Intentions to Marry, 1910 Canterbury, Otago, Chatham Islands

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840444, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

1910 is bound in three volumes - Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay (1910a), Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland (1910b), and Canterbury, Otago, Chatham Islands (1910c).

Page 031

District of Christchurch Quarter ending 31 March 1910 Registrar Lyonel Charles Williams

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

10 January 1910

John Armstrong
Elizabeth Ann Dent

John Armstrong
Elizabeth Ann Dent
💍 1910/1209

Widower
Spinster

Manufacturer

72
58

Christchurch
Christchurch

50 years
19 years

Registrar's Office, Christchurch

10/1309

10 January 1910

L. C. Williams, Registrar

No	23
Date of Notice	10 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Armstrong	Elizabeth Ann Dent
	💍 1910/1209
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Manufacturer
Age	72	58
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	50 years	19 years
Marriage Place	Registrar's Office, Christchurch
Folio	10/1309
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 January 1910
Officiating Minister	L. C. Williams, Registrar

10 January 1910

Michael James Ryan
Annie Brown

Michael James Ryan
Annie Benson
💍 1910/5453

Widower
Spinster

Farmer

42
31

Yaldhurst
Yaldhurst

30 years
2 years

St. Mary's Church, Christchurch

10/5644

10 January 1910

Rev. R. Hoare, Romanist

No	24
Date of Notice	10 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Michael James Ryan	Annie Brown
BDM Match (83%)	Michael James Ryan	Annie Benson
	💍 1910/5453
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	42	31
Dwelling Place	Yaldhurst	Yaldhurst
Length of Residence	30 years	2 years
Marriage Place	St. Mary's Church, Christchurch
Folio	10/5644
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Hoare, Romanist

10 January 1910

Reginald Dunsterville Harvey Uniacke
Harriet Olive Townend

Reginald Dunsterville Vincent
Harriet Olive Harvey Townend
💍 1910/1299

Bachelor
Spinster

Warehouseman

29
27

Opawa
Opawa

26 years
Life

St. Mark's Church, Opawa

10/1352

10 January 1910

Rev. H. Williams, Anglican

No	25
Date of Notice	10 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Reginald Dunsterville Harvey Uniacke	Harriet Olive Townend
BDM Match (71%)	Reginald Dunsterville Vincent	Harriet Olive Harvey Townend
	💍 1910/1299
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Warehouseman
Age	29	27
Dwelling Place	Opawa	Opawa
Length of Residence	26 years	Life
Marriage Place	St. Mark's Church, Opawa
Folio	10/1352
Consent
Date of Certificate	10 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Williams, Anglican

11 January 1910

Patrick Fitzgibbon
Mary Shanahan

Patrick Fitzgibbon
Mary Shanahan
💍 1910/1482

Bachelor
Spinster

Ploughman

31
28

Christchurch
Sydenham

3 days
3 days

Roman Catholic Cathedral, Christchurch

10/1443

11 January 1910

Rev. T. W. Price, Romanist

No	26
Date of Notice	11 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Patrick Fitzgibbon	Mary Shanahan
	💍 1910/1482
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Ploughman
Age	31	28
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Sydenham
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	Roman Catholic Cathedral, Christchurch
Folio	10/1443
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. T. W. Price, Romanist

11 January 1910

Derby Nathaniel Boyce
Margaret Honeyman Ritchie

Derby Nathaniel Boyce
Margaret Honeyman Ritchie
💍 1910/1359

Bachelor
Spinster

Traveller

28
32

Papanui
Christchurch

3 weeks
3 weeks

Presbyterian Manse, Bealey Avenue, Christchurch

10/1419

11 January 1910

Rev. R. Erwin, Presbyterian

No	27
Date of Notice	11 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Derby Nathaniel Boyce	Margaret Honeyman Ritchie
	💍 1910/1359
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Traveller
Age	28	32
Dwelling Place	Papanui	Christchurch
Length of Residence	3 weeks	3 weeks
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Manse, Bealey Avenue, Christchurch
Folio	10/1419
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Erwin, Presbyterian

11 January 1910

Maurice Cuthbert Cooper
Euphemia Anderson Turner

Maurice Cuthbert Cooper
Euphemia Anderson Turner
💍 1910/1360

Bachelor
Spinster

Traveller

26
24

St. Albans
St. Albans

26 years
24 years

Knox Church, Christchurch

10/1420

11 January 1910

Rev. R. Erwin, Presbyterian

No	28
Date of Notice	11 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Maurice Cuthbert Cooper	Euphemia Anderson Turner
	💍 1910/1360
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Traveller
Age	26	24
Dwelling Place	St. Albans	St. Albans
Length of Residence	26 years	24 years
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Christchurch
Folio	10/1420
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. R. Erwin, Presbyterian

11 January 1910

William Walter Cyril Cosgrove
Rubina Gebbie

William Walter Cyril Cossgrove
Rubina Gebbie
💍 1910/1397

Bachelor
Spinster

School Teacher

26
25

Papanui
St. Albans

3 days
3 years

St. Mary's Church, Merivale

10/1380

11 January 1910

Rev. C. H. Gosset, Anglican

No	29
Date of Notice	11 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Walter Cyril Cosgrove	Rubina Gebbie
BDM Match (98%)	William Walter Cyril Cossgrove	Rubina Gebbie
	💍 1910/1397
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	School Teacher
Age	26	25
Dwelling Place	Papanui	St. Albans
Length of Residence	3 days	3 years
Marriage Place	St. Mary's Church, Merivale
Folio	10/1380
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. H. Gosset, Anglican

11 January 1910

Alexander Aitchison
Harriott Ellen Atkins

Alexander Aitchison
Harriott Ellen Atkins
💍 1910/1211

Widower
Spinster

Gardener

58
51

Christchurch
Christchurch

6 months
6 months

Registrar's Office, Christchurch

10/1311

11 January 1910

L. C. Williams, Registrar

No	30
Date of Notice	11 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alexander Aitchison	Harriott Ellen Atkins
	💍 1910/1211
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Gardener
Age	58	51
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	6 months	6 months
Marriage Place	Registrar's Office, Christchurch
Folio	10/1311
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 January 1910
Officiating Minister	L. C. Williams, Registrar

12 January 1910

Charles Edmund Bowron
Evelyn Judith Phillips

Charles Edmund Bowron
Evelyn Judith Phillips
💍 1910/1398

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

28
30

Opawa
Fendalton

3 days
2 years

St. Barnabas' Church, Fendalton

10/1381

12 January 1910

Rev. J. A. Hamilton, Anglican

No	31
Date of Notice	12 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Charles Edmund Bowron	Evelyn Judith Phillips
	💍 1910/1398
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	28	30
Dwelling Place	Opawa	Fendalton
Length of Residence	3 days	2 years
Marriage Place	St. Barnabas' Church, Fendalton
Folio	10/1381
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. A. Hamilton, Anglican

12 January 1910

Albert Gee
Janet Miller Lang

Albert Gee
Janet Miller Lang
💍 1910/5561

Bachelor
Spinster

Accountant
Tailoress

29
29

Christchurch
Christchurch

2 years
2 years

St. Peter's Church, Woolston

10/5483

12 January 1910

Rev. J. M. McDonald, Presbyterian

No	32
Date of Notice	12 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Albert Gee	Janet Miller Lang
	💍 1910/5561
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Accountant	Tailoress
Age	29	29
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Christchurch
Length of Residence	2 years	2 years
Marriage Place	St. Peter's Church, Woolston
Folio	10/5483
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. J. M. McDonald, Presbyterian

14 January 1910

Thomas Tolerton
Rose Helen Mason

Thomas Tolerton
Rose Helen Mason
💍 1910/1361

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer

31
31

Christchurch
Sydenham

3 days
Life

House of Mr. W. Mason, 60 Muriers Rd., Linwood

10/1421

14 January 1910

Rev. Murray, Presbyterian

No	33
Date of Notice	14 January 1910
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Tolerton	Rose Helen Mason
	💍 1910/1361
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer
Age	31	31
Dwelling Place	Christchurch	Sydenham
Length of Residence	3 days	Life
Marriage Place	House of Mr. W. Mason, 60 Muriers Rd., Linwood
Folio	10/1421
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 January 1910
Officiating Minister	Rev. Murray, Presbyterian

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 1908. 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).