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 975

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 September 1888 Registrar Robert Horton

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

2 July 1888

William Deckson Harkeep
Mary Ann Harriet O'Loughlen

William Dickson Harkness
Mary Ann Harriet O'Loughlen
💍 1888/2321

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

35
31

Richmond
Richmond

35 years
31 years

Holy Trinity Church, Richmond

88/2317

2 July 1888

Revd John Leathley Nightingale MA, Church of England

No	50
Date of Notice	2 July 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Deckson Harkeep	Mary Ann Harriet O'Loughlen
BDM Match (92%)	William Dickson Harkness	Mary Ann Harriet O'Loughlen
	💍 1888/2321
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	35	31
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Richmond
Length of Residence	35 years	31 years
Marriage Place	Holy Trinity Church, Richmond
Folio	88/2317
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 July 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd John Leathley Nightingale MA, Church of England

16 July 1888

George Robinson
Annie Levick

George Robinson
Annie Levick
💍 1888/2313

Bachelor
Spinster

Farrier
Nil

23
23

Hardy Street Nelson
Milton Street Nelson

4 days
23 years

Residence of Mrs E. Levick, Milton Street Nelson

88/2310

16 July 1888

Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	51
Date of Notice	16 July 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Robinson	Annie Levick
	💍 1888/2313
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farrier	Nil
Age	23	23
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street Nelson	Milton Street Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	23 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs E. Levick, Milton Street Nelson
Folio	88/2310
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 July 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

17 July 1888

Henry James Lines
Ellen Selve Wilson

Henry James Lines
Ellen Silvie Skelton
💍 1888/2312

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Servant

23
20

Bridge Street Nelson
Milton Street Nelson

3 days
8 years

Residence of Francis Wilson, Milton Street Nelson

88/2309

Francis Wilson, Father

17 July 1888

Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	52
Date of Notice	17 July 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry James Lines	Ellen Selve Wilson
BDM Match (85%)	Henry James Lines	Ellen Silvie Skelton
	💍 1888/2312
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Servant
Age	23	20
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Milton Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	8 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Francis Wilson, Milton Street Nelson
Folio	88/2309
Consent	Francis Wilson, Father
Date of Certificate	17 July 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

21 July 1888

George Edward Chapman
Mary Edelsten

George Edward Chapman
Mary Edelsten
💍 1888/2323

Bachelor
Spinster

Tailor
Servant

27
19

Vanguard Street Nelson
Trafalgar Street Nelson

3 months
3 months

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/2319

James Samuel Edelsten, Father

21 July 1888

Robert Horton, Registrar

No	53
Date of Notice	21 July 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Edward Chapman	Mary Edelsten
	💍 1888/2323
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tailor	Servant
Age	27	19
Dwelling Place	Vanguard Street Nelson	Trafalgar Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 months	3 months
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/2319
Consent	James Samuel Edelsten, Father
Date of Certificate	21 July 1888
Officiating Minister	Robert Horton, Registrar

26 July 1888

Edward Dutton
Ann Ross

Edward Sutton
Ann Ross
💍 1888/2317

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Servant

26
26

Hope
Richmond

3 years
3 years

Residence of Mr G. Woodcock, Richmond

88/2314

26 July 1888

Revd John Crouch, Wesleyan Church

No	54
Date of Notice	26 July 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Dutton	Ann Ross
BDM Match (96%)	Edward Sutton	Ann Ross
	💍 1888/2317
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Servant
Age	26	26
Dwelling Place	Hope	Richmond
Length of Residence	3 years	3 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr G. Woodcock, Richmond
Folio	88/2314
Consent
Date of Certificate	26 July 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd John Crouch, Wesleyan Church

31 July 1888

Richard Higgs
Agnes Dutton

Richard Higgs
Agnes Sutton
💍 1888/2314

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

30
22

Richmond
Richmond

30 years
22 years

Wesleyan Parsonage

88/2311

31 July 1888

Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	55
Date of Notice	31 July 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard Higgs	Agnes Dutton
BDM Match (96%)	Richard Higgs	Agnes Sutton
	💍 1888/2314
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	30	22
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Richmond
Length of Residence	30 years	22 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Parsonage
Folio	88/2311
Consent
Date of Certificate	31 July 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

1 August 1888

Hubert Burnett
Edith Johnston Boor

Hubert Burnett
Edith Johnston Boor
💍 1888/2734

Bachelor
Spinster

Solicitor
Nil

26
23

Woodville
Waimea Road Nelson

3 years
17 years

All Saints' Church

88/2699

1 August 1888

Revd Alfred Weight, Church of England

No	56
Date of Notice	1 August 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Hubert Burnett	Edith Johnston Boor
	💍 1888/2734
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Solicitor	Nil
Age	26	23
Dwelling Place	Woodville	Waimea Road Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	17 years
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church
Folio	88/2699
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 August 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Alfred Weight, Church of England

4 August 1888

Dennis Frost
Mary Ann Andrews

Dennes Frost
Mary Ann Andrews
💍 1888/2324

Widower
Widow

Farmer
Nurse

55
52

Wakapuaka
Grove Street Nelson

40 years
8 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/2320

4 August 1888

Robert Horton, Registrar

No	57
Date of Notice	4 August 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Dennis Frost	Mary Ann Andrews
BDM Match (96%)	Dennes Frost	Mary Ann Andrews
	💍 1888/2324
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Farmer	Nurse
Age	55	52
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Grove Street Nelson
Length of Residence	40 years	8 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/2320
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 August 1888
Officiating Minister	Robert Horton, Registrar

9 August 1888

John Hamilton Oliver
Mary Ann Elizabeth Bremner

John Hamilton Oliver
Mary Ann Elizabeth Bremmer
💍 1888/2325

Bachelor
Widow

Gardener
Nil

45
49

Stoke
Stoke

1 year
2 months

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/2321

9 August 1888

Robert Horton, Registrar

No	58
Date of Notice	9 August 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Hamilton Oliver	Mary Ann Elizabeth Bremner
BDM Match (98%)	John Hamilton Oliver	Mary Ann Elizabeth Bremmer
	💍 1888/2325
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Gardener	Nil
Age	45	49
Dwelling Place	Stoke	Stoke
Length of Residence	1 year	2 months
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/2321
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 August 1888
Officiating Minister	Robert Horton, Registrar

20 August 1888

Alfred George Gill
Elizabeth Ann Donald

Alfred George Gill
Elizabeth Ann Donald
💍 1888/2318

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

24
20

Wakapuaka
Wakapuaka

24 years
8 months

Residence of William Taylor, Washington Valley, Nelson

88/2315

Annie Donald, Mother

20 August 1888

Revd Richard James Williams, Congregational Church

No	59
Date of Notice	20 August 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred George Gill	Elizabeth Ann Donald
	💍 1888/2318
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	24	20
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	24 years	8 months
Marriage Place	Residence of William Taylor, Washington Valley, Nelson
Folio	88/2315
Consent	Annie Donald, Mother
Date of Certificate	20 August 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Richard James Williams, Congregational Church

28 August 1888

Henry Neale
Kate Bethwaite

Henry Neal
Kate Bithwaite
💍 1888/2315

Bachelor
Spinster

Carter
Nil

23
22

Waimea Road Nelson
Vanguard Street Nelson

23 years
22 years

Residence of Wm Bethwaite, Vanguard Street Nelson

88/2312

28 August 1888

Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	60
Date of Notice	28 August 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Neale	Kate Bethwaite
BDM Match (92%)	Henry Neal	Kate Bithwaite
	💍 1888/2315
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carter	Nil
Age	23	22
Dwelling Place	Waimea Road Nelson	Vanguard Street Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years	22 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Wm Bethwaite, Vanguard Street Nelson
Folio	88/2312
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 August 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd William C. Oliver, Wesleyan Church

3 September 1888

Arthur Barker
Ada Albrough

Arthur Barker
Ada Alborough
💍 1888/2735

Bachelor
Spinster

Cabinet Maker
Nil

27
21

Wakapuaka
Wakapuaka

7 months
18 years

All Saints' Church

88/2700

3 September 1888

Revd Alfred Wright MA, Church of England

No	61
Date of Notice	3 September 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Barker	Ada Albrough
BDM Match (96%)	Arthur Barker	Ada Alborough
	💍 1888/2735
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Cabinet Maker	Nil
Age	27	21
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	7 months	18 years
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church
Folio	88/2700
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 September 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Alfred Wright MA, 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 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).