Intentions to Marry, 1883

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840395, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke at Archives NZ Wellington, May 16 2025.

Page 547

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 June 1883 Registrar Robert Watson

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

12 April 1883

Evan Llewellyn Prichard
Emma Catherine Godfrey

Evan Llewellyn Prichard
Emma Catherine Godfrey
💍 1883/1478

Bachelor
Spinster

Chemist
Nil

22
20

Trafalgar Street Nelson
Halifax Street Nelson

3 days
9 years

Christchurch

83/1211

12 April 1883

Rev. James Leighton, Church of England

No	17
Date of Notice	12 April 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Evan Llewellyn Prichard	Emma Catherine Godfrey
	💍 1883/1478
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Chemist	Nil
Age	22	20
Dwelling Place	Trafalgar Street Nelson	Halifax Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	9 years
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	83/1211
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 April 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. James Leighton, Church of England

18 April 1883

George Richard Dayman
Mary Ann Andrews

George Richard Dayman
Mary Ann Andrews
💍 1883/1952

Bachelor
Spinster

Blacksmith
Nil

26
23

Newton Street Nelson
Melton Street Nelson

20 years
9 years

Residence of Mary Ann Andrews, Melton Street Nelson

83/1208

18 April 1883

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	18
Date of Notice	18 April 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Richard Dayman	Mary Ann Andrews
	💍 1883/1952
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Blacksmith	Nil
Age	26	23
Dwelling Place	Newton Street Nelson	Melton Street Nelson
Length of Residence	20 years	9 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mary Ann Andrews, Melton Street Nelson
Folio	83/1208
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 April 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

5 May 1883

James Harris
Elizabeth Lyne Gilbert

James Harris
Elizabeth Lyne Gilbert
💍 1883/1460

Bachelor
Spinster

Miner
Nil

33
18

Waimea Street Nelson
Waimea Street Nelson

1 week
1 week

Residence of Joseph R. Gilbert, Waimea Street Nelson

83/1209

Joseph R. Gilbert, father

5 May 1883

Rev. William Lee, Wesleyan Church

No	19
Date of Notice	5 May 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Harris	Elizabeth Lyne Gilbert
	💍 1883/1460
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Miner	Nil
Age	33	18
Dwelling Place	Waimea Street Nelson	Waimea Street Nelson
Length of Residence	1 week	1 week
Marriage Place	Residence of Joseph R. Gilbert, Waimea Street Nelson
Folio	83/1209
Consent	Joseph R. Gilbert, father
Date of Certificate	5 May 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Lee, Wesleyan Church

17 May 1883

Alfred Thorne
Phoebe Parks

Alfred Shone
Phoebe Parkes
💍 1883/1471

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Servant

23
25

New Street Nelson
Tasman Street Nelson

19 years
6 years

Residence of Thomas Hy. Thorne, New Street Nelson

83/1210

17 May 1883

Rev. William Lee, Wesleyan Church

No	20
Date of Notice	17 May 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred Thorne	Phoebe Parks
BDM Match (88%)	Alfred Shone	Phoebe Parkes
	💍 1883/1471
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Servant
Age	23	25
Dwelling Place	New Street Nelson	Tasman Street Nelson
Length of Residence	19 years	6 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Thomas Hy. Thorne, New Street Nelson
Folio	83/1210
Consent
Date of Certificate	17 May 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Lee, Wesleyan Church

19 May 1883

Joseph Jemmens
Eleanor Diggens

Joseph Jennens
Eleanor Diggens
💍 1883/2033

Widower
Widow

Carter
Nurse

33
40

Halifax Street Nelson
Brook Street Nelson

33 years
3 days

Residence of Joseph Jemmens, Halifax Street Nelson

83/1206

19 May 1883

Rev. John Buckenham, Congregational Church

No	21
Date of Notice	19 May 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Jemmens	Eleanor Diggens
BDM Match (93%)	Joseph Jennens	Eleanor Diggens
	💍 1883/2033
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Carter	Nurse
Age	33	40
Dwelling Place	Halifax Street Nelson	Brook Street Nelson
Length of Residence	33 years	3 days
Marriage Place	Residence of Joseph Jemmens, Halifax Street Nelson
Folio	83/1206
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 May 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Buckenham, Congregational Church

19 May 1883

James John Lockley
Euphemia Bruce Pattie

James Colin Lockley
Euphemia Bruce Patti
💍 1883/1953

Bachelor
Spinster

Telegraphist
Nil

25
30

Wakapuaka Nelson
Riwaka

6 years
30 years

Residence of Rev. Pattie Dear, Riwaka

83/Motueka

19 May 1883

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	22
Date of Notice	19 May 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James John Lockley	Euphemia Bruce Pattie
BDM Match (90%)	James Colin Lockley	Euphemia Bruce Patti
	💍 1883/1953
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Telegraphist	Nil
Age	25	30
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka Nelson	Riwaka
Length of Residence	6 years	30 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Rev. Pattie Dear, Riwaka
Folio	83/Motueka
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 May 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

26 May 1883

Felix Walter Mary Hailes
Mary Elizabeth Ann Bolton

Felix Walter Mary Hailes
Mary Elizabeth Anne Bolton
💍 1883/1480

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

33
36

Appleby Waimea
Appleby Waimea

3 years
1 year

Roman Catholic Church, Waimea West

83/1213

26 May 1883

Rev. William Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

No	23
Date of Notice	26 May 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Felix Walter Mary Hailes	Mary Elizabeth Ann Bolton
BDM Match (98%)	Felix Walter Mary Hailes	Mary Elizabeth Anne Bolton
	💍 1883/1480
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	33	36
Dwelling Place	Appleby Waimea	Appleby Waimea
Length of Residence	3 years	1 year
Marriage Place	Roman Catholic Church, Waimea West
Folio	83/1213
Consent
Date of Certificate	26 May 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

7 June 1883

Robert Henry Wait
Alice Louisa Sealy

Robert Henry Wait
Alice Louisa Sealy
💍 1883/1950

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

34
29

Wakapuaka Nelson
Hardy Street Nelson

28 years
4 months

Chapel of the Holy Evangelist, Bishopdale

83/1207

7 June 1883

A.B. Suter, D.D. Bishop, Church of England

No	24
Date of Notice	7 June 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Henry Wait	Alice Louisa Sealy
	💍 1883/1950
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	34	29
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka Nelson	Hardy Street Nelson
Length of Residence	28 years	4 months
Marriage Place	Chapel of the Holy Evangelist, Bishopdale
Folio	83/1207
Consent
Date of Certificate	7 June 1883
Officiating Minister	A.B. Suter, D.D. Bishop, Church of England

11 June 1883

Gardner Hunter
Eliza Jane Ellis

Gardner Hunter
Eliza Jane Ellis
💍 1883/1954

Widower
Widow

Farmer
Nil

52
48

Waimea West
Bridge Street Nelson

39 years
6 years

Residence of Edward Ellis, Baker, Washington Valley Nelson

83/1208

11 June 1883

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	25
Date of Notice	11 June 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Gardner Hunter	Eliza Jane Ellis
	💍 1883/1954
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	52	48
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Bridge Street Nelson
Length of Residence	39 years	6 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Edward Ellis, Baker, Washington Valley Nelson
Folio	83/1208
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 June 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

19 June 1883

Siegmund Schwartz
Emma Buchholtz

Ziegmund Schwartz
Emma Buchholz
💍 1883/2032

Bachelor
Spinster

Wine Merchant
Nil

30
27

Bridge Street Nelson
Hardy Street Nelson

3 days
1 year

Residence of Siegmund Buchholtz, Hardy Street Nelson

83/1205

19 June 1883

Rev. Herman Van Staveren, Hebrew Congregation

No	26
Date of Notice	19 June 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Siegmund Schwartz	Emma Buchholtz
BDM Match (94%)	Ziegmund Schwartz	Emma Buchholz
	💍 1883/2032
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Wine Merchant	Nil
Age	30	27
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Hardy Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	1 year
Marriage Place	Residence of Siegmund Buchholtz, Hardy Street Nelson
Folio	83/1205
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 June 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. Herman Van Staveren, Hebrew Congregation

22 June 1883

George Dodson
Sarah Ann Pitcher

George Dobson
Sarah Ann Pitcher
💍 1883/2034

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

29
22

Wakapuaka Nelson
Wakapuaka Nelson

29 years
22 years

St. Andrew Church, Wakapuaka

83/1204

22 June 1883

Rev. Walter Herbert Ray, Church of England

No	27
Date of Notice	22 June 1883
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Dodson	Sarah Ann Pitcher
BDM Match (96%)	George Dobson	Sarah Ann Pitcher
	💍 1883/2034
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	29	22
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka Nelson	Wakapuaka Nelson
Length of Residence	29 years	22 years
Marriage Place	St. Andrew Church, Wakapuaka
Folio	83/1204
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 June 1883
Officiating Minister	Rev. Walter Herbert Ray, Church of England

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).