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 329

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 September 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

6 July 1867

John Nelson
Margaret Dellow

John Nelson
Margaret Dellow
💍 1867/6625

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

26
17

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
14 years

at Christ church, Nelson

John Dellow, father

6 July 1867

Rev. Geo. F. Johnstone

No	58
Date of Notice	6 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Nelson	Margaret Dellow
	💍 1867/6625
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	26	17
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	14 years
Marriage Place	at Christ church, Nelson
Folio
Consent	John Dellow, father
Date of Certificate	6 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo. F. Johnstone

15 July 1867

Phillip Copeman Willson
Fanny Jones

Phillip Copeman Wilson
Fanny Jones
💍 1867/6841

Bachelor
Spinster

Auctioneers clerk

29
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
10 years

at the residence of William Richardson Jones jeweller, Collingwood St., Nelson

848

15 July 1867

Rev. Chas. Thomas

No	59
Date of Notice	15 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Phillip Copeman Willson	Fanny Jones
BDM Match (98%)	Phillip Copeman Wilson	Fanny Jones
	💍 1867/6841
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Auctioneers clerk
Age	29	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	10 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of William Richardson Jones jeweller, Collingwood St., Nelson
Folio	848
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Chas. Thomas

15 July 1867

John Nelson
Margaret Dellow

John Nelson
Margaret Dellow
💍 1867/6625

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

26
17

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
14 years

at the Presbyterian Church in Nelson

774

John Dellow, Father

15 July 1867

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	60
Date of Notice	15 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Nelson	Margaret Dellow
	💍 1867/6625
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	26	17
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	14 years
Marriage Place	at the Presbyterian Church in Nelson
Folio	774
Consent	John Dellow, Father
Date of Certificate	15 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

16 July 1867

William James Kinzett
Sophia Busch

William James Kinzett
Sophia Busch
💍 1867/6877

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

23
21

Hope Waimea East
Waimea East

15 years
21 years

at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson

860

16 July 1867

Registrar of marriages

No	61
Date of Notice	16 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William James Kinzett	Sophia Busch
	💍 1867/6877
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	Hope Waimea East	Waimea East
Length of Residence	15 years	21 years
Marriage Place	at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson
Folio	860
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Registrar of marriages

17 July 1867

Joseph Rigby
Susannah Gazzard

Joseph Rigby
Susannah Gazzard
💍 1867/4621

Widower
Widow

Farmer

40
40

Tadmor
Fox Hill

6 months
6 years

at the residence of Susannah Gazzard widow, Fox Hill

17 July 1867

Rev. Francis Tripp

No	62
Date of Notice	17 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Rigby	Susannah Gazzard
	💍 1867/4621
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Farmer
Age	40	40
Dwelling Place	Tadmor	Fox Hill
Length of Residence	6 months	6 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Susannah Gazzard widow, Fox Hill
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	17 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Francis Tripp

19 July 1867

Thomas Gibbs
Clara Ruff

Thomas Gibbs
Clara Ruff
💍 1867/6673

Widower
Spinster

Mariner

36
17

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

5 years
8 years

at the residence of Richard Thomas Flower labourer, Russell St.

791

Elizabeth Flower, mother

19 July 1867

Rev. John Crump

No	63
Date of Notice	19 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Gibbs	Clara Ruff
	💍 1867/6673
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	36	17
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	5 years	8 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Richard Thomas Flower labourer, Russell St.
Folio	791
Consent	Elizabeth Flower, mother
Date of Certificate	19 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

20 July 1867

George Best
Jane Allport

George Best
Jane Allport
💍 1867/6880

Bachelor
Spinster

Farm labourer

23
27

Suburban South
Suburban South

22 years
25 years

at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson

861

22 July 1867

Registrar of marriages

No	64
Date of Notice	20 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Best	Jane Allport
	💍 1867/6880
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farm labourer
Age	23	27
Dwelling Place	Suburban South	Suburban South
Length of Residence	22 years	25 years
Marriage Place	at the office of the Registrar of marriages, Nelson
Folio	861
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Registrar of marriages

22 July 1867

Charles Montague Ellis
Grace Emily Higgin

Charles Montague Ellis
Grace Emily Higgin
💍 1867/6856

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

25
20

City of Nelson
Waimea West

3 days
2 years

at St. Michaels church, Waimea West

853

Winfield Higgin, Father

22 July 1867

Rev. Arthur Towgood

No	65
Date of Notice	22 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Montague Ellis	Grace Emily Higgin
	💍 1867/6856
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	25	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	Waimea West
Length of Residence	3 days	2 years
Marriage Place	at St. Michaels church, Waimea West
Folio	853
Consent	Winfield Higgin, Father
Date of Certificate	22 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Arthur Towgood

27 July 1867

Christian Hanson
Emma Eban

Christian Hanson
Emma Eban
💍 1867/6676

Bachelor
Widow

Shoe maker

39
41

Waimea West
Waimea West

1 1/2 years
4 years

In the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street, Nelson

792

27 July 1867

Rev. Rob. L. Vickers

No	66
Date of Notice	27 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Christian Hanson	Emma Eban
	💍 1867/6676
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Shoe maker
Age	39	41
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Waimea West
Length of Residence	1 1/2 years	4 years
Marriage Place	In the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	792
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Rob. L. Vickers

29 July 1867

Thomas Reeves
Sarah Ann Wilson

Thomas Reeves
Sarah Ann Wilson
💍 1867/6679

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

28
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
15 months

at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street Nelson

793

Declaration no person in NZ having authority

29 July 1867

Rev. John Crump

No	67
Date of Notice	29 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Reeves	Sarah Ann Wilson
	💍 1867/6679
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	28	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	15 months
Marriage Place	at the Wesleyan Chapel, Hardy Street Nelson
Folio	793
Consent	Declaration no person in NZ having authority
Date of Certificate	29 July 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

30 July 1867

James Gilbert Drane
Ann Middlemiss

James Gilbert Drane
Ann Middlemiss
💍 1867/6682

Bachelor
Spinster

Ships providore

32
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

18 months
9 years

at residence of Peter Middlemiss carpenter, Alton St., Nelson

794

13 Aug 1867

Rev. John Crump

No	68
Date of Notice	30 July 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Gilbert Drane	Ann Middlemiss
	💍 1867/6682
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Ships providore
Age	32	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	18 months	9 years
Marriage Place	at residence of Peter Middlemiss carpenter, Alton St., Nelson
Folio	794
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 Aug 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

6 Aug 1867

Thomas Vevian
Elizabeth Gordon

Thomas Venan
Elizabeth Gordon
💍 1867/6631

Bachelor
Spinster

Hotel Keeper

27
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

5 years
2 years

at the residence of Thomas Gunderson mariner, Haven Road

796

6 Aug 1867

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	69
Date of Notice	6 Aug 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Vevian	Elizabeth Gordon
BDM Match (92%)	Thomas Venan	Elizabeth Gordon
	💍 1867/6631
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Hotel Keeper
Age	27	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	5 years	2 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Thomas Gunderson mariner, Haven Road
Folio	796
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 Aug 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

6 Aug 1867

Thomas Holmes
Margaret Cooney

Thomas Holmes
Margaret Cooney
💍 1867/6628

Bachelor
Spinster

Master mariner

29
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
3 years

at the residence of Thomas Holmes, Washington Road

795

6 Aug 1867

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	70
Date of Notice	6 Aug 1867
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Holmes	Margaret Cooney
	💍 1867/6628
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Master mariner
Age	29	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	3 years
Marriage Place	at the residence of Thomas Holmes, Washington Road
Folio	795
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 Aug 1867
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

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).