{"id":4210,"date":"2026-09-30T07:41:48","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T18:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stark.gen.nz\/wordpress\/?page_id=4210"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:58:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T21:58:01","slug":"ada-florance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stark.gen.nz\/wordpress\/hamilton\/elizabeth-hamilton\/ada-florance\/","title":{"rendered":"Ada Hamilton"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While registered to vote in the 1893 alongside her mother, I cannot find any record on the Suffrage Petition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple had the following children. There is a very big caveat here, as it would seem some of the children are adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Child<\/strong><\/td>Born<\/strong><\/td>Married<\/strong><\/td>Children<\/strong><\/td>Died<\/strong><\/td>Comments<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Claude Arthur Hamilton<\/td>9 Dec 1897<\/td>1923\/
Abt. 1945<\/td>		1\/
1<\/td>		7 Sep 1973<\/td>Poulton\/
Stubbs<\/td><\/tr>
Ada Eunice Zilpha<\/td>21 Jul 1899<\/td>1923\/
1932<\/td>		1\/
1<\/td>		13 Aug 1995<\/td>Leimbach\/
Edwards<\/td><\/tr>
Daphne Bonnibel Florance<\/td>28 Nov 1900<\/td>1931<\/td>4<\/td>26 Sep 1992<\/td>Barlass<\/td><\/tr>
Loma Kowhai Rahera<\/td>29 Dec 1903<\/td><\/td>–<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
James Charles Robertson *<\/td>12 Jul 1912<\/td>1947\/
–<\/td>		1<\/td>10 Jul 1994<\/td>T\u00f6kke\/
Russell<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

James was probably adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 1919, Ada has moved to Christchurch. At some point, she moves in with her youngest daughter, Loma, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthur passed away in Giisborne on the 4 November 1929 and his remains are buried there.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Ada remained in Christchurch and passed away on the 12 August 1945.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Linwood Cemetery. Credit Alastair McGowan<\/a> Findagrave<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This photo is of the FLORANCE family grave which contains Ada’s mother and father, and reference to her husband as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 … <\/p>\n

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