Intentions to Marry, 1887

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840399, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Carole at Archives NZ Wellington, May 14 2025

Page 938

District of Nelson Quarter ending 1 July 1887 to 13 September 1887 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 July 1887

Robert Pattie
Bessie Webster

Robert Pattie
Bessie Webster
💍 1887/498

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

31
29

Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Hampden Street, Nelson

3 days
29 years

Residence of M. M. Webster, Hampden Street, Nelson

87/2143

5 July 1887

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	43
Date of Notice	5 July 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Pattie	Bessie Webster
	💍 1887/498
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	31	29
Dwelling Place	Trafalgar Street, Nelson	Hampden Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	29 years
Marriage Place	Residence of M. M. Webster, Hampden Street, Nelson
Folio	87/2143
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 July 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

7 July 1887

John Duncan Clunies-Ross
Annie McCallum

John Duncan Clunies-Ross
Annie McCallum
💍 1887/516

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

27
24

Blenheim
Wakapuaka

7 years
3 days

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

87/2145

7 July 1887

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	44
Date of Notice	7 July 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Duncan Clunies-Ross	Annie McCallum
	💍 1887/516
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	27	24
Dwelling Place	Blenheim	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	7 years	3 days
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	87/2145
Consent
Date of Certificate	7 July 1887
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

7 July 1887

Charles Ball
Martha Gibson

Charles Ball
Martha Gibson
💍 1887/517

Bachelor
Spinster

Tailor
Nil

21
21

Bridge Street, Nelson
Waimea Road, Nelson

14 years
4 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

87/2146

9 July 1887

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	45
Date of Notice	7 July 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Ball	Martha Gibson
	💍 1887/517
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tailor	Nil
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Waimea Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	14 years	4 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	87/2146
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 July 1887
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

11 July 1887

William Campbell Barnett
Frances Hingston

William Campbell Barnett
Frances Hingston
💍 1887/500

Bachelor
Spinster

Butcher
Nil

24
23

Cambria Street, Nelson
Waimea Street, Nelson

24 years
22 years

Wesleyan Church, Nelson

87/2153

11 July 1887

Rev. William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	46
Date of Notice	11 July 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Campbell Barnett	Frances Hingston
	💍 1887/500
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Butcher	Nil
Age	24	23
Dwelling Place	Cambria Street, Nelson	Waimea Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	24 years	22 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Nelson
Folio	87/2153
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 July 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

20 July 1887

Roger Percy Allen
Louisa Caroline Erskine

Roger Percy Allen
Louisa Caroline Erskine
💍 1887/518

Bachelor
Spinster

Telegraphist
Nil

19
19

Wakapuaka
Wakapuaka

8 months
17 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

87/2147

John Allen, father; Brother Thomas Erskine, father

20 July 1887

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	47
Date of Notice	20 July 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Roger Percy Allen	Louisa Caroline Erskine
	💍 1887/518
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Telegraphist	Nil
Age	19	19
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	8 months	17 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	87/2147
Consent	John Allen, father; Brother Thomas Erskine, father
Date of Certificate	20 July 1887
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

22 July 1887

James Douglas Robb
Clara Caroline Ann Flowerday

James Douglas Robb
Clara Caroline Ann Flowerday
💍 1887/519

Widower
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

36
26

Haven Road, Nelson
Haven Road, Nelson

3 days
26 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

87/2148

22 July 1887

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	48
Date of Notice	22 July 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Douglas Robb	Clara Caroline Ann Flowerday
	💍 1887/519
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	36	26
Dwelling Place	Haven Road, Nelson	Haven Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	26 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	87/2148
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 July 1887
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

6 August 1887

Roger William Wellesley Kingdon
Annie Evelyn Curtis

Roger William Wellesley Kingdom
Annie Evelyn Curtis
💍 1887/489

Bachelor
Spinster

Solicitor
Nil

26
22

Halifax Street, Nelson
Vanguard Street, Nelson

26 years
22 years

Christ church, Nelson

87/2141

6 August 1887

Rev. John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

No	49
Date of Notice	6 August 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Roger William Wellesley Kingdon	Annie Evelyn Curtis
BDM Match (98%)	Roger William Wellesley Kingdom	Annie Evelyn Curtis
	💍 1887/489
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Solicitor	Nil
Age	26	22
Dwelling Place	Halifax Street, Nelson	Vanguard Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	26 years	22 years
Marriage Place	Christ church, Nelson
Folio	87/2141
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 August 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

8 August 1887

George Herbert Keyworth
Gertrude Billings

George Herbert Keyworth
Gertrude Billings
💍 1887/520

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner
Nil

28
26

Waimea Road, Nelson
Waimea Road, Nelson

3 days
1 week

All Saints' Church, Nelson

87/2149

8 August 1887

Rev. Alfred Cecil Wright, Church of England

No	50
Date of Notice	8 August 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Herbert Keyworth	Gertrude Billings
	💍 1887/520
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Nil
Age	28	26
Dwelling Place	Waimea Road, Nelson	Waimea Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	1 week
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church, Nelson
Folio	87/2149
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 August 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. Alfred Cecil Wright, Church of England

8 August 1887

Joseph Simmiss
Susan Eliza Davy

Joseph Vieiia
Susan Eliza Davy
💍 1887/501

Widower
Spinster

Mariner
Nil

39
17

Stepneyville, Nelson
Stepneyville, Nelson

7 months
1 year

Residence of Joseph Simmiss, Stepneyville, Nelson

87/2154

William Thomas Riddell Davy, father

8 August 1887

Rev. William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	51
Date of Notice	8 August 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Simmiss	Susan Eliza Davy
BDM Match (82%)	Joseph Vieiia	Susan Eliza Davy
	💍 1887/501
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Nil
Age	39	17
Dwelling Place	Stepneyville, Nelson	Stepneyville, Nelson
Length of Residence	7 months	1 year
Marriage Place	Residence of Joseph Simmiss, Stepneyville, Nelson
Folio	87/2154
Consent	William Thomas Riddell Davy, father
Date of Certificate	8 August 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

17 August 1887

Charles Edward Molesworth
Katherine Marianne Airey

Charles Edward Molesworth
Katherine Marianne Airey
💍 1887/499

Widower
Spinster

Gentleman
Governess

33
21

Richmond
Ngatitama Street, Nelson

4 months
4 months

Trinity Church, Richmond

87/2152

17 August 1887

Rev. John Leashly Nightingale, Church of England

No	52
Date of Notice	17 August 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Edward Molesworth	Katherine Marianne Airey
	💍 1887/499
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Gentleman	Governess
Age	33	21
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Ngatitama Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	4 months	4 months
Marriage Place	Trinity Church, Richmond
Folio	87/2152
Consent
Date of Certificate	17 August 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Leashly Nightingale, Church of England

17 August 1887

Tristan D'Achuna Cresswell Maxted
Mary Charlotte Astle

Tristan D'Achuna Creswell Maxted
Mary Charlotte Astle
💍 1887/502

Bachelor
Spinster

Tinsmith
Nil

36
26

Bridge Street, Nelson
Haven Road, Nelson

8 years
26 years

Residence of Thomas Astle, Haven Road, Nelson

87/2155

17 August 1887

Rev. William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	53
Date of Notice	17 August 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Tristan D'Achuna Cresswell Maxted	Mary Charlotte Astle
BDM Match (99%)	Tristan D'Achuna Creswell Maxted	Mary Charlotte Astle
	💍 1887/502
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tinsmith	Nil
Age	36	26
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Haven Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	8 years	26 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Thomas Astle, Haven Road, Nelson
Folio	87/2155
Consent
Date of Certificate	17 August 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

23 August 1887

Charles Donald Fendall
Georgina Elizabeth Bonnington

Charles Donald Fendall
Georgina Elizabeth Bonnington
💍 1887/522

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

30
22

Wakapuaka
Grove Street, Nelson

2 years
22 years

All Saints' Church, Nelson

87/2151

23 August 1887

Rev. Arthur Ralph Watson, Church of England

No	54
Date of Notice	23 August 1887
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Donald Fendall	Georgina Elizabeth Bonnington
	💍 1887/522
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	30	22
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Grove Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	22 years
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church, Nelson
Folio	87/2151
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 August 1887
Officiating Minister	Rev. Arthur Ralph Watson, 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 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).