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 559

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

3601

17 March 1875

Robert Richards Pearce
Alma Eccles

Robert Richards Pearce
Alma Eccles
💍 1875/208

Bachelor
Spinster

Wellsinker
Milliner

27
19

Christchurch
Christchurch

6 months
6 months

In St Michaels Church Christchurch

75/239

Samuel Eccles, Father

17 March 1875

Rev. H. J. Edwards

No	3601
Date of Notice	17 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Richards Pearce	Alma Eccles
	💍 1875/208
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Wellsinker	Milliner
Age	27	19
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	6 months	6 months
Marriage Place	In St Michaels Church Christchurch
Folio	75/239
Consent	Samuel Eccles, Father
Date of Certificate	17 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. J. Edwards

3602

18 March 1875

James Ridden
Sarah Everest

James Ridden
Sarah Everest
💍 1875/890

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

28
21

Springston
Springston

2 Years
6 Years

In The Springston Church

75/1036

18 March 1875

Rev. H. Stocker

No	3602
Date of Notice	18 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Ridden	Sarah Everest
	💍 1875/890
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	28	21
Dwelling Place	Springston	Springston
Length of Residence	2 Years	6 Years
Marriage Place	In The Springston Church
Folio	75/1036
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Stocker

3603

19 March 1875

William Youngman
Janet Shierlaw

William Youngman
Janet Shierlaw
💍 1875/3146

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Servant

23
18

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 days
4 years

In the house of Mr Shierlaw, Montreal Street

75/646

Steward Shierlaw, Father

19 March 1875

Rev. S. Macfarlane

No	3603
Date of Notice	19 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Youngman	Janet Shierlaw
	💍 1875/3146
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Servant
Age	23	18
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 days	4 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr Shierlaw, Montreal Street
Folio	75/646
Consent	Steward Shierlaw, Father
Date of Certificate	19 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. S. Macfarlane

3604

19 March 1875

Richard Jones
Rebecca Bennison

Richard Jones
Rebecca Bennison
💍 1875/2996

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner
Servant

31
22

Christchurch
Christchurch

12 years
6 months

In the house of Mr. Jones, Salisbury Street

75/310

19 March 1875

Rev. R. Morton

No	3604
Date of Notice	19 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard Jones	Rebecca Bennison
	💍 1875/2996
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Servant
Age	31	22
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	12 years	6 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr. Jones, Salisbury Street
Folio	75/310
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Morton

3605

20 March 1875

Daniel Gow
Margaret Dobson

Daniel Gow
Margaret Dobson
💍 1875/732

Bachelor
Spinster

Shopkeeper
Servant

33
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

7 years
5 months

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

75/621

20 March 1875

Rev. A. F. Douglas

No	3605
Date of Notice	20 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Daniel Gow	Margaret Dobson
	💍 1875/732
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shopkeeper	Servant
Age	33	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	7 years	5 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev. A. F. Douglas, Christchurch
Folio	75/621
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. F. Douglas

3606

20 March 1875

William Page
Sarah Shelbourne

William Page
Sarah Shelbourne
💍 1875/210

Bachelor
Widow

Mariner

43
44

Christchurch
Christchurch

7 years
1 year

In St Michaels Church Christchurch

75/241

20 March 1875

Rev. H. J. Edwards

No	3606
Date of Notice	20 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Page	Sarah Shelbourne
	💍 1875/210
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Mariner
Age	43	44
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	7 years	1 year
Marriage Place	In St Michaels Church Christchurch
Folio	75/241
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. J. Edwards

3607

22 March 1875

William Bramwell Scott
Mary Ann Salter

William Bramwell Scott
Mary Ann Salter
💍 1875/466

Bachelor
Spinster

Compositor

23
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

2 years
16 years

In the house of Mr. Salter, Shirley

75/508

22 March 1875

Rev. A. R. Fitchett

No	3607
Date of Notice	22 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Bramwell Scott	Mary Ann Salter
	💍 1875/466
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Compositor
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	2 years	16 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr. Salter, Shirley
Folio	75/508
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. R. Fitchett

3608

23 March 1875

John Stevenson
Margaret Beaton

John Stevenson
Margaret Beaton
💍 1875/28

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Servant

25
24

Christchurch
Christchurch

4 days
4 days

In the house of Rev. C. Fraser, Christchurch

75/1357

23 March 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3608
Date of Notice	23 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Stevenson	Margaret Beaton
	💍 1875/28
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Servant
Age	25	24
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	4 days	4 days
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev. C. Fraser, Christchurch
Folio	75/1357
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3609

23 March 1875

James McNish
Margaret Hodge

James McNish
Margaret Hodge
💍 1875/3161

Bachelor
Spinster

Blacksmith

30
28

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 years
3 years

In the house of Mr. Ritchie, Lichfield Street

75/620

23 March 1875

Rev. A. F. Douglas

No	3609
Date of Notice	23 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James McNish	Margaret Hodge
	💍 1875/3161
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Blacksmith
Age	30	28
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 years	3 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr. Ritchie, Lichfield Street
Folio	75/620
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. F. Douglas

3610

25 March 1875

Henry Wilkinson
Annie Martha Griffiths

Henry Wilkinson
Annie Martha Griffiths
💍 1875/465

Widower
Spinster

Bootmaker
Housekeeper

36
40

Christchurch
Papanui Road

10 years
15 years

In the house of Mr. C W Turner, Papanui Road

75/507

25 March 1875

Rev. A. R. Fitchett

No	3610
Date of Notice	25 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Wilkinson	Annie Martha Griffiths
	💍 1875/465
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Bootmaker	Housekeeper
Age	36	40
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Papanui Road
Length of Residence	10 years	15 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr. C W Turner, Papanui Road
Folio	75/507
Consent
Date of Certificate	25 March 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. R. Fitchett

3611

25 March 1875

Arthur Staples
Sarah Kirkwood

Arthur Staples
Sarah Kirkwood
💍 1875/1341

Bachelor
Spinster

Bootmaker
Servant

21
18

Addington
Addington

1 year
1 year

In the house of Rev C Fraser, Tuam Street

75/1358

Margery Donald Currie, Mother

25 March 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3611
Date of Notice	25 March 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Staples	Sarah Kirkwood
	💍 1875/1341
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bootmaker	Servant
Age	21	18
Dwelling Place	Addington	Addington
Length of Residence	1 year	1 year
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev C Fraser, Tuam Street
Folio	75/1358
Consent	Margery Donald Currie, Mother
Date of Certificate	25 March 1875
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).

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).