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 498

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 September 1880 Registrar Robert Kirton

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

18 August 1880

Percy Neame
Caroline Sharp

Percy Neame
Caroline Sharp
💍 1880/2555

Bachelor
Spinster

Shearer
Nil

23
20

Haven Road Nelson
Waimea Street Nelson

14 days
7 days

At the Office of the Registrar of Marriages Nelson

80/1931

Sarah Sharp, mother

18 August 1880

Robert Kirton Registrar

No	42
Date of Notice	18 August 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Percy Neame	Caroline Sharp
	💍 1880/2555
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shearer	Nil
Age	23	20
Dwelling Place	Haven Road Nelson	Waimea Street Nelson
Length of Residence	14 days	7 days
Marriage Place	At the Office of the Registrar of Marriages Nelson
Folio	80/1931
Consent	Sarah Sharp, mother
Date of Certificate	18 August 1880
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton Registrar

21 August 1880

James Greig
Sarah Emma Neale

James Greig
Sarah Emma Neale
💍 1880/2544

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Schoolmistress

31
30

Waimea Road Nelson
Waimea Road Nelson

25 years
3 days

The Presbyterian Church, Nelson

80/1926

21 August 1880

Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of NZ

No	43
Date of Notice	21 August 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Greig	Sarah Emma Neale
	💍 1880/2544
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Schoolmistress
Age	31	30
Dwelling Place	Waimea Road Nelson	Waimea Road Nelson
Length of Residence	25 years	3 days
Marriage Place	The Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	80/1926
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 August 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of NZ

26 August 1880

George Edmund Wastney
Emily Louisa Alborough

George Edmund Wastney
Emily Louise Alborough
💍 1880/584

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

24
17

Wakapuaka Nelson
Wakapuaka Nelson

24 years
8 years

St. Andrews Church, Wakapuaka

80/1924

William Alborough Father

26 August 1880

Rev. Thomas Samuel Grace Church of England

No	44
Date of Notice	26 August 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Edmund Wastney	Emily Louisa Alborough
BDM Match (98%)	George Edmund Wastney	Emily Louise Alborough
	💍 1880/584
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	24	17
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka Nelson	Wakapuaka Nelson
Length of Residence	24 years	8 years
Marriage Place	St. Andrews Church, Wakapuaka
Folio	80/1924
Consent	William Alborough Father
Date of Certificate	26 August 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Thomas Samuel Grace Church of England

28 August 1880

William Child
Mary Ann Midgley

William Child
Mary Ann Midgley
💍 1880/582

Bachelor
Spinster

Joiner
Nil

37
28

Bridge Street Nelson
Bridge Street Nelson

4 years
3 days

At the Residence of Rev. A. J. Hamilton, Bridge Street, Nelson

80/1922

28 August 1880

Rev. Alexander John Hamilton Baptist

No	45
Date of Notice	28 August 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Child	Mary Ann Midgley
	💍 1880/582
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Joiner	Nil
Age	37	28
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Bridge Street Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	3 days
Marriage Place	At the Residence of Rev. A. J. Hamilton, Bridge Street, Nelson
Folio	80/1922
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 August 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Alexander John Hamilton Baptist

30 August 1880

Peter Whitebrook Middlemiss
Annie Robinson

Peter Whitebrook Middlemiss
Annie Robinson
💍 1880/2556

Bachelor
Spinster

Engineer
Nil

20
22

Gloucester Street Nelson
Gloucester Street Nelson

18 months
6 months

At the Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

80/1932

Peter Middlemiss father

30 August 1880

Robert Kirton Registrar

No	46
Date of Notice	30 August 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Peter Whitebrook Middlemiss	Annie Robinson
	💍 1880/2556
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engineer	Nil
Age	20	22
Dwelling Place	Gloucester Street Nelson	Gloucester Street Nelson
Length of Residence	18 months	6 months
Marriage Place	At the Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	80/1932
Consent	Peter Middlemiss father
Date of Certificate	30 August 1880
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton Registrar

1 September 1880

James Simpson
Jennet Hemmingway

James Simpson
Janet Hemmingway
💍 1880/2552

Widower
Widow

Fireman
Nil

41
34

Washington Valley Nelson
The Port Nelson

30 years
3 years

Residence of Wm Akersten, The Port, Nelson

80/1928

1 September 1880

Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of N.Z

No	47
Date of Notice	1 September 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Simpson	Jennet Hemmingway
BDM Match (94%)	James Simpson	Janet Hemmingway
	💍 1880/2552
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Fireman	Nil
Age	41	34
Dwelling Place	Washington Valley Nelson	The Port Nelson
Length of Residence	30 years	3 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Wm Akersten, The Port, Nelson
Folio	80/1928
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 September 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of N.Z

1 September 1880

Edward Moss
Helen Honnor

Edward Moss
Helen Honnor
💍 1880/2551

Bachelor
Spinster

Actor
Nil

28
21

Bridge Street Nelson
Nile Street Nelson

5 days
8 months

Presbyterian Church, Nelson

80/1927

1 September 1880

Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of N.Z.

No	48
Date of Notice	1 September 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Moss	Helen Honnor
	💍 1880/2551
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Actor	Nil
Age	28	21
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Nile Street Nelson
Length of Residence	5 days	8 months
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	80/1927
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 September 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of N.Z.

8 September 1880

John Thomas Veysey
Agnes Catherine Flowerday

John Thomas Vayley
Agnes Catherine Flowerday
💍 1880/583

Bachelor
Spinster

Teacher
Nil

21
18

Haven Road Nelson
Haven Road Nelson

18 Months
3 years

Residence Francis William Flowerday, Haven Road, Nelson

80/1923

Francis William Flowerday father

8 September 1880

Rev. Alexander John Hamilton Baptist

No	49
Date of Notice	8 September 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Thomas Veysey	Agnes Catherine Flowerday
BDM Match (94%)	John Thomas Vayley	Agnes Catherine Flowerday
	💍 1880/583
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Teacher	Nil
Age	21	18
Dwelling Place	Haven Road Nelson	Haven Road Nelson
Length of Residence	18 Months	3 years
Marriage Place	Residence Francis William Flowerday, Haven Road, Nelson
Folio	80/1923
Consent	Francis William Flowerday father
Date of Certificate	8 September 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Alexander John Hamilton Baptist

8 September 1880

Walter James Vaughan
Mary Jane Kendall

Walter James Vaughan
Mary Jane Kendall
💍 1880/2536

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Servant

22
19

Victoria Heights Nelson
Washington Valley Nelson

3 days
4 years

Residence of Mr. Brown, Washington Valley, Nelson

80/1936

No person having authority

10 September 1880

Rev. Rainsford Bavin Wesleyan Minister

No	50
Date of Notice	8 September 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Walter James Vaughan	Mary Jane Kendall
	💍 1880/2536
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Servant
Age	22	19
Dwelling Place	Victoria Heights Nelson	Washington Valley Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	4 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. Brown, Washington Valley, Nelson
Folio	80/1936
Consent	No person having authority
Date of Certificate	10 September 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Rainsford Bavin Wesleyan Minister

17 September 1880

Edward Woodward
Alice Friend

Edward Woodward
Alice Friend
💍 1880/579

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

22
23

Harley Street Nelson
Harley Street Nelson

22 years
4 years

St. Mary's Catholic Station, Nelson

80/1919

17 September 1880

Rev. William Mahoney Roman Catholic Church

No	51
Date of Notice	17 September 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Woodward	Alice Friend
	💍 1880/579
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	22	23
Dwelling Place	Harley Street Nelson	Harley Street Nelson
Length of Residence	22 years	4 years
Marriage Place	St. Mary's Catholic Station, Nelson
Folio	80/1919
Consent
Date of Certificate	17 September 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Mahoney Roman Catholic Church

20 September 1880

Joseph Henry Richards
Flora Jane MacLean

Joseph Henry Richards
Flora Jane McLean
💍 1880/576

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Dressmaker

18
21

Nile Street East Nelson
Hardy Street Nelson

15 Years
21 years

Presbyterian Church, Nelson

80/1917

James Henry Richards father

20 September 1880

Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of N.Z.

No	52
Date of Notice	20 September 1880
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Henry Richards	Flora Jane MacLean
BDM Match (97%)	Joseph Henry Richards	Flora Jane McLean
	💍 1880/576
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Dressmaker
Age	18	21
Dwelling Place	Nile Street East Nelson	Hardy Street Nelson
Length of Residence	15 Years	21 years
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	80/1917
Consent	James Henry Richards father
Date of Certificate	20 September 1880
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder Presbyterian Church of N.Z.

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 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).