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 194

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1888

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

15 February 1888

Louis Walter Kerr
Fanny Gauthrodger

Louis Walter Kerr
Fanny Gaukrodger
💍 1888/45

Bachelor
Spinster

Watchmaker
Dressmaker

24
24

Brook Street Nelson
Haven Road Nelson

4 years
1 year

Residence of Mrs Ann Livingston

88/407

15 February 1888

Revd James Thomas, Wesleyan Church

No	13
Date of Notice	15 February 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Louis Walter Kerr	Fanny Gauthrodger
BDM Match (94%)	Louis Walter Kerr	Fanny Gaukrodger
	💍 1888/45
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Watchmaker	Dressmaker
Age	24	24
Dwelling Place	Brook Street Nelson	Haven Road Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	1 year
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs Ann Livingston
Folio	88/407
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 February 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd James Thomas, Wesleyan Church

27 February 1888

Frederick Calleven Fredericksen
Elizabeth Diller Davey

Frederick Callersen Feddersen
Elizabeth Dillen Davey
💍 1888/41

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

42
41

Trafalgar Street Nelson
Hardy Street Nelson

6 days
2 weeks

Residence of Mr William Short

88/404

27 February 1888

Revd Arthur Wright MA, Church of England

No	14
Date of Notice	27 February 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Calleven Fredericksen	Elizabeth Diller Davey
BDM Match (86%)	Frederick Callersen Feddersen	Elizabeth Dillen Davey
	💍 1888/41
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	42	41
Dwelling Place	Trafalgar Street Nelson	Hardy Street Nelson
Length of Residence	6 days	2 weeks
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr William Short
Folio	88/404
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 February 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Arthur Wright MA, Church of England

27 February 1888

George Henry Allport
Lillian Amelia Eyles

George Henry Allport
Lillian Amelia Eyles
💍 1888/558

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

24
20

Richmond
Richmond

5 years
10 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/424

Amelia Eyles, mother

27 February 1888

Registrar

No	15
Date of Notice	27 February 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Henry Allport	Lillian Amelia Eyles
	💍 1888/558
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	24	20
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Richmond
Length of Residence	5 years	10 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/424
Consent	Amelia Eyles, mother
Date of Certificate	27 February 1888
Officiating Minister	Registrar

28 February 1888

John Elsmore
Mary Isabel Goulter

John Elsmore
Mary Isabel Canton
💍 1888/571

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Servant

23
23

Hope
Hope

4 days
2 weeks

St Albans Church, Appleby

88/413

28 February 1888

Revd John Leathley Nightingale MA, Church of England

No	16
Date of Notice	28 February 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Elsmore	Mary Isabel Goulter
BDM Match (84%)	John Elsmore	Mary Isabel Canton
	💍 1888/571
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Servant
Age	23	23
Dwelling Place	Hope	Hope
Length of Residence	4 days	2 weeks
Marriage Place	St Albans Church, Appleby
Folio	88/413
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 February 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd John Leathley Nightingale MA, Church of England

2 March 1888

Edward Boyce
Alice Chapman

Edward Boyce
Alice Chapman
💍 1888/576

Bachelor
Spinster

Butcher
Nil

25
21

Bridge Street Nelson
Collingwood Street Nelson

3 years
14 years

Presbyterian Church

88/418

2 March 1888

Revd Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	17
Date of Notice	2 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Boyce	Alice Chapman
	💍 1888/576
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Butcher	Nil
Age	25	21
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street Nelson	Collingwood Street Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	14 years
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church
Folio	88/418
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 March 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

3 March 1888

Joseph Thom
Eliza Hubbard

Joseph Thorn
Eliza Hubbard
💍 1888/44

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

31
28

Dovedale
Hope

20 years
4 years

Residence of William Hubbard, Hope

88/406

3 March 1888

Revd James Standing, Baptist Church

No	18
Date of Notice	3 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Thom	Eliza Hubbard
BDM Match (92%)	Joseph Thorn	Eliza Hubbard
	💍 1888/44
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	31	28
Dwelling Place	Dovedale	Hope
Length of Residence	20 years	4 years
Marriage Place	Residence of William Hubbard, Hope
Folio	88/406
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 March 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd James Standing, Baptist Church

8 March 1888

Amos Walter Wilby
Lizzie Gorf

Walter Wilby
Lizzie Cox
💍 1888/47

Bachelor
Spinster

Blacksmith
Servant

22
23

Hardy Street Nelson
Alton Street Nelson

4 years
5 years

Catholic Mission, Nelson

88/409

8 March 1888

Ven. Archpriest Antony Garin SM, Roman Catholic Church

No	19
Date of Notice	8 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Amos Walter Wilby	Lizzie Gorf
BDM Match (72%)	Walter Wilby	Lizzie Cox
	💍 1888/47
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Blacksmith	Servant
Age	22	23
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street Nelson	Alton Street Nelson
Length of Residence	4 years	5 years
Marriage Place	Catholic Mission, Nelson
Folio	88/409
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 March 1888
Officiating Minister	Ven. Archpriest Antony Garin SM, Roman Catholic Church

14 March 1888

John Thomas Christian
Isabella Alice Dodson

John Thomas Christian
Isabella Alice Dodson
💍 1888/559

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Nil

25
23

Washington Valley Nelson
Bridge Street Nelson

4 days
7 weeks

Registrar's Office, Nelson

88/425

14 March 1888

A. E. Cresswell, Deputy Registrar

No	20
Date of Notice	14 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Thomas Christian	Isabella Alice Dodson
	💍 1888/559
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	25	23
Dwelling Place	Washington Valley Nelson	Bridge Street Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	7 weeks
Marriage Place	Registrar's Office, Nelson
Folio	88/425
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 March 1888
Officiating Minister	A. E. Cresswell, Deputy Registrar

15 March 1888

George Harper
Florence Annie Dodson

George Harper
Florence Annie Dodson
💍 1888/560

Bachelor
Spinster

Clerk
Nil

19
16

Wakapuaka
Wakapuaka

19 years
16 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

88/426

George Harper, father; Sarah Dodson, mother

15 March 1888

Robert Kirkwood, Registrar

No	21
Date of Notice	15 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Harper	Florence Annie Dodson
	💍 1888/560
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Clerk	Nil
Age	19	16
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	19 years	16 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	88/426
Consent	George Harper, father; Sarah Dodson, mother
Date of Certificate	15 March 1888
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirkwood, Registrar

27 March 1888

Cecil Henry Lortie
Blanche Mabel Oldham

Cecil Henry Coote
Blanche Mabel Oldham
💍 1888/48

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

31
20

Wakapuaka
Wakapuaka

12 days
2.5 years

Nelson

88/410

John Oldham, father

27 March 1888

Revd Arthur Ralph Watson, Church of England

No	22
Date of Notice	27 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Cecil Henry Lortie	Blanche Mabel Oldham
BDM Match (92%)	Cecil Henry Coote	Blanche Mabel Oldham
	💍 1888/48
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	31	20
Dwelling Place	Wakapuaka	Wakapuaka
Length of Residence	12 days	2.5 years
Marriage Place	Nelson
Folio	88/410
Consent	John Oldham, father
Date of Certificate	27 March 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd Arthur Ralph Watson, Church of England

27 March 1888

George Winter Dolamore
Hannah Robertson

George Winter Dolamore
Hannah Robertson
💍 1888/1442

George Kerr
Annie Robertson
💍 1888/2864

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

31
30

Aniseed Valley
Manuka Street Nelson

2 years
30 years

Residence of James Robertson, Manuka Street Nelson

88/368

27 March 1888

Revd James Standing, Baptist Church

No	23
Date of Notice	27 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Winter Dolamore	Hannah Robertson
	💍 1888/1442
BDM Match (60%)	George Kerr	Annie Robertson
	💍 1888/2864
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	31	30
Dwelling Place	Aniseed Valley	Manuka Street Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	30 years
Marriage Place	Residence of James Robertson, Manuka Street Nelson
Folio	88/368
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 March 1888
Officiating Minister	Revd James Standing, Baptist Church

28 March 1888

John Simpson
Elizabeth Baylis

John Simpson
Elizabeth Baylis
💍 1888/577

Widower
Widow

Labourer
Nurse

42
37

Tasman Street Nelson
Tasman Street Nelson

39 years
25 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

See No. 25

Certificate not granted

No	24
Date of Notice	28 March 1888
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Simpson	Elizabeth Baylis
	💍 1888/577
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Labourer	Nurse
Age	42	37
Dwelling Place	Tasman Street Nelson	Tasman Street Nelson
Length of Residence	39 years	25 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	See No. 25
Consent
Date of Certificate	Certificate not granted
Officiating Minister

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).