Intentions to Marry, 1867

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840379, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Page 322

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1867 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

18 Febry 1867

John Staples
Susanna Boyce

John Staples
Susannah Boyce
💍 1867/6799

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

23
18

Motueka
City of Nelson

3 years
1 week

at the residence of John Slatter carpenter, Nile Street East

832

Certificate from the Registrar Motueka

18 Febr 1867

Rev. William Kirk

No	12
Date of Notice	18 Febry 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Staples	Susanna Boyce
BDM Match (96%)	John Staples	Susannah Boyce
	💍 1867/6799
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	23	18
Dwelling Place	Motueka	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	1 week
Marriage Place	at the residence of John Slatter carpenter, Nile Street East
Folio	832
Consent	Certificate from the Registrar Motueka
Date of Certificate	18 Febr 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Kirk

22 February 1867

Mungo Syme
Catherine Shannon

Mungo Symes
Catherine Shannon
💍 1867/6592

Bachelor
Spinster

Merchants clerk

29
26

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
20 years

at the Presbyterian Church, Nelson

763

9 March 1867

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	13
Date of Notice	22 February 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Mungo Syme	Catherine Shannon
BDM Match (95%)	Mungo Symes	Catherine Shannon
	💍 1867/6592
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Merchants clerk
Age	29	26
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	20 years
Marriage Place	at the Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	763
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

23 February 1867

Robert Small
Emma Hughes

Robert Small
Emma Hughes
💍 1867/6850

Bachelor
Spinster

Sawyer

24
20

Waimea South
Waimea South

14 years
14 years

at St Paul's Church, Spring Grove

831

Harriet Hughes mother

6 March 1867

Rev. Arthur Towgood

No	14
Date of Notice	23 February 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Small	Emma Hughes
	💍 1867/6850
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sawyer
Age	24	20
Dwelling Place	Waimea South	Waimea South
Length of Residence	14 years	14 years
Marriage Place	at St Paul's Church, Spring Grove
Folio	831
Consent	Harriet Hughes mother
Date of Certificate	6 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Arthur Towgood

27 Febr 1867

Michael Hurgan
Mary Ann O'Connor

Michael Harrigan
Mary Ann O'Connor
💍 1867/6721

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

25
18

Waimea West
Suburban South

2 weeks
2 years

at the Catholic Church in Nelson

808

Declarn no person in N.Z. having authority

27 Febr 1867

Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

No	15
Date of Notice	27 Febr 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Michael Hurgan	Mary Ann O'Connor
BDM Match (91%)	Michael Harrigan	Mary Ann O'Connor
	💍 1867/6721
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	25	18
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Suburban South
Length of Residence	2 weeks	2 years
Marriage Place	at the Catholic Church in Nelson
Folio	808
Consent	Declarn no person in N.Z. having authority
Date of Certificate	27 Febr 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine Marie Garin

5 March 1867

John Bungate
Harriet Harvey

John Bungate
Harriet Harvey
💍 1867/6760

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

26
22

Suburban North
Suburban North

20 years
14 years

at Protestant Episcopalian Church, Suburban North

821

5 March 1867

Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

No	16
Date of Notice	5 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Bungate	Harriet Harvey
	💍 1867/6760
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	26	22
Dwelling Place	Suburban North	Suburban North
Length of Residence	20 years	14 years
Marriage Place	at Protestant Episcopalian Church, Suburban North
Folio	821
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

11 March 1867

Playford Chapman Stone
Sarah Newport

Playford Chapman Stone
Sarah Newport
💍 1867/6871

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

30
21

Appleby
Appleby

1 year
16 years

at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson

858

11 March 1867

Registrar of marriages

No	17
Date of Notice	11 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Playford Chapman Stone	Sarah Newport
	💍 1867/6871
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	30	21
Dwelling Place	Appleby	Appleby
Length of Residence	1 year	16 years
Marriage Place	at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson
Folio	858
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Registrar of marriages

15 March 1867

Frederick Main
Harriet Emily Betts

Frederick Main
Harriet Emily Betts
💍 1867/6808

Bachelor
Spinster

Hair dresser

24
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

1 year
19 years

at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street, Nelson

837

Alfred Geo: Betts, Father

21 March 1867

Rev. William Kirk

No	18
Date of Notice	15 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Main	Harriet Emily Betts
	💍 1867/6808
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Hair dresser
Age	24	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	1 year	19 years
Marriage Place	at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	837
Consent	Alfred Geo: Betts, Father
Date of Certificate	21 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Kirk

21 March 1867

Samuel Lucas
Elizabeth Hannah Blick

Samuel Lucas
Elizabeth Hannah Blick
💍 1867/6805

Bachelor
Spinster

Painter

22
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

10 months
14 years

at the residence of George Blick bricklayer, Bronte Street

836

George Blick, Father

21 March 1867

Rev. William Kirk

No	19
Date of Notice	21 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Samuel Lucas	Elizabeth Hannah Blick
	💍 1867/6805
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Painter
Age	22	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	10 months	14 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of George Blick bricklayer, Bronte Street
Folio	836
Consent	George Blick, Father
Date of Certificate	21 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Kirk

21 March 1867

James Roberts Spicer
Margaret Kemp

James Robert Spicer
Margaret Kemp
💍 1867/6802

Bachelor
Spinster

Stockman

29
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 days
4 days

at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street, Nelson

835

21 March 1867

Rev. William Kirk

No	20
Date of Notice	21 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Roberts Spicer	Margaret Kemp
BDM Match (98%)	James Robert Spicer	Margaret Kemp
	💍 1867/6802
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Stockman
Age	29	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	4 days
Marriage Place	at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	835
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Kirk

21 March 1867

Alfred Elliott
Mary Frances Robinson

Alfred Elliott
Mary Frances Robinson
💍 1867/6772

Bachelor
Spinster

Bankers clerk

21
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

15 years
6 months

at Christ church, Nelson

825

not yet issued

No	21
Date of Notice	21 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred Elliott	Mary Frances Robinson
	💍 1867/6772
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bankers clerk
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	15 years	6 months
Marriage Place	at Christ church, Nelson
Folio	825
Consent
Date of Certificate	not yet issued
Officiating Minister

22 March 1867

Allison Richardson Walker
Elizabeth Currin

Allison Richardson Walker
Elizabeth Currin
💍 1867/4612

Bachelor
Spinster

Stockman

24
20

Wakefield
Wakefield

24 years
20 years

at the Protestant Episcopalian Lower Wakefield

John Currin Junr, Father

22 March 1867

Rev. Francis Tripp

No	22
Date of Notice	22 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Allison Richardson Walker	Elizabeth Currin
	💍 1867/4612
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Stockman
Age	24	20
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	Wakefield
Length of Residence	24 years	20 years
Marriage Place	at the Protestant Episcopalian Lower Wakefield
Folio
Consent	John Currin Junr, Father
Date of Certificate	22 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Francis Tripp

22 March 1867

Charles Timms
Margaret Connell

Charles Timms
Margaret Connell
💍 1867/6874

Widower
Widow

Sheep farmer

57
40

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
3 years

at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson

859

22 March 1867

Registrar of marriages

No	23
Date of Notice	22 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Timms	Margaret Connell
	💍 1867/6874
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Sheep farmer
Age	57	40
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	3 years
Marriage Place	at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson
Folio	859
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Registrar of marriages

25 March 1867

Horatio Nelson Firth
Catherine O'Sullivan

Horatio Nelson Firth
Catherine O'Sullivan
💍 1867/6763

Bachelor
Spinster

Settler

24
20

Nelson
Nelson

12 months
20 years

at Christ church, Nelson

822

Declarn no person in N.Z. having authority

25 March 1867

Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

No	24
Date of Notice	25 March 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Horatio Nelson Firth	Catherine O'Sullivan
	💍 1867/6763
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Settler
Age	24	20
Dwelling Place	Nelson	Nelson
Length of Residence	12 months	20 years
Marriage Place	at Christ church, Nelson
Folio	822
Consent	Declarn no person in N.Z. having authority
Date of Certificate	25 March 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

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

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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).