Intentions to Marry, 1877

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840389, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke at Archives NZ Wellington, April 16 2025

Page 615

District of Christchurch Quarter ending 30 September 1877 Registrar 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

4594

02 July 1877

Benjamin George Wadsworth
Elvina Edith Minnie Hunt

Benjamin George Dadsworth
Elvina Edith Minnie Hunt
💍 1877/2125

bachelor
spinster

joiner

25
24

Addington
Addington

2 years

St Lukes, Christchurch

77/2091

02 July 1877

Rev. E. A. Lingard

No	4594
Date of Notice	02 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Benjamin George Wadsworth	Elvina Edith Minnie Hunt
BDM Match (98%)	Benjamin George Dadsworth	Elvina Edith Minnie Hunt
	💍 1877/2125
Condition	bachelor	spinster
Profession	joiner
Age	25	24
Dwelling Place	Addington	Addington
Length of Residence		2 years
Marriage Place	St Lukes, Christchurch
Folio	77/2091
Consent
Date of Certificate	02 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. A. Lingard

4595

02 July 1877

James Hamilton Moir
Margaret Emily Macullagh

James H Moir
Margt Emily McCullugh
💍 1877/2103

Bachelor
Spinster

Accountant

25
24

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 years
10 months

In the house of Rev J Elmslie, Christchurch

77/2069

02 July 1877

Rev. J Elmslie

No	4595
Date of Notice	02 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Hamilton Moir	Margaret Emily Macullagh
BDM Match (69%)	James H Moir	Margt Emily McCullugh
	💍 1877/2103
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Accountant
Age	25	24
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 years	10 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Rev J Elmslie, Christchurch
Folio	77/2069
Consent
Date of Certificate	02 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. J Elmslie

4596

03 July 1877

William Thomas Jane
Elizabeth Daniel

William Thomas Jane
Elizabeth Daniels
💍 1877/2022

Bachelor
Spinster

Builder

38
27

Christchurch
Christchurch

13 years
2 years

In the Church of St John, Christchurch

77/1984

03 July 1877

Rev. H. C. M. Watson

No	4596
Date of Notice	03 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Thomas Jane	Elizabeth Daniel
BDM Match (97%)	William Thomas Jane	Elizabeth Daniels
	💍 1877/2022
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Builder
Age	38	27
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	13 years	2 years
Marriage Place	In the Church of St John, Christchurch
Folio	77/1984
Consent
Date of Certificate	03 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. C. M. Watson

4597

03 July 1877

George Clarkson
Sarah McKenna

George Clarkson
Sarah McKenna
💍 1877/2237

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Servant

30
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

14 months In the Roman Catholic
15 months

In the Roman Catholic Church, Christchurch

77/1981

03 July 1877

Rev. L. Ginaty

No	4597
Date of Notice	03 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Clarkson	Sarah McKenna
	💍 1877/2237
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Servant
Age	30	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	14 months In the Roman Catholic	15 months
Marriage Place	In the Roman Catholic Church, Christchurch
Folio	77/1981
Consent
Date of Certificate	03 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. L. Ginaty

4598

04 July 1877

Robert Page
Jane Beattie

Robert Page
Jane Beattie
💍 1878/577

Bachelor
Spinster

Joiner
Dressmaker

21
21

Christchurch
Addington

12 years
21 years

In the United Methodist Chapel, Addington

04 July 1877

Rev. T. Hodgson

No	4598
Date of Notice	04 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Page	Jane Beattie
	💍 1878/577
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Joiner	Dressmaker
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Addington
Length of Residence	12 years	21 years
Marriage Place	In the United Methodist Chapel, Addington
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	04 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. T. Hodgson

4599

04 July 1877

John Frederick Staples
Elizabeth Kerarie

John Frederick Staples
Elizabeth Kerwin
💍 1877/3125

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

27
25

Christchurch
Christchurch

1 week
6 weeks

In the Baptist Chapel, Hereford Street

77/1994

05 July 1877

Rev. C Dallaston

No	4599
Date of Notice	04 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Frederick Staples	Elizabeth Kerarie
BDM Match (91%)	John Frederick Staples	Elizabeth Kerwin
	💍 1877/3125
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	27	25
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	1 week	6 weeks
Marriage Place	In the Baptist Chapel, Hereford Street
Folio	77/1994
Consent
Date of Certificate	05 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. C Dallaston

4600

05 July 1877

John Milne
Margaret McKinlay

John Milne
Margaret McKinlay
💍 1877/2578

Bachelor
Spinster

Tanner
Servant

27
21

Woolston
Christchurch

2 years
2 months

In the house of Mrs McKinlay, Windmill Road

77/2583

05 July 1877

Rev. C. Fraser

No	4600
Date of Notice	05 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Milne	Margaret McKinlay
	💍 1877/2578
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tanner	Servant
Age	27	21
Dwelling Place	Woolston	Christchurch
Length of Residence	2 years	2 months
Marriage Place	In the house of Mrs McKinlay, Windmill Road
Folio	77/2583
Consent
Date of Certificate	05 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

4601

06 July 1877

Jakab Reinfell
Caroline Golsdworthy

Jakab Reinfeld
Caroline Goldsworthy
💍 1877/1856

Bachelor
Spinster

Gardener
Servant

43
37

Christchurch
Christchurch

1 year
3 years

In the house of Mr Barnett, Ferry Road

77/1811

06 July 1877

Rev. W J Habens

No	4601
Date of Notice	06 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Jakab Reinfell	Caroline Golsdworthy
BDM Match (91%)	Jakab Reinfeld	Caroline Goldsworthy
	💍 1877/1856
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gardener	Servant
Age	43	37
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	1 year	3 years
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr Barnett, Ferry Road
Folio	77/1811
Consent
Date of Certificate	06 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. W J Habens

4602

06 July 1877

George Miller
Annie Robertson

George Miller
Annie Robertson
💍 1877/2588

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
servant

33
21

Papanui
Papanui

23 years
2 years

In the house of the Rev C Fraser, Tuam St

77/2586

07 July 1877

Rev. C. Fraser

No	4602
Date of Notice	06 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Miller	Annie Robertson
	💍 1877/2588
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	servant
Age	33	21
Dwelling Place	Papanui	Papanui
Length of Residence	23 years	2 years
Marriage Place	In the house of the Rev C Fraser, Tuam St
Folio	77/2586
Consent
Date of Certificate	07 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

4603

07 July 1877

James Robertson
Eliza Pascoe

James Robertson
Eliza Pascoe
💍 1877/2579

Bachelor
Spinster

Shepherd
Servant

34
30

Christchurch
Christchurch

3 weeks
2 years

In the Scotch Church, Tuam Street

77/2584

07 July 1877

Rev. C. Fraser

No	4603
Date of Notice	07 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Robertson	Eliza Pascoe
	💍 1877/2579
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shepherd	Servant
Age	34	30
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 weeks	2 years
Marriage Place	In the Scotch Church, Tuam Street
Folio	77/2584
Consent
Date of Certificate	07 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser

4604

07 July 1877

Melbourne Jesse Watkins
Anne Victoria Litchfield

Melbourne Jesse Watkins
Anne Victoria Litchfield
💍 1877/1852

Bachelor
Spinster

Saddler

23
21

Christchurch
Christchurch

2 days
6 weeks

In the house of Mr F G Litchfield, Hereford Street

77/1990

07 July 1877

Rev. W. Morley

No	4604
Date of Notice	07 July 1877
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Melbourne Jesse Watkins	Anne Victoria Litchfield
	💍 1877/1852
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Saddler
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	2 days	6 weeks
Marriage Place	In the house of Mr F G Litchfield, Hereford Street
Folio	77/1990
Consent
Date of Certificate	07 July 1877
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. Morley

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 1908. 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).