here under CC BY. It has been cropped and rotated for convenience.

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).