Intentions to Marry, 1869

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840381, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Page 341

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1869 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

2 January 1869

Thomas Richard Fisher
the younger
Frances Annie Hadfield

Thomas Richard Fisher
Frances Annie Hadfield
💍 1869/6417

Widower
Spinster

Merchant

30
20

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

6 years
10 years

Wesleyan Church, Hardy Street, Nelson

730

Frederick Brown Hadfield, Father

2 January 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	1
Date of Notice	2 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Richard Fisher the younger	Frances Annie Hadfield
	💍 1869/6417
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Merchant
Age	30	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	6 years	10 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	730
Consent	Frederick Brown Hadfield, Father
Date of Certificate	2 January 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

3 January 1869

Edward Thomas
Margaret Boyd

Edward Thomas
Margaret Boyd
💍 1869/6474

Widower
Spinster

Baptist Minister

65
37

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

10 years
1 year

Residence of William Murray Thompson, Esquire, Collingwood Street, Nelson

749

2 January 1869

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	2
Date of Notice	3 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Thomas	Margaret Boyd
	💍 1869/6474
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Baptist Minister
Age	65	37
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	10 years	1 year
Marriage Place	Residence of William Murray Thompson, Esquire, Collingwood Street, Nelson
Folio	749
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 January 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

5 January 1869

George Gibbs
Ann Susannah Brown

George Gibbs
Anne Susannah Brown
💍 1869/6420

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

24
22

Wakefield
Spring Grove

10 years
8 years

Residence of the Rev. John Crump, Hardy Street, Nelson

731

2 January 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	3
Date of Notice	5 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Gibbs	Ann Susannah Brown
BDM Match (97%)	George Gibbs	Anne Susannah Brown
	💍 1869/6420
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	24	22
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	Spring Grove
Length of Residence	10 years	8 years
Marriage Place	Residence of the Rev. John Crump, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	731
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 January 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

15 January 1869

Joseph Crisp
Mary Ann Lines

Joseph Crisp
Mary Ann Lines
💍 1869/6432

Bachelor
Spinster

Carrier

21
20

City of Nelson
Waimea East

21 years
20 years

Residence of Benjamin Crisp carrier, Hardy Street, Nelson

735

Thomas Lines, Father

16 February 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	4
Date of Notice	15 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Crisp	Mary Ann Lines
	💍 1869/6432
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carrier
Age	21	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	Waimea East
Length of Residence	21 years	20 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Benjamin Crisp carrier, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	735
Consent	Thomas Lines, Father
Date of Certificate	16 February 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

23 January 1869

Charles Hughes Hesketh
Elizabeth Ann Cotton

Charles Hughes Hesketh
Elizabeth Ann Cotton
💍 1869/6507

Charles Thomas Page
Elizabeth Cotton
💍 1869/5694

Bachelor
Spinster

Butcher

25
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
7 years

Residence of Frank Akersten, contractor, Nile Street East, Nelson

761

23 January 1869

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	5
Date of Notice	23 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Hughes Hesketh	Elizabeth Ann Cotton
	💍 1869/6507
BDM Match (65%)	Charles Thomas Page	Elizabeth Cotton
	💍 1869/5694
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Butcher
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	7 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Frank Akersten, contractor, Nile Street East, Nelson
Folio	761
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 January 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

23 January 1869

George Saxon
Caroline Augusta Dowker

George Saxon
Caroline Augusta Dowker
💍 1869/9627

Bachelor
Spinster

Gentleman

28
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

6 years
2 years

All Saints Church, Nelson

1838

23 January 1869

Rev. Rich. Joshua Thorpe

No	6
Date of Notice	23 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Saxon	Caroline Augusta Dowker
	💍 1869/9627
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gentleman
Age	28	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	6 years	2 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church, Nelson
Folio	1838
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 January 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Rich. Joshua Thorpe

27 January 1869

Walter Morey
Martha Elizabeth Green

Walter Morey
Martha Elizabeth Green
💍 1869/6426

Bachelor
Spinster

Draper's Assistant

24
23

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

21 months
2 years

Residence of Edward Green, gentleman, Collingwood Street, Nelson

733

27 January 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	7
Date of Notice	27 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Walter Morey	Martha Elizabeth Green
	💍 1869/6426
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Draper's Assistant
Age	24	23
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	21 months	2 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Edward Green, gentleman, Collingwood Street, Nelson
Folio	733
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 January 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

30 January 1869

James Camp
Mary Goodman

James Camp
Mary Goodman
💍 1869/6405

Bachelor
Spinster

Tailor

22
17

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
17 years

Residence of Thomas Goodman, baker, Motueka

726

Thomas Goodman, Father

30 January 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	8
Date of Notice	30 January 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Camp	Mary Goodman
	💍 1869/6405
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tailor
Age	22	17
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	17 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Thomas Goodman, baker, Motueka
Folio	726
Consent	Thomas Goodman, Father
Date of Certificate	30 January 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

3 February 1869

John Carter
Sarah Miles

John Carter
Sarah Miles
💍 1869/6429

Bachelor
Widow

Miner

36
32

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
5 years

Residence of George King, grocer, Bridge Street, Nelson

734

3 February 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	9
Date of Notice	3 February 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Carter	Sarah Miles
	💍 1869/6429
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Miner
Age	36	32
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	5 years
Marriage Place	Residence of George King, grocer, Bridge Street, Nelson
Folio	734
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 February 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

5 February 1869

Hans John Henry Eggers
Louisa Margaret Hammerich

Hans John Henry Eggers
Louise Margreth Hammerich
💍 1869/6396

Widower
Spinster

Farmer

32
22

Upper Moutere
Upper Moutere

3 years
22 years

At the Lutheran Church, Upper Moutere

723

5 February 1869

Rev. John Will. Chr. Heine

No	10
Date of Notice	5 February 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Hans John Henry Eggers	Louisa Margaret Hammerich
BDM Match (94%)	Hans John Henry Eggers	Louise Margreth Hammerich
	💍 1869/6396
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	32	22
Dwelling Place	Upper Moutere	Upper Moutere
Length of Residence	3 years	22 years
Marriage Place	At the Lutheran Church, Upper Moutere
Folio	723
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 February 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Will. Chr. Heine

8 February 1869

John McIntosh
Euphemia Watt Bentley

John McIntosh
Euphemia Watt Bentley
💍 1869/6480

Bachelor
Spinster

Merchant

30
19

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
10 years

Residence of James Bentley, merchant, The Port, Nelson

757

James Bentley, Father

8 February 1869

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	11
Date of Notice	8 February 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John McIntosh	Euphemia Watt Bentley
	💍 1869/6480
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Merchant
Age	30	19
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	10 years
Marriage Place	Residence of James Bentley, merchant, The Port, Nelson
Folio	757
Consent	James Bentley, Father
Date of Certificate	8 February 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

11 February 1869

Richard Stevens
Mary Ann Julia Staples

Richard Stevens
Mary Ann Julia Staples
💍 1869/6531

Bachelor
Spinster

Brickmaker

30
35

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

5 years
1 year

All Saints Church, Nelson

769

11 February 1869

Rev. Rich. Joshua Thorpe

No	12
Date of Notice	11 February 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard Stevens	Mary Ann Julia Staples
	💍 1869/6531
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Brickmaker
Age	30	35
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	5 years	1 year
Marriage Place	All Saints Church, Nelson
Folio	769
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 February 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Rich. Joshua Thorpe

12 February 1869

William Cooksey
Matilda Nobbs

Bachelor
Spinster

Carrier

34
34

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
5 years

Residence of William Cooksey, carrier, New Street, Nelson

12 February 1869

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	13
Date of Notice	12 February 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Cooksey	Matilda Nobbs
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carrier
Age	34	34
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	5 years
Marriage Place	Residence of William Cooksey, carrier, New Street, Nelson
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 February 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

13 February 1869

Arthur Henry Beatson
Jane Isabella McHardy

Arthur Henry Beatson
Jane Isabella McHardy
💍 1869/6585

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

24
28

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
4 days

Residence of Lilias McHardy widow, Brook Street, Nelson

787

4 March 1869

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	14
Date of Notice	13 February 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Henry Beatson	Jane Isabella McHardy
	💍 1869/6585
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	24	28
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	4 days
Marriage Place	Residence of Lilias McHardy widow, Brook Street, Nelson
Folio	787
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 March 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

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).