Intentions to Marry, 1914 Wellington, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland

Reference: Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Notices of intention to marry, Series 8937, R2840455, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

1914 is bound in three volumes - Auckland, Taranaki (1914a), Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland (1914b), and Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Chatham Islands (1914c).

Page 1338

District of Masterton Quarter ending 30 June 1914 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

15 April 1914

Percy Benjamin Hendry
Elizabeth Montagu Grey Holdaway

Percy Benjamin Hendry
Elizabeth McIntyre Grey Holdaway
💍 1914/8763

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Shop Assistant

29
29

Masterton
Masterton

3 years
4 years

The Congregational Church, Masterton

2559

15 April 1914

Rev B. L. Thomas, Congregational

No	25
Date of Notice	15 April 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Percy Benjamin Hendry	Elizabeth Montagu Grey Holdaway
BDM Match (92%)	Percy Benjamin Hendry	Elizabeth McIntyre Grey Holdaway
	💍 1914/8763
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Shop Assistant
Age	29	29
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 years	4 years
Marriage Place	The Congregational Church, Masterton
Folio	2559
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 April 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev B. L. Thomas, Congregational

21 April 1914

Bertram Rutherfurd Bunny
Phillis Roberta Cameron

Bertram Rutherford Bunny
Phillis Roberta Cameron
💍 1914/8740

Bachelor
Spinster

Sheep farmer
Domestic duties

40
23

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
20 years

The house of D. J. Cameron, Upper Plain, Masterton

2560

21 April 1914

Rev A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	26
Date of Notice	21 April 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Bertram Rutherfurd Bunny	Phillis Roberta Cameron
BDM Match (98%)	Bertram Rutherford Bunny	Phillis Roberta Cameron
	💍 1914/8740
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sheep farmer	Domestic duties
Age	40	23
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	20 years
Marriage Place	The house of D. J. Cameron, Upper Plain, Masterton
Folio	2560
Consent
Date of Certificate	21 April 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

28 April 1914

John Carne Bidwill
Evelyn Maud Collie

John Carne Bidwill
Evelyn Maud Collie
💍 1914/8741

Bachelor
Spinster

Sheep-farmer
Domestic duties

32
21

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
3 weeks

St. Matthews Church, Masterton

2561

28 April 1914

Rev. H. Watson, Anglican

No	27
Date of Notice	28 April 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	John Carne Bidwill	Evelyn Maud Collie
	💍 1914/8741
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Sheep-farmer	Domestic duties
Age	32	21
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	3 weeks
Marriage Place	St. Matthews Church, Masterton
Folio	2561
Consent
Date of Certificate	28 April 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev. H. Watson, Anglican

6 May 1914

Michael Bernard Burbury
Nellie Rochford

Michael Bernard Burbury
Nellie Rochford
💍 1914/5895

Bachelor
Spinster

Linotype operator
Tailoress

33
28

Masterton
Masterton

3 months
1 1/2 years

The Roman Catholic Church, Wellington

3332

6 May 1914

Rev. Thos. O'Shea, Roman Catholic

No	28
Date of Notice	6 May 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Michael Bernard Burbury	Nellie Rochford
	💍 1914/5895
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Linotype operator	Tailoress
Age	33	28
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 months	1 1/2 years
Marriage Place	The Roman Catholic Church, Wellington
Folio	3332
Consent
Date of Certificate	6 May 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev. Thos. O'Shea, Roman Catholic

9 May 1914

William Arthur Carswell
Henrietta Smith

William Arthur Carswell
Henrietta Smith
💍 1914/8746

Bachelor
Spinster

Carpenter
Dressmaker

25
24

Masterton
Masterton

25 years
24 years

The Presbyterian Church, Lansdowne, Masterton

2566

9 May 1914

Rev Thos. Halliday, Presbyterian

No	29
Date of Notice	9 May 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	William Arthur Carswell	Henrietta Smith
	💍 1914/8746
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Carpenter	Dressmaker
Age	25	24
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	25 years	24 years
Marriage Place	The Presbyterian Church, Lansdowne, Masterton
Folio	2566
Consent
Date of Certificate	9 May 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev Thos. Halliday, Presbyterian

14 May 1914

David Grant
Margaret Wishart

David Grant
Margaret Wishart
💍 1914/8743

Bachelor
Spinster

School-teacher
Saleswoman

43
32

Masterton
Masterton

4 years
9 months

Knox Church, Masterton

2563

14 May 1914

Rev A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	30
Date of Notice	14 May 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	David Grant	Margaret Wishart
	💍 1914/8743
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	School-teacher	Saleswoman
Age	43	32
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	4 years	9 months
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Masterton
Folio	2563
Consent
Date of Certificate	14 May 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

15 May 1914

Kahutiaterangi Paku
Maki Rimene

Kahutiaterangi Paku
Maki Rimene
💍 1914/8742

Bachelor
Spinster

Farmer
Farmer

29
27

Homewood, Masterton
Te Ore Ore, Masterton

19 years
27 years

Temania Moria, Okautete

14/2562

15 May 1914

Rev Aperahama Aararu, 7 Rules of Jehovah

No	31
Date of Notice	15 May 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Kahutiaterangi Paku	Maki Rimene
	💍 1914/8742
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farmer	Farmer
Age	29	27
Dwelling Place	Homewood, Masterton	Te Ore Ore, Masterton
Length of Residence	19 years	27 years
Marriage Place	Temania Moria, Okautete
Folio	14/2562
Consent
Date of Certificate	15 May 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev Aperahama Aararu, 7 Rules of Jehovah

20 May 1914

Edgar George Williams
Mary Agatha Jane Curry

Edgar George Williams
Mary Agatha Jane Curry
💍 1914/9262

Bachelor
Spinster

Cabinetmaker
Domestic duties

24
26

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
6 years

St Patricks Church, Masterton

4352

20 May 1914

Rev Dean McKenna, Roman Catholic

No	32
Date of Notice	20 May 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Edgar George Williams	Mary Agatha Jane Curry
	💍 1914/9262
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Cabinetmaker	Domestic duties
Age	24	26
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	6 years
Marriage Place	St Patricks Church, Masterton
Folio	4352
Consent
Date of Certificate	20 May 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev Dean McKenna, Roman Catholic

26 May 1914

Frederick Naylor Carne Groube
Nora Agnes Minihan

Frederick Naylor Carne Groube
Nora Agnes Minihan
💍 1914/9273

Bachelor
Spinster

Waggoner
Domestic duties

28
22

Masterton
Masterton

3 days
3 days

St Patricks Church, Masterton

4353

26 May 1914

Rev Dean McKenna, Roman Catholic

No	33
Date of Notice	26 May 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	Frederick Naylor Carne Groube	Nora Agnes Minihan
	💍 1914/9273
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Waggoner	Domestic duties
Age	28	22
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	3 days	3 days
Marriage Place	St Patricks Church, Masterton
Folio	4353
Consent
Date of Certificate	26 May 1914
Officiating Minister	Rev Dean McKenna, Roman Catholic

30 May 1914

James McDonald
Elsie Jane Cameron Fraser

James McDonald
Elsie Jane Cameron Fraser
💍 1914/8744

Bachelor
Spinster

Farm servant
Domestic duties

23
21

Masterton
Masterton

8 months
2 days

Knox Church, Masterton

2564

30 May 1914

Rev A. J. Thompson, Presbyterian

No	34
Date of Notice	30 May 1914
	Groom	Bride
Names of Parties	James McDonald	Elsie Jane Cameron Fraser
	💍 1914/8744
Condition	Bachelor	Spinster
Profession	Farm servant	Domestic duties
Age	23	21
Dwelling Place	Masterton	Masterton
Length of Residence	8 months	2 days
Marriage Place	Knox Church, Masterton
Folio	2564
Consent
Date of Certificate	30 May 1914
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).