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 405

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 June 1873 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

3 April 1873

Joseph Holden
Elizabeth Wrattan

Joseph Holden
Elizabeth Wrattan
💍 1873/8143

Widower
Widow

Carpenter
Carpenter

43
44

Waimea West
Waimea West

6 years
30 years

At the residence of William Stewart carpenter, Waimea St., Nelson

73/1129

3 April 1873

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	16
Date of Notice	3 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Holden	Elizabeth Wrattan
	💍 1873/8143
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Carpenter	Carpenter
Age	43	44
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Waimea West
Length of Residence	6 years	30 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of William Stewart carpenter, Waimea St., Nelson
Folio	73/1129
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

25 April 1873

Adolph Wahlstrom
Mary Ann Charles

Adolph Wahlström
Mary Ann Charles
💍 1873/8173

Bachelor
Spinster

Shipwright

31
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

9 years
2 years

At the residence of Rev. Edw. Thomas, Manuka St., Nelson

73/1139

25 April 1873

Rev. Edward Thomas

No	19
Date of Notice	25 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Adolph Wahlstrom	Mary Ann Charles
BDM Match (94%)	Adolph Wahlström	Mary Ann Charles
	💍 1873/8173
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shipwright
Age	31	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	9 years	2 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Rev. Edw. Thomas, Manuka St., Nelson
Folio	73/1139
Consent
Date of Certificate	25 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Edward Thomas

29 April 1873

Thomas Kilgour
Elizabeth Brooks

Thomas Kilgour
Elizabeth Brooks
💍 1873/8119

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

37
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
14 years

At the residence of The Rev. Will. Moore Biss, Tasman St., Nelson

73/1121

29 April 1873

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	20
Date of Notice	29 April 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Kilgour	Elizabeth Brooks
	💍 1873/8119
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	37	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	14 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of The Rev. Will. Moore Biss, Tasman St., Nelson
Folio	73/1121
Consent
Date of Certificate	29 April 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

1 May 1873

Charles Haslam
Catherine McCormack

Charles Haslam
Catherine McCormack
💍 1873/8140

Bachelor
Spinster

Shoemaker

28
25

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

24 years
7 years

At St. Marys Catholic Church, Nelson

73/1128

16 May 1873

Rev. Antoine M. Garin

No	21
Date of Notice	1 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Haslam	Catherine McCormack
	💍 1873/8140
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shoemaker
Age	28	25
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	24 years	7 years
Marriage Place	At St. Marys Catholic Church, Nelson
Folio	73/1128
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine M. Garin

2 May 1873

Peter Pierson
Minnie Beckman

Peter Pierson
Minnie Beckman
💍 1873/8137

Bachelor
Spinster

Cook

40
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

4 years
3 years

At St. Marys Catholic Church, Nelson

73/1127

2 May 1873

Rev. Antoine M. Garin

No	22
Date of Notice	2 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Peter Pierson	Minnie Beckman
	💍 1873/8137
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Cook
Age	40	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	3 years
Marriage Place	At St. Marys Catholic Church, Nelson
Folio	73/1127
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine M. Garin

2 May 1873

William Chapman Ricketts
Sarah Elizabeth Sharp

William Chapman Ricketts
Sarah Elizabeth Sharp
💍 1873/8107

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

29
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

29 years
7 years

At the residence of William Chapman Ricketts, Shelbourne St., Nelson

73/1117

17 May 1873

Rev. Thomas Buddle

No	23
Date of Notice	2 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Chapman Ricketts	Sarah Elizabeth Sharp
	💍 1873/8107
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	29	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	29 years	7 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of William Chapman Ricketts, Shelbourne St., Nelson
Folio	73/1117
Consent
Date of Certificate	17 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Thomas Buddle

8 May 1873

Joseph Jennens
Alice Maud Franklyn

Joseph Jennens
Alice Maud Franklin
💍 1873/8146

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

23
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

23 years
2 years

At the residence of Joseph Jennens, Halifax St., Nelson

73/1130

8 May 1873

Rev. Decimus Dolamore

No	24
Date of Notice	8 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Jennens	Alice Maud Franklyn
BDM Match (97%)	Joseph Jennens	Alice Maud Franklin
	💍 1873/8146
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years	2 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Joseph Jennens, Halifax St., Nelson
Folio	73/1130
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Decimus Dolamore

22 May 1873

Charles James Hill
Agnes Sherratt

Charles James Hill
Agnes Sherratt
💍 1873/8194

Bachelor
Spinster

Printer

25
21

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
10 years

At Christ Church, Nelson

73/1146

22 May 1873

Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

No	25
Date of Notice	22 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles James Hill	Agnes Sherratt
	💍 1873/8194
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Printer
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	10 years
Marriage Place	At Christ Church, Nelson
Folio	73/1146
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Geo. Henry Johnstone

28 May 1873

Thomas Kilgour
Elizabeth Brooks

Thomas Kilgour
Elizabeth Brooks
💍 1873/8119

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

37
18

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 years
14 years

At the residence of The Rev. William Moore Biss, Tasman St., Nelson

73/1121

William Brooks, Father

28 May 1873

Rev. William Moore Biss

No	27
Date of Notice	28 May 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Kilgour	Elizabeth Brooks
	💍 1873/8119
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	37	18
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	14 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of The Rev. William Moore Biss, Tasman St., Nelson
Folio	73/1121
Consent	William Brooks, Father
Date of Certificate	28 May 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Moore Biss

19 June 1873

Peter Bartrum Packard
Jane Elizabeth Baird

Peter Bartram Packard
Jane Elizabeth Baird
💍 1873/8155

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

24
22

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

3 days
2 weeks

At the residence of George Batchelor shoemaker, Nile St. West, Nelson

73/1133

19 June 1873

Rev. Patrick Calder

No	29
Date of Notice	19 June 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Peter Bartrum Packard	Jane Elizabeth Baird
BDM Match (98%)	Peter Bartram Packard	Jane Elizabeth Baird
	💍 1873/8155
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	24	22
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	2 weeks
Marriage Place	At the residence of George Batchelor shoemaker, Nile St. West, Nelson
Folio	73/1133
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 June 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder

19 June 1873

Daniel Hannagan
Clara Annie Folckmann

Daniel Hannagan
Clara Folkmann
💍 1873/8125

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner

25
20

City of Nelson
City of Nelson

8 years
10 years

At St. Marys Catholic Church, Nelson

73/1123

Ellen Folckmann, mother

24 June 1873

Rev. Antoine M. Garin

No	30
Date of Notice	19 June 1873
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Daniel Hannagan	Clara Annie Folckmann
BDM Match (83%)	Daniel Hannagan	Clara Folkmann
	💍 1873/8125
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner
Age	25	20
Dwelling Place	City of Nelson	City of Nelson
Length of Residence	8 years	10 years
Marriage Place	At St. Marys Catholic Church, Nelson
Folio	73/1123
Consent	Ellen Folckmann, mother
Date of Certificate	24 June 1873
Officiating Minister	Rev. Antoine M. Garin

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

100% Contrast

100% Brightness

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).