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 347

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 December 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

5 October 1869

Joseph Bradcock
Harriett Hooper

Joseph Bradcock
Harriet Hooper
💍 1869/6594

Widower
Widow

Labourer

38
33

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

16 years
20 years

Residence of P. Harriet Hooper, Vanguard St., Nelson

790

19 October 1869

Rev. Willm Moore Biss

No	54
Date of Notice	5 October 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Bradcock	Harriett Hooper
BDM Match (97%)	Joseph Bradcock	Harriet Hooper
	💍 1869/6594
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Labourer
Age	38	33
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	16 years	20 years
Marriage Place	Residence of P. Harriet Hooper, Vanguard St., Nelson
Folio	790
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 October 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Willm Moore Biss

18 October 1869

Charles Gibbs
Sarah Baigent

Charles Gibbs
Sarah Baigent
💍 1869/6573

Bachelor
Spinster

Storekeeper

29
22

Wakefield
Wakefield

2 years
22 years

St John's Church, Wakefield

783

5 November 1869

Rev. Chas Oliver Mules

No	55
Date of Notice	18 October 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Gibbs	Sarah Baigent
	💍 1869/6573
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Storekeeper
Age	29	22
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	Wakefield
Length of Residence	2 years	22 years
Marriage Place	St John's Church, Wakefield
Folio	783
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Chas Oliver Mules

5 November 1869

John Thomas Smith
Elizabeth Ann Woodhouse

John Thomas Smith
Elizabeth Ann Woodhouse
💍 1869/6522

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer

33
27

Fox Hill
Fox Hill

10 months
5 years

Residence of Rev. Edward Thomas, Manuka St., Nelson

766

5 November 1869

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	56
Date of Notice	5 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Thomas Smith	Elizabeth Ann Woodhouse
	💍 1869/6522
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer
Age	33	27
Dwelling Place	Fox Hill	Fox Hill
Length of Residence	10 months	5 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Rev. Edward Thomas, Manuka St., Nelson
Folio	766
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

16 September 1869

William Thomas Styles
Lydia Christison

William Thos Styles
Lydia Christison
💍 1869/6459

Bachelor
Spinster

Painter

30
23

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
10 years

Residence of Israel Pickard, dealer, Emano St, Nelson

744

2 November 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	57
Date of Notice	16 September 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Thomas Styles	Lydia Christison
BDM Match (95%)	William Thos Styles	Lydia Christison
	💍 1869/6459
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Painter
Age	30	23
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	10 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Israel Pickard, dealer, Emano St, Nelson
Folio	744
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

3 November 1869

Robert William Bishop
Mary Verry

Robert William Bishop
Mary Verry
💍 1869/6615

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

29
19

Wakefield
Wakefield

14 years
19 years

Wesleyan Chapel, Richmond

797

John Verry, Father

3 November 1869

Rev. James A. Taylor

No	58
Date of Notice	3 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert William Bishop	Mary Verry
	💍 1869/6615
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	29	19
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	Wakefield
Length of Residence	14 years	19 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Chapel, Richmond
Folio	797
Consent	John Verry, Father
Date of Certificate	3 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. James A. Taylor

6 November 1869

Joseph Harris
Sarah Janet Rodgerson

Joseph Harris
Sarah Janet Rogerson
💍 1869/6492

Bachelor
Spinster

Banker

28
24

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
24 years

Residence of Llwlln Rodgerson, gentleman, Maitai

755

6 November 1869

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	59
Date of Notice	6 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Harris	Sarah Janet Rodgerson
BDM Match (98%)	Joseph Harris	Sarah Janet Rogerson
	💍 1869/6492
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Banker
Age	28	24
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	24 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Llwlln Rodgerson, gentleman, Maitai
Folio	755
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

8 November 1869

George Stevenson
Ellen Wolfenden

George Stevenson
Ellen Woolfenden
💍 1869/6525

Bachelor
Spinster

Groom

21
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
11 years

Residence of William Crow, butcher, Hardy St., Nelson

767

8 November 1869

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	60
Date of Notice	8 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Stevenson	Ellen Wolfenden
BDM Match (97%)	George Stevenson	Ellen Woolfenden
	💍 1869/6525
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Groom
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	11 years
Marriage Place	Residence of William Crow, butcher, Hardy St., Nelson
Folio	767
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

8 November 1869

William Douglas
Esther Gillet

William Douglas
Esther Gillett
💍 1869/6528

Bachelor
Spinster

Bootmaker

26
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
5 years

Residence of Alexander Knight, tailor, Vanguard St., Nelson

768

8 November 1869

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	61
Date of Notice	8 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Douglas	Esther Gillet
BDM Match (96%)	William Douglas	Esther Gillett
	💍 1869/6528
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bootmaker
Age	26	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	5 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Alexander Knight, tailor, Vanguard St., Nelson
Folio	768
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

12 November 1869

Edgar William Neurick
Harriett Annie Rickards

Edgar William Newrick
Harriet Annie Rickards
💍 1869/6600

Bachelor
Spinster

Miner

30
24

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

1 week
1 week

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

792

12 November 1869

The Registrar of Marriages

No	62
Date of Notice	12 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edgar William Neurick	Harriett Annie Rickards
BDM Match (95%)	Edgar William Newrick	Harriet Annie Rickards
	💍 1869/6600
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Miner
Age	30	24
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	1 week	1 week
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	792
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 November 1869
Officiating Minister	The Registrar of Marriages

16 November 1869

Ambrose Eyles Moore
Sarah Rebecca Snow

Ambrose Gyles Moore
Sarah Rebecca Snow
💍 1869/6564

Bachelor
Spinster

Merchant's Clerk

26
23

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 months
23 years

Christ Church, Nelson

780

16 November 1869

Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

No	63
Date of Notice	16 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Ambrose Eyles Moore	Sarah Rebecca Snow
BDM Match (97%)	Ambrose Gyles Moore	Sarah Rebecca Snow
	💍 1869/6564
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Merchant's Clerk
Age	26	23
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 months	23 years
Marriage Place	Christ Church, Nelson
Folio	780
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

18 November 1869

James Macintosh
Mary Harwood

James Macintosh
Mary Harwood
💍 1869/6462

Bachelor
Spinster

Warehouseman

34
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

2 years
4 years

Residence of Geo. Wales Lightband, gentleman, Nile St. East, Nelson

745

2 December 1869

Rev. John Crump

No	64
Date of Notice	18 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Macintosh	Mary Harwood
	💍 1869/6462
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Warehouseman
Age	34	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	4 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Geo. Wales Lightband, gentleman, Nile St. East, Nelson
Folio	745
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 December 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump

20 November 1869

James Thomas Roberts
Rhoda Withey

James Thomas Roberts
Rhoda Witley
💍 1869/6495

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

40
35

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 weeks
6 months

Presbyterian Church, Nelson

756

20 November 1869

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	65
Date of Notice	20 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Thomas Roberts	Rhoda Withey
BDM Match (96%)	James Thomas Roberts	Rhoda Witley
	💍 1869/6495
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	40	35
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 weeks	6 months
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	756
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 November 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

23 November 1869

Frederick Newton Nalder
Eliza Hale

Frederick Newton Nalder
Eliza Hale
💍 1869/6549

Bachelor
Spinster

Carter

25
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

13 years
14 years

All Saints Church, Nelson

775

8 December 1869

Rev. Richard Joshua Thorpe

No	66
Date of Notice	23 November 1869
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Newton Nalder	Eliza Hale
	💍 1869/6549
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carter
Age	25	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	13 years	14 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church, Nelson
Folio	775
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 December 1869
Officiating Minister	Rev. Richard Joshua Thorpe

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).