Ada was born on the 7 October 1867 in Christchurch. She was the eldest child of Elizabeth and step child to Augustus Florance. Her birth certificate does not show a registered father. She was 5 years old when her parents married.
While registered to vote in the 1893 alongside her mother, I cannot find any record on the Suffrage Petition.
In 1893, Ada married Arthur Crabtree Bellwood in Christchurch. The couple moved to Cheviot and ran a timber yard. That might have also included a store as part of the site.
Ada was gifted musically and even while helping to run a business with husband, she also ran a side business as a music teacher. That is present in a number of her official public records.
The couple had the following children. There is a very big caveat here, as it would seem some of the children are adopted.
| Child | Born | Married | Children | Died | Comments |
| Claude Arthur Hamilton | 9 Dec 1897 | 1923/ Abt. 1945 | 1/ 1 | 7 Sep 1973 | Poulton/ Stubbs |
| Ada Eunice Zilpha | 21 Jul 1899 | 1923/ 1932 | 1/ 1 | 13 Aug 1995 | Leimbach/ Edwards |
| Daphne Bonnibel Florance | 28 Nov 1900 | 1931 | 4 | 26 Sep 1992 | Barlass |
| Loma Kowhai Rahera | 29 Dec 1903 | – | |||
| James Charles Robertson * | 12 Jul 1912 | 1947/ – | 1 | 10 Jul 1994 | Tökke/ Russell |
James was probably adopted.
There were a number of things happening at Cheviot while Ada lived there. In 1901 there was a huge earthquake that devastated the area and caused material hardship to Ada and her business. A year after the earthquake, Ada and her husband were adjudged bankrupts.
Ada persevered with her music tuition though, but also took on community things like looking after the local library in Cheviot as both Librarian, but also carried out the maintenance.
It would seem that about 1911, her husband seems to have left Cheviot and relocated to Gisborne without the family. Her husband is not on the Cheviot electoral rolls.
By 1919, Ada has moved to Christchurch. At some point, she moves in with her youngest daughter, Loma,
Arthur passed away in Giisborne on the 4 November 1929 and his remains are buried there.
Ada remained in Christchurch and passed away on the 12 August 1945.
This photo is of the FLORANCE family grave which contains Ada’s mother and father, and reference to her husband as well.