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 279

District of Masterton Quarter ending 31 March 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

25 February 1911

Robert Edward Evans
Annie Shaw

Robert Edward Evans
Annie Shaw
💍 1911/3370

Bachelor
Spinster

Divinity Student
Domestic duties

35
28

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
4 months

Knox Church, Masterton

11/3089

25 February 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	11
Date of Notice	25 February 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Robert Edward Evans	Annie Shaw
	💍 1911/3370
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Divinity Student	Domestic duties
Age	35	28
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	4 months
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Masterton
Folio	11/3089
Consent
Date of Certificate	25 February 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

24 February 1911

Francis Underwood
Grace Williamson

Francis Underwood
Grace Williamson
💍 1911/3371

Bachelor
Widow

Carpenter
Dressmaker

26
26

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
3 days

The Presbyterian Manse, Masterton

11/3040

24 February 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	12
Date of Notice	24 February 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Francis Underwood	Grace Williamson
	💍 1911/3371
Condition	Bachelor	Widow
Profession	Carpenter	Dressmaker
Age	26	26
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	The Presbyterian Manse, Masterton
Folio	11/3040
Consent
Date of Certificate	24 February 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

28 February 1911

William Martin Parkhouse
Maggie Turner

William Martin Parkhouse
Maggie Turner
💍 1911/3372

Bachelor
Spinster

Tailor
Domestic duties

26
26

Masterton
Masterton

6 weeks
6 weeks

Knox Church, Masterton

11/3041

28 February 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	13
Date of Notice	28 February 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Martin Parkhouse	Maggie Turner
	💍 1911/3372
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Tailor	Domestic duties
Age	26	26
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	6 weeks	6 weeks
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Masterton
Folio	11/3041
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 February 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

1 March 1911

William Donald
Constance Gertrude McEwen

William Donald
Constance Gertrude McEwen
💍 1911/1468

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic duties

25
20

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
20 years

Congregational Church, Masterton

11/863

Edward McEwen, Father

1 March 1911

Rev. A. Hodge, Congregational

No	14
Date of Notice	1 March 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Donald	Constance Gertrude McEwen
	💍 1911/1468
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic duties
Age	25	20
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	20 years
Marriage Place	Congregational Church, Masterton
Folio	11/863
Consent	Edward McEwen, Father
Date of Certificate	1 March 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. A. Hodge, Congregational

6 March 1911

Allan Percy Smith
Annie Michell

Allan Percy Smith
Annie Michell
💍 1911/1762

Bachelor
Spinster

Clerk
Domestic duties

26
24

Masterton
Masterton

6 years
24 years

St. Matthews Church, Masterton

11/1333

6 March 1911

Rev. D. P. Hampton, Anglican

No	15
Date of Notice	6 March 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Allan Percy Smith	Annie Michell
	💍 1911/1762
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Clerk	Domestic duties
Age	26	24
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	6 years	24 years
Marriage Place	St. Matthews Church, Masterton
Folio	11/1333
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 March 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. D. P. Hampton, Anglican

14 March 1911

Harold Bertram Cresswell
Maria Elizabeth Scadden

Harold Bertram Cresswell
Maria Elizabeth Scadden
💍 1911/1492

Bachelor
Spinster

Blacksmith
Domestic duties

24
24

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
2 months

The house of George Scadden, Masterton

11/961

14 March 1911

Rev. C. H. Olds, Wesleyan

No	16
Date of Notice	14 March 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Harold Bertram Cresswell	Maria Elizabeth Scadden
	💍 1911/1492
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Blacksmith	Domestic duties
Age	24	24
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	2 months
Marriage Place	The house of George Scadden, Masterton
Folio	11/961
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 March 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. H. Olds, Wesleyan

18 March 1911

Duncan Gillies Beaton
Louie Brosher

Duncan Gillies Beaton
Louie Crosher
💍 1911/1560

Bachelor
Spinster

Shepherd
Domestic duties

23
26

Masterton
Masterton

7 days
7 days

The Office of the Registrar, Masterton

11/928

18 March 1911

Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

No	17
Date of Notice	18 March 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Duncan Gillies Beaton	Louie Brosher
BDM Match (96%)	Duncan Gillies Beaton	Louie Crosher
	💍 1911/1560
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Shepherd	Domestic duties
Age	23	26
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	7 days	7 days
Marriage Place	The Office of the Registrar, Masterton
Folio	11/928
Consent
Date of Certificate	18 March 1911
Officiating Minister	Wm. M. Easthope, Registrar

21 March 1911

Richard Derwent Hollingsworth
Violet May Jamieson

Richard Derwent Hollingsworth
Violet May Jamieson
💍 1911/1493

Bachelor
Spinster

Labourer
Domestic duties

23
22

Masterton
Masterton

1 week
2 years

The Wesleyan Church, Masterton

11/962

21 March 1911

Rev. C. H. Olds, Wesleyan

No	18
Date of Notice	21 March 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard Derwent Hollingsworth	Violet May Jamieson
	💍 1911/1493
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Labourer	Domestic duties
Age	23	22
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	1 week	2 years
Marriage Place	The Wesleyan Church, Masterton
Folio	11/962
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 March 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. H. Olds, Wesleyan

22 March 1911

John Stalker
Lillian May Twyford

John Stalker
Lillian May Twyford
💍 1911/1494

Widower
Spinster

Timber Yardman
Domestic Servant

31
23

Masterton
Masterton

8 years
1 year

The Wesleyan Parsonage, Masterton

11/968

22 March 1911

Rev. C. H. Olds, Wesleyan

No	19
Date of Notice	22 March 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Stalker	Lillian May Twyford
	💍 1911/1494
Condition	Widower	Spinster
Profession	Timber Yardman	Domestic Servant
Age	31	23
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	8 years	1 year
Marriage Place	The Wesleyan Parsonage, Masterton
Folio	11/968
Consent
Date of Certificate	22 March 1911
Officiating Minister	Rev. C. H. Olds, Wesleyan

25 March 1911

Richard James Field
Edith Peterson

Richard James Field
Edith Peterson
💍 1911/3374

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Domestic duties

34
25

Masterton
Masterton

15 years
25 years

Knox Church, Masterton

11/3043

25 March 1911

Rev. A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	20
Date of Notice	25 March 1911
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Richard James Field	Edith Peterson
	💍 1911/3374
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Domestic duties
Age	34	25
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	15 years	25 years
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Masterton
Folio	11/3043
Consent
Date of Certificate	25 March 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).