Intentions to Marry, 1892

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840404, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke at Archives NZ Wellington, May 28 2025

Page 1402

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1892 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

19 January 1892

William David Eyles
Alice Rebecca Cobb

William Daniel Eyles
Alice Rebecca Cobb
💍 1892/490

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

26
21

Richmond
Richmond

2 years
2 years

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

92/511

19 January 1892

Robert Kirton, Registrar

No	1
Date of Notice	19 January 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William David Eyles	Alice Rebecca Cobb
BDM Match (93%)	William Daniel Eyles	Alice Rebecca Cobb
	💍 1892/490
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	26	21
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Richmond
Length of Residence	2 years	2 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	92/511
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 January 1892
Officiating Minister	Robert Kirton, Registrar

27 January 1892

John Henry Christian Fanselow
Minnie Martha Hunter

John Henry Christian Fanselow
Minnie Martha Hunter
💍 1892/501

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

21
22

Hope
Waimea West

21 years
22 years

St Michael's Church, Waimea West

92/514

27 January 1892

Rev. William George Baker, Church of England

No	2
Date of Notice	27 January 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Henry Christian Fanselow	Minnie Martha Hunter
	💍 1892/501
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	21	22
Dwelling Place	Hope	Waimea West
Length of Residence	21 years	22 years
Marriage Place	St Michael's Church, Waimea West
Folio	92/514
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 January 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. William George Baker, Church of England

30 January 1892

Thomas Moore Murray
Mary Longney Fowler

Thomas Moore Murray
Mary Longney Fowler
💍 1892/557

Bachelor
Spinster

Engineer
Nil

27
23

Washington Valley, Nelson
Washington Valley, Nelson

27 years
2 weeks

Presbyterian Church, Nelson

92/499

30 January 1892

Rev. James Paterson, Presbyterian Church

No	3
Date of Notice	30 January 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Moore Murray	Mary Longney Fowler
	💍 1892/557
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engineer	Nil
Age	27	23
Dwelling Place	Washington Valley, Nelson	Washington Valley, Nelson
Length of Residence	27 years	2 weeks
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nelson
Folio	92/499
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 January 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. James Paterson, Presbyterian Church

10 February 1892

Patrick Nelson
Sophia Brooks

Patrick Nelson
Sophia Brooks
💍 1892/497

Bachelor
Spinster

Fireman
Servant

31
23

Nile Street, Nelson
Nile Street, Nelson

3 days
3 days

Rom Catholic Station, Nelson

92/505

10 February 1892

Rev. William Joseph Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

No	4
Date of Notice	10 February 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Patrick Nelson	Sophia Brooks
	💍 1892/497
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Fireman	Servant
Age	31	23
Dwelling Place	Nile Street, Nelson	Nile Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	Rom Catholic Station, Nelson
Folio	92/505
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 February 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Joseph Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

15 February 1892

James Bernard Richard Rollason
Amelia Jane Gillingham

James Bernard Richard Rollason
Amelia June Gillingham
💍 1892/495

Widower
Widow

Cook
Seamstress

35
32

Hardy Street, Nelson
Hardy Street, Nelson

5 weeks
7 years

All Saints' Church, Nelson

92/503

15 February 1892

Rev. Frederick George Chatterton, Church of England

No	5
Date of Notice	15 February 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Bernard Richard Rollason	Amelia Jane Gillingham
BDM Match (98%)	James Bernard Richard Rollason	Amelia June Gillingham
	💍 1892/495
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Cook	Seamstress
Age	35	32
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street, Nelson	Hardy Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	5 weeks	7 years
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church, Nelson
Folio	92/503
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 February 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. Frederick George Chatterton, Church of England

16 February 1892

Robert William Stiles
Elizabeth Jane Bell

Robert William Stiles
Jane Elizabeth Bell
💍 1892/488

Bachelor
Spinster

Printer
Servant

21
21

Harley Street, Nelson
Harley Street, Nelson

17 years
21 years

Residence of Mr. N. Eure, Harley Street, Nelson

92/509

16 February 1892

Rev. Francis Whitmore Isitt, Wesleyan Church

No	6
Date of Notice	16 February 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert William Stiles	Elizabeth Jane Bell
BDM Match (74%)	Robert William Stiles	Jane Elizabeth Bell
	💍 1892/488
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Printer	Servant
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	Harley Street, Nelson	Harley Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	17 years	21 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. N. Eure, Harley Street, Nelson
Folio	92/509
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 February 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. Francis Whitmore Isitt, Wesleyan Church

22 February 1892

John Andrew McArtney
Laura Beatrice Westley

John Andrew McCartney
Laura Beatrice Westley
💍 1892/487

Bachelor
Spinster

Ironmonger
Nil

30
20

Bridge Street, Nelson
Hardy Street, Nelson

20 years
1 month

At the residence of Mr. McArtney, Johns Street, Nelson

92/500

William Westley, father

22 February 1892

Rev. William Knight, Presbyterian Church

No	7
Date of Notice	22 February 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Andrew McArtney	Laura Beatrice Westley
BDM Match (95%)	John Andrew McCartney	Laura Beatrice Westley
	💍 1892/487
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Ironmonger	Nil
Age	30	20
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Hardy Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	20 years	1 month
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr. McArtney, Johns Street, Nelson
Folio	92/500
Consent	William Westley, father
Date of Certificate	22 February 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. William Knight, Presbyterian Church

26 February 1892

Thomas Muir Brown
Maud Lucy Jennings

Thomas Muir Brown
Maud Mary Jennings
💍 1892/493

Bachelor
Spinster

Jeweller
Nil

29
26

Hardy Street, Nelson
Waimea Street, Nelson

9 years
5 years

At the residence of Revd. P. Calder, Nelson

92/501

26 February 1892

Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

No	8
Date of Notice	26 February 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Muir Brown	Maud Lucy Jennings
BDM Match (92%)	Thomas Muir Brown	Maud Mary Jennings
	💍 1892/493
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Jeweller	Nil
Age	29	26
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street, Nelson	Waimea Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	9 years	5 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Revd. P. Calder, Nelson
Folio	92/501
Consent
Date of Certificate	26 February 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. Patrick Calder, Presbyterian Church

2 March 1892

Herbert Charles Constable
Sarah Emily Talbot

Herbert Charles Constable
Sarah Emily Talbot
💍 1892/489

Bachelor
Spinster

Soapmaker
Servant

24
24

Waimea Street, Nelson
Hardy Street, Nelson

6 years
4 years

Wesleyan Church, Nelson

92/510

2 March 1892

Rev. H. M. Isitt, Wesleyan Church

No	9
Date of Notice	2 March 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Herbert Charles Constable	Sarah Emily Talbot
	💍 1892/489
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Soapmaker	Servant
Age	24	24
Dwelling Place	Waimea Street, Nelson	Hardy Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	6 years	4 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Nelson
Folio	92/510
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 March 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. M. Isitt, Wesleyan Church

8 March 1892

George Woodward
Emma Wise

George Woodward
Emma Wise
💍 1892/498

Bachelor
Spinster

Barman
Servant

24
25

Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Trafalgar Street, Nelson

5 years
2 months

Residence of Mr. L. Woodward, Harley Street, Nelson

92/506

8 March 1892

Rev. H. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

No	10
Date of Notice	8 March 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Woodward	Emma Wise
	💍 1892/498
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Barman	Servant
Age	24	25
Dwelling Place	Trafalgar Street, Nelson	Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	5 years	2 months
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. L. Woodward, Harley Street, Nelson
Folio	92/506
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 March 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Church

9 March 1892

William James Stuart
Eleanor Elizabeth Beaver

William James Stuart
Eleanor Elizabeth Beaver
💍 1892/496

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

22
17

The Port, Nelson
The Port, Nelson

4 days
7 years

All Saints' Church, Nelson

92/504

Mary Beaver, mother

9 March 1892

Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England

No	11
Date of Notice	9 March 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William James Stuart	Eleanor Elizabeth Beaver
	💍 1892/496
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	22	17
Dwelling Place	The Port, Nelson	The Port, Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	7 years
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church, Nelson
Folio	92/504
Consent	Mary Beaver, mother
Date of Certificate	9 March 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England

16 March 1892

Ernest Spence Holdaway
Edaline Jane Beattie

Ernest Spence Holdaway
Edaline Jane Beattie
💍 1892/499

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Nil

21
20

Stoke, Nelson
Stoke, Nelson

4 days
20 years

Wesleyan Church, Stoke

92/507

John Beattie, father

16 March 1892

Rev. J. Crump, Wesleyan Church

No	12
Date of Notice	16 March 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Ernest Spence Holdaway	Edaline Jane Beattie
	💍 1892/499
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Nil
Age	21	20
Dwelling Place	Stoke, Nelson	Stoke, Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	20 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Stoke
Folio	92/507
Consent	John Beattie, father
Date of Certificate	16 March 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Crump, Wesleyan Church

29 March 1892

Joseph David Robertson
Jane Hockey

Joseph David Robertson
Jane Hockey
💍 1892/494

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Dressmaker

26
26

Manuka Street, Nelson
Brook Street, Nelson

5 days
3 years

Baptist Church, Nelson

92/502

29 March 1892

Rev. Thomas Bray, Baptist Church

No	13
Date of Notice	29 March 1892
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph David Robertson	Jane Hockey
	💍 1892/494
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Dressmaker
Age	26	26
Dwelling Place	Manuka Street, Nelson	Brook Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	5 days	3 years
Marriage Place	Baptist Church, Nelson
Folio	92/502
Consent
Date of Certificate	29 March 1892
Officiating Minister	Rev. Thomas Bray, Baptist 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).

Primary digitisation of registers between 1855 and 1925 is now complete. Our digitisation volunteers are now working on verifying the currently digitised pages against printed district/page indexes, to identify pages which may have been missed or out of focus. These pages can be re-imaged as required.

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.

How can I help?

You can sign up to correct errors in the transcribed records and match ITMs with registered marriages.

You can also support this project by ☕ Buying us a coffee 🌳

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).