Intentions to Marry, 1880

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840392, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Page 317

District of Wanganui Quarter ending Oct - Dec

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

9 October 1880

Ernest Forward
Sophia Weedon

Ernest Townsend
Esther Weedon
💍 1880/2764

Bachelor
Spinster

Junior

21
19

Wanganui
do

19 yrs
3 days

In the Wesleyan Church Wanganui

744

John Weedon, father, consenting to marriage

23 October 1880

Rev. Mr Lee Wesleyan

No	49
Date of Notice	9 October 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Ernest Forward	Sophia Weedon
BDM Match (61%)	Ernest Townsend	Esther Weedon
	💍 1880/2764
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Junior
Age	21	19
Dwelling Place	Wanganui	do
Length of Residence	19 yrs	3 days
Marriage Place	In the Wesleyan Church Wanganui
Folio	744
Consent	John Weedon, father, consenting to marriage
Date of Certificate	23 October 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Mr Lee Wesleyan

12 October 1880

Francis O'Dowd
Margaret Dundon

Francis O'Dowd
Margaret Dundas
💍 1880/2771

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

26
23

do
do

2 yrs.
2 yrs.

In the Roman Catholic Church Wanganui

801

12 October 1880

Rev. P.H.C. Kirk Roman Catholic

No	50
Date of Notice	12 October 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Francis O'Dowd	Margaret Dundon
BDM Match (93%)	Francis O'Dowd	Margaret Dundas
	💍 1880/2771
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	26	23
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	2 yrs.	2 yrs.
Marriage Place	In the Roman Catholic Church Wanganui
Folio	801
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 October 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. P.H.C. Kirk Roman Catholic

16 October 1880

Alfred William Waller
Ellen Mary Rawlings

Alfred William Waller
Ellen Mary Chamberlain
💍 1880/2766

Bachelor
Spinster

Gentleman

23
19

do
do

1 yr.
1 yr.

William Waller, St Hill Street Wanganui

775

William Waller father consenting to marriage

18 October 1880

Rev. J. Jones England

No	51
Date of Notice	16 October 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred William Waller	Ellen Mary Rawlings
BDM Match (80%)	Alfred William Waller	Ellen Mary Chamberlain
	💍 1880/2766
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gentleman
Age	23	19
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	1 yr.	1 yr.
Marriage Place	William Waller, St Hill Street Wanganui
Folio	775
Consent	William Waller father consenting to marriage
Date of Certificate	18 October 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Jones England

18 October 1880

James Winthorp Anderton
Margaret Lonigan

James Wenthrop Anderson
Margaret Montgomerie
💍 1880/2775

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

29
18

Maxwelltown
Putiki

6 yrs
8 yrs.

In the Parish Church of England

1242/80

18 October 1880

Rev. T.L. Tudor Church of England

No	52
Date of Notice	18 October 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Winthorp Anderton	Margaret Lonigan
BDM Match (71%)	James Wenthrop Anderson	Margaret Montgomerie
	💍 1880/2775
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	29	18
Dwelling Place	Maxwelltown	Putiki
Length of Residence	6 yrs	8 yrs.
Marriage Place	In the Parish Church of England
Folio	1242/80
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 October 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. T.L. Tudor Church of England

19 October 1880

Thomas Wolfe
Eliza Dennis

Thomas Worle
Eliza Dennis
💍 1880/2765

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer

34
23

Wanganui
do

3 yrs.
9 mos

In the residence of Mr. S. Bolton

1/241/80

19 October 1880

Rev. Wm Lee Wesleyan

No	53
Date of Notice	19 October 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Wolfe	Eliza Dennis
BDM Match (92%)	Thomas Worle	Eliza Dennis
	💍 1880/2765
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer
Age	34	23
Dwelling Place	Wanganui	do
Length of Residence	3 yrs.	9 mos
Marriage Place	In the residence of Mr. S. Bolton
Folio	1/241/80
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 October 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Wm Lee Wesleyan

27 October 1880

Patrick Lynch
Margaret Passy

Patrick Lynch
Margaret Casey
💍 1880/2772

Bachelor
Spinster

Farm Labourer

24
21

do
do

4 days
4 days

Harrison Street, Wanganui

27 October 1880

Rev. B.H. Kirk

No	54
Date of Notice	27 October 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Patrick Lynch	Margaret Passy
BDM Match (93%)	Patrick Lynch	Margaret Casey
	💍 1880/2772
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farm Labourer
Age	24	21
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	4 days	4 days
Marriage Place	Harrison Street, Wanganui
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 October 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. B.H. Kirk

30 October 1880

Thomas Walton
Flora Manton

Thomas Walker
Clara Manton
💍 1880/2786

Bachelor
Widow

Groom

22
27

do
do

7 days
9 days

In the Roman Catholic Church

80/ 1242/80

30 October 1880

S.M. Moran Roman Catholic

No	55
Date of Notice	30 October 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Walton	Flora Manton
BDM Match (80%)	Thomas Walker	Clara Manton
	💍 1880/2786
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Groom
Age	22	27
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	7 days	9 days
Marriage Place	In the Roman Catholic Church
Folio	80/ 1242/80
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 October 1880
Officiating Minister	S.M. Moran Roman Catholic

3 November 1880

Wilfrid Walter
Mary Ann Holmes Barlow

Wilfred Waters
Mary Ann Holmes Barlow
💍 1880/2767

Bachelor
Spinster

Milkman

25
17

do
do

24 yrs.
5 yrs.

Wanganui

80/ 1241/80

Frederick Barlow, father

7 Novr. 1880

Rev. Wm Lee Registrar

No	56
Date of Notice	3 November 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Wilfrid Walter	Mary Ann Holmes Barlow
BDM Match (89%)	Wilfred Waters	Mary Ann Holmes Barlow
	💍 1880/2767
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Milkman
Age	25	17
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	24 yrs.	5 yrs.
Marriage Place	Wanganui
Folio	80/ 1241/80
Consent	Frederick Barlow, father
Date of Certificate	7 Novr. 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Wm Lee Registrar

4 December 1880

Charles Edward Best
Jane Keilon

Charles Edward Best
Mary Neilson
💍 1880/2769

Bachelor
Spinster

Joiner

27
21

do
do

12 mos
5 yrs.

In the residence of the Rev. Wm Lee, Wanganui

80/ 1243/80

4 Decr. 1880

Rev. Jas. Treadwell Wanganui

No	57
Date of Notice	4 December 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Edward Best	Jane Keilon
BDM Match (79%)	Charles Edward Best	Mary Neilson
	💍 1880/2769
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Joiner
Age	27	21
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	12 mos	5 yrs.
Marriage Place	In the residence of the Rev. Wm Lee, Wanganui
Folio	80/ 1243/80
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 Decr. 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jas. Treadwell Wanganui

6 December 1880

George Ross
Louisa Black

George Ross
Louisa Clark
💍 1880/2773

Bachelor
Widow

Assistant

27
32

do
do

17 yrs.
2 yrs.

In the residence of Mr. T. In the Office of the Registrar

80/ 1244/80

6 Decr. 1880

Rev. James Treadwell Registrar

No	58
Date of Notice	6 December 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Ross	Louisa Black
BDM Match (92%)	George Ross	Louisa Clark
	💍 1880/2773
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Assistant
Age	27	32
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	17 yrs.	2 yrs.
Marriage Place	In the residence of Mr. T. In the Office of the Registrar
Folio	80/ 1244/80
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 Decr. 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. James Treadwell Registrar

8 December 1880

John Richmond
Eliza J. Neilson

John Richmond
Elizabeth Neilson
💍 1880/2770

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter

28
16

do
do

2 yrs.
11 yrs.

Harrison Street, Wanganui

80/ 1242/81

8 Decr 1880

Rev. Wm Lee Wesleyan

No	59
Date of Notice	8 December 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Richmond	Eliza J. Neilson
BDM Match (88%)	John Richmond	Elizabeth Neilson
	💍 1880/2770
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter
Age	28	16
Dwelling Place	do	do
Length of Residence	2 yrs.	11 yrs.
Marriage Place	Harrison Street, Wanganui
Folio	80/ 1242/81
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 Decr 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Wm Lee Wesleyan

13 December 1880

Frederick Henry Grant
Kate Robertson

Frederick Henry Crawford
Kate Robertson
💍 1880/2776

Bachelor
Spinster

Brewer

30
20

Wanganui

2 yrs.
8 yrs.

In the residence of John Richmond, Bell Street, Wanganui

1242/80

Elizabeth T[UNCLEAR] consenting to marriage of her granddaughter

18 Decr 1880

Rev. T.L. Tudor Church of England

No	60
Date of Notice	13 December 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Henry Grant	Kate Robertson
BDM Match (88%)	Frederick Henry Crawford	Kate Robertson
	💍 1880/2776
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Brewer
Age	30	20
Dwelling Place		Wanganui
Length of Residence	2 yrs.	8 yrs.
Marriage Place	In the residence of John Richmond, Bell Street, Wanganui
Folio	1242/80
Consent	Elizabeth T[UNCLEAR] consenting to marriage of her granddaughter
Date of Certificate	18 Decr 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. T.L. Tudor Church of England

These records have been automatically transcribed and must be verified using the page image (below)

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Attribution: This image was digitised by Archives NZ Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga and is republished here under CC BY. It has been cropped and rotated for convenience.

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).