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The BIDMEAD Family of Coventry

Including connections to Canada, US & New Zealand

Family name derived from "by the meadow".

Distribution of the family name in 1881 (above)
showing a mainly South Midlands area focus.
A more recent map from publicprofiler.org based on 2000-2005 public domain data (below).

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 family lines divided in the mid C19th. The story has been independently forwarded down several BIDMEAD lines into the C21st. A researcher living in Wales in the early 1990's was reported to have "proof" of this link, but the name and address has been lost (communicated briefly through a related researcher in NZ). We would love to contact this person or their descendants, if you know of them and if this research survives. Interestingly, the modern MORGAN descendants in Australia have a line which includes BIDMEAD. This may refer to Richard MORGAN (Bachelor of the Parish of St Michael's Gloucester) who married by Licence Hester BIDMEAD, Spinster at St Catherine Of the Parish of St Mary De Lode on 15.11.1804  - both parties signed (therefore educated). 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. 1901 census data suggests some family still in Coventry, Birmingham or Nuneaton areas. Please get in touch!

Note: Spelling variants can include - BIDMADE, BIDMAID, BIDMEADE, BIDMEAT, BIDMED, BIDMEDE, BIDMEED, BIDMID, BIDMOT, BITMEAD, BYDMEAD, etc.

The Coventry branch of this family is possibly traced back to the Rodborough & Bisley area of Gloucestershire. There are other Gloucestershire families that may be related but unproven (a good example being those families clustered around Newent), however it should be noted that the origin of the family name (its simplicity) could lead to many independent families who just happened to be "biding by their local meads".

The earliest possible tree may include:

John BIDMEAD (Jno) of C17th Bisley, GLS and his son Jeremiah BIDMEAD (1689).  Jeremiah BIDMEAD m. Hannah SMART in 1701 at Bisley. 

A Richard BIDMEAD (c1698/1702) also possibly m. Rebekah SAUNDERS in 1714 at Sapperton, however it is recognised this marriage is earlier than expected unless his is a later baptism. Their children may have included:

  • Thomas BIDMEAD (1707 Bisley);

  • William BIDMEAD (1717 Minchinhampton) m. 1739 Bisley = Grace JENNINGS. By 1770 this family had moved to Coventry. Children:

    • Hannah BIDMEAD (1740);

    • Esther BIDMEAD (1746);

    • Susannah BIDMEAD (1749) m. 1770 Coventry = Thomas REED;

    • Elizabeth BIDMEAD (1750) = John SHAW - see family below;

    • Richard BIDMEAD (1754);

    • Joseph BIDMEAD (1756);

    • William BIDMEAD (1758) m. 1778 Coventry = Lydia WRIGHT. In 1779 became a Freeman to the Clothworkers Guild, Coventry. Children:

      • Benjamin BIDMEAD (1779) - apprenticed to father (Ribbon Weaver) in 1791. m. 1806 = Mary LIGHTBOURNE. Child:

        • Mary Elliss BIDMEAD (1826) m. 1856 = William BAKER. Illegitimate child: 

          • Mary Ann BIDMEAD (1847-63) ;

      • William BIDMEAD (1782) - apprenticed to father in 1796;

      • Sarah BIDMEAD (1785);

      • Thomas BIDMEAD (1787);

    • Isaac BIDMEAD (1760) m. 1783 = Mary ARUNDEL;

    • Rebecca BIDMEAD (1760);

  • Thomas BIDMEAD (1724 Bisley);

The main Coventry branch is descended from the illegitimate son of Elizabeth BIDMEAD (1750) & John SHAW, a Pewterman and later Freeman of Coventry. Their son Benjamin BIDMEAD (1770) kept his mother's name, even though he was also baptised John SHAW in 1770. Elizabeth & John married in 1772 and had Mary SHAW (1773) & Thomas SHAW (1774).

Benjamin BIDMEAD (1770-1816), Cordwainer, married Rachel DUFKIN / DUFFKIN (1769-1831) in 1793 (incorrectly given as DURKIN on some records). Their children were:

  • Benjamin BIDMEAD (1800) m. Charlotte of Cornwall. Child:

    • William George BIDMEAD (1838, Devonport) m. Eliza STANLEY in 1857. Children:

      • Charlotte Eliza BIDMEAD (1867) m. Q2 1898 Coventry;

      • Emily BIDMEAD (1873):

  • Charlotte BIDMEAD (1801) m. 1822 = Thomas ATKINS;

  • Joseph BIDMEAD (1802) m. 1823 = Martha BRADBURY. Children:

    • William BIDMEAD (1823) = Caroline WORING. Children:

      • William BIDMEAD (c1850). m. Alice Compton BAYNARD in 1875; Children:

        • Harriet Compton BIDMEAD (c1877);

        • William Baynard BIDMEAD (c1879), m. 1903;

        • Elizabeth Jane BIDMEAD (c1881);

        • Alice Aston BIDMEAD (c1889);

        • Elsie Maud BIDMEAD (c1892);

        • Mabel Helena C BIDMEAD (c1896);

      • Martha Jane BIDMEAD (c1851-75);

      • James BIDMEAD (c1856);

      • Joseph BIDMEAD (c1857);

      • Jonathan BIDMEAD (1858), m. Caroline MASON in 1883. Children:

        • Percival BIDMEAD (c1888);

    • Joseph BIDMEAD (1825) m. 1847 = Hannah WEBSTER & later Elizabeth LUDFORD in 1883. Children by Hannah:

      • James BIDMEAD (1850);

      • Joseph BIDMEAD (1852) m. Selina POLLARD in 1873, Children:

        • Emily BIDMEAD (c1873);

        • Joseph Henry BIDMEAD (1882) m. 1903 to either Ellen BURKE or May SAVILLE;

      • Daniel Webster BIDMEAD (1859) = Mary Jane SMITH. Children:

        • Lizzie Levina BIDMEAD (1883) m. 1907 = Henry MANN;

        • Walter Webster BIDMEAD (1885-85);

        • Alice Maud BIDMEAD (1887), m. 1911 = Tom CARDALL;

        • Alfred Webster BIDMEAD, m. 1923 = Jessie HANCOX. Child:

          • Hazel BIDMEAD;

      • Mary Jane BIDMEAD (1862) m. 1884 = Joseph LEE;

      • Hannah BIDMEAD (1864);

      • Martha Bradbury BIDMEAD (1867) m. 1888 to unknown;

  • Martha BIDMEAD (1828);

  • James BIDMEAD (1831-82) m. 1853 = Eliza NOBLE. Family moved to New Jersey USA after 1871. Children:

    • James BIDMEAD (1858, Coventry). Married twice:

      • m1. Mary A KEENE, m. 1881. Children:

        • Gertrude BIDMEAD (1882-82);

        • Elsie May BIDMEAD (1884-90);

        • Frank Keene BIDMEAD (1888-1918);

        • Estelle B BIDMEAD (1889) = Alex LESLIE;

        • Florence Ellen BIDMEAD (1894-94);

        • Olive BIDMEAD (1896-1960);

      • m2. Ida May HOLMES, m. 1902. Children:

        • Fredrick James BIDMEAD (1903-75). Child:

          • Carol BIDMEAD = BROMUND;

        • Rachel Adelaide BIDMEAD (1906);

        • Robert Holmes BIDMEAD (1914-92) m1. Charlotte, m2. Thelma. No issue to both marriages.

    • Rachel E BIDMEAD (1863 Attleborough, Nuneaton -1947);

  • Mary Jane BIDMEAD (1833);

  • Jonathan BIDMEAD (1836) m. 1856 = Elizabeth LAPWORTH. Children:

    • Martha Bradbury BIDMEAD (c1860);

    • Herbert BIDMEAD (1862-85);

    • Arthur Vernon BIDMEAD (c1858), m. Ellen Eliza HADLEY in 1892. Children:

      • Louisa Vernon BIDMEAD (1892), m. 1922 = KEOUGH;

      • Herbert Arthur BIDMEAD (1897) m. 1918 = Mabel LAX; Children:

        • Arthur H BIDMEAD (1921);

      • Frank BIDMEAD (1900);

    • Jonathan BIDMEAD (c1871);

    • Elizabeth Lapworth BIDMEAD (c1872), m. 1900;

    • Frank Edward BIDMEAD (c1874-1908);

  • Rachel BIDMEAD (1840);

  • William BIDMEAD (1806) = Martha TOMKINS - see family below;

  • Jonathan BIDMEAD (1811) = Sarah Elizabeth SPARKES in 1835. In the early 1840's this family emigrated to New Zealand and founded the present day family (Auckland, Hastings, Wellington). Children:

    • Rachel BIDMEAD (n & d 1838 Coventry);

    • Caroline BIDMEAD (1840 Coventry);

    • Hannah BIDMEAD (Wellington, NZ);

    • John BIDMEAD;

    • James BIDMEAD;

    • Mary Jane BIDMEAD;

    • Joseph BIDMEAD;

    • Jonathan BIDMEAD (1853-1933) = Eliza HARFIELD. Children:

      • Lilla BIDMEAD;

      • Paul BIDMEAD;

      • Olive BIDMEAD;

      • Girlie BIDMEAD;

      • Lincoln BIDMEAD;

      • Jonathan St George BIDMEAD (1885-1960) = Myrtle McKAY. Children:

        • Alexander BIDMEAD;

        • Jean BIDMEAD (1918);

        • Jonathan BIDMEAD IV (1920) m1. Laurel MOULDS, m2. Thoraethel BARLOW, m3. Elizabeth CALMAN. Children (mother unknown):

          • Margret Joy BIDMEAD (1945);

          • Susanne Ruth BIDMEAD (1947);

          • Vicki-Ann BIDMEAD (1959);

          • Jo-Ann BIDMEAD (1960);

          • Jonathan BIDMEAD (1962) = Kay SMITH;

        • Valma / Valerie BIDMEAD (1921);

        • Garfield Roy BIDMEAD (1923-2002) = Doreen DUMPLETON. Children:

          • Keith BIDMEAD (1947);

          • Glenys BIDMEAD (1949)

      • Barry BIDMEAD;

      • Cleveland BIDMEAD;

A pocket watch made by BIDMEAD in Coventry, possibly by William (below):

William BIDMEAD (1806) was married twice and had at least 15 children:

  • m1. Martha TOMKINS (c1806-39) in 1826. Children:

    • Eliza BIDMEAD or BEADMEAD (1826) = James Crisp SANDERS in 1845;

    • Martha BIDMEAD (1828);

    • Harriett BIDMEAD (1830-30);

    • Emma BIDMEAD (1831);

    • William BIDMEAD (1834-39)

    • John BIDMEAD (1835-36);

    • Jonathan BIDMEAD (1837-37);

    • Joseph BIDMEAD (1838) m. Ann NAYLOR in 1866 Coventry. Children:

      • Emma BIDMEAD (c1867)

      • George BIDMEAD (c1872) m. Lucy Gertrude BOTT in 1897 Nuneaton;

  • m2. Eliza BULL (1821) in 1840. Children:

    • Hannah BIDMEAD (1841-41);

    • William BIDMEAD (1842-42);

    • Sarah BIDMEAD (1843) poss. m. Q1 1885;

    • Mary Jane BIDMEAD (1844-44);

    • William BIDMEAD (1845-46);

    • Benjamin BIDMEAD (1847);

    • Jonathan William BIDMEAD (1850-1935), m. Emily OAKES in 1872 Coventry. Children:

      • Jonathan William BIDMEAD (1873);

      • Herbert J BIDMEAD (c1878);

      • Ellen Emily BIDMEAD (c1880), m. 1904;

      • Edith BIDMEAD (c1885);

Download BIDMEAD Family Tree

Download BIDMEAD BMD Data for Coventry area

File made available on the understanding that any additions, corrections and new links will be reported back to help future research. Thanks.

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