Intentions to Marry, 1868

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840380, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Page 354

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 September 1868 Registrar Robert Pickett

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

15 August 1868

Francis Joseph Crispin
Mary Elizabeth Ernesteen Neumann

Francis Joseph Crispin
Mary Elizabeth Ernestein Newman
💍 1868/8000

Bachelor
Spinster

Printer

23
17

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

10 years
7 years

At the residence of said M.E.E. Neumann, Ngatiawa St., Nelson

1169

William Neumann, father

15 August 1868

Rev. John Crump

No	85
Date of Notice	15 August 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Francis Joseph Crispin	Mary Elizabeth Ernesteen Neumann
BDM Match (95%)	Francis Joseph Crispin	Mary Elizabeth Ernestein Newman
	💍 1868/8000
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Printer
Age	23	17
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	10 years	7 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of said M.E.E. Neumann, Ngatiawa St., Nelson
Folio	1169
Consent	William Neumann, father
Date of Certificate	15 August 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

15 August 1868

George William Thompson
Bridget Marten

George William Thompson
Bridget Marten
💍 1868/8063

Bachelor
Spinster

Sawyer

27
21

Spring Grove
Spring Grove

5 years
1 year

At the Catholic Chapel, Waimea West

1192

15 August 1868

Rev. Antoine M. Garin

No	86
Date of Notice	15 August 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George William Thompson	Bridget Marten
	💍 1868/8063
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sawyer
Age	27	21
Dwelling Place	Spring Grove	Spring Grove
Length of Residence	5 years	1 year
Marriage Place	At the Catholic Chapel, Waimea West
Folio	1192
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 August 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine M. Garin

18 August 1868

Henry James Gilbert
Mary Smith

Henry James Gilbert
Mary Smith
💍 1868/8177

Bachelor
Spinster

Coachman

21
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

1 year
21 years

At the residence of Denis Hurley gardener, Tasman Street

1231

18 August 1868

Rev. Edward Tho

No	87
Date of Notice	18 August 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry James Gilbert	Mary Smith
	💍 1868/8177
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Coachman
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	1 year	21 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Denis Hurley gardener, Tasman Street
Folio	1231
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 August 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Tho

24 August 1868

John Bell Richardson
Mary Ann Hay

John Bell Richardson
Mary Ann Hay
💍 1868/8003

Bachelor
Spinster

Wesleyan Minister

28
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
5 days

At the residence of The Rev. John Crump, Hardy St., Nelson

1170

24 August 1868

Rev. John Crump

No	88
Date of Notice	24 August 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Bell Richardson	Mary Ann Hay
	💍 1868/8003
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Wesleyan Minister
Age	28	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	5 days
Marriage Place	At the residence of The Rev. John Crump, Hardy St., Nelson
Folio	1170
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 August 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

27 August 1868

Arthur Wellington Barnett
Anna Julia Selmes

Arthur Wellington Barnett
Ann Julia Selmes
💍 1868/8126

Bachelor
Spinster

Teacher

28
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

10 years
1 week

At Christ church, Nelson

1213

27 August 1868

Rev. Geo. H. Johnstone

No	89
Date of Notice	27 August 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Wellington Barnett	Anna Julia Selmes
BDM Match (97%)	Arthur Wellington Barnett	Ann Julia Selmes
	💍 1868/8126
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Teacher
Age	28	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	10 years	1 week
Marriage Place	At Christ church, Nelson
Folio	1213
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 August 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo. H. Johnstone

1 September 1868

Charles Wan
Margaret Boyd

Charles Wan
Margaret Boyd
💍 1868/7925

Edward Thomas
Margaret Boyd
💍 1869/6474

Widower
Spinster

Labourer

48
40

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
4 years

At the Manse, Presbyterian Church, Nelson

1144

1 September 1868

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	90
Date of Notice	1 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Wan	Margaret Boyd
	💍 1868/7925
BDM Match (62%)	Edward Thomas	Margaret Boyd
	💍 1869/6474
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	48	40
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	4 years
Marriage Place	At the Manse, Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	1144
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

1 September 1868

Eric Sparrow
Lucy Mary Hailes

Eric Sparrow
Mary Lucy Hailes
💍 1868/8066

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

25
18

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
3 days

At St. Mary's Catholic Church, Nelson

1193

Geo. James Hailes, Father

1 September 1868

Rev. Antoine M. Garin

No	91
Date of Notice	1 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Eric Sparrow	Lucy Mary Hailes
BDM Match (81%)	Eric Sparrow	Mary Lucy Hailes
	💍 1868/8066
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	25	18
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	At St. Mary's Catholic Church, Nelson
Folio	1193
Consent	Geo. James Hailes, Father
Date of Certificate	1 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine M. Garin

2 September 1868

Samuel Robert Brewerton
Ann Eves

Samuel Robert Brewerton
Ann Eves
💍 1868/8180

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

24
19

Spring Grove
Spring Grove

24 years
19 years

At the residence of William Eves, farmer, Spring Grove

1232

William Eves, Father

2 September 1868

Rev. Edward Tho

No	92
Date of Notice	2 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Samuel Robert Brewerton	Ann Eves
	💍 1868/8180
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	24	19
Dwelling Place	Spring Grove	Spring Grove
Length of Residence	24 years	19 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of William Eves, farmer, Spring Grove
Folio	1232
Consent	William Eves, Father
Date of Certificate	2 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Tho

2 September 1868

Charles Curtis
Elinor Fleming

Charles Curtis
Eleanor Fleming
💍 1868/8069

Widower
Widow

Publican

33
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 days
4 weeks

At the Catholic Church, Nelson

1194

2 September 1868

Rev. Antoine M. Garin

No	93
Date of Notice	2 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Curtis	Elinor Fleming
BDM Match (93%)	Charles Curtis	Eleanor Fleming
	💍 1868/8069
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Publican
Age	33	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	4 weeks
Marriage Place	At the Catholic Church, Nelson
Folio	1194
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine M. Garin

5 September 1868

Alexander Knight
Lucy Jane Maddocks

Alexander Knight
Lucy Jane Maddock
💍 1868/8213

Widower
Spinster

Tailor

36
21

City of Nelson
Spring Grove

4 years
21 years

At St. John's Church, Wakefield

1246

5 September 1868

Rev. Chas Oliver

No	94
Date of Notice	5 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alexander Knight	Lucy Jane Maddocks
BDM Match (97%)	Alexander Knight	Lucy Jane Maddock
	💍 1868/8213
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Tailor
Age	36	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	Spring Grove
Length of Residence	4 years	21 years
Marriage Place	At St. John's Church, Wakefield
Folio	1246
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Chas Oliver

11 September 1868

Charles Flowers
Emily Grimsey

Charles Flowers
Emily Grimsey
💍 1868/7928

Bachelor
Spinster

Painter

35
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
18 months

At residence of John Hogg maltster, Tasman St., Nelson

1145

11 September 1868

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	95
Date of Notice	11 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Flowers	Emily Grimsey
	💍 1868/7928
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Painter
Age	35	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	18 months
Marriage Place	At residence of John Hogg maltster, Tasman St., Nelson
Folio	1145
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

18 September 1868

Robert Edgar
Priscilla Paulon Brewerton

Robert Edgar
Priscilla Parton Brewerton
💍 1868/8006

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

25
21

Upper Motueka Valley
Upper Motueka Valley

2 years
7 years

At the residence of The Rev. John Crump Wesleyan minister, Nelson

1171

18 September 1868

Rev. John Crump

No	96
Date of Notice	18 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Edgar	Priscilla Paulon Brewerton
BDM Match (96%)	Robert Edgar	Priscilla Parton Brewerton
	💍 1868/8006
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	Upper Motueka Valley	Upper Motueka Valley
Length of Residence	2 years	7 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of The Rev. John Crump Wesleyan minister, Nelson
Folio	1171
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

18 September 1868

Thomas Hunter
Ellen Barton

Thomas Hunter
Ellen Barton
💍 1868/8129

Widower
Widow

Dealer

52
34

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 weeks
10 years

At Christ church, Nelson

1214

18 September 1868

Rev. Geo. H. Johnstone

No	97
Date of Notice	18 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Hunter	Ellen Barton
	💍 1868/8129
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Dealer
Age	52	34
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 weeks	10 years
Marriage Place	At Christ church, Nelson
Folio	1214
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 September 1868
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo. H. Johnstone

28 September 1868

George Wilsden McRae
Mary Moore

William Keeler
Mary Moore
💍 1868/4697

Bachelor
Spinster

Flock Owner

30
22

Waimea East
City of Nelson

7 days
22 years

At the residence of Daniel Moore, Trafalgar St., Nelson

1146

28 September 1868

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	98
Date of Notice	28 September 1868
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Wilsden McRae	Mary Moore
BDM Match (60%)	William Keeler	Mary Moore
	💍 1868/4697
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Flock Owner
Age	30	22
Dwelling Place	Waimea East	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	7 days	22 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Daniel Moore, Trafalgar St., Nelson
Folio	1146
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 September 1868
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).