John Bean was born in Scotland, but was captured as a Prisoner of War and brought to colonial Massachusetts as an indentured servant.

He arrived in Exeter, New Hampshire as early as 1600, for on January twenty-first of 1661 a grant of land was made to him by the town. He received other grants October 10, 1664, April 1, 1671 and February 21, 1698. He also received land from other sources.

In 1671, he was one of a committee chosen to run the lines between Exeter and the adjoining towns. On November 30, 1677 he took the oath of allegiance to become a freeman; he was assessed in the "Province Rate" for Exeter made April 20, 1680, eight shillings and a penny; and was pound keeper the same year. John signed the New Hampshire Petition of 1689/90.

John Bean was married before he came to this country, but the name of his wife and the date of the marriage are not yet known. Tradition states, (and other facts support it) that she died on the voyage, and after his arrival here, he married a Scotch-Irish girl who came over on the same vessel. This marriage took place c 1660. Her name is Margaret___.

John died in 1718, between January 24 and February 8, as shown by deeds. He and his wife were undoubtedly buried in the yard of the old church in Exeter, but all traces of their graves disappeared these many years past and filling of the yard to raise its surface has nearly obliterated all of the marks of this burial place. New England Family History, v3, pp485-486.

John was born 1634 in Strathdearn, Inverness-shire, Scotland. He was a prisoner brought to New England in 1651. He lived in Exeter, NH where he died between January 24 and February 8, 1718. His first three children were by Hannah. John signed a petition as an Exeter resident, dated August 10, 1692 asking equal privileges with Massachusetts "Whereas your Majesties have been graciously pleased to settle the government of the Province of Massachusetts wherein XXX we always hoped to have been included, but not finding it otherwise XXX we are but four poor towns daily exposed from French and Indian enemies." He was a pound keeper in Exeter where he was granted land in 1660. John's stone in Exeter in the front of the Congregational Church. Source unknown.

Bean, Beane, or Beanes, John, Exeter, had John, b. 15 Aug 1661, d. under 5 yrs; Daniel; Samuel; John, again, 13 Oct. 1668; Margaret; James; Jeremy, 20 Apr. 1675; and Elizabeth. Savage, v1, p148.
∼John Bean born before 1634 Strathdearn, Inverness, Scotland, John is buried at the Congregational Church Yard. John was married twice. First to Hannah Lissen, april 18, 1654 at Exeter, NH. Jannah was the daughter of John's master Nicholas Lissen and Alice Lissen. John second wife was Margaret b 1640 in Scotland. Married before Nov 15 1660 at Exeter NH.

John Bean was a soldier and present at the battle of Worcester 3 September 1651 under the command of David Leslie. When Oliver Cromwell's New Army defeated Leslie's Jacobite forces of King Charles II at Worcester John was amongst the 10,000 taken prisoner. John was likely forced to march from Worcester to London. Most Scots were held through the winter at Tuthill Artillery grounds may dying of cold and starvation. In 1652 John was one of 272 Scotish Prisoners of War shipped to the American colonies aboard the ship "John and Sara. On 2-24-1652 John was sold on the auction block as indentured servant at Saugus House Iron Works to Nicholas Lissen of NH. John would go on to be held in high regard by his master and married Nicholas's daughter Hannah. John would go on to care for his master until his death.
It is believed John was approximately 15-16 when he participated at the battle of Worcester and that he may have followed an older brother in to service.