Coventry family possibly traced back to Rodborough & Bisley area of Gloucestershire and a 1739 Bisley marriage of William BIDMEAD & Grace JENNINGS. It is possible William (c. 1717 at Minchinhampton) is the s/o Richard BIDMEAD (c. 1702) & Rebekah SAUNDERS (m. 1714 at Sapperton), and that Richard in turn is the s/o Jeremiah BIDMEAD & Hannah SMART (m. 1701 Bisley). Jeremiah appears to be c. 24.12.1689 s/o Jno.
This family is believed by several modern branches of the family to be related to the famous Captain Sir Henry MORGAN, buccaneer and Governor of Jamaica. These lines divided in the mid C19th and this story has been independently forwarded into the C21st. A researcher living in Wales in the early 1990's was believed to have proof but the name and address has been lost (communicated briefly through a related researcher in NZ). Would love to contact this person if you know of them. Modern MORGAN descendants in Australia have a line which includes BIDMEAD. Please refer to the MORGAN webpage for more information.
Family now spread worldwide including New Zealand (from 1842), Nova Scotia, Canada and the US (from the 1860's). Descendants now living in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Montana, Florida, California and Connecticut. Some relatives also believed to be in Australia and South Africa. Please get in touch!