Intentions to Marry, 1903 South Island

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840424, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Carole at Archives NZ Wellington, October 10 2025.

1903 is bound in two volumes, North Island districts and South Island districts.

Page 141

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1903 Registrar S. Bloomfield

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

5 January 1903

Henry Benrey
Louisa Maud Hard

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer
Domestic Duties

33
22

The Port, Nelson
The Port, Nelson

3 months
22 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

03/830

5 January 1903

S. Bloomfield, Registrar of Marriages

No	1
Date of Notice	5 January 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Benrey	Louisa Maud Hard
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer	Domestic Duties
Age	33	22
Dwelling Place	The Port, Nelson	The Port, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 months	22 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	03/830
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 January 1903
Officiating Minister	S. Bloomfield, Registrar of Marriages

6 January 1903

George Murch
Rebecca Ruby Overend

George Murch
Rebecca Ruby Overend
💍 1903/6703

Bachelor
Spinster

Engineer
Domestic Servant

32
23

Bridge Street, Nelson
Bridge Street, Nelson

3 days
3 days

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

03/829

6 January 1903

S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages

No	2
Date of Notice	6 January 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Murch	Rebecca Ruby Overend
	💍 1903/6703
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engineer	Domestic Servant
Age	32	23
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	03/829
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 January 1903
Officiating Minister	S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages

10 January 1903

George Thomas Walker
Leonora Zoe Cross

George Thomas Walker
Lenora Zoe Cross
💍 1903/879

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic Duties

23
21

Waimea West
Joe Joe Valley, Nelson

23 years
9 years

All Saints Church

03/835

10 January 1903

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

No	3
Date of Notice	10 January 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Thomas Walker	Leonora Zoe Cross
BDM Match (97%)	George Thomas Walker	Lenora Zoe Cross
	💍 1903/879
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic Duties
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	Waimea West	Joe Joe Valley, Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years	9 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church
Folio	03/835
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 January 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

23 January 1903

Horace William Roberts
Florence Rita Pratt

Hercules William Roberts
Florence Rita Pratt
💍 1903/880

Bachelor
Spinster

Clerk

22
20

Nile Street, Nelson
Cambria Street, Nelson

12 years
20 years

Residence of Mary Pratt

03/836

Mary Pratt, mother

23 January 1903

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

No	4
Date of Notice	23 January 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Horace William Roberts	Florence Rita Pratt
BDM Match (90%)	Hercules William Roberts	Florence Rita Pratt
	💍 1903/880
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Clerk
Age	22	20
Dwelling Place	Nile Street, Nelson	Cambria Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	12 years	20 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mary Pratt
Folio	03/836
Consent	Mary Pratt, mother
Date of Certificate	23 January 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. W. Chatterton, Church of England Minister

29 January 1903

John Edmund Hiscox
Alice Eliza Newton

John Edmund Nixon
Alice Eliza Newton
💍 1903/2339

Bachelor
Spinster

Engineer
Dressmaker

30
26

New Plymouth, New Plymouth
Bridge Street, Nelson

26 years

Church of England, Union Street

03/1876

29 January 1903

Rev. Frank H. Evans, Church of England Minister

No	5
Date of Notice	29 January 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Edmund Hiscox	Alice Eliza Newton
BDM Match (89%)	John Edmund Nixon	Alice Eliza Newton
	💍 1903/2339
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engineer	Dressmaker
Age	30	26
Dwelling Place	New Plymouth, New Plymouth	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence		26 years
Marriage Place	Church of England, Union Street
Folio	03/1876
Consent
Date of Certificate	29 January 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. Frank H. Evans, Church of England Minister

29 January 1903

Adolphus Frederick Spencer
Elizabeth Schakel

Adolphus Frederick Spencer
Elizabeth Schenkel
💍 1903/6705

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Domestic Duties

31
33

Milton Street, Nelson
Bridge Street, Nelson

29 years
3 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

03/831

29 January 1903

S. Bloomfield, Registrar of Marriages

No	6
Date of Notice	29 January 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Adolphus Frederick Spencer	Elizabeth Schakel
BDM Match (94%)	Adolphus Frederick Spencer	Elizabeth Schenkel
	💍 1903/6705
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Domestic Duties
Age	31	33
Dwelling Place	Milton Street, Nelson	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	29 years	3 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	03/831
Consent
Date of Certificate	29 January 1903
Officiating Minister	S. Bloomfield, Registrar of Marriages

14 February 1903

Ernest Peter Hennessy
Henrietta Nichet

Ernest Peter Hennessy
Henrietta Nisbet
💍 1903/1617

Bachelor
Spinster

Artilleryman
Domestic Servant

23
23

Nile Street, Nelson
Grove Street, Nelson

20 years
23 years

Residence of Thomas Nichet

03/848

14 February 1903

Rev. H. J. Williams, Church of England Minister

No	7
Date of Notice	14 February 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Ernest Peter Hennessy	Henrietta Nichet
BDM Match (94%)	Ernest Peter Hennessy	Henrietta Nisbet
	💍 1903/1617
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Artilleryman	Domestic Servant
Age	23	23
Dwelling Place	Nile Street, Nelson	Grove Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	20 years	23 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Thomas Nichet
Folio	03/848
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 February 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. J. Williams, Church of England Minister

18 February 1903

Edwin George Potter
Florence Lily Berryman

Edwin George Potter
Florence Lily Berryman
💍 1903/6706

Bachelor
Spinster

Boot Importer
Saleswoman

24
22

Halifax Street, Nelson
Halifax Street, Nelson

3 months
3 months

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

03/832

18 February 1903

E. S. Aldridge, Deputy Registrar of Marriages

No	8
Date of Notice	18 February 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edwin George Potter	Florence Lily Berryman
	💍 1903/6706
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Boot Importer	Saleswoman
Age	24	22
Dwelling Place	Halifax Street, Nelson	Halifax Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 months	3 months
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	03/832
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 February 1903
Officiating Minister	E. S. Aldridge, Deputy Registrar of Marriages

18 February 1903

John Hart Hobley
Emily Last

John Hart Webley
Emily East
💍 1903/882

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Household Duties

24
25

Nile Street, Nelson
Cambria Street, Nelson

3 years
25 years

The Residence of John Last

03/838

18 February 1903

Rev. E. G. Robson, Church of England Minister

No	9
Date of Notice	18 February 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Hart Hobley	Emily Last
BDM Match (89%)	John Hart Webley	Emily East
	💍 1903/882
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Household Duties
Age	24	25
Dwelling Place	Nile Street, Nelson	Cambria Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 years	25 years
Marriage Place	The Residence of John Last
Folio	03/838
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 February 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. G. Robson, Church of England Minister

23 February 1903

John William Fraser
Margaret Alice Rothwell

John William Fraser
Margaret Alice Rothwell
💍 1903/881

Bachelor
Spinster

General Carrier
Household Duties

23
24

Bridge Street, Nelson
Nelson

23 years

All Saints Church

03/837

23 February 1903

Rev. E. G. Robson, Church of England Minister

No	10
Date of Notice	23 February 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John William Fraser	Margaret Alice Rothwell
	💍 1903/881
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	General Carrier	Household Duties
Age	23	24
Dwelling Place	Bridge Street, Nelson	Nelson
Length of Residence	23 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church
Folio	03/837
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 February 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. G. Robson, Church of England Minister

These records have been automatically transcribed and must be verified using the page image (below)

100% Contrast

100% Brightness

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).