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 573

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 June 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

5 April 1886

William Robert Walker
Margaret Pratt

William Robert Walker
Margaret Pratt
💍 1886/118

Bachelor
Spinster

Merchant's Clerk
Nil

25
21

Cambria Street, Nelson
Bridge Street, Nelson

25 years
21 years

Bishopdale Church, Nelson

86/1336

5 April 1886

Right Revd Andrew Burn Suter, Bishop of Nelson, Church of England

No	18
Date of Notice	5 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Robert Walker	Margaret Pratt
	💍 1886/118
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Merchant's Clerk	Nil
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	Cambria Street, Nelson	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	25 years	21 years
Marriage Place	Bishopdale Church, Nelson
Folio	86/1336
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Right Revd Andrew Burn Suter, Bishop of Nelson, Church of England

6 April 1886

James Gorrie
Mary Anne Pitt

James Gorrie
Mary Anne Pitt
💍 1886/137

Widower
Widow

Coach Builder
Nil

48
32

Bridge Street, Nelson
Alma Street, Nelson

6 years
6 years

Christ Church, Nelson

86/1331

6 April 1886

Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

No	19
Date of Notice	6 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Gorrie	Mary Anne Pitt
	💍 1886/137
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Coach Builder	Nil
Age	48	32
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Alma Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	6 years	6 years
Marriage Place	Christ Church, Nelson
Folio	86/1331
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

8 April 1886

Thomas Bell
Eliza Sheat

Thomas Bell
Eliza Sheat
💍 1886/2261

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

29
23

Richmond, Waimea
Richmond, Waimea

20 years
23 years

Residence of Mrs. Emma Saywell, Richmond

86/2209

8 April 1886

Revd James Thomas, Wesleyan Church

No	20
Date of Notice	8 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Bell	Eliza Sheat
	💍 1886/2261
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	29	23
Dwelling Place	Richmond, Waimea	Richmond, Waimea
Length of Residence	20 years	23 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs. Emma Saywell, Richmond
Folio	86/2209
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Revd James Thomas, Wesleyan Church

15 April 1886

Arthur Richardson
Annie Williams

Arthur Richardson
Annie Williams
💍 1886/120

Bachelor
Spinster

Asylum Attendant
Nil

24
23

Wellington Street, Nelson
Van Dieman Street, Nelson

2 months
4 months

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

86/1338

15 April 1886

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	21
Date of Notice	15 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Richardson	Annie Williams
	💍 1886/120
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Asylum Attendant	Nil
Age	24	23
Dwelling Place	Wellington Street, Nelson	Van Dieman Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	2 months	4 months
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	86/1338
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

19 April 1886

John Carruthers
Louisa Shirtliff

John Carruthers
Louisa Shirtliff
💍 1886/132

Bachelor
Spinster

Tailor
Servant

51
40

St Vincent Street, Nelson
Waimea Road, Nelson

27 years
18 years

Residence of Thomas Shirtliff, Waimea Road, Nelson

86/1349

19 April 1886

Revd Henry Josiah Lewis, Congregational Church

No	22
Date of Notice	19 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Carruthers	Louisa Shirtliff
	💍 1886/132
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tailor	Servant
Age	51	40
Dwelling Place	St Vincent Street, Nelson	Waimea Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	27 years	18 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Thomas Shirtliff, Waimea Road, Nelson
Folio	86/1349
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Revd Henry Josiah Lewis, Congregational Church

19 April 1886

Charles William Ross
Mary Elizabeth Bright

Charles William Ross
Mary Elizabeth Bright
💍 1886/121

Bachelor
Spinster

Wheelwright
Teacher

30
22

Happy Valley, Waimea
Waimea Road, Nelson

1 month
15 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

86/1339

19 April 1886

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	23
Date of Notice	19 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles William Ross	Mary Elizabeth Bright
	💍 1886/121
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Wheelwright	Teacher
Age	30	22
Dwelling Place	Happy Valley, Waimea	Waimea Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	1 month	15 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	86/1339
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

22 April 1886

Charles Henry King
Jean Morrison

Charles Henry King
Jean Morrison
💍 1886/122

Bachelor
Spinster

Contractor
Nil

26
25

Richmond
Richmond

2 years
2 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

86/1340

18 April 1886

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	24
Date of Notice	22 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Henry King	Jean Morrison
	💍 1886/122
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Contractor	Nil
Age	26	25
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Richmond
Length of Residence	2 years	2 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	86/1340
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

24 April 1886

Charles Stuart Emerson
Phoebe King Hill

Charles Stuart Emerson
Phoebe King Hill
💍 1886/138

Bachelor
Spinster

Bank Clerk
Nil

26
21

Nile Street, Nelson
Waimea Street, Nelson

3 days
21 years

Christ church, Nelson

86/1332

24 April 1886

Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

No	25
Date of Notice	24 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Stuart Emerson	Phoebe King Hill
	💍 1886/138
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bank Clerk	Nil
Age	26	21
Dwelling Place	Nile Street, Nelson	Waimea Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	21 years
Marriage Place	Christ church, Nelson
Folio	86/1332
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

24 April 1886

Robert Stepney Lucas
Julia Oakley

Robert Stepney Lucas
Julia Oakley
💍 1886/127

Bachelor
Spinster

Newspaper Proprietor
Nil

45
25

Spring Grove Wakefield
Wakefield Quay, Nelson

4 years
1 year

Residence of Capt. J. Oakley, Wakefield Quay, Nelson

86/1344

24 April 1886

Revd William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	26
Date of Notice	24 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Stepney Lucas	Julia Oakley
	💍 1886/127
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Newspaper Proprietor	Nil
Age	45	25
Dwelling Place	Spring Grove Wakefield	Wakefield Quay, Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	1 year
Marriage Place	Residence of Capt. J. Oakley, Wakefield Quay, Nelson
Folio	86/1344
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Revd William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

24 April 1886

David George Fleming
Mary Ann Frances Barnes

David George Fleming
Mary Ann Frances Barnes
💍 1886/125

Bachelor
Spinster

Cabinet Maker
Nil

25
19

Bridge Street, Nelson
Bronte Street, Nelson

23 years
19 years

Residence of George Blick, Bronte Street, Nelson

86/1343

Henry Barnes, Father

24 April 1886

Revd William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	27
Date of Notice	24 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	David George Fleming	Mary Ann Frances Barnes
	💍 1886/125
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Cabinet Maker	Nil
Age	25	19
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Bronte Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years	19 years
Marriage Place	Residence of George Blick, Bronte Street, Nelson
Folio	86/1343
Consent	Henry Barnes, Father
Date of Certificate	24 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Revd William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

29 April 1886

William Sutton
Minnie McConkey

William Sutton
Minnie McCoukey
💍 1886/124

Bachelor
Spinster

Cab Proprietor
Nil

29
19

Selwyn Place, Nelson
Selwyn Place, Nelson

11 years
19 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

86/1342

James McConkey, Father

29 April 1886

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	28
Date of Notice	29 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Sutton	Minnie McConkey
BDM Match (97%)	William Sutton	Minnie McCoukey
	💍 1886/124
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Cab Proprietor	Nil
Age	29	19
Dwelling Place	Selwyn Place, Nelson	Selwyn Place, Nelson
Length of Residence	11 years	19 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	86/1342
Consent	James McConkey, Father
Date of Certificate	29 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

30 April 1886

William Frederick Thomson
Annie Reader

William Frederick Thomson
Annie Reader
💍 1886/128

Bachelor
Spinster

Jam Boiler
Servant

22
19

Alton Street, Nelson
Trafalgar Street, Nelson

18 months
3 years

Residence of John Chapman, Alton Street, Nelson

86/1345

Alma Fearn, Mother

30 April 1886

Revd William Henry Beck, Wesleyan Church

No	29
Date of Notice	30 April 1886
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Frederick Thomson	Annie Reader
	💍 1886/128
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Jam Boiler	Servant
Age	22	19
Dwelling Place	Alton Street, Nelson	Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	18 months	3 years
Marriage Place	Residence of John Chapman, Alton Street, Nelson
Folio	86/1345
Consent	Alma Fearn, Mother
Date of Certificate	30 April 1886
Officiating Minister	Revd 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).