Intentions to Marry, 1905 Canterbury, Otago, Chatham Islands

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840429, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

1905 is bound in three volumes - Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay (1905a), Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland (1905b), and Canterbury, Otago, Chatham Islands (1905c).

Page 588

District of Invercargill Quarter ending 31 March 1905 Registrar John Ernest Taylor

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

21 February 1905

Charles Edward Burley
Jane Eliza Weavers

Charles Edward Burley
Jane Eliza Weavers
💍 1905/5095

Bachelor
Spinster

Bricklayer
Dressmaker

24
20

North Invercargill
George Street, North Invercargill

24 years
3 years

St. Paul's Church, Kelvin Street

05/1452

Esther Weavers, Mother

21 February 1905

Rev. G. Lindsay

No	20
Date of Notice	21 February 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Edward Burley	Jane Eliza Weavers
	💍 1905/5095
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bricklayer	Dressmaker
Age	24	20
Dwelling Place	North Invercargill	George Street, North Invercargill
Length of Residence	24 years	3 years
Marriage Place	St. Paul's Church, Kelvin Street
Folio	05/1452
Consent	Esther Weavers, Mother
Date of Certificate	21 February 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. G. Lindsay

28 February 1905

Richard James Albert Clarke
Kate Robertson

Richard James Albert Clarke
Kate Robertson
💍 1905/5113

Bachelor
Widow

Farmer
Domestic

21
33

Invercargill
Kensington, Invercargill

6 years
12 years

Residence of Mrs. Robertson, Kensington

05/1446

28 February 1905

Rev. J. Cumming

No	21
Date of Notice	28 February 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard James Albert Clarke	Kate Robertson
	💍 1905/5113
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Farmer	Domestic
Age	21	33
Dwelling Place	Invercargill	Kensington, Invercargill
Length of Residence	6 years	12 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs. Robertson, Kensington
Folio	05/1446
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 February 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. Cumming

1 March 1905

John Geary
Rose Woolf

John Geary
Rose Woolf
💍 1905/1024

Bachelor
Spinster

Printer
Domestic

36
38

Invercargill
Invercargill

3 days
3 days

St. Mary's Church, Clyde Street

05/3407

Rev. Father J. Sharhan

1 March 1905

Deputy Registrar of Marriages

No	22
Date of Notice	1 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Geary	Rose Woolf
	💍 1905/1024
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Printer	Domestic
Age	36	38
Dwelling Place	Invercargill	Invercargill
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	St. Mary's Church, Clyde Street
Folio	05/3407
Consent	Rev. Father J. Sharhan
Date of Certificate	1 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Deputy Registrar of Marriages

1 March 1905

Charles Pomeroy
Mary Lauretta Miller

Charles Pomeroy
Mary Lauretta Miller
💍 1905/5076

Bachelor
Spinster

Fisherman
Domestic

23
25

Leet Street, Invercargill
Gladstone, Invercargill

23 years
25 years

Office of the Deputy Registrar of Marriages, Invercargill

05/1431

1 March 1905

Deputy Registrar of Marriages

No	23
Date of Notice	1 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Pomeroy	Mary Lauretta Miller
	💍 1905/5076
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Fisherman	Domestic
Age	23	25
Dwelling Place	Leet Street, Invercargill	Gladstone, Invercargill
Length of Residence	23 years	25 years
Marriage Place	Office of the Deputy Registrar of Marriages, Invercargill
Folio	05/1431
Consent
Date of Certificate	1 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Deputy Registrar of Marriages

3 March 1905

James Spencer
Ellen Smith

James Spencer
Ellen Smith
💍 1905/5081

Widower
Spinster

Railway Guard
Domestic

29
23

Ettrick Street, Invercargill
Ettrick Street, Invercargill

10 years
23 years

English Church, Tay Street

05/1437

3 March 1905

Rev. Arch. Stocker

No	24
Date of Notice	3 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Spencer	Ellen Smith
	💍 1905/5081
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Railway Guard	Domestic
Age	29	23
Dwelling Place	Ettrick Street, Invercargill	Ettrick Street, Invercargill
Length of Residence	10 years	23 years
Marriage Place	English Church, Tay Street
Folio	05/1437
Consent
Date of Certificate	3 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. Arch. Stocker

4 March 1905

David Carter
Eliza Jane Blauch

David Carter
Eliza Jane Blanch
💍 1905/5084

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Domestic

29
23

Tay Street, Invercargill
Tay Street, Invercargill

6 years
2 years

Residence of Mrs. Blauch, Tay Street

05/1440

4 March 1905

Rev. R. Ferguson

No	25
Date of Notice	4 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	David Carter	Eliza Jane Blauch
BDM Match (97%)	David Carter	Eliza Jane Blanch
	💍 1905/5084
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Domestic
Age	29	23
Dwelling Place	Tay Street, Invercargill	Tay Street, Invercargill
Length of Residence	6 years	2 years
Marriage Place	Residence of Mrs. Blauch, Tay Street
Folio	05/1440
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Ferguson

6 March 1905

Frederick William Defconte
Elizabeth Senniston Shaw Stevenson

Frederick William Jefcoate
Elizabeth Denniston Shaw Stevenson
💍 1905/5100

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic

20
21

Invercargill
Oteramika, Invercargill

11 years
21 years

Residence of S. Stevenson, Oteramika

05/1457

6 March 1905

Rev. D. Biomett

No	26
Date of Notice	6 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick William Defconte	Elizabeth Senniston Shaw Stevenson
BDM Match (95%)	Frederick William Jefcoate	Elizabeth Denniston Shaw Stevenson
	💍 1905/5100
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic
Age	20	21
Dwelling Place	Invercargill	Oteramika, Invercargill
Length of Residence	11 years	21 years
Marriage Place	Residence of S. Stevenson, Oteramika
Folio	05/1457
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. D. Biomett

8 March 1905

Robert Goodall Riddell
Annie Bennett

Robert Goodall Riddell
Annie Bennett
💍 1905/5096

Bachelor
Spinster

Miner
Domestic

31
20

Invercargill
Invercargill

3 days
21 weeks

St. Paul's Church, Kelvin Street

05/1453

Thomas James Bennett, Father

8 March 1905

Rev. G. Lindsay

No	27
Date of Notice	8 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Goodall Riddell	Annie Bennett
	💍 1905/5096
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Miner	Domestic
Age	31	20
Dwelling Place	Invercargill	Invercargill
Length of Residence	3 days	21 weeks
Marriage Place	St. Paul's Church, Kelvin Street
Folio	05/1453
Consent	Thomas James Bennett, Father
Date of Certificate	8 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. G. Lindsay

11 March 1905

Richard George Peters
Mary Laws

Richard George Peters
Mary Laws
💍 1905/357

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic

22
21

Grasmere, Invercargill
Grasmere, Invercargill

8 years
21 years

English Church, Gladstone

05/1434

11 March 1905

Rev. H. Shinburn

No	28
Date of Notice	11 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard George Peters	Mary Laws
	💍 1905/357
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic
Age	22	21
Dwelling Place	Grasmere, Invercargill	Grasmere, Invercargill
Length of Residence	8 years	21 years
Marriage Place	English Church, Gladstone
Folio	05/1434
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Shinburn

13 March 1905

William Mackay
Alexandrina Mackay

William Mackay
Alexandrina Mackay
💍 1905/5097

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic

42
40

Dee Street, Invercargill
Dee Street, Invercargill

3 days
3 days

St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Invercargill

05/1454

13 March 1905

Rev. G. Lindsay

No	29
Date of Notice	13 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Mackay	Alexandrina Mackay
	💍 1905/5097
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic
Age	42	40
Dwelling Place	Dee Street, Invercargill	Dee Street, Invercargill
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Invercargill
Folio	05/1454
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. G. Lindsay

13 March 1905

Robert McIntosh
Annie Elizabeth Whyte

Robert McIntosh
Annie Elizabeth Whyte
💍 1905/5085

Widower
Spinster

Labourer
Dressmaker

40
27

Dee Street, Invercargill
Borthend, Invercargill

5 days
12 months

First Church, Tay Street

05/1441

13 March 1905

Rev. R. Ferguson

No	30
Date of Notice	13 March 1905
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert McIntosh	Annie Elizabeth Whyte
	💍 1905/5085
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Dressmaker
Age	40	27
Dwelling Place	Dee Street, Invercargill	Borthend, Invercargill
Length of Residence	5 days	12 months
Marriage Place	First Church, Tay Street
Folio	05/1441
Consent
Date of Certificate	13 March 1905
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Ferguson

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).