Intentions to Marry, 1873

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840385, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke Howison at Archives NZ Wellington, December 4 2024

Page 592

District of Christchurch Quarter ending 30 June 1873

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

2902

9 April 1873

George Oram
Louisa Sophia Badham

George Oram
Louisa Sophia Badham
💍 1873/10768

Widower
Spinster

Publican
Housekeeper

47
46

Christchurch
Christchurch

14 years
12 years

In the Church of St. Michael, Christchurch

73/2030

9 April 1873

Very Rev. Dean Jacobs

No	2902
Date of Notice	9 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Oram	Louisa Sophia Badham
	💍 1873/10768
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Publican	Housekeeper
Age	47	46
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	14 years	12 years
Marriage Place	In the Church of St. Michael, Christchurch
Folio	73/2030
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Very Rev. Dean Jacobs

2903

10 April 1873

William Harper
Mary Round

William Harper
Mary Round
💍 1873/6766

Bachelor
Spinster

Laborer
Servant

21
20

Christchurch
Christchurch

15 years
9 years

In St. Johns Church, Christchurch

73/664

Elijah Round, Father

10 April 1873

Rev. H.C.M. Watson

No	2903
Date of Notice	10 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Harper	Mary Round
	💍 1873/6766
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Laborer	Servant
Age	21	20
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	15 years	9 years
Marriage Place	In St. Johns Church, Christchurch
Folio	73/664
Consent	Elijah Round, Father
Date of Certificate	10 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. H.C.M. Watson

2904

12 April 1873

Patrick Marra
Elizabeth Horrill

Patrick Marra
Elizabeth Horrill
💍 1873/6994

Bachelor
Spinster

Engine Driver

28
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

4 years
1 year

In the Roman Catholic Church, Christchurch

73/744

12 April 1873

Rev. J. M. Ecuyer

No	2904
Date of Notice	12 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Patrick Marra	Elizabeth Horrill
	💍 1873/6994
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engine Driver
Age	28	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	4 years	1 year
Marriage Place	In the Roman Catholic Church, Christchurch
Folio	73/744
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. M. Ecuyer

2905

14 April 1873

James Burgess
Margaret Finlayson

James Burgess
Margaret Finlayson
💍 1873/6412

Bachelor
Spinster

Shepherd
Servant

27
24

Porters Pass
Christchurch

3 months
6 months

In the House of Mrs Robertson, Madras Street

73/544

14 April 1873

Rev. A.F. Douglas

No	2905
Date of Notice	14 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Burgess	Margaret Finlayson
	💍 1873/6412
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shepherd	Servant
Age	27	24
Dwelling Place	Porters Pass	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 months	6 months
Marriage Place	In the House of Mrs Robertson, Madras Street
Folio	73/544
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. A.F. Douglas

2906

16 April 1873

John Ford
Sarah Heaton

John Ford
Sarah Heaton
💍 1873/6769

Widower
Widow

Cooper

51
54

Christchurch
Christchurch

10 years
9 years

In the Church of St. John, Christchurch

73/665

16 April 1873

Rev. H.C.M. Watson

No	2906
Date of Notice	16 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Ford	Sarah Heaton
	💍 1873/6769
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Cooper
Age	51	54
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	10 years	9 years
Marriage Place	In the Church of St. John, Christchurch
Folio	73/665
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. H.C.M. Watson

2908

21 April 1873

William Cartwright
Annie Guerin

William Cartwright
Annie NR
💍 1873/6910

Widower
Spinster

Gardener
Servant

36
29

Fendall Town
Christchurch

3 years
1 month

In the House of Rev. C Fraser, Christchurch

73/745

21 April 1873

Rev. C. Fraser

No	2908
Date of Notice	21 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Cartwright	Annie Guerin
BDM Match (75%)	William Cartwright	Annie NR
	💍 1873/6910
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Gardener	Servant
Age	36	29
Dwelling Place	Fendall Town	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 years	1 month
Marriage Place	In the House of Rev. C Fraser, Christchurch
Folio	73/745
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

2909

21 April 1873

James Henry Joad
Dora Collins

James Henry Joad
Dora Collins
💍 1873/6772

Bachelor
Spinster

Warehouseman

37
28

Christchurch
Christchurch

5 weeks
9 years

In St. Johns Church, Christchurch

73/666

21 April 1873

Rev. H.C.M. Watson

No	2909
Date of Notice	21 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Henry Joad	Dora Collins
	💍 1873/6772
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Warehouseman
Age	37	28
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	5 weeks	9 years
Marriage Place	In St. Johns Church, Christchurch
Folio	73/666
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. H.C.M. Watson

2911

24 April 1873

George Nelson
Catherine Frances Kent

George Nelson
Catherine K Kent
💍 1873/6997

Widower
Widow

Carter

35
28

Christchurch
Christchurch

9 months
2 weeks

In the Roman Catholic Church, Christchurch

73/745

24 April 1873

Rev. J.M. Ecuyer

No	2911
Date of Notice	24 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Nelson	Catherine Frances Kent
BDM Match (84%)	George Nelson	Catherine K Kent
	💍 1873/6997
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Carter
Age	35	28
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	9 months	2 weeks
Marriage Place	In the Roman Catholic Church, Christchurch
Folio	73/745
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. J.M. Ecuyer

2913

30 April 1873

John Dodd
Julia Raine

John Dodd
Julia Raine
💍 1873/10762

Bachelor
Spinster

Engine Driver

30
24

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 months
14 years

In St. Michael's Church, Christchurch

73/2028

30 April 1873

Very Rev. Dean Jacobs

No	2913
Date of Notice	30 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Dodd	Julia Raine
	💍 1873/10762
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engine Driver
Age	30	24
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 months	14 years
Marriage Place	In St. Michael's Church, Christchurch
Folio	73/2028
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Very Rev. Dean Jacobs

2915

3 May 1873

William Stephens
Sarah Brady

William Stephens
Sarah Brady
💍 1873/6565

Bachelor
Spinster

Shepherd
Cook

28
27

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 days
2 months

In the house of Mr. Fulton, Lichfield Street, Hurunui

73/596

3 May 1873

Rev. A.F. Douglas

No	2915
Date of Notice	3 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Stephens	Sarah Brady
	💍 1873/6565
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shepherd	Cook
Age	28	27
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 days	2 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr. Fulton, Lichfield Street, Hurunui
Folio	73/596
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. A.F. Douglas

2918

6 May 1873

Godfrey Lichfield
Caroline Denny

Godfrey Lichfield
Caroline Denny
💍 1873/11170

Bachelor
Widow

Groom
Servant

51
52

Christchurch
Christchurch

7 years
2 years

In the House of Rev. C. Fraser, Tuam Street

73/2175

22 May 1873

Rev. C. Fraser

No	2918
Date of Notice	6 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Godfrey Lichfield	Caroline Denny
	💍 1873/11170
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Groom	Servant
Age	51	52
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	7 years	2 years
Marriage Place	In the House of Rev. C. Fraser, Tuam Street
Folio	73/2175
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

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

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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 1908. 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).