Intentions to Marry, 1884

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840396, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke at Archives NZ Wellington, April 30 2025

Page 624

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 December 1884 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

4 October 1884

Charles John Harley
Janet Rimage Kerr

Charles John Harley
Janet Rimage Kerr
💍 1884/3307

Bachelor
Spinster

Solicitor
Nil

22
23

Stoke Waimea
Milton Street Nelson

20 years
2 years

Presbyterian Church, Nelson

84/3209

4 October 1884

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Minister

No	64
Date of Notice	4 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles John Harley	Janet Rimage Kerr
	💍 1884/3307
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Solicitor	Nil
Age	22	23
Dwelling Place	Stoke Waimea	Milton Street Nelson
Length of Residence	20 years	2 years
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	84/3209
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Minister

6 October 1884

William Howard Stafford
Adelaide Constance Oldham

William Howard Stafford
Adelaide Constance Oldham
💍 1884/1524

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

23
22

Stoke Waimea
Wakapuaka

15 years
7 years

All Saints Church, Nelson

84/3221

6 October 1884

Rev. Francis Innes Jones, Church of England

No	65
Date of Notice	6 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Howard Stafford	Adelaide Constance Oldham
	💍 1884/1524
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	23	22
Dwelling Place	Stoke Waimea	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	15 years	7 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church, Nelson
Folio	84/3221
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. Francis Innes Jones, Church of England

13 October 1884

Arthur Armstrong
Emily Bertha Townsend

Arthur Armstrong
Emily Bertha Townsend
💍 1884/1520

Bachelor
Spinster

Master Mariner
Nil

31
24

The Port Nelson
The Port Nelson

3 days
3 years

Christ church, Nelson

84/3217

13 October 1884

Rev. John Taylor, D.D., Church of England

No	66
Date of Notice	13 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Armstrong	Emily Bertha Townsend
	💍 1884/1520
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Master Mariner	Nil
Age	31	24
Dwelling Place	The Port Nelson	The Port Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	3 years
Marriage Place	Christ church, Nelson
Folio	84/3217
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Taylor, D.D., Church of England

15 October 1884

James Moore
Harriet Jane Keys

James Moore
Harriet Jane Keys
💍 1884/1506

Widower
Widow

Mariner
Nil

46
28

Washington Road Nelson
Collingwood Street Nelson

3 years
6 weeks

Wesleyan Parsonage, Nelson

84/3227

15 October 1884

Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	67
Date of Notice	15 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Moore	Harriet Jane Keys
	💍 1884/1506
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Mariner	Nil
Age	46	28
Dwelling Place	Washington Road Nelson	Collingwood Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	6 weeks
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Parsonage, Nelson
Folio	84/3227
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

15 October 1884

Frank Clifton Litchfield
Clara Lavinia Ganard

Frank Clifton Litchfield
Clara Lavinia Garrard
💍 1884/1507

Bachelor
Spinster

Ironmonger
Nil

27
24

Haven Road Nelson
Haven Road Nelson

3 days
24 years

Residence of Joseph Ganard, Haven Road, Nelson

84/3228

15 October 1884

Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	68
Date of Notice	15 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frank Clifton Litchfield	Clara Lavinia Ganard
BDM Match (95%)	Frank Clifton Litchfield	Clara Lavinia Garrard
	💍 1884/1507
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Ironmonger	Nil
Age	27	24
Dwelling Place	Haven Road Nelson	Haven Road Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	24 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Joseph Ganard, Haven Road, Nelson
Folio	84/3228
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

21 October 1884

George William Jarrett
Maria Cotton

George William Janett
Maria Cotter
💍 1884/3309

Bachelor
Widow

Carter
Nil

41
26

Harley Street Nelson
Harley Street Nelson

7 years
11 years

Residence of Mrs. Maria Cotton, Harley Street, Nelson

84/3210

21 October 1884

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	69
Date of Notice	21 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George William Jarrett	Maria Cotton
BDM Match (87%)	George William Janett	Maria Cotter
	💍 1884/3309
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Carter	Nil
Age	41	26
Dwelling Place	Harley Street Nelson	Harley Street Nelson
Length of Residence	7 years	11 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs. Maria Cotton, Harley Street, Nelson
Folio	84/3210
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

23 October 1884

George Boggis
Eliza Isaac

George Boggis
Eliza Isaac
💍 1884/1525

Bachelor
Widow

Farmer
Nil

55
49

Bridge Street Nelson
Russell Street Nelson

3 days
3 weeks

Residence of Mr. T. Adams, Russell Street, Nelson

84/3222

23 October 1884

Rev. Walter Herbert Kay, Church of England

No	70
Date of Notice	23 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Boggis	Eliza Isaac
	💍 1884/1525
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	55	49
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Russell Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	3 weeks
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. T. Adams, Russell Street, Nelson
Folio	84/3222
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. Walter Herbert Kay, Church of England

29 October 1884

Marshall Nalder
Constance Mary Browning

Marshall Nalder
Constance Mary Browning
💍 1884/723

Bachelor
Spinster

Solicitor
Nil

28
22

Kaiapoi Selwyn
St. Katherine's Nelson

3 years
4 years

Bishopdale Church, Nelson

84/3797

29 October 1884

Rev. Walter Herbert Kay, Church of England

No	71
Date of Notice	29 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Marshall Nalder	Constance Mary Browning
	💍 1884/723
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Solicitor	Nil
Age	28	22
Dwelling Place	Kaiapoi Selwyn	St. Katherine's Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	4 years
Marriage Place	Bishopdale Church, Nelson
Folio	84/3797
Consent
Date of Certificate	29 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. Walter Herbert Kay, Church of England

29 October 1884

Jesse Harry Mason
Alice Jane Hyde

Jesse Harry Mason
Alice Jane Hyde
💍 1884/1521

Bachelor
Spinster

Painter
Nil

23
18

Alton Street Nelson
Stoke Waimea

1 year
18 years

St. Barnabas Church, Stoke

84/3218

Hamond Hyde, father

29 October 1884

Rev. John Leathley Nightingale, Church of England

No	72
Date of Notice	29 October 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Jesse Harry Mason	Alice Jane Hyde
	💍 1884/1521
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Painter	Nil
Age	23	18
Dwelling Place	Alton Street Nelson	Stoke Waimea
Length of Residence	1 year	18 years
Marriage Place	St. Barnabas Church, Stoke
Folio	84/3218
Consent	Hamond Hyde, father
Date of Certificate	29 October 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Leathley Nightingale, Church of England

3 November 1884

John Hale
Alice Mary Hastilow

John Hale
Alice Mary Hastilow
💍 1884/1508

Bachelor
Spinster

Nurseryman
Servant

23
21

Waimea Road Nelson
Trafalgar Street South Nelson

23 years
9 months

Wesleyan Church, Nelson

84/3229

3 November 1884

Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	73
Date of Notice	3 November 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Hale	Alice Mary Hastilow
	💍 1884/1508
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Nurseryman	Servant
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	Waimea Road Nelson	Trafalgar Street South Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years	9 months
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Nelson
Folio	84/3229
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 November 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

3 November 1884

Thomas Henry Bell
Ada Tregea

Thomas Henry Bell
Ada Tregen
💍 1884/3310

Bachelor
Spinster

Carriage Painter
Nil

28
21

Nile Street Nelson
Alma Lane Nelson

2 1/2 years
21 years

Presbyterian Church, Nelson

84/3211

3 November 1884

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	74
Date of Notice	3 November 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Henry Bell	Ada Tregea
BDM Match (95%)	Thomas Henry Bell	Ada Tregen
	💍 1884/3310
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carriage Painter	Nil
Age	28	21
Dwelling Place	Nile Street Nelson	Alma Lane Nelson
Length of Residence	2 1/2 years	21 years
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	84/3211
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 November 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

8 November 1884

George Chapman
Jane Elizabeth Talbot

George Chapman
Jane Elizabeth Talbot
💍 1884/1511

Bachelor
Spinster

Miller
Dressmaker

27
21

Collingwood Street Nelson
Bridge Street Nelson

11 years
5 months

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

84/3232

8 November 1884

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	75
Date of Notice	8 November 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Chapman	Jane Elizabeth Talbot
	💍 1884/1511
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Miller	Dressmaker
Age	27	21
Dwelling Place	Collingwood Street Nelson	Bridge Street Nelson
Length of Residence	11 years	5 months
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	84/3232
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 November 1884
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

8 November 1884

John Jellyman
Jane Cox

John Jellyman
Jane Cox
💍 1884/1517

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

22
23

Stoke Waimea
Toi Toi Valley Nelson

22 years
9 years

Congregational Church, Nelson

84/3237

8 November 1884

Revd Henry Josiah Lewis, Congregational Church

No	76
Date of Notice	8 November 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Jellyman	Jane Cox
	💍 1884/1517
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	22	23
Dwelling Place	Stoke Waimea	Toi Toi Valley Nelson
Length of Residence	22 years	9 years
Marriage Place	Congregational Church, Nelson
Folio	84/3237
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 November 1884
Officiating Minister	Revd Henry Josiah Lewis, Congregational Church

8 November 1884

Sidney Francis Sherwood
Emma Jane Morley

Sidney Francis Sherwood
Emma Jane Morley
💍 1884/3311

Bachelor
Spinster

Clerk
Nil

21
20

Nile Street East Nelson
Waimea Street Nelson

21 years
7 years

Residence of Mr. George Morley, Waimea Street, Nelson

84/3212

George Morley, father

8 November 1884

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	77
Date of Notice	8 November 1884
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Sidney Francis Sherwood	Emma Jane Morley
	💍 1884/3311
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Clerk	Nil
Age	21	20
Dwelling Place	Nile Street East Nelson	Waimea Street Nelson
Length of Residence	21 years	7 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. George Morley, Waimea Street, Nelson
Folio	84/3212
Consent	George Morley, father
Date of Certificate	8 November 1884
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

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).