Intentions to Marry, 1888

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840400, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Alexandra at Archives NZ Wellington, May 14 2025

Page 587

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 June 1888 Registrar Robert Kilton

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

7 April 1888

Richard Palmer
Elizabeth Jane Brabant

Richard Palmer
Elizabeth Jane Brabant
💍 1888/1380

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

25
25

Hope
Hope

25 years
7 years

Christchurch

88/1355

7 April 1888

Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

No	27
Date of Notice	7 April 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard Palmer	Elizabeth Jane Brabant
	💍 1888/1380
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	25	25
Dwelling Place	Hope	Hope
Length of Residence	25 years	7 years
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	88/1355
Consent
Date of Certificate	7 April 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

9 April 1888

Vincent Arthur Blayden
Minnie Walker Webster

Vincent Arthur Clayden
Maria Walker Webster
💍 1888/1456

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

30
28

Wakefield
In-Toi Valley Nelson

9 years
28 years

Residence of Mr Webster

88/1381

9 April 1888

Revd Richard James Williams, Congregational Church

No	28
Date of Notice	9 April 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Vincent Arthur Blayden	Minnie Walker Webster
BDM Match (88%)	Vincent Arthur Clayden	Maria Walker Webster
	💍 1888/1456
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	30	28
Dwelling Place	Wakefield	In-Toi Valley Nelson
Length of Residence	9 years	28 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr Webster
Folio	88/1381
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 April 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Richard James Williams, Congregational Church

12 April 1888

James Newth
Annie Andrew

James Newth
Annie Andrew
💍 1888/1459

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

31
22

Waimea West
Waimea West

31 years
22 years

St Michael Church

88/1361

12 April 1888

Revd Charles O'Malley, Church of England

No	29
Date of Notice	12 April 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Newth	Annie Andrew
	💍 1888/1459
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	31	22
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Waimea West
Length of Residence	31 years	22 years
Marriage Place	St Michael Church
Folio	88/1361
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 April 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Charles O'Malley, Church of England

14 April 1888

Mark Newth
Annie Martha Millard

Mark Newth
Annie Martha Millard
💍 1888/1458

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

33
23

Waimea West
Waimea West

33 years
23 years

St Michael Church

88/1360

14 April 1888

Revd Charles O'Malley, Church of England

No	30
Date of Notice	14 April 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Mark Newth	Annie Martha Millard
	💍 1888/1458
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	33	23
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Waimea West
Length of Residence	33 years	23 years
Marriage Place	St Michael Church
Folio	88/1360
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 April 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Charles O'Malley, Church of England

20 April 1888

John Fiven
Margaret Johnstone Graham

John Fiven
Margaret Johnstone Graham
💍 1888/1446

Widower
Spinster

Coach Smith
Nil

44
43

Tory Street Nelson
Hardy Street Nelson

44 years
35 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/1372

20 April 1888

Robert Kilton, Registrar

No	31
Date of Notice	20 April 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Fiven	Margaret Johnstone Graham
	💍 1888/1446
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Coach Smith	Nil
Age	44	43
Dwelling Place	Tory Street Nelson	Hardy Street Nelson
Length of Residence	44 years	35 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/1372
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 April 1888
Officiating Minister	Robert Kilton, Registrar

26 April 1888

George Henry Sherwood
Sarah Alice Oxley

George Henry Sherwood
Sarah Alice Oxley
💍 1888/1447

Bachelor
Spinster

Messenger
Nil

29
24

New Street Nelson
New Street Nelson

29 years
24 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/1373

26 April 1888

Robert Kilton, Registrar

No	32
Date of Notice	26 April 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Henry Sherwood	Sarah Alice Oxley
	💍 1888/1447
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Messenger	Nil
Age	29	24
Dwelling Place	New Street Nelson	New Street Nelson
Length of Residence	29 years	24 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/1373
Consent
Date of Certificate	26 April 1888
Officiating Minister	Robert Kilton, Registrar

30 April 1888

Frederick Dimmick
Sarah Ann Cowley

Frederick Dimmick
Sarah Ann Cowley
💍 1888/1452

Widower
Widow

Farmer
Dressmaker

52
34

Appleby
Appleby

30 years
2 Weeks

St Albans Church, Appleby

88/1377

30 April 1888

Revd John Leathley Nightingale, Church of England

No	33
Date of Notice	30 April 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Dimmick	Sarah Ann Cowley
	💍 1888/1452
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Farmer	Dressmaker
Age	52	34
Dwelling Place	Appleby	Appleby
Length of Residence	30 years	2 Weeks
Marriage Place	St Albans Church, Appleby
Folio	88/1377
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 April 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd John Leathley Nightingale, Church of England

4 May 1888

Robert Robin
Margaret Agnes Cadigan

Robert Robin
Margaret Agnes Cadigan
💍 1888/1463

Bachelor
Spinster

Sharebroker
Nil

32
23

Trafalgar Street Nelson
Stoke

3 days
6 months

The Catholic Mission, Nelson

88/1365

4 May 1888

Revd William Joseph Mahoney SM, Roman Catholic Church

No	34
Date of Notice	4 May 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Robin	Margaret Agnes Cadigan
	💍 1888/1463
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sharebroker	Nil
Age	32	23
Dwelling Place	Trafalgar Street Nelson	Stoke
Length of Residence	3 days	6 months
Marriage Place	The Catholic Mission, Nelson
Folio	88/1365
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 May 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd William Joseph Mahoney SM, Roman Catholic Church

4 May 1888

Edward Fraser Paton
Ethel Malvina Morice

Edward Fraser Paton
Ethel Malvina Morice
💍 1888/1448

Bachelor
Widow

Farmer
Nil

30
31

Hope
Wakapuaka

3 days
3 months

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/1374

4 May 1888

Robert Kilton, Registrar

No	35
Date of Notice	4 May 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Fraser Paton	Ethel Malvina Morice
	💍 1888/1448
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	30	31
Dwelling Place	Hope	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	3 days	3 months
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/1374
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 May 1888
Officiating Minister	Robert Kilton, Registrar

5 May 1888

Henry John Fanselow
Mary Jane Moore

Henry John Fanselow
Mary Jane Moore
💍 1888/1445

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

25
25

Hope
Hope

25 years
1 year

Residence of William Eden, Farmer, Hope

88/1371

5 May 1888

Revd John Crump, Wesleyan Church

No	36
Date of Notice	5 May 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry John Fanselow	Mary Jane Moore
	💍 1888/1445
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	25	25
Dwelling Place	Hope	Hope
Length of Residence	25 years	1 year
Marriage Place	Residence of William Eden, Farmer, Hope
Folio	88/1371
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 May 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd John Crump, Wesleyan Church

5 May 1888

George Henry Parmenter
Clara Jane Cook

George Henry Parmeuter
Clara Jane Cook
💍 1888/1381

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

22
21

Wakapuaka
Tasman Street Nelson

22 years
21 years

Christchurch

88/1356

5 May 1888

Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

No	37
Date of Notice	5 May 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Henry Parmenter	Clara Jane Cook
BDM Match (98%)	George Henry Parmeuter	Clara Jane Cook
	💍 1888/1381
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Tasman Street Nelson
Length of Residence	22 years	21 years
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	88/1356
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 May 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd John Pratt Kempthorne, Church of England

7 May 1888

Horace Winsett
Sarah Devaney

Horace Winsett
Sarah Devanny
💍 1888/1464

Bachelor
Spinster

Blacksmith
Servant

27
23

Hardy Street Nelson
South Street Nelson

27 years
23 years

Residence of Andrew Devaney, South Street Nelson

88/1366

7 May 1888

Revd William Joseph Mahoney SM, Roman Catholic Church

No	38
Date of Notice	7 May 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Horace Winsett	Sarah Devaney
BDM Match (96%)	Horace Winsett	Sarah Devanny
	💍 1888/1464
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Blacksmith	Servant
Age	27	23
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street Nelson	South Street Nelson
Length of Residence	27 years	23 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Andrew Devaney, South Street Nelson
Folio	88/1366
Consent
Date of Certificate	7 May 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd William Joseph Mahoney SM, Roman Catholic 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 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).