Intentions to Marry, 1882

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840394, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Carole at Archives NZ Wellington, April 16 2025

Page 703

District of Christchurch Quarter ending 31 March 1882 Registrar MacRuwon

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

[illegible]

Burton Houre
[illegible]

Spinster
[illegible]

[illegible]
[illegible]

26
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

3 months
[illegible]

Christchurch

[illegible]

No	[illegible]
Date of Notice	[illegible]
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Burton Houre	[illegible]
Condition	Spinster	[illegible]
Profession	[illegible]	[illegible]
Age	26	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	3 months	[illegible]
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	[illegible]
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

28 January 1882

Charles Meng
Sarah

Charles Meng
Sarah Winfield Potts
💍 1882/598

Widower
[illegible]

Farmer
[illegible]

47
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

5 days
[illegible]

In St. Matthews St. Albans Cholla

82/524

28 January 1882

Rev. R. Mortimer Church of England

No	29
Date of Notice	28 January 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Meng	Sarah
BDM Match (63%)	Charles Meng	Sarah Winfield Potts
	💍 1882/598
Condition	Widower	[illegible]
Profession	Farmer	[illegible]
Age	47	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	5 days	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In St. Matthews St. Albans Cholla
Folio	82/524
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 January 1882
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Mortimer Church of England

30 January 1882

Winfield Potts
[illegible]

Widow
[illegible]

[illegible]
[illegible]

49
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

2 years
[illegible]

[illegible]

30 January 1882

Rev. L. Guiaty Roman Catholic

No	30
Date of Notice	30 January 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Winfield Potts	[illegible]
Condition	Widow	[illegible]
Profession	[illegible]	[illegible]
Age	49	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	2 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	[illegible]
Folio	[illegible]
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 January 1882
Officiating Minister	Rev. L. Guiaty Roman Catholic

30 January 1882

Michael W. Grath
[illegible]

Bachelor
[illegible]

Labourer
[illegible]

33
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

5 weeks
[illegible]

In the Roman Catholic Church

82/555

[illegible]

No	30
Date of Notice	30 January 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Michael W. Grath	[illegible]
Condition	Bachelor	[illegible]
Profession	Labourer	[illegible]
Age	33	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	5 weeks	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In the Roman Catholic Church
Folio	82/555
Consent
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

31 January 1882

Estherine Morahan
[illegible]

Spinster
[illegible]

Servant
[illegible]

21
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

4 years
[illegible]

Christchurch

[illegible]

No	31
Date of Notice	31 January 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Estherine Morahan	[illegible]
Condition	Spinster	[illegible]
Profession	Servant	[illegible]
Age	21	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	4 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	[illegible]
Consent
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

1 February 1882

John James Speight
Mary

John James Speight
Mary Anne Byrne
💍 1882/1407

Bachelor
[illegible]

Draper
[illegible]

20
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

2 years
[illegible]

In the Registrars office

82/546

no person having authority

1 February 1882

Rev. H. Last Church of England

No	31
Date of Notice	1 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John James Speight	Mary
BDM Match (63%)	John James Speight	Mary Anne Byrne
	💍 1882/1407
Condition	Bachelor	[illegible]
Profession	Draper	[illegible]
Age	20	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	2 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In the Registrars office
Folio	82/546
Consent	no person having authority
Date of Certificate	1 February 1882
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Last Church of England

1 February 1882

Aum Byrne
[illegible]

Spinster
[illegible]

Dressmaker
[illegible]

20
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

2 years
[illegible]

Christchurch

[illegible]

No	32
Date of Notice	1 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Aum Byrne	[illegible]
Condition	Spinster	[illegible]
Profession	Dressmaker	[illegible]
Age	20	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	2 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	[illegible]
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

1 February 1882

James Jolen Hunt
Elizabeth

James John Hunt
Elizabeth Ann Lancaster
💍 1882/657

Bachelor
[illegible]

Farmer
[illegible]

24
[illegible]

Addington
[illegible]

4 years
[illegible]

In St. Mary's Church

82/531

[illegible]

2 February 1882

Rev. W. Harper Church of England

No	32
Date of Notice	1 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Jolen Hunt	Elizabeth
BDM Match (63%)	James John Hunt	Elizabeth Ann Lancaster
	💍 1882/657
Condition	Bachelor	[illegible]
Profession	Farmer	[illegible]
Age	24	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Addington	[illegible]
Length of Residence	4 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In St. Mary's Church
Folio	82/531
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	2 February 1882
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. Harper Church of England

2 February 1882

Aum Lancaster
[illegible]

Spinster
[illegible]

Servant
[illegible]

26
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

7 years
[illegible]

Addington

[illegible]

No	33
Date of Notice	2 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Aum Lancaster	[illegible]
Condition	Spinster	[illegible]
Profession	Servant	[illegible]
Age	26	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	7 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	Addington
Folio	[illegible]
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

2 February 1882

Albert Censley
[illegible]

Bachelor
[illegible]

Painter
[illegible]

25
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

8 years
[illegible]

In St. Michaels Church

[illegible]

No	33
Date of Notice	2 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Albert Censley	[illegible]
Condition	Bachelor	[illegible]
Profession	Painter	[illegible]
Age	25	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	8 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In St. Michaels Church
Folio	[illegible]
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

3 February 1882

Susan Hyland
[illegible]

Widow
[illegible]

[illegible]
[illegible]

40
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

5 years
[illegible]

Christchurch

[illegible]

No	34
Date of Notice	3 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Susan Hyland	[illegible]
Condition	Widow	[illegible]
Profession	[illegible]	[illegible]
Age	40	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	5 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	[illegible]
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

3 February 1882

Charles Brown
Kate

Charles Brown
Kate Emily Pellatt
💍 1882/637

Widower
[illegible]

Moulder
[illegible]

45
[illegible]

St. Albans
[illegible]

7 years
[illegible]

In the House of Mr. Plummer

82/541

[illegible]

3 February 1882

Rev. I. Aldred Wesleyan

No	34
Date of Notice	3 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Brown	Kate
BDM Match (61%)	Charles Brown	Kate Emily Pellatt
	💍 1882/637
Condition	Widower	[illegible]
Profession	Moulder	[illegible]
Age	45	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	St. Albans	[illegible]
Length of Residence	7 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In the House of Mr. Plummer
Folio	82/541
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	3 February 1882
Officiating Minister	Rev. I. Aldred Wesleyan

4 February 1882

Emily Pellatt
[illegible]

Widow
[illegible]

Seamstress
[illegible]

32
[illegible]

St. Albans
[illegible]

7 years
[illegible]

North Belt

[illegible]

No	35
Date of Notice	4 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Emily Pellatt	[illegible]
Condition	Widow	[illegible]
Profession	Seamstress	[illegible]
Age	32	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	St. Albans	[illegible]
Length of Residence	7 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	North Belt
Folio	[illegible]
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

4 February 1882

Cellut Cursley
[illegible]

Bachelor
[illegible]

Painter
[illegible]

25
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

8 years
[illegible]

In the House of Mrs. Bylaw

82/553

[illegible]

4 February 1882

Rev. C. Fraser Presbyterian

No	35
Date of Notice	4 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Cellut Cursley	[illegible]
Condition	Bachelor	[illegible]
Profession	Painter	[illegible]
Age	25	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	8 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In the House of Mrs. Bylaw
Folio	82/553
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	4 February 1882
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. Fraser Presbyterian

4 February 1882

Susan Hyland
[illegible]

Widow
[illegible]

[illegible]
[illegible]

40
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

5 years
[illegible]

Salisbury Street

[illegible]

No	36
Date of Notice	4 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Susan Hyland	[illegible]
Condition	Widow	[illegible]
Profession	[illegible]	[illegible]
Age	40	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	5 years	[illegible]
Marriage Place	Salisbury Street
Folio	[illegible]
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	[illegible]
Officiating Minister	[illegible]

4 February 1882

Frederick Seaman
Nichollst Ulna

Bachelor
[illegible]

Journalist
[illegible]

29
[illegible]

Christchurch
[illegible]

3 months
[illegible]

In the Registrars office

82/573

[illegible]

4 February 1882

Registrar Marriages Markerson

No	36
Date of Notice	4 February 1882
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Seaman	Nichollst Ulna
Condition	Bachelor	[illegible]
Profession	Journalist	[illegible]
Age	29	[illegible]
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	[illegible]
Length of Residence	3 months	[illegible]
Marriage Place	In the Registrars office
Folio	82/573
Consent	[illegible]
Date of Certificate	4 February 1882
Officiating Minister	Registrar Marriages Markerson

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).