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 288

District of Masterton Quarter ending 31 December 1911 Registrar William Miller 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

4 October 1911

Walter Edward James Stevens
Laura Evelyn Wilton

Walter Edward James Stevens
Laura Evelyn Wilton
💍 1911/8238

Bachelor
Spinster

Coach builder
Domestic duties

26
26

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
26 years

The house of R. Wilton, Rangitumau

11/8282

4 October 1911

Rev. S. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

No	65
Date of Notice	4 October 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Walter Edward James Stevens	Laura Evelyn Wilton
	💍 1911/8238
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Coach builder	Domestic duties
Age	26	26
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	26 years
Marriage Place	The house of R. Wilton, Rangitumau
Folio	11/8282
Consent
Date of Certificate	4 October 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. S. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

4 October 1911

Alfred William John Murdoch
Alice Mary May

Alfred William John Mudock
Alice Mary May
💍 1911/8239

Bachelor
Spinster

Blacksmith

20
19

Masterton
Masterton

2 months
8 days

The Wesleyan Parsonage, Masterton

11/8283

No one in N. Zealand authorised to consent

21 October 1911

Rev. B. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

No	66
Date of Notice	4 October 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred William John Murdoch	Alice Mary May
BDM Match (96%)	Alfred William John Mudock	Alice Mary May
	💍 1911/8239
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Blacksmith
Age	20	19
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	2 months	8 days
Marriage Place	The Wesleyan Parsonage, Masterton
Folio	11/8283
Consent	No one in N. Zealand authorised to consent
Date of Certificate	21 October 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. B. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

9 October 1911

Albert Frank Billington
Violet Kilminster

Albert Frank Billington
Violet Kilmister
💍 1911/8240

Bachelor
Spinster

Dairyman
Domestic Servant

25
23

Masterton
Masterton

25 years
1 year

The Masterton Wesleyan Church

11/8284

9 October 1911

Rev. S. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

No	67
Date of Notice	9 October 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Albert Frank Billington	Violet Kilminster
BDM Match (97%)	Albert Frank Billington	Violet Kilmister
	💍 1911/8240
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Dairyman	Domestic Servant
Age	25	23
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	25 years	1 year
Marriage Place	The Masterton Wesleyan Church
Folio	11/8284
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 October 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. S. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

25 October 1911

Leslie Farrell
Floramel Moore

Leslie Franell
Floramel Moore
💍 1911/7531

Bachelor
Spinster

Railway Fireman
Domestic duties

24
22

Masterton
Masterton

2 days
11 years

The house of W. H. Whittaker, Essex Street Masterton

11/7624

25 October 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	68
Date of Notice	25 October 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Leslie Farrell	Floramel Moore
BDM Match (89%)	Leslie Franell	Floramel Moore
	💍 1911/7531
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Railway Fireman	Domestic duties
Age	24	22
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	2 days	11 years
Marriage Place	The house of W. H. Whittaker, Essex Street Masterton
Folio	11/7624
Consent
Date of Certificate	25 October 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

6 November 1911

Joseph Henry Collings
Wilhelmina Batt

Joseph Henry Collings
Wilhelmina Catt
💍 1911/7532

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Dressmaker

20
21

Masterton
Masterton

5 years
12 years

St. Matthews Church, Masterton

11/7625

6 November 1911

Rev. H. Watson, Anglican

No	69
Date of Notice	6 November 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Joseph Henry Collings	Wilhelmina Batt
BDM Match (97%)	Joseph Henry Collings	Wilhelmina Catt
	💍 1911/7532
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Dressmaker
Age	20	21
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	5 years	12 years
Marriage Place	St. Matthews Church, Masterton
Folio	11/7625
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 November 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Watson, Anglican

6 November 1911

Alfred Henry Turner
Adelaide Christina Wyllie

Alfred Henry Turner
Adelaide Christina Wyllie
💍 1911/6614

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Domestic duties

25
25

Masterton
Masterton

4 years
13 years

The Office of the Registrar, Masterton

11/6650

6 November 1911

Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

No	70
Date of Notice	6 November 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Alfred Henry Turner	Adelaide Christina Wyllie
	💍 1911/6614
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Domestic duties
Age	25	25
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	4 years	13 years
Marriage Place	The Office of the Registrar, Masterton
Folio	11/6650
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 November 1911
Officiating Minister	Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

11 November 1911

Hugh Gemmell Behan
Amy Mary Parsonson

Hugh Gemmell Behan
Amy Mary Parsonson
💍 1911/6625

Bachelor
Spinster

Shepherd
Domestic duties

22
24

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
5 weeks

The Office of the Registrar, Masterton

11/6651

11 November 1911

Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

No	71
Date of Notice	11 November 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Hugh Gemmell Behan	Amy Mary Parsonson
	💍 1911/6625
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shepherd	Domestic duties
Age	22	24
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	5 weeks
Marriage Place	The Office of the Registrar, Masterton
Folio	11/6651
Consent
Date of Certificate	11 November 1911
Officiating Minister	Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

15 November 1911

Frank Petersen
Myra Andrew

Frank Petersen
Myra Andrew
💍 1911/8242

Bachelor
Spinster

Plumber
Domestic duties

23
19

Masterton
Masterton

23 years
19 years

The house of P. Petersen, Hall Street Masterton

11/8285

Mary Ann Andrew, Mother

15 November 1911

Rev. S. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

No	72
Date of Notice	15 November 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frank Petersen	Myra Andrew
	💍 1911/8242
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Plumber	Domestic duties
Age	23	19
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	23 years	19 years
Marriage Place	The house of P. Petersen, Hall Street Masterton
Folio	11/8285
Consent	Mary Ann Andrew, Mother
Date of Certificate	15 November 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. S. J. Serpell, Wesleyan

20 November 1911

William John La Roche
May Cole

William John La Roche
May Cole
💍 1911/7536

Bachelor
Spinster

Carter
Domestic duties

30
20

Masterton
Masterton

30 years
20 years

St. Matthews Church, Masterton

11/7628

Domenick Cole, Father

20 November 1911

Rev. D. O. Hampton, Anglican

No	73
Date of Notice	20 November 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William John La Roche	May Cole
	💍 1911/7536
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carter	Domestic duties
Age	30	20
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	30 years	20 years
Marriage Place	St. Matthews Church, Masterton
Folio	11/7628
Consent	Domenick Cole, Father
Date of Certificate	20 November 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. D. O. Hampton, Anglican

22 November 1911

Arthur Edward Spooner
Florence Eliza Rogers

Arthur Edward Spooner
Florence Eliza Rogers
💍 1911/6632

Bachelor
Spinster

Engine driver
Domestic Servant

29
24

Masterton
Masterton

6 days
4 days

The Registrar's Office, Masterton

11/6652

22 November 1911

Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

No	74
Date of Notice	22 November 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Arthur Edward Spooner	Florence Eliza Rogers
	💍 1911/6632
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Engine driver	Domestic Servant
Age	29	24
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	6 days	4 days
Marriage Place	The Registrar's Office, Masterton
Folio	11/6652
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 November 1911
Officiating Minister	Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

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).