Intentions to Marry, 1886

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840398, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke at Archives NZ Wellington, May 14 2025

Page 183

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1886 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

19 January 1886

Robert Russell
May Ann Black

Robert Russell
Mary Ann Blick
💍 1886/588

Widower
Widow

Gardener

52
53

Toi Toi Valley
Toi Toi Valley

12 years
14 years

Residence of Robert Russell, Toi Toi Valley, Nelson

86/460

19 January 1886

Rev. H. I. Lewis, Congregational Minister

No	1
Date of Notice	19 January 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Russell	May Ann Black
BDM Match (93%)	Robert Russell	Mary Ann Blick
	💍 1886/588
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Gardener
Age	52	53
Dwelling Place	Toi Toi Valley	Toi Toi Valley
Length of Residence	12 years	14 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Robert Russell, Toi Toi Valley, Nelson
Folio	86/460
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 January 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. I. Lewis, Congregational Minister

28 January 1886

William Evans Dempsie
Mary Hollister

William Evans Dempsie
Mary Hollister
💍 1886/596

Bachelor
Widow

Gentleman

28
42

Stoke Nelson
Stoke Nelson

3 months
3 months

Turf Hotel, Stoke, Nelson

86/467

28 January 1886

Rev. W. H. Beck, Wesleyan Minister

No	2
Date of Notice	28 January 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Evans Dempsie	Mary Hollister
	💍 1886/596
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Gentleman
Age	28	42
Dwelling Place	Stoke Nelson	Stoke Nelson
Length of Residence	3 months	3 months
Marriage Place	Turf Hotel, Stoke, Nelson
Folio	86/467
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 January 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. H. Beck, Wesleyan Minister

30 January 1886

Arthur James Batt
Rose Anstice

Arthur James Batt
Rose Anstice
💍 1886/597

Bachelor
Spinster

Railway Employee
Nil

26
21

Belgrove
Hardy Street Nelson

26 years
15 years

Residence of John Anstice, Hardy Street, Nelson

86/468

30 January 1886

Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	3
Date of Notice	30 January 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur James Batt	Rose Anstice
	💍 1886/597
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Railway Employee	Nil
Age	26	21
Dwelling Place	Belgrove	Hardy Street Nelson
Length of Residence	26 years	15 years
Marriage Place	Residence of John Anstice, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	86/468
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 January 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

2 February 1886

James Coffey
Hannah Barry

James Coffey
Hannah Barry
💍 1886/594

Bachelor
Spinster

Miner
Newarder

41
24

Waimea Street Nelson
Haven Road Nelson

3 months
1 month

St Marys Catholic Church, Nelson

86/465

2 February 1886

Rev. William Joseph Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

No	4
Date of Notice	2 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Coffey	Hannah Barry
	💍 1886/594
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Miner	Newarder
Age	41	24
Dwelling Place	Waimea Street Nelson	Haven Road Nelson
Length of Residence	3 months	1 month
Marriage Place	St Marys Catholic Church, Nelson
Folio	86/465
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Joseph Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

12 February 1886

William Waller
Emily Golconda Cross

William Waller
Emily Golconda Cross
💍 1886/583

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner
Nil

31
23

Wakefield Quay Nelson
Waimea Road Nelson

3 days
23 years

English Church, Bishopdale

86/455

12 February 1886

Rev. Charles William Jennings, Church of England

No	5
Date of Notice	12 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Waller	Emily Golconda Cross
	💍 1886/583
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Nil
Age	31	23
Dwelling Place	Wakefield Quay Nelson	Waimea Road Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	23 years
Marriage Place	English Church, Bishopdale
Folio	86/455
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. Charles William Jennings, Church of England

13 February 1886

Charles Edwin Stratford
Annie Taylor

Charles Edwin Stratford
Annie Taylor
💍 1886/592

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

25
23

Richmond Waimea
Richmond Waimea

2 years
23 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

86/463

13 February 1886

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	6
Date of Notice	13 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Edwin Stratford	Annie Taylor
	💍 1886/592
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	25	23
Dwelling Place	Richmond Waimea	Richmond Waimea
Length of Residence	2 years	23 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	86/463
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

15 February 1886

Charles Lucas
Emily Hill

Charles Lucas
Emily Hill
💍 1886/575

Widower
Widow

Farmer
Tailoress

about 63
56

Picton
Bridge Street Nelson

3 days
18 years

Residence of Rev. George K. Stowell, Presbyterian Church, Picton

86/439

15 February 1886

Rev. George Kidderminster Stowell, Presbyterian Church, Picton

No	7
Date of Notice	15 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Lucas	Emily Hill
	💍 1886/575
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Farmer	Tailoress
Age	about 63	56
Dwelling Place	Picton	Bridge Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	18 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Rev. George K. Stowell, Presbyterian Church, Picton
Folio	86/439
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. George Kidderminster Stowell, Presbyterian Church, Picton

18 February 1886

Walter Scott Wells
Theresa Agnes Dickson

Walter Scott Wells
Theresa Agnes Dickson
💍 1886/593

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

33
21

Suburban North Nelson
Bridge Street Nelson

15 years
3 months

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

86/464

18 February 1886

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	8
Date of Notice	18 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Walter Scott Wells	Theresa Agnes Dickson
	💍 1886/593
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	33	21
Dwelling Place	Suburban North Nelson	Bridge Street Nelson
Length of Residence	15 years	3 months
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	86/464
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

20 February 1886

John James Corlett
Lillies Davis

John James Corlett
Lillies Davis
💍 1886/605

Bachelor
Widow

Mariner
Stewardess

38
41

Bridge Street Nelson
Bridge Street Nelson

7 months
7 days

Residence of H. Thomson, Bridge Street, Nelson

86/469

20 February 1886

Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	9
Date of Notice	20 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John James Corlett	Lillies Davis
	💍 1886/605
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Mariner	Stewardess
Age	38	41
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Bridge Street Nelson
Length of Residence	7 months	7 days
Marriage Place	Residence of H. Thomson, Bridge Street, Nelson
Folio	86/469
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

23 February 1886

Francis Hooper
Rachel Mary Bolton

Francis Hooper
Rachel Mary Bolton
💍 1886/584

Bachelor
Spinster

Storekeeper
Dressmaker

32
23

Bridge Street Nelson
Waimea Street Nelson

3 days
23 years

At the residence of Samuel Bolton, Waimea Street, Nelson

86/456

23 February 1886

Rev. Charles William Jennings, Church of England

No	10
Date of Notice	23 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Francis Hooper	Rachel Mary Bolton
	💍 1886/584
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Storekeeper	Dressmaker
Age	32	23
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Waimea Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	23 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Samuel Bolton, Waimea Street, Nelson
Folio	86/456
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. Charles William Jennings, Church of England

24 February 1886

Christian Sixtus
Sophia Mary Siggelkow

C Sixtus
Sophie Marie Siggelkow
💍 1886/587

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

25
26

Hope Waimea
Hope Waimea

2 years
26 years

The Lutheran Church, Hope

86/459

24 February 1886

Rev. Hermann Wilhelm Kavent, Lutheran Church

No	11
Date of Notice	24 February 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Christian Sixtus	Sophia Mary Siggelkow
BDM Match (68%)	C Sixtus	Sophie Marie Siggelkow
	💍 1886/587
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	25	26
Dwelling Place	Hope Waimea	Hope Waimea
Length of Residence	2 years	26 years
Marriage Place	The Lutheran Church, Hope
Folio	86/459
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 February 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. Hermann Wilhelm Kavent, Lutheran Church

6 March 1886

Philip Alfred Rive
Eliza Newcome Luxford

Philip Alfred Rive
Eliza Newcome Luxford
💍 1886/616

Widower
Spinster

Draper
Nil

32
20

Grove Street Nelson
Grove Street Nelson

4 days
5 years

Wesleyan Church, Nelson

86/470

Charles Edward Luxford, Father

6 March 1886

Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	12
Date of Notice	6 March 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Philip Alfred Rive	Eliza Newcome Luxford
	💍 1886/616
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Draper	Nil
Age	32	20
Dwelling Place	Grove Street Nelson	Grove Street Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	5 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Nelson
Folio	86/470
Consent	Charles Edward Luxford, Father
Date of Certificate	6 March 1886
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Henry Beck, Wesleyan 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).