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 142

District of Nelson Quarter ending 31 March 1903 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

2 March 1903

William Kirly
Isabella Stewart

William Kirby
Isabella Stewart
💍 1903/1623

Bachelor
Widow

Baker
Household duties

32
33

Nelson
Nelson

2 weeks
3 months

The residence of Walter Hockey, Brook Street, Nelson

03/849

2 March 1903

Rev. D. M. Wright, Congregational Minister

No	11
Date of Notice	2 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Kirly	Isabella Stewart
BDM Match (96%)	William Kirby	Isabella Stewart
	💍 1903/1623
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Baker	Household duties
Age	32	33
Dwelling Place	Nelson	Nelson
Length of Residence	2 weeks	3 months
Marriage Place	The residence of Walter Hockey, Brook Street, Nelson
Folio	03/849
Consent
Date of Certificate	2 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. D. M. Wright, Congregational Minister

3 March 1903

Francis Lusty
Caroline Ching

Francis Lusty
Bertha Caroline Ching
💍 1903/1606

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic Servant

27
21

Richmond
Stoke

2 years
4 years

The residence of James Ching, Stoke

03/847

3 March 1903

Rev. J. G. Carr, Wesleyan Minister

No	12
Date of Notice	3 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Francis Lusty	Caroline Ching
BDM Match (83%)	Francis Lusty	Bertha Caroline Ching
	💍 1903/1606
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic Servant
Age	27	21
Dwelling Place	Richmond	Stoke
Length of Residence	2 years	4 years
Marriage Place	The residence of James Ching, Stoke
Folio	03/847
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. G. Carr, Wesleyan Minister

8 March 1903

Robert Nillon
Phoebe Scott

Robert Gillon
Phoebe Scott
💍 1903/883

Widower
Spinster

Labourer
Domestic Duties

33
29

Collingwood Street, Nelson
Bridge Street, Nelson

3 days
2 years

Residence of William Ralph Scott, Bridge Street, Nelson

03/839

8 March 1903

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

No	13
Date of Notice	8 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Nillon	Phoebe Scott
BDM Match (96%)	Robert Gillon	Phoebe Scott
	💍 1903/883
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Domestic Duties
Age	33	29
Dwelling Place	Collingwood Street, Nelson	Bridge Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	2 years
Marriage Place	Residence of William Ralph Scott, Bridge Street, Nelson
Folio	03/839
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. B. Robson, Church of England Minister

12 March 1903

Sidney Infield Smith
Christina Waller

Sidney Enfield Smith
Christina Waller
💍 1903/872

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Dressmaker

21
22

Maitai Valley, Nelson
Nile Street, Nelson

2 years
7 months

Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

03/833

12 March 1903

S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages

No	14
Date of Notice	12 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Sidney Infield Smith	Christina Waller
BDM Match (98%)	Sidney Enfield Smith	Christina Waller
	💍 1903/872
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Dressmaker
Age	21	22
Dwelling Place	Maitai Valley, Nelson	Nile Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	7 months
Marriage Place	Office of the Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	03/833
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 March 1903
Officiating Minister	S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages

16 March 1903

Ngan Gow
Claris Rose Dana

Ngan Gow
Claris Rose Dane
💍 1903/875

Bachelor
Spinster

Gardener
Domestic Duties

34
21

New Street, Nelson
Vanguard Street, Nelson

9 years
2 years

Presbyterian Church, Nile Street, Nelson

03/844

16 March 1903

Rev. Jas. H. Mackenzie, Presbyterian Minister

No	15
Date of Notice	16 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Ngan Gow	Claris Rose Dana
BDM Match (97%)	Ngan Gow	Claris Rose Dane
	💍 1903/875
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gardener	Domestic Duties
Age	34	21
Dwelling Place	New Street, Nelson	Vanguard Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	9 years	2 years
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Nile Street, Nelson
Folio	03/844
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. Jas. H. Mackenzie, Presbyterian Minister

19 March 1903

Thomas George Flower
Florence Page

Thomas George Flower
Florence Page
💍 1903/884

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Domestic Duties

27
23

Suburban North, Nelson
Suburban North, Nelson

4 days
23 years

Residence of William Page, Suburban North, Nelson

03/840

19 March 1903

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

No	16
Date of Notice	19 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas George Flower	Florence Page
	💍 1903/884
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Domestic Duties
Age	27	23
Dwelling Place	Suburban North, Nelson	Suburban North, Nelson
Length of Residence	4 days	23 years
Marriage Place	Residence of William Page, Suburban North, Nelson
Folio	03/840
Consent
Date of Certificate	19 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. B. Robson, Church of England Minister

21 March 1903

James McMahon Drennan
Rosey May De Blois

James McMahon Drennan
Rosey May De Blois
💍 1903/876

Bachelor
Spinster

Engineman
Domestic Duties

26
20

Collingwood Street, Nelson
Collingwood Street, Nelson

3 days
2 years

Residence of Elizabeth De Blois, Collingwood Street, Nelson

03/845

William De Blois, Father; Elizabeth De Blois, Mother

21 March 1903

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

No	17
Date of Notice	21 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James McMahon Drennan	Rosey May De Blois
	💍 1903/876
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engineman	Domestic Duties
Age	26	20
Dwelling Place	Collingwood Street, Nelson	Collingwood Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3 days	2 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Elizabeth De Blois, Collingwood Street, Nelson
Folio	03/845
Consent	William De Blois, Father; Elizabeth De Blois, Mother
Date of Certificate	21 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. B. Robson, Church of England Minister

23 March 1903

Charles Permant
Anna Maria Holmes

Charles Permant
Anna Maria Holmes
💍 1903/873

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Dressmaker

29
25

Vanguard Street, Nelson
Vanguard Street, Nelson

2 years
19 years

All Saints Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson

03/842

23 March 1903

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

No	18
Date of Notice	23 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Permant	Anna Maria Holmes
	💍 1903/873
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Dressmaker
Age	29	25
Dwelling Place	Vanguard Street, Nelson	Vanguard Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	19 years
Marriage Place	All Saints Church, Vanguard Street, Nelson
Folio	03/842
Consent
Date of Certificate	23 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. B. Robson, Church of England Minister

24 March 1903

John Arthur Ward
Edith Jane Upright

John Artemus Ward
Edith Jane Upright
💍 1903/885

Bachelor
Spinster

Gardener
Domestic Duties

24
22

Brook Street, Nelson
Brook Street, Nelson

2 years
6 months

Residence of George Barrett, Brook Street, Nelson

03/841

24 March 1903

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

No	19
Date of Notice	24 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Arthur Ward	Edith Jane Upright
BDM Match (91%)	John Artemus Ward	Edith Jane Upright
	💍 1903/885
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Gardener	Domestic Duties
Age	24	22
Dwelling Place	Brook Street, Nelson	Brook Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	6 months
Marriage Place	Residence of George Barrett, Brook Street, Nelson
Folio	03/841
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. B. Robson, Church of England Minister

27 March 1903

John Moore
Alice Elizabeth Edwards

John Moore
Alice Violet Edwards
💍 1903/878

Bachelor
Widow

Labourer
Domestic Duties

30
35

St. Vincent Street, Nelson
St. Vincent Street, Nelson

3.5 years
3.5 years

Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson

03/834

27 March 1903

S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages

No	20
Date of Notice	27 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Moore	Alice Elizabeth Edwards
BDM Match (87%)	John Moore	Alice Violet Edwards
	💍 1903/878
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Labourer	Domestic Duties
Age	30	35
Dwelling Place	St. Vincent Street, Nelson	St. Vincent Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	3.5 years	3.5 years
Marriage Place	Office of Registrar of Marriages, Nelson
Folio	03/834
Consent
Date of Certificate	27 March 1903
Officiating Minister	S. Blomfield, Registrar of Marriages

30 March 1903

James Buchan Horn
Martha Katherine Wilson

James Reuben Toms
Martha Maria Katherine Nelson
💍 1903/3063

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Saleswoman

39
25

Brook Street, Nelson
Trafalgar Street, Nelson

2 years
4 years

St. John's Wesleyan Church, Hardy Street, Nelson

03/2935

30 March 1903

Rev. W. F. Williams, Wesleyan Minister

No	21
Date of Notice	30 March 1903
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Buchan Horn	Martha Katherine Wilson
BDM Match (63%)	James Reuben Toms	Martha Maria Katherine Nelson
	💍 1903/3063
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Saleswoman
Age	39	25
Dwelling Place	Brook Street, Nelson	Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Length of Residence	2 years	4 years
Marriage Place	St. John's Wesleyan Church, Hardy Street, Nelson
Folio	03/2935
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 March 1903
Officiating Minister	Rev. W. F. Williams, Wesleyan 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 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).