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 556

District of Christchurch Quarter ending 31 March 1875 Registrar B Parkerson Jnr

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

3568

24 February 1875

Thomas Hempton
Martha Levin

Thomas Hampton
Martha Leatham
💍 1875/260

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Servant

33
35

West Melton
Weedons

1 year
1 week

In Templeton Church

75/292

11 March 1875

Rev. W E Paige

No	3568
Date of Notice	24 February 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Hempton	Martha Levin
BDM Match (79%)	Thomas Hampton	Martha Leatham
	💍 1875/260
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Servant
Age	33	35
Dwelling Place	West Melton	Weedons
Length of Residence	1 year	1 week
Marriage Place	In Templeton Church
Folio	75/292
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. W E Paige

3569

24 February 1875

Robert John Harding
Elizabeth Hellyer

Robert John Harding
Elizabeth Hellyer
💍 1875/613

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

23
22

Halswell
Halswell

7 weeks
3 months

In Halswell Church

75/715

10 March 1875

Rev. C. Bowen

No	3569
Date of Notice	24 February 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert John Harding	Elizabeth Hellyer
	💍 1875/613
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	23	22
Dwelling Place	Halswell	Halswell
Length of Residence	7 weeks	3 months
Marriage Place	In Halswell Church
Folio	75/715
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Bowen

3570

24 February 1875

Mareslieus Ramon
Charlotte Bell

Mareoliem Ramon
Charlotte Bell
💍 1875/205

Bachelor
Widow

Seaman
Servant

28
29

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 days
3 days

In St. Michaels Church, Christchurch

75/236

24 February 1875

Rev. H J Edwards

No	3570
Date of Notice	24 February 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Mareslieus Ramon	Charlotte Bell
BDM Match (91%)	Mareoliem Ramon	Charlotte Bell
	💍 1875/205
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Seaman	Servant
Age	28	29
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	In St. Michaels Church, Christchurch
Folio	75/236
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 February 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H J Edwards

3571

27 February 1875

John Campbell
Jane Gurner

John Campbell
Jane Gurner
💍 1875/294

Bachelor
Spinster

Storeman
Dressmaker

31
19

Waltham
Waltham

4 years
10 months

In the house of Mr. Adams, Waltham

75/305

There is no person having authority to consent.

27 February 1875

Rev. J. Aldred

No	3571
Date of Notice	27 February 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Campbell	Jane Gurner
	💍 1875/294
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Storeman	Dressmaker
Age	31	19
Dwelling Place	Waltham	Waltham
Length of Residence	4 years	10 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr. Adams, Waltham
Folio	75/305
Consent	There is no person having authority to consent.
Date of Certificate	27 February 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Aldred

3572

27 February 1875

John Whall
Eleanor Gooch

John Whall
Eleanor Gooch
💍 1875/464

Bachelor
Spinster

Blacksmith
Servant

29
19

Christchurch
Christchurch

5 years
19 years

In the Wesleyan Chapel, St Albans

75/506

John Gooch, Father

27 February 1875

Rev. A. R. Fitchett

No	3572
Date of Notice	27 February 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Whall	Eleanor Gooch
	💍 1875/464
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Blacksmith	Servant
Age	29	19
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	5 years	19 years
Marriage Place	In the Wesleyan Chapel, St Albans
Folio	75/506
Consent	John Gooch, Father
Date of Certificate	27 February 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. R. Fitchett

3573

1 March 1875

Luis Thompson
Margaret Ballard

Luis Thompson
Margaret Ballard
💍 1875/727

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

24
18

Christchurch
Christchurch

4 days
4 days

In the house of Rev. A F. Douglas, Christchurch

75/614

Catherine Margaret Osgood, Mother

1 March 1875

Rev. A. F. Douglas

No	3573
Date of Notice	1 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Luis Thompson	Margaret Ballard
	💍 1875/727
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	24	18
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	4 days	4 days
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev. A F. Douglas, Christchurch
Folio	75/614
Consent	Catherine Margaret Osgood, Mother
Date of Certificate	1 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. F. Douglas

3574

1 March 1875

Francis Embry Plaster
Embray written below in pencil.
Annie Sullivan

Francis Embray Plaster
Annie Sullivan
💍 1875/1309

Bachelor
Widow

Ship Carpenter
Laundress

26
28

Christchurch
Christchurch

1 year
5 years

In the house of Rev C. Fraser, Tuam Street

75/1349

1 March 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3574
Date of Notice	1 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Francis Embry Plaster Embray written below in pencil.	Annie Sullivan
BDM Match (98%)	Francis Embray Plaster	Annie Sullivan
	💍 1875/1309
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Ship Carpenter	Laundress
Age	26	28
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	1 year	5 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev C. Fraser, Tuam Street
Folio	75/1349
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3575

1 March 1875

Edward Henry Banks
Amelia Scott

Edward Henry Banks
Amelia Scott
💍 1875/2993

Widower
Widow

Brickmaker

47
39

Heathcote Valley
Christchurch

3 years
12 years

In the Registrars Office, Christchurch

75/424

1 March 1875

Registrar of Marriages, B Parkerson jnr.

No	3575
Date of Notice	1 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Henry Banks	Amelia Scott
	💍 1875/2993
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Brickmaker
Age	47	39
Dwelling Place	Heathcote Valley	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 years	12 years
Marriage Place	In the Registrars Office, Christchurch
Folio	75/424
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Registrar of Marriages, B Parkerson jnr.

3576

2 March 1875

Frank Haughton
Anna Alport

Frank Hampton
Anna Alport
💍 1875/1172

Widower
Spinster

Farmer

30
24

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 days
24 years

In St. Johns Church, Christchurch

75/1095

2 March 1875

Rev. H C M Watson

No	3576
Date of Notice	2 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frank Haughton	Anna Alport
BDM Match (89%)	Frank Hampton	Anna Alport
	💍 1875/1172
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	30	24
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 days	24 years
Marriage Place	In St. Johns Church, Christchurch
Folio	75/1095
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H C M Watson

3577

3 March 1875

William Donovan
Mary Page

William Donovan
Mary Page
💍 1875/1310

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer
Servant

25
24

Christchurch
Christchurch

5 months
6 months

In the house of Rev C. Fraser, Tuam Street

75/1350

3 March 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3577
Date of Notice	3 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Donovan	Mary Page
	💍 1875/1310
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	25	24
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	5 months	6 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev C. Fraser, Tuam Street
Folio	75/1350
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3578

4 March 1875

Benjamin Lowry
Mary Dewey

Benjamin Lowry
May Dewey
💍 1875/1175

Bachelor
Spinster

Tanner
Servant

29
26

Woolston
Christchurch

3 years
2 years

St. Johns Church, Christchurch

75/1097

4 March 1875

Rev. H C M Watson

No	3578
Date of Notice	4 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Benjamin Lowry	Mary Dewey
BDM Match (95%)	Benjamin Lowry	May Dewey
	💍 1875/1175
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tanner	Servant
Age	29	26
Dwelling Place	Woolston	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 years	2 years
Marriage Place	St. Johns Church, Christchurch
Folio	75/1097
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H C M Watson

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).