Intentions to Marry, 1911 Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840446, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

1911 is bound in three volumes - Auckland, Taranaki, (1911a), Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland (1911b), and Canterbury, Otago, Chatham Islands (1911c).

Page 286

District of Masterton Quarter ending 30 September 1911 Registrar Wm M Easthope

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

12 July 1911

Henry Thomas Warren
Ethel Hill

Henry Thomas Warren
Ethel Hill
💍 1911/5196

Bachelor
Spinster

Farm Manager
Nurse

30
35

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
5 weeks

Presbyterian Church, Masterton

11/5054

12 July 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	48
Date of Notice	12 July 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Thomas Warren	Ethel Hill
	💍 1911/5196
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farm Manager	Nurse
Age	30	35
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	5 weeks
Marriage Place	Presbyterian Church, Masterton
Folio	11/5054
Consent
Date of Certificate	12 July 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

4 August 1911

Walter Henry Davey
Bessie Louis Wells

Walter Henry Davey
Bessie Louis Wells
💍 1911/5617

Bachelor
Spinster

Bootmaker
Domestic duties

34
20

Masterton
Masterton

16 months
20 years

The house of Miss Wells, Lincoln Road Masterton

11/5456

Elizabeth Matilda Gorkill, Mother

4 August 1911

Rev. S. G. Serpell, Wesleyan

No	49
Date of Notice	4 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Walter Henry Davey	Bessie Louis Wells
	💍 1911/5617
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Bootmaker	Domestic duties
Age	34	20
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	16 months	20 years
Marriage Place	The house of Miss Wells, Lincoln Road Masterton
Folio	11/5456
Consent	Elizabeth Matilda Gorkill, Mother
Date of Certificate	4 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. S. G. Serpell, Wesleyan

4 August 1911

Louis Gumbley
Margaret Robins

Louis Gumbley
Margaret Robins
💍 1911/5611

Bachelor
Spinster

Storekeeper
Domestic duties

24
23

Masterton
Masterton

4 days
14 days

St. Matthews Church, Masterton

11/5450

4 August 1911

Rev. H. Watson, Anglican

No	50
Date of Notice	4 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Louis Gumbley	Margaret Robins
	💍 1911/5611
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Storekeeper	Domestic duties
Age	24	23
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	4 days	14 days
Marriage Place	St. Matthews Church, Masterton
Folio	11/5450
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Watson, Anglican

8 August 1911

Richmond Beetham
Hilda Margretta Hampton

Richmond Beetham
Hilda Margrette Hampton
💍 1911/5616

Widower
Spinster

Settler
Domestic duties

45
25

Masterton
Masterton

10 years
6 years

St. Matthews Church, Masterton

11/5455

8 August 1911

Rev. D. G. Hampton, Anglican

No	51
Date of Notice	8 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richmond Beetham	Hilda Margretta Hampton
BDM Match (98%)	Richmond Beetham	Hilda Margrette Hampton
	💍 1911/5616
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Settler	Domestic duties
Age	45	25
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	10 years	6 years
Marriage Place	St. Matthews Church, Masterton
Folio	11/5455
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. D. G. Hampton, Anglican

8 August 1911

James Ernest Fuller
Johanna Jenkins

James Ernest Fuller
Johanna Jenkins
💍 1911/4742

Bachelor
Spinster

Shepherd
Domestic duties

26
30

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
3 days

The Office of the Registrar, Masterton

11/4544

8 August 1911

Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

No	52
Date of Notice	8 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James Ernest Fuller	Johanna Jenkins
	💍 1911/4742
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shepherd	Domestic duties
Age	26	30
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	The Office of the Registrar, Masterton
Folio	11/4544
Consent
Date of Certificate	8 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

14 August 1911

Hamilton Cumming
Hettie Lamont

Hamilton Cuming
Hettie La Monte
💍 1911/8496

Widower
Widow

Stock & Share Broker
Housekeeper

64
45

Masterton
Masterton

1 month
1 month

The house of E. Swinerd, Lincoln Road Masterton

11/8502

14 August 1911

Rev. E. Swinerd, Baptist

No	53
Date of Notice	14 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Hamilton Cumming	Hettie Lamont
BDM Match (87%)	Hamilton Cuming	Hettie La Monte
	💍 1911/8496
Condition	Widower	Widow
Profession	Stock & Share Broker	Housekeeper
Age	64	45
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	1 month	1 month
Marriage Place	The house of E. Swinerd, Lincoln Road Masterton
Folio	11/8502
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. E. Swinerd, Baptist

16 August 1911

Kemara Hawea
Nanihi Patangaroa

Kemara Hawea
Ninihi Potangaroa
💍 1911/5253

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic duties

19
17

Masterton
Masterton

5 days
5 days

Te Hohistanga Church, Saueru

11/5467

Watu Hawea, Father; Hamuera Patangaroa, Father

16 August 1911

Rev. Anaru Tehokairangi, Church of Seven Rules of Jehovah

No	54
Date of Notice	16 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Kemara Hawea	Nanihi Patangaroa
BDM Match (94%)	Kemara Hawea	Ninihi Potangaroa
	💍 1911/5253
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic duties
Age	19	17
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	5 days	5 days
Marriage Place	Te Hohistanga Church, Saueru
Folio	11/5467
Consent	Watu Hawea, Father; Hamuera Patangaroa, Father
Date of Certificate	16 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. Anaru Tehokairangi, Church of Seven Rules of Jehovah

22 August 1911

Daniel McKenna
Catherine Sheehan

Daniel McKenna
Catherine Sheehan
💍 1911/5200

David Edward Lester
Catherine Sheehan
💍 1911/4591

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Housekeeper

34
35

Masterton
Masterton

4 years
3 days

St. Patrick's Church, Masterton

11/5058

22 August 1911

Rev. Dean McKenna, Roman Catholic

No	55
Date of Notice	22 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Daniel McKenna	Catherine Sheehan
	💍 1911/5200
BDM Match (61%)	David Edward Lester	Catherine Sheehan
	💍 1911/4591
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Housekeeper
Age	34	35
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	4 years	3 days
Marriage Place	St. Patrick's Church, Masterton
Folio	11/5058
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. Dean McKenna, Roman Catholic

28 August 1911

Thomas Lawson Elder
Louise Smith

Thomas Lawson Elder
Louise Smith
💍 1911/14

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
School teacher

24
26

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
25 years

Knox Church, Masterton

11/5056

28 August 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	56
Date of Notice	28 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Thomas Lawson Elder	Louise Smith
	💍 1911/14
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	School teacher
Age	24	26
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	25 years
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Masterton
Folio	11/5056
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

28 August 1911

Henry Ruamahanga Millar
Mary Constance Falconer

Henry Ruamahanga Millar
Mary Constance Falconer
💍 1911/5195

Bachelor
Spinster

Contractor
Home duties

25
23

Masterton
Masterton

8 years
23 years

Knox Church, Masterton

11/5053

28 August 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	57
Date of Notice	28 August 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Henry Ruamahanga Millar	Mary Constance Falconer
	💍 1911/5195
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Contractor	Home duties
Age	25	23
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	8 years	23 years
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Masterton
Folio	11/5053
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 August 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. J. Thompson, 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).