Intentions to Marry, 1904 North Island

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840425, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

Imaged by Luke at Archives NZ Wellington, October 13 2025.

1904 is bound in two volumes, North Island districts and South Island districts.

Page 811

District of Waipawa Quarter ending 5 July 1904 Registrar Samuel Johnson

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

687

5 April 1904

Alexander Harris
Ellen Rose

Alexander Morris
Ellen Rose
💍 1904/1239

Bachelor
Spinster

Farm Labourer
Domestic Duties

31
22

Waipawa
Waipawa

3 days
22 years

St. Peter's, Waipawa

04/2230

5 April 1904

Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

No	687
Date of Notice	5 April 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alexander Harris	Ellen Rose
BDM Match (94%)	Alexander Morris	Ellen Rose
	💍 1904/1239
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farm Labourer	Domestic Duties
Age	31	22
Dwelling Place	Waipawa	Waipawa
Length of Residence	3 days	22 years
Marriage Place	St. Peter's, Waipawa
Folio	04/2230
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 April 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

688

5 April 1904

Percival William Tonks
Alice Maude Taylor

Percival William Tonks
Alice Maude Taylor
💍 1904/1244

Bachelor
Spinster

Coach Builder
Dressmaker

22
26

Kaikora
Kaikora

5 days
4 weeks

Presbyterian Church, Kaikora

04/2240

5 April 1904

Rev. G. K. Stowell

No	688
Date of Notice	5 April 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Percival William Tonks	Alice Maude Taylor
	💍 1904/1244
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Coach Builder	Dressmaker
Age	22	26
Dwelling Place	Kaikora	Kaikora
Length of Residence	5 days	4 weeks
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Kaikora
Folio	04/2240
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 April 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. G. K. Stowell

689

16 April 1904

Alfred Ocean Lambert
Gisella Teresa Brewer

Alfred Ocean Lambert
Gisella Theresa Brewer
💍 1904/1240

Bachelor
Spinster

Coach Proprietor
Domestic Duties

23
24

Waipawa
Waipawa

3 days
19 years

St. Peter's Church, Waipawa

04/2237

16 April 1904

Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

No	689
Date of Notice	16 April 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred Ocean Lambert	Gisella Teresa Brewer
BDM Match (98%)	Alfred Ocean Lambert	Gisella Theresa Brewer
	💍 1904/1240
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Coach Proprietor	Domestic Duties
Age	23	24
Dwelling Place	Waipawa	Waipawa
Length of Residence	3 days	19 years
Marriage Place	St. Peter's Church, Waipawa
Folio	04/2237
Consent
Date of Certificate	16 April 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

690

20 April 1904

William Atwill Spourell
Esther Ann Holden

William Atwill Spurrell
Esther Ann Holden
💍 1904/1245

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic Duties

46
43

Waipawa
Tikokino

5 days
43 years

Residence of Mrs. Holden, Tikokino

04/2241

20 April 1904

Rev. G. K. Stowell

No	690
Date of Notice	20 April 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Atwill Spourell	Esther Ann Holden
BDM Match (96%)	William Atwill Spurrell	Esther Ann Holden
	💍 1904/1245
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic Duties
Age	46	43
Dwelling Place	Waipawa	Tikokino
Length of Residence	5 days	43 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs. Holden, Tikokino
Folio	04/2241
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 April 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. G. K. Stowell

691

23 April 1904

Charles Ernest Beachen
Emily Florence Anderton

Charles Ernest Beachen
Emily Florence Anderton
💍 1904/1246

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Domestic Duties

26
20

Onga Onga
Kaikora

26 years
10 years

Residence of Mrs. Anderton, Kaikora

04/2242

Mother of bride

23 April 1904

Rev. G. K. Stowell

No	691
Date of Notice	23 April 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Ernest Beachen	Emily Florence Anderton
	💍 1904/1246
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Domestic Duties
Age	26	20
Dwelling Place	Onga Onga	Kaikora
Length of Residence	26 years	10 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs. Anderton, Kaikora
Folio	04/2242
Consent	Mother of bride
Date of Certificate	23 April 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. G. K. Stowell

692

24 May 1904

George Lionel Leonard Abrahams
Elizabeth Harris

George Lionel Leonard Thornton Abrahams
Elizabeth Harris
💍 1904/1241

Widower
Widow

Painter
Domestic Duties

52
43

Waipawa
Waipawa

30 years
2 years

St. Peter's Church, Waipawa

04/2238

24 May 1904

Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

No	692
Date of Notice	24 May 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Lionel Leonard Abrahams	Elizabeth Harris
BDM Match (88%)	George Lionel Leonard Thornton Abrahams	Elizabeth Harris
	💍 1904/1241
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Painter	Domestic Duties
Age	52	43
Dwelling Place	Waipawa	Waipawa
Length of Residence	30 years	2 years
Marriage Place	St. Peter's Church, Waipawa
Folio	04/2238
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 May 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

693

4 June 1904

Ernest Robert Ward
Jane Palmer

Ernest Robert Ward
Jessie Palmer
💍 1904/1247

Bachelor
Spinster

Contractor
Domestic Duties

29
26

Patangata
Kaikora

27 years
13 years

Residence of Mr. R. Ward, Patangata

04/2243

4 June 1904

Rev. G. K. Stowell

No	693
Date of Notice	4 June 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Ernest Robert Ward	Jane Palmer
BDM Match (85%)	Ernest Robert Ward	Jessie Palmer
	💍 1904/1247
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Contractor	Domestic Duties
Age	29	26
Dwelling Place	Patangata	Kaikora
Length of Residence	27 years	13 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mr. R. Ward, Patangata
Folio	04/2243
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 June 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. G. K. Stowell

694

8 June 1904

Alfred Harold Jones
Lilly Ernestine Jessie Clifford

Alfred Harold Jones
Lily Ernestien Jessie Clifford
💍 1904/2510

Bachelor
Spinster

Carrier
Domestic Duties

22
20

Masterton
Waipawa

4 weeks
5 days

Presbyterian Manse, Masterton

04/3618

Ellen Patten Clifford, Mother

8 June 1904

Rev. Robert Wood

No	694
Date of Notice	8 June 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred Harold Jones	Lilly Ernestine Jessie Clifford
BDM Match (95%)	Alfred Harold Jones	Lily Ernestien Jessie Clifford
	💍 1904/2510
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carrier	Domestic Duties
Age	22	20
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Waipawa
Length of Residence	4 weeks	5 days
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Manse, Masterton
Folio	04/3618
Consent	Ellen Patten Clifford, Mother
Date of Certificate	8 June 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. Robert Wood

695

5 July 1904

George Scott Lowe
Ada Pellow

George Scott Lowe
Ada Pellow
💍 1904/4840

Bachelor
Spinster

Engine Driver
Domestic Duties

29
24

Waipawa
Waipawa

4 days
24 years

St. Peter's Church, Waipawa

5 July 1904

Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

No	695
Date of Notice	5 July 1904
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	George Scott Lowe	Ada Pellow
	💍 1904/4840
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engine Driver	Domestic Duties
Age	29	24
Dwelling Place	Waipawa	Waipawa
Length of Residence	4 days	24 years
Marriage Place	St. Peter's Church, Waipawa
Folio
Consent
Date of Certificate	5 July 1904
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. P. Cowx, M.A.

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).