This gentleman, the son of John Coventry Esq., (eldest son, by his second wife, of Thomas Lord Coventry), by Elizabeth, daughter of John Aldersey, Esq., and widow of William Pitchford, Esq., was of Pitminster in the county of Somerset and mere in Wiltshire, and represented Weymouth in all the parliaments of Charles II.

A violent and most dastardly assault on him in consequence of a somewhat sorry jest of his in the House of Commons, caused immense excitement, and led to the act against cutting and maiming, denominated the Coventry Act.

Although in his lifetime passing for a staunch Protestant and Whig, by his will he recommended his soul to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, desired that his body might be buried in the chapel of Somerset House and gave most of his estate to the English Jesuits of St. Omer's. The will was set aside by law, and his property seems to have passed to his uncle, Francis Coventry.

Sir John Coventry probably died between 1681 and 1686. The exact date of that event will be very acceptable.

He founded a hospital for twelve poor men at Wiveliscomb in Somersetshire, but I have no succeeded in discovering any notice of this institution in the Reports of the Charity Commissioners.

S.Y.R.

Notes and Queries Vol. 5 3rd S. (114) Mar 5 1864 Page 191

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