Intentions to Marry, 1875

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840387, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke at Archives NZ Wellington, May 16 2025.

This register is quite fragile and some of the pages are damaged or even missing.

Page 566

District of Christchurch Quarter ending 30 June 1875 Registrar J. W. Parkerson

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

3674

10 May 1875

Alfred Shaw
Ann Maguire

Alfred Shaw
Anne Maguire
💍 1875/1179

Bachelor
Spinster

Cabinet Maker
Servant

21
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

2 months
3 years

In St. Johns Church Christchurch

75/1101

10 May 1875

Rev. H. C M. Watson

No	3674
Date of Notice	10 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred Shaw	Ann Maguire
BDM Match (96%)	Alfred Shaw	Anne Maguire
	💍 1875/1179
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Cabinet Maker	Servant
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	2 months	3 years
Marriage Place	In St. Johns Church Christchurch
Folio	75/1101
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. C M. Watson

3675

11 May 1875

George Nathaniel Sayers
Sarah Elizabeth Wickes

George Nathaniel Sayers
Sarah Elizabeth Wickes
💍 1875/1258

Bachelor
Spinster

Painter

22
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

9 months
9 months

In the Congregational Church Christchurch

75/1322

11 May 1875

Rev. W. J. Habens

No	3675
Date of Notice	11 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Nathaniel Sayers	Sarah Elizabeth Wickes
	💍 1875/1258
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Painter
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	9 months	9 months
Marriage Place	In the Congregational Church Christchurch
Folio	75/1322
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. J. Habens

3676

11 May 1875

John Johnson
Mary Norton

John Johnson
Mary Norton
💍 1875/1158

Bachelor
Spinster

Shoemaker
Servant

24
20

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 years
2 years

In the house of Rev J Buller, Worcester Street

75/1007

There is person having authority to consent.

11 May 1875

Rev. C Fraser

No	3676
Date of Notice	11 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Johnson	Mary Norton
	💍 1875/1158
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shoemaker	Servant
Age	24	20
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 years	2 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev J Buller, Worcester Street
Folio	75/1007
Consent	There is person having authority to consent.
Date of Certificate	11 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C Fraser

3677

11 May 1875

Samuell Love
Sarah O'Neill

Samuel Love
Sarah O'Neil
💍 1875/3057

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

30
23

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 years
5 years

In the house of Rev C Fraser, Tuam Street

75/1413

11 May 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3677
Date of Notice	11 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Samuell Love	Sarah O'Neill
BDM Match (92%)	Samuel Love	Sarah O'Neil
	💍 1875/3057
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	30	23
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 years	5 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev C Fraser, Tuam Street
Folio	75/1413
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3678

11 May 1875

Michael Hagin
Mary Rhine

Michael Hagin
Mary Rhine
💍 1875/957

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

22
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

9 months
9 months

The Roman Catholic Church Christchurch

75/999

11 May 1875

Rev. H. Belliard

No	3678
Date of Notice	11 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Michael Hagin	Mary Rhine
	💍 1875/957
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	9 months	9 months
Marriage Place	The Roman Catholic Church Christchurch
Folio	75/999
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Belliard

3679

11 May 1875

Thomas Codling
Elizabeth Button

Thomas Codling
Elizabeth Button
💍 1875/1059

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Dressmaker

23
22

St. Albans
St. Albans

17 years
6 months

In the Wesleyan Church Durham Street

75/1107

11 May 1875

Rev. J Buller

No	3679
Date of Notice	11 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Codling	Elizabeth Button
	💍 1875/1059
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Dressmaker
Age	23	22
Dwelling Place	St. Albans	St. Albans
Length of Residence	17 years	6 months
Marriage Place	In the Wesleyan Church Durham Street
Folio	75/1107
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. J Buller

3680

12 May 1875

Robert Walsh
Elizabeth Jane Ible

Robert Welsh
Elezebeth Jane Able
💍 1875/1286

Bachelor
Spinster

Labour
Servant

22
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

6 days
6 days

In the House of Rev. C Fraser Tuam Street

75/1408

12 May 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3680
Date of Notice	12 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Walsh	Elizabeth Jane Ible
BDM Match (88%)	Robert Welsh	Elezebeth Jane Able
	💍 1875/1286
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labour	Servant
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	6 days	6 days
Marriage Place	In the House of Rev. C Fraser Tuam Street
Folio	75/1408
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3681

12 May 1875

Joseph Catchpole
Margaret McCardell

Joseph Catchpole
Margaret McCardell
💍 1875/952

Bachelor
Spinster

Publican
Servant

24
19

Christchurch
Christchurch

1 year
6 months

In St. Michaels Church, Christchurch

75/995

There is no person having authority to consent

12 May 1875

Rev. H. J. Edwards

No	3681
Date of Notice	12 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Catchpole	Margaret McCardell
	💍 1875/952
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Publican	Servant
Age	24	19
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	1 year	6 months
Marriage Place	In St. Michaels Church, Christchurch
Folio	75/995
Consent	There is no person having authority to consent
Date of Certificate	12 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. J. Edwards

3682

12 May 1875

John Curtis
Caroline Hood

John Curtis
Caroline Hood
💍 1875/1049

Bachelor
Spinster

Accountant

37
30

Christchurch
Christchurch

2 years
6 months

In St. Lukes Church, Christchurch

75/1120

12 May 1875

Rev. E. A. Lingard

No	3682
Date of Notice	12 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Curtis	Caroline Hood
	💍 1875/1049
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Accountant
Age	37	30
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	2 years	6 months
Marriage Place	In St. Lukes Church, Christchurch
Folio	75/1120
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. A. Lingard

3683

18 May 1875

George Hawkes Whitcombe
Mary Hall

George Hawkes Whitcombe
Mary Hall
💍 1875/1048

Bachelor
Spinster

Clerk

22
22

Christchurch
Christchurch

2 months
3 days

In St. Lukes Church, Christchurch

75/1119

18 May 1875

Rev. E. A. Lingard

No	3683
Date of Notice	18 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Hawkes Whitcombe	Mary Hall
	💍 1875/1048
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Clerk
Age	22	22
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	2 months	3 days
Marriage Place	In St. Lukes Church, Christchurch
Folio	75/1119
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. A. Lingard

3684

18 May 1875

Joseph Adams
Jane Rea

Joseph Adams
Jane Red
💍 1875/674

Bachelor
Spinster

Servant
Servant

25
21

Rakaia Gorge
Rakaia Gorge

6 years
1 year

In the house of Mr Adams, Rakaia Gorge

75/801

18 May 1875

Rev. P. H. Gould

No	3684
Date of Notice	18 May 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Adams	Jane Rea
BDM Match (94%)	Joseph Adams	Jane Red
	💍 1875/674
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Servant	Servant
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	Rakaia Gorge	Rakaia Gorge
Length of Residence	6 years	1 year
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr Adams, Rakaia Gorge
Folio	75/801
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 May 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. P. H. Gould

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).

Primary digitisation of registers between 1855 and 1925 is now complete. Our digitisation volunteers are now working on verifying the currently digitised pages against printed district/page indexes, to identify pages which may have been missed or out of focus. These pages can be re-imaged as required.

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.

How can I help?

You can sign up to correct errors in the transcribed records and match ITMs with registered marriages.

You can also support this project by ☕ Buying us a coffee 🌳

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).