Unlike his many Anglican contemporaries, Coverdale was a practicing member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
[3] Coverdale worked as master builder on the construction of Kingston Penitentiary from 1836–1840, and was involved in the later additions of the dining hall, perimeter walls, and towers in the mid-1840s.
[4] When Kingston city architect George Browne was discharged on 20 May 1855, Coverdale was hired to replace him.
[1] In 1859, Coverdale was hired as architect for the Government of Canada's Criminal Lunatic Asylum.
Coverdale died in Kingston in 1865 at the age of 64, with his most reputable building, Rockwood Asylum, only partially complete.