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 561

District of Christchurch Quarter ending 30 June 1875 Registrar B. Parkinson

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

3619

2 April 1875

William Humphrey
Elizabeth Jones

William Hagan
Elizabeth Jones
💍 1875/2537

William Henry Whitehead
Elizabeth Jones
💍 1875/676

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Servant

38
28

Avonside
Christchurch

18 months
7 years

In the house of Regr R. Minton

75/803

2 April 1875

Rev. R. Minton

No	3619
Date of Notice	2 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Humphrey	Elizabeth Jones
BDM Match (78%)	William Hagan	Elizabeth Jones
	💍 1875/2537
BDM Match (74%)	William Henry Whitehead	Elizabeth Jones
	💍 1875/676
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Servant
Age	38	28
Dwelling Place	Avonside	Christchurch
Length of Residence	18 months	7 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Regr R. Minton
Folio	75/803
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Minton

3620

5 April 1875

Stephen Stradom
Emma Maria Humphrey

Stephen Hudson
Emma Maria Humphrey
💍 1875/1137

Bachelor
Spinster

Clerk
do

27
29

Christchurch
do

6 months
3 months

Lyttelton Chapel

75/1002

5 April 1875

Rev. J. Buller

No	3620
Date of Notice	5 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Stephen Stradom	Emma Maria Humphrey
BDM Match (80%)	Stephen Hudson	Emma Maria Humphrey
	💍 1875/1137
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Clerk	do
Age	27	29
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	do
Length of Residence	6 months	3 months
Marriage Place	Lyttelton Chapel
Folio	75/1002
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Buller

3621

5 April 1875

James Robert Henry
Elizabeth Ann Francis

James Robert Henry
Elizabeth Ann Francis
💍 1875/949

Bachelor
Spinster

Clerk
Milliner

29
25

Christchurch
do

6 months
4 months

Christchurch

75/992

5 April 1875

Rev. J. Edwards

No	3621
Date of Notice	5 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Robert Henry	Elizabeth Ann Francis
	💍 1875/949
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Clerk	Milliner
Age	29	25
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	do
Length of Residence	6 months	4 months
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	75/992
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Edwards

3622

5 April 1875

Duncan McColl
Isabella McColl

Duncan McColl
Isobella McColl
💍 1875/1462

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Servant

24
24

Christchurch
do

2 years
2 years

In the Roman Catholic Chapel

75/1387

5 April 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3622
Date of Notice	5 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Duncan McColl	Isabella McColl
BDM Match (97%)	Duncan McColl	Isobella McColl
	💍 1875/1462
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Servant
Age	24	24
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	do
Length of Residence	2 years	2 years
Marriage Place	In the Roman Catholic Chapel
Folio	75/1387
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3623

5 April 1875

James Brown
Fanny Hawkins

James Brown
Fanny Hawkins
💍 1875/3095

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

25
24

Shands Track
Lincoln

5 years
4 months

Shands Track

75/1038

5 April 1875

J. C. Cherrier

No	3623
Date of Notice	5 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Brown	Fanny Hawkins
	💍 1875/3095
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	25	24
Dwelling Place	Shands Track	Lincoln
Length of Residence	5 years	4 months
Marriage Place	Shands Track
Folio	75/1038
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 April 1875
Officiating Minister	J. C. Cherrier

3624

7 April 1875

Hugh McCulloch
Jane McNeely

Hugh McCutchin
Jane McNeely
💍 1875/891

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

26
22

Springston
do

6 months
8 weeks

Burnham Church

75/1057

7 April 1875

Rev. H. Sim

No	3624
Date of Notice	7 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Hugh McCulloch	Jane McNeely
BDM Match (82%)	Hugh McCutchin	Jane McNeely
	💍 1875/891
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	26	22
Dwelling Place	Springston	do
Length of Residence	6 months	8 weeks
Marriage Place	Burnham Church
Folio	75/1057
Consent
Date of Certificate	7 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Sim

3625

8 April 1875

Charles Woodham
Annie Cowper

Charles Woodham
Annie Cowper
💍 1875/1176

Bachelor
Spinster

Fireman
Servant

25
17

Christchurch
Do

8 years
15 months

In St. Johns Church

75/1098

John Cowper, Father

8 April 1875

Rev. H. M. Watson

No	3625
Date of Notice	8 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Woodham	Annie Cowper
	💍 1875/1176
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Fireman	Servant
Age	25	17
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Do
Length of Residence	8 years	15 months
Marriage Place	In St. Johns Church
Folio	75/1098
Consent	John Cowper, Father
Date of Certificate	8 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. M. Watson

3626

8 April 1875

Jonas Day
Grace Howell

Jonas Day
Grace Horrell
💍 1875/950

Bachelor
Spinster

Butcher
Servant

28
26

Lake Coleridge
Lake Coleridge

5 months
3 months

In St. Michaels Church, Christchurch

75/993

8 April 1875

Rev. J. Edwards

No	3626
Date of Notice	8 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Jonas Day	Grace Howell
BDM Match (92%)	Jonas Day	Grace Horrell
	💍 1875/950
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Butcher	Servant
Age	28	26
Dwelling Place	Lake Coleridge	Lake Coleridge
Length of Residence	5 months	3 months
Marriage Place	In St. Michaels Church, Christchurch
Folio	75/993
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Edwards

3627

9 April 1875

William Duncan
Ellen Todd

William Duncan
Helen Todd
💍 1875/1442

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner
Servant

39
30

Christchurch
do

14 days
4 months

In the house of Rev. C. Fraser

75/1391

9 April 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3627
Date of Notice	9 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Duncan	Ellen Todd
BDM Match (90%)	William Duncan	Helen Todd
	💍 1875/1442
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Servant
Age	39	30
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	do
Length of Residence	14 days	4 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev. C. Fraser
Folio	75/1391
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3628

9 April 1875

Thomas Denis Nicholas
Angelina Hodge

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer
do

26
35

Christchurch
do

16 years
13 years

In the house of Rev. C. Fraser

75/1392

9 April 1875

Rev. C. Fraser

No	3628
Date of Notice	9 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Denis Nicholas	Angelina Hodge
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer	do
Age	26	35
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	do
Length of Residence	16 years	13 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev. C. Fraser
Folio	75/1392
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

3629

10 April 1875

John Yates
Barbara Edwards

John Yates
Barbara Edwards
💍 1875/1155

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
do

41
32

Malvern Hills
do

7 years
7 years

In the Wesleyan Chapel

75/1004

10 April 1875

Rev. J. Buller

No	3629
Date of Notice	10 April 1875
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Yates	Barbara Edwards
	💍 1875/1155
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	do
Age	41	32
Dwelling Place	Malvern Hills	do
Length of Residence	7 years	7 years
Marriage Place	In the Wesleyan Chapel
Folio	75/1004
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 April 1875
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Buller

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 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).