Intentions to Marry, 1902 South Island

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840422, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke and Carole at Archives NZ Wellington, October 3 and October 8, 2025.

1902 is bound in two volumes, North Island districts and South Island districts.

Page 132

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1902 Registrar S. Blomfield

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

8 February 1902

Stephen Starr
Fanny Laura Beattie

Stephen Starr
Fanny Laura Beattie
💍 1902/712

Bachelor
Widow

Newsagent
Household duties

43
31

Bridge Street, Nelson
Collingwood Street, Nelson

14 years
10 years

At the residence of Mr. W. Lasten, Hardy Street, Nelson

02/866

8 February 1902

Revd. J. P. Kempthorne, Church of England Minister

No	11
Date of Notice	8 February 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Stephen Starr	Fanny Laura Beattie
	💍 1902/712
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Newsagent	Household duties
Age	43	31
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Collingwood Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	14 years	10 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr. W. Lasten, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	02/866
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 February 1902
Officiating Minister	Revd. J. P. Kempthorne, Church of England Minister

15 February 1902

George McDonald
Ella Plant

George McDonald
Ella Plant
💍 1902/2616

Bachelor
Widow

Hotel-keeper
Household duties

38
35

Hardy Street, Nelson
Hardy Street, Nelson

3 days
3 days

Holy Trinity Church, Richmond

02/857

15 February 1902

Revd. A. C. Wright, Church of England Minister

No	12
Date of Notice	15 February 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George McDonald	Ella Plant
	💍 1902/2616
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Hotel-keeper	Household duties
Age	38	35
Dwelling Place	Hardy Street, Nelson	Hardy Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	Holy Trinity Church, Richmond
Folio	02/857
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 February 1902
Officiating Minister	Revd. A. C. Wright, Church of England Minister

18 February 1902

Edward Lewis Reed
Hilda Mary Stilwell Drummond

Edward Lewis Reed
Hilda Mary Stilwell Drummond
💍 1902/2619

Bachelor
Spinster

Mariner
Domestic Duties

21
18

The Port, Nelson
Haven Road, Nelson

21 years
6 months

The Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Hardy St., Nelson

02/860

John Alexander Drummond, Father

18 February 1902

S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

No	13
Date of Notice	18 February 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edward Lewis Reed	Hilda Mary Stilwell Drummond
	💍 1902/2619
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Mariner	Domestic Duties
Age	21	18
Dwelling Place	The Port, Nelson	Haven Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	21 years	6 months
Marriage Place	The Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Hardy St., Nelson
Folio	02/860
Consent	John Alexander Drummond, Father
Date of Certificate	18 February 1902
Officiating Minister	S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

24 February 1902

Leonard Paynter
Eunice Malcolm

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic Duties

25
26

Stoke
Richmond

25 years
26 years

The Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

02/861

24 February 1902

S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

No	14
Date of Notice	24 February 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Leonard Paynter	Eunice Malcolm
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic Duties
Age	25	26
Dwelling Place	Stoke	Richmond
Length of Residence	25 years	26 years
Marriage Place	The Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	02/861
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 February 1902
Officiating Minister	S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

28 February 1902

Hugh George Rutherford
Emma Elizabeth Gilbert

John George Rutherford
Emma Elizabeth Gilbert
💍 1902/3178

Bachelor
Spinster

Sawmiller
Domestic Duties

23
25

Aniseed Valley, Hope
Nile Street, Nelson

23 years
4 years

At the residence of Mr. John Rutherford, Hope

02/852

28 February 1902

Revd. J. G. Carr, Wesleyan Minister

No	15
Date of Notice	28 February 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Hugh George Rutherford	Emma Elizabeth Gilbert
BDM Match (91%)	John George Rutherford	Emma Elizabeth Gilbert
	💍 1902/3178
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sawmiller	Domestic Duties
Age	23	25
Dwelling Place	Aniseed Valley, Hope	Nile Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years	4 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr. John Rutherford, Hope
Folio	02/852
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 February 1902
Officiating Minister	Revd. J. G. Carr, Wesleyan Minister

14 March 1902

Frank Webber Greenslade
Ellen Constance Johns

Frank Webber Greenslade
Ellen Constance Johns
💍 1902/2614

Bachelor
Spinster

Currier
Domestic Duties

24
21

Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Trafalgar Street, Nelson

15 years
21 years

At the residence of Mr. Israel Johns, Trafalgar Street, Nelson

02/855

14 March 1902

Revd. J. S. Smalley, Wesleyan Minister

No	16
Date of Notice	14 March 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frank Webber Greenslade	Ellen Constance Johns
	💍 1902/2614
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Currier	Domestic Duties
Age	24	21
Dwelling Place	Trafalgar Street, Nelson	Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	15 years	21 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr. Israel Johns, Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Folio	02/855
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 March 1902
Officiating Minister	Revd. J. S. Smalley, Wesleyan Minister

15 March 1902

Robert Snodgrass
Laura Jane Johnston

Robert Snodgrass
Laura Jane Johnston
💍 1902/717

Widowed
Spinster

Merchant
Household duties

63
41

Selwyn Place, Nelson
Haven Road, Nelson

22 years
35 years

All Saints Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson

02/871

15 March 1902

Revd. J. H. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

No	17
Date of Notice	15 March 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Snodgrass	Laura Jane Johnston
	💍 1902/717
Condition	Widowed	Spinster
Profession	Merchant	Household duties
Age	63	41
Dwelling Place	Selwyn Place, Nelson	Haven Road, Nelson
Length of Residence	22 years	35 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson
Folio	02/871
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 March 1902
Officiating Minister	Revd. J. H. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

20 March 1902

Arthur Malcolm
Birdie Paynter

Arthur Malcolm
Birdie Paynter
💍 1902/696

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic Duties

28
23

Richmond
Stoke

28 years
23 years

The Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

02/862

20 March 1902

S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

No	18
Date of Notice	20 March 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Malcolm	Birdie Paynter
	💍 1902/696
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic Duties
Age	28	23
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Stoke
Length of Residence	28 years	23 years
Marriage Place	The Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	02/862
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 March 1902
Officiating Minister	S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

25 March 1902

William Gibbs
Eliza Mary Larmour

William Gibbs
Eliza Mary Lammas
💍 1902/715

Bachelor
Spinster

Grocer
Domestic Duties

29
32

Bridge Street, Nelson
Richmond

4 months
32 years

The Baptist Church, Richmond

02/869

25 March 1902

Revd. Jas. H. MacKenzie, Presbyterian Minister

No	19
Date of Notice	25 March 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Gibbs	Eliza Mary Larmour
BDM Match (89%)	William Gibbs	Eliza Mary Lammas
	💍 1902/715
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Grocer	Domestic Duties
Age	29	32
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Richmond
Length of Residence	4 months	32 years
Marriage Place	The Baptist Church, Richmond
Folio	02/869
Consent
Date of Certificate	25 March 1902
Officiating Minister	Revd. Jas. H. MacKenzie, Presbyterian Minister

27 March 1902

Mark Joseph Lacy
Maud Catherine Short

Mark Joseph Levy
Maud Catherine Johnston
💍 1902/2092

Bachelor
Spinster

Letter-carrier
Domestic Duties

39
29

Halifax Street, Nelson
Halifax Street, Nelson

39 years
29 years

At the residence of Mr. Samuel Short, Halifax Street, Nelson

02/877

27 March 1902

Revd. Dean W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

No	20
Date of Notice	27 March 1902
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Mark Joseph Lacy	Maud Catherine Short
BDM Match (81%)	Mark Joseph Levy	Maud Catherine Johnston
	💍 1902/2092
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Letter-carrier	Domestic Duties
Age	39	29
Dwelling Place	Halifax Street, Nelson	Halifax Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	39 years	29 years
Marriage Place	At the residence of Mr. Samuel Short, Halifax Street, Nelson
Folio	02/877
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 March 1902
Officiating Minister	Revd. Dean W. J. Mahoney, Roman Catholic Priest

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).