Intentions to Marry, 1899 July-December

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840416, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Carole at Archives NZ Wellington (now located in the National Library reading room), September 5 2025

1899 is bound in two volumes, January-June and July-December.

Page 294

District of Nelson Quarter ending 30 September 1899 Registrar Hugh Calders

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 July 1899

Russell Martin Lightband
Eliza Harriett Sadd

Russell Martin Lightbond
Eliza Harriett Sadd
💍 1899/3484

Bachelor
Spinster

Insurance Agent
Domestic duties

23
28

Nile Street, Nelson
Tory Street, Nelson

3 days
10 days

All Saints' Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson

99/3428

6 July 1899

Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

No	30
Date of Notice	6 July 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Russell Martin Lightband	Eliza Harriett Sadd
BDM Match (98%)	Russell Martin Lightbond	Eliza Harriett Sadd
	💍 1899/3484
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Insurance Agent	Domestic duties
Age	23	28
Dwelling Place	Nile Street, Nelson	Tory Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	10 days
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3428
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 July 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

24 July 1899

Charles William McGee
Catherine Mary Satherley

Charles William McGee
Catherine Mary Satherley
💍 1899/3789

Bachelor
Spinster

Horse Trainer
Domestic duties

29
26

Gloucester Street
Selwyn Place

3 days
3 days

St. Mary's Church, Manuka Street, Nelson

99/3936

24 July 1899

Rev. W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

No	31
Date of Notice	24 July 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles William McGee	Catherine Mary Satherley
	💍 1899/3789
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Horse Trainer	Domestic duties
Age	29	26
Dwelling Place	Gloucester Street	Selwyn Place
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	St. Mary's Church, Manuka Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3936
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 July 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

29 July 1899

James William Branford
Mary Ann Josephine O'Dwyer

James William Bramford
Mary Ann Josephine O'Dwyer
💍 1899/3800

Bachelor
Spinster

Bricklayer
Domestic Servant

22
19

Bronte Street
Selwyn Place

22 years
1 month

Catholic Station, Manuka Street, Nelson

99/3937

W. J. Mahoney, guardian

29 July 1899

Rev. W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

No	32
Date of Notice	29 July 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James William Branford	Mary Ann Josephine O'Dwyer
BDM Match (98%)	James William Bramford	Mary Ann Josephine O'Dwyer
	💍 1899/3800
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bricklayer	Domestic Servant
Age	22	19
Dwelling Place	Bronte Street	Selwyn Place
Length of Residence	22 years	1 month
Marriage Place	Catholic Station, Manuka Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3937
Consent	W. J. Mahoney, guardian
Date of Certificate	29 July 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

7 August 1899

Conrad Christopher Heinrich Bensemann
Hilda Gertrude Cross

Conrad Christopher Heinrick Bensemann
Hilda Gertrude Cross
💍 1899/3491

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic duties

27
20

Gloucester Street
Washington Road

4 days
6 years

All Saints' Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson

99/3429

P. D. S. Cross, father

7 August 1899

Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

No	33
Date of Notice	7 August 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Conrad Christopher Heinrich Bensemann	Hilda Gertrude Cross
BDM Match (99%)	Conrad Christopher Heinrick Bensemann	Hilda Gertrude Cross
	💍 1899/3491
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic duties
Age	27	20
Dwelling Place	Gloucester Street	Washington Road
Length of Residence	4 days	6 years
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3429
Consent	P. D. S. Cross, father
Date of Certificate	7 August 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

15 August 1899

William Robbins
Louisa Alice Smith

William Robbins
Louisa Alice Smith
💍 1899/4918

Bachelor
Spinster

Gentleman
Domestic duties

41
35

Hope
Hope

30 years
35 years

Wesleyan Church, Hope

99/4681

15 August 1899

Rev. Thos. G. Carr, Wesleyan Minister

No	34
Date of Notice	15 August 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Robbins	Louisa Alice Smith
	💍 1899/4918
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gentleman	Domestic duties
Age	41	35
Dwelling Place	Hope	Hope
Length of Residence	30 years	35 years
Marriage Place	Wesleyan Church, Hope
Folio	99/4681
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 August 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. Thos. G. Carr, Wesleyan Minister

21 August 1899

George Weldon
Emma Josephine Frank

George Weldon
Emma Josephine Frank
💍 1899/3806

Bachelor
Spinster

Bank Clerk
Home duties

31
26

Nile Street, Nelson
Tasman Street, Nelson

7 days
26 years

The residence of Peter Frank, Tasman Street, Nelson

99/3938

21 August 1899

Rev. W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

No	35
Date of Notice	21 August 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Weldon	Emma Josephine Frank
	💍 1899/3806
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bank Clerk	Home duties
Age	31	26
Dwelling Place	Nile Street, Nelson	Tasman Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	7 days	26 years
Marriage Place	The residence of Peter Frank, Tasman Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3938
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 August 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

23 August 1899

George Allen
Amelia Henrietta Allen

George Allen
Amelia Henrietta Allen
💍 1899/3492

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner
Domestic duties

25
19

Russell Street
Russell Street

3 months
19 years

The residence of Mrs. Mary Ann Allen, Russell Street, Nelson

99/3430

Dennis J. Allen, father

23 August 1899

Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

No	36
Date of Notice	23 August 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Allen	Amelia Henrietta Allen
	💍 1899/3492
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Domestic duties
Age	25	19
Dwelling Place	Russell Street	Russell Street
Length of Residence	3 months	19 years
Marriage Place	The residence of Mrs. Mary Ann Allen, Russell Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3430
Consent	Dennis J. Allen, father
Date of Certificate	23 August 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

24 August 1899

Andrew Emil Hackell
Lydia Rose Garland

Andrew Emil Mackell
Lydia Rose Garland
💍 1899/4320

Bachelor
Spinster

Gold Miner
Domestic Servant

29
24

Gloucester Street
Van Dieman Street

3 days
2 years

Salvation Army Barracks, Bridge Street, Nelson

99/3838

24 August 1899

Adjutant John Ward, of the Salvation Army

No	37
Date of Notice	24 August 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Andrew Emil Hackell	Lydia Rose Garland
BDM Match (97%)	Andrew Emil Mackell	Lydia Rose Garland
	💍 1899/4320
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gold Miner	Domestic Servant
Age	29	24
Dwelling Place	Gloucester Street	Van Dieman Street
Length of Residence	3 days	2 years
Marriage Place	Salvation Army Barracks, Bridge Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3838
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 August 1899
Officiating Minister	Adjutant John Ward, of the Salvation Army

11 September 1899

William Whitehorn
Eveline Mickell

William Whitehorn
Eveline Mickell
💍 1899/3493

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic duties

35
29

Milton Street
Milton Street

4 days
15 days

All Saints' Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson

99/3431

11 September 1899

Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

No	38
Date of Notice	11 September 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Whitehorn	Eveline Mickell
	💍 1899/3493
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic duties
Age	35	29
Dwelling Place	Milton Street	Milton Street
Length of Residence	4 days	15 days
Marriage Place	All Saints' Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson
Folio	99/3431
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 September 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

21 September 1899

James Anstice
Minnie Lucy Kinzett

James Anstice
Minnie Lucy Kinzett
💍 1899/4234

Bachelor
Spinster

Baker
Domestic duties

20
23

Hardy Street
Wakefield

19 years
3 days

The residence of Thomas Kinzett, Wakefield

99/5301

John B. Anstice, father

21 September 1899

Rev. C. W. Jennings, Church of England Minister

No	39
Date of Notice	21 September 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Anstice	Minnie Lucy Kinzett
	💍 1899/4234
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Baker	Domestic duties
Age	20	23
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street	Wakefield
Length of Residence	19 years	3 days
Marriage Place	The residence of Thomas Kinzett, Wakefield
Folio	99/5301
Consent	John B. Anstice, father
Date of Certificate	21 September 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. W. Jennings, Church of England Minister

23 September 1899

William Edward Wahlstrom
Ethel Reeves

William Edward Whalstrom
Ethel Reeves
💍 1899/3494

Bachelor
Spinster

Seaman
Domestic duties

21
21

Wakefield Quay, Nelson
Washington Road

21 years
21 years

The residence of Mrs. Sarah Ann Reeves, Washington Rd., Nelson

99/3432

23 September 1899

Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

No	40
Date of Notice	23 September 1899
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Edward Wahlstrom	Ethel Reeves
BDM Match (96%)	William Edward Whalstrom	Ethel Reeves
	💍 1899/3494
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Seaman	Domestic duties
Age	21	21
Dwelling Place	Wakefield Quay, Nelson	Washington Road
Length of Residence	21 years	21 years
Marriage Place	The residence of Mrs. Sarah Ann Reeves, Washington Rd., Nelson
Folio	99/3432
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 September 1899
Officiating Minister	Rev. F. W. Chatterton, Church of England 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 1908. 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).