Intentions to Marry, 1889

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840401, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Carole at Archives NZ Wellington, May 23 2025

Page 579

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 June 1889 Registrar Robert Watson

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

6 April 1889

George Archibald Surfam
Isabella Stewart

George Archibald Simpson
Isabella Stewart
💍 1889/1299

Samuel Macdonald
Isabella Stewart
💍 1890/480

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner
Nil

27
20

Washington Valley, Nelson
Victoria Road, Nelson

27 years
20 years

All Saints Church

89/1296

James Stewart, Father

6 April 1889

Rev. Fred W. Challerton, Church of England

No	14
Date of Notice	6 April 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Archibald Surfam	Isabella Stewart
BDM Match (88%)	George Archibald Simpson	Isabella Stewart
	💍 1889/1299
BDM Match (61%)	Samuel Macdonald	Isabella Stewart
	💍 1890/480
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Nil
Age	27	20
Dwelling Place	Washington Valley, Nelson	Victoria Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	27 years	20 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church
Folio	89/1296
Consent	James Stewart, Father
Date of Certificate	6 April 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. Fred W. Challerton, Church of England

25 April 1889

Walter James Bird
Jane Windle

Walter James Bird
Jane Windle
💍 1889/1313

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Teacher

33
29

Bridge Street, Nelson
Bridge Street, Nelson

3 days
5 days

Catholic Station

89/1297

25 April 1889

Rev. William Joseph Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

No	15
Date of Notice	25 April 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Walter James Bird	Jane Windle
	💍 1889/1313
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Teacher
Age	33	29
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	5 days
Marriage Place	Catholic Station
Folio	89/1297
Consent
Date of Certificate	25 April 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Joseph Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

26 April 1889

Charles Robert Martin
Agnes Pratt

Charles Robert Morton
Agnes Pratt
💍 1889/1314

Bachelor
Spinster

Draper
Nil

26
28

Waimea Road, Nelson
Tasman Street, Nelson

3 years
28 years

Chapel of Holy Evangelists, Bishopdale, Nelson

89/1288

26 April 1889

Rev. Fred W. Challerton, Church of England

No	16
Date of Notice	26 April 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Robert Martin	Agnes Pratt
BDM Match (95%)	Charles Robert Morton	Agnes Pratt
	💍 1889/1314
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Draper	Nil
Age	26	28
Dwelling Place	Waimea Road, Nelson	Tasman Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	28 years
Marriage Place	Chapel of Holy Evangelists, Bishopdale, Nelson
Folio	89/1288
Consent
Date of Certificate	26 April 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. Fred W. Challerton, Church of England

30 April 1889

Thomas Carl George Thiel
Martha Jane Sophia Elizabeth Heine

Johannes Earl Georg Thiel
Martha Emma Sophie Elisabeth Heine
💍 1889/1292

Bachelor
Spinster

Minister
Nil

31
25

Upper Motueka
Upper Motueka

10 months
25 years

St Pauls Church

89/1289

30 April 1889

Rev. J. W. Heine, Lutheran Church

No	17
Date of Notice	30 April 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Carl George Thiel	Martha Jane Sophia Elizabeth Heine
BDM Match (75%)	Johannes Earl Georg Thiel	Martha Emma Sophie Elisabeth Heine
	💍 1889/1292
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Minister	Nil
Age	31	25
Dwelling Place	Upper Motueka	Upper Motueka
Length of Residence	10 months	25 years
Marriage Place	St Pauls Church
Folio	89/1289
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 April 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. W. Heine, Lutheran Church

13 May 1889

John Cox
Alice Fort

John Cox
Grace Fort
💍 1889/1293

Widower
Widow

Gentleman
Nil

65
65

Alton Street, Nelson
Alton Street, Nelson

4 days
4 days

Residence of Mr. Garrett, Alton Street, Nelson

89/1290 (see below)

Certificate not granted

No	18
Date of Notice	13 May 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Cox	Alice Fort
BDM Match (85%)	John Cox	Grace Fort
	💍 1889/1293
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Gentleman	Nil
Age	65	65
Dwelling Place	Alton Street, Nelson	Alton Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	4 days
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. Garrett, Alton Street, Nelson
Folio	89/1290 (see below)
Consent
Date of Certificate	Certificate not granted
Officiating Minister

13 May 1889

James Hunt
Marion Taylor Collard

James Hunt
Marion Taylor Pollock
💍 1889/1297

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

21
26

Richmond
Richmond

3 days
18 years

Residence of Mr. S. Avery

89/1294

13 May 1889

Rev. Samuel Porteley, Church of England

No	19
Date of Notice	13 May 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Hunt	Marion Taylor Collard
BDM Match (91%)	James Hunt	Marion Taylor Pollock
	💍 1889/1297
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	21	26
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Richmond
Length of Residence	3 days	18 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. S. Avery
Folio	89/1294
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 May 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. Samuel Porteley, Church of England

13 May 1889

John Cox
Grace Fort

John Cox
Grace Fort
💍 1889/1293

Widower
Widow

Gentleman
Nil

65
65

Alton Street, Nelson
Alton Street, Nelson

4 days
4 days

Residence of Mr. Garrett, Alton Street, Nelson

89/1290

13 May 1889

Rev. William Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	20
Date of Notice	13 May 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Cox	Grace Fort
	💍 1889/1293
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Gentleman	Nil
Age	65	65
Dwelling Place	Alton Street, Nelson	Alton Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	4 days
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. Garrett, Alton Street, Nelson
Folio	89/1290
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 May 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Oliver, Wesleyan Church

27 May 1889

William Dron
Elizabeth Drummond

William Dron
Elizabeth Drummond
💍 1889/1301

Widower
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

50
32

Waimea West
Waimea West

39 years
32 years

Presbyterian Church, Nelson

89/1298

27 May 1889

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	21
Date of Notice	27 May 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Dron	Elizabeth Drummond
	💍 1889/1301
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	50	32
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Waimea West
Length of Residence	39 years	32 years
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	89/1298
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 May 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

4 June 1889

Charles Avery
Ella Jane Delany

Charles Avery
Ella Jane Delany
💍 1889/1294

Bachelor
Spinster

Builder
Servant

21
19

South Street, Nelson
South Street, Nelson

9 years
3 days

Residence of Robert Avery, South Street, Nelson

89/1291

John Delany, Father

4 June 1889

Rev. William Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	22
Date of Notice	4 June 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Avery	Ella Jane Delany
	💍 1889/1294
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Builder	Servant
Age	21	19
Dwelling Place	South Street, Nelson	South Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	9 years	3 days
Marriage Place	Residence of Robert Avery, South Street, Nelson
Folio	89/1291
Consent	John Delany, Father
Date of Certificate	4 June 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Oliver, Wesleyan Church

10 June 1889

Frederick William Manney
Lillian Avery Beaths

Frederick William Starnes
Lillian Amy Beattie
💍 1889/1304

Bachelor
Nil

Labourer
Nil

24
22

Richmond
Stoke

3 days
22 years

Residence of Edward Cresswell, Farmer Stoke

89/1300

10 June 1889

Rev. John Crump, Wesleyan Church

No	23
Date of Notice	10 June 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick William Manney	Lillian Avery Beaths
BDM Match (77%)	Frederick William Starnes	Lillian Amy Beattie
	💍 1889/1304
Condition	Bachelor	Nil
Profession	Labourer	Nil
Age	24	22
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Stoke
Length of Residence	3 days	22 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Edward Cresswell, Farmer Stoke
Folio	89/1300
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 June 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Crump, Wesleyan Church

14 June 1889

Arthur Ashton Scaife
Maud Batley

Arthur Ashton Scaife
Maud Catley
💍 1889/1300

Bachelor
Nil

Accountant
Nil

34
25

Melbourne Street, Nelson
Manuka Street, Nelson

8 years
25 years

Christchurch

89/1297

14 June 1889

Rev. John Pratt Kemphorne, Church of England

No	24
Date of Notice	14 June 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Ashton Scaife	Maud Batley
BDM Match (95%)	Arthur Ashton Scaife	Maud Catley
	💍 1889/1300
Condition	Bachelor	Nil
Profession	Accountant	Nil
Age	34	25
Dwelling Place	Melbourne Street, Nelson	Manuka Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	8 years	25 years
Marriage Place	Christchurch
Folio	89/1297
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 June 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. John Pratt Kemphorne, Church of England

15 June 1889

George Henry Bradley
Maud Matilda Edwards

George Henry Bradly
Maud Matilda Edwards
💍 1889/1295

Bachelor
Spinster

Coach Painter
Nil

20
19

Tasman Street, Nelson
Bridge Street, Nelson

20 years
11 years

Wesleyan Church, Nelson

89/1292

Henry James Bradley, Father; Edward Hooker Edwards, Father

15 June 1889

Rev. William Oliver, Wesleyan Church

No	25
Date of Notice	15 June 1889
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Henry Bradley	Maud Matilda Edwards
BDM Match (98%)	George Henry Bradly	Maud Matilda Edwards
	💍 1889/1295
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Coach Painter	Nil
Age	20	19
Dwelling Place	Tasman Street, Nelson	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	20 years	11 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Nelson
Folio	89/1292
Consent	Henry James Bradley, Father; Edward Hooker Edwards, Father
Date of Certificate	15 June 1889
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Oliver, 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 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).