Faces of the BEAN Family of Brentwood, Deerfield and Derry New Hampshire

Sketch of “J.W. Bean’s Residence, Derry Depot” from Willey’s Book of Nutfield. (This is Joseph Warren Bean who is mentioned in this story).

The BEAN family arrived early in the colony of New Hampshire. They came from Scotland and made Exeter their home. This story is not an attempt to trace all of the Bean progeny, just that of one John Lyford Bean who lived most of his life in New Hampshire. I purchased tiny gem-sized photographs of his family that I would like to share with you.

My story focuses on John L. & Mary (Evans) Bean, and their children who were born in the small town of Brentwood New Hampshire. This is a timely story, as the town of Brentwood is celebrating its 275th anniversary this year (in 2017).

In the year 1848, while some of the children were still young, John L. Bean and his family moved to a farm in Derry, New Hampshire where some of their descendants remain today.  The town of Derry is gearing up to celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2019.

—PARTIAL GENEALOGY of JOHN LYFORD BEAN and FAMILY—
John [MacBanye] Bean of Scotland and Exeter NH
Jeremiah & Ruth (Johnson) Bean of Exeter NH
Rev. James & Lydia (Hoag) Bean of Exeter & Brentwood NH
Loammi & Mehitable (Smith) Bean of Brentwood NH

Gem-sized tin-type photograph of John Lyford Bean of Brentwood and Derry NH.

*John Lyford Bean, son of Loammi & Mehitable (Smith) Bean, was born 26 August 1807 in Brentwood, Rockingham Co. NH.  He died of old age on 16 Dec 1887 and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry NH. He married 1st) 21 September 1825 in Brentwood NH to Mary O. Evans, daughter of Thomas & Deborah (Hall) Evans. She was born abt January 1806 Strafford NH and d. 10 May 1870, East Derry NH, aged 64 years and 4 months (per her tombstone). She is buried in Forrest Hill Cemetery, E. Derry NH They had 11 children. He married 2d) 27 Dec 1870 in Salem NH to Mrs. Eliza P. (Meserve) Emery, daughter of Daniel & Betsey (Pendexter) Meserve, and widow of Joseph P. Emergy. She was born 1805 in Conway/Jackson, Carroll Co. NH, and died 27 January 1886 Derry NH. John Lyford Bean  lived in Brentwood, East Derry, and Deerfield NH, along with Methuen MA.  His gem-sized photograph shown here probably dates to 1860s. He removed to Derry NH about 1848 after the birth of his children. Occupation: cooper and farmer. His farm at Derry was located next to what was formerly called “Derry Dock.” He was a Quaker and Democrat. His son James inherited the homestead.
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John Lyford Bean biography in Willey’s Book of Nutfield
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Children of John L. & Mary (Evans) Bean:
1. Mary Olivia Bean, b. 30 Dec 1826 Brentwood NH, d. 2 July 1861. She married 19 July 1849 in Methuen MA to Orrin/Oren Hall, son of Elisha & Betsey Hall. He was b. abt 1826 in Brentwood/Strafford NH and d. 28 Sep 1908 in Haverhill MA. He m2d) Mercella Cullen, daughter of Henry & Mercy M. Cullen. She was b abt 1838 in Canada. Mercella m1) 17 April 1879 in Lawrence MA to Benjamin F. Huston/Houston, son of Benjamin & Minerva Huston. In 1870 Orrin Hall and his 2nd wife were living in Hampstead NH. Orrin had children by 1st wife including (1) Sarah (Hall) ?Lane ?Nickerson who d. 6 Jan 1892 Holyoke MA; (2) John Frank Hall, b. –, d. 4 Dec 1939 in Brentwoood NH; (3) James Hall, b abt 1856 in NH; (4) Charles E. Hall, b 1859 Derry NH, d. 4 Nov 1878 Hampstead NH of diphtheria age 19.  Orrin had children by 2nd wife, (5) Edward Hall, b abt 1865; (6) Eben E Hall, b abt 1868; (7) Orrin A. Hall, b abt 1885 Hampstead NH d. 2 March 1909 Concord NH aged 24 of pulmonary tuberculosis.
2. Abram Bean, b. 14 Feb 1827 Brentwood NH; died 29 Dec 1900 Lempster NH; farmer; also lived in Methuen MA. He is buried in Shadow Lake Cemetery, Lempster NH. He married 7 Nov 1889 in Exeter NH to Augusta W. Blodgett-Evans, daughter of Isaac & Bethia (Reed) Blodgett
3. Catherine Bean, b 16 Aug 1829 Brentwood NH, d. 11 Sep 1853.
4. Cordelia Bean, b 12 Aug 1831, d. 16 Sep 1833
5. *+Cordelia Bean 2nd, b. 13 Apr 1834 Exeter NH, d. 13 July 1879. She married Joseph W. Dinsmoor and lived in Windham NH. They had 4 children. [History of Windham NH]
6. Emily Josephine Bean, b. 12 March 1836 Brentwood NH; died 10 May 1913 Manchester NH; married William W. Colby. Also lived in Derry NH; buried Forrest Hill Cemetery
7. John Smith Bean, b. 14 July 1838, died 28 July 1863.  Buried Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry NH. He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and died while serving in the south during an epidemic of black measles (per his findagrave listing). He m 25 Dec 1858 to Alvira Woodward Evans. She was b. 25 August 1846. They had one son, Forest Bean who d. 1928 and is buried in Bean Lot in the East Derry Cemetery.
8. Sylvia Mehitable Bean, b abt 1840 Brentwood NH; m. 17 Dec 1859 in Salem NH to Daniel M. Emery, son of Joseph P. & Eliza P. (Meserve) Emery. He was b. abt 1830 in Jackson NH
9. *+Joseph Warren Bean, b.28 Aug 1842, d. 21 June 1932 in Derry NH. He married 22 Sep 1867 *Jeanette A. Bradford, daughter of Clinton & Delight (Lewis) Bradford. They lived in Derry and had 2 daughter, Mabel Ninette (who m her cousin Joseph W. Dinsmoor) and Emily Josephine [see biography]

Hannah Rosina Bean (1846-1868)

10. James Franklin Bean, b 28 March 1844, d. 3 Feb 1904 West Derry NH; lived for some years in Methuen MA; buried Forrest Hills Cemetery. He m. 8 Sep 1870 in Derry NH to Abbie Frances Stickney, daughter of Aaron F. & Mary C. Stickney. She was b abt 1848 in Derry NH
11. *Hannah Rosina “Ina” Bean, b. 14 Nov 1846, d. 5 Oct 1868, age 22, buried Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry NH; single

=====Next Generation=====

Cordelia “Dalia” (Bean) Dinsmore (1834-1879)

Cordelia/Cordelie Bean 2nd, daughter of John Lyford & Mary (Evans) Bean, was born 13 Apr 1834 Exeter NH, d. 13 July 1879. She married Joseph Wilson Dinsmoor, son of John & Clarissa (Wilson) Dinsmoor. He was born 9 September 1833. They lived in Windham NH, on the Dinsmoor “home far,” in the Range, cultivating fruit, including orchards (apple, peach and pear), a grapery and small fruit such as strawberry, raspberry, currant, and blackberry. They are both buried in Cemetery On The Hill, Windham NH. They had 4 children.  [History of Windham NH]
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Children of Joseph W. & Cordelia (Bean) Dinsmoor:
1. Clara Belle Dinsmore, b. 31 May 1856, d. 20 October 1926 Windham NH. Buried On The Hill Cemetery
2. Katie Ardelle Dinsmoor, b. 28 Sep 1858, died 18 March 1909 Lawrence MA; m. 5 June 1883 Windham NH to George J. Haseltine, son of Isaiah W. & Jane (Hall) Haseltine. Children (b Lawrence MA): Philip Walter b 7 Oct 1884; Marion D., b. 27 June 1887; Irving Dinsmoor b 19 Jan 1901
3. John Walter Dinsmoor, b. 25 Sep 1860 Windham NH, d. 22 March 1863
4. Joseph Wilson Dinsmoor Jr., b. 31 Aug 1862 Windham NH, d. 25 Dec 1933 Windham NH ; He m1st) 2 April 1890 in Boston MA to his cousin, Mabel Ninette Bean, daughter of Joseph W. & Jeanette A. (Bradford) Bean. She was b. 4 June 1867 Derry NH and d. 2 Feb 1932 in Windham NH. She was buried “On the Hill” Windham NH. He m2d) 12 March 1933 in Windham NH to Emma Hamill-Swett, dau of Bernard & MaryAnn (Berine/Beirue) Hamill, and widow of Martin Swett. She was b. 20 Sep 1869 in Sharon NH. She had m1) 20 Sep 1894 in Peterborough NH to Martin Swett, son of Daniel & Copey (Bantell) Swett He was buried “On the Hill” Windham NH. Emma was buried inn Pine Hill Cemetery, Peterborough NH. In November of 1918 he had a passport showing he was traveling to Europe to perform Red Cross Work during WWI.
5. John Lyford Dinsmoor, b. 8 July 1870

Joseph Warren Bean (1842-1932)

*+Joseph Warren Bean,  son of John L. & Mary (Evans) Bean was born 28 Aug 1842 [in Pequakett Village, Exeter NH], d. 21 June 1932 in Derry NH. He moved with his parents to Derry about 1848 where he lived for most of his life (seven years were spent in Methuen MA where he attended school but returned to Derry at the age of 13). He attended Pinkerton Academy for 2 terms, and he taught at district schools in town for eleven winters.  He married 22 Sep 1867 *Jeanette A. Bradford, daughter of Clinton & Delight (Lewis) Bradford of Washington NH.  She was born January 1847 in [probably Goshen, Sullivan Co.] NH, and died in 1942 in Melrose MA.  In 1940 Jeanette Bean was living with her daughter Emily and son-in-law Mahlon Pike in Melrose MA. Joseph and Jeanette lived in Derry, New Hampshire, and purchased

Jeanette (Bradford) Bean (1847-1942)

the farm of Deacon Henry Taylor on the east side of town. He moved to the Derry Depot section of town in 1880. In 1884 he opened a store in the Odd Fellow’s block selling boots and shoes, and later general variety items including kitchen utensils, crockery, glassware. He was elected to the New Hampshire legislature in 1887 by a majority of 12, being the first Democrat chosen in Derry to that office in 35 years. He was a member of Derry’s school board in 1893 and 1894, and the town built a new schoolhouse through his efforts. In later years he returned to teaching school. He was a member of St. Luke’s M.E. church, of the Odd Fellows (Echo Lodge) and other societies. [See photo of his home at top of page] [Much of his biography from Willey’s book of Nutfield, along with a photograph of his father John L. Bean].
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Children of Joseph W. & Jeanette A. (Bradford) Bean:
1. Mabel Ninette Bean was born 4 June 1867 Derry NH and d. 2 Feb 1932 in Windham NH. She was buried “On the Hill” Windham NH.  She married her cousin, Joseph Wilson Dinsmoor, son of Joseph W. & Cordelia (Bean) Dinsmoor [see #4 child directly above].
2. Emily Josephine Bean, born 11 January 1883, and died 7 April 1946 in Melrose MA. She married 26 June 1907 in Derry, Rockingham Co. NH to Mahlon A. Pike, son of Edwin M. & Julia A. (Warner) Pike. He was born 20 September 1884 in Mendon, Rutland Co., VT, and died 24 March 1970 in Southern Pines, Moore Co., NC. They had children: (1) Dorothy J. Pike, b. 21 Feb 1909 Manchester NH, d. July 1994 Laurinburg, Scotland, NC; (2) Warren Mahlon Pike, b. 25 June 1910 MA, d. 1 April 1998 Portsmouth NH; (3) Arthur Bradford Pike, b. 24 June 1912 Boston MA, d. 21 Sep 1992 Sarasota FL, married, had children.

 

—Additional Reading—

Online Book: Joshua Bean, of Exeter, Brentwood and Gilmanton, N. H., and some of his descendants, by Josiah H. Drummond, 1834 [more descendants of John Bean of Exeter NH]

Online Book: Proceedings of the John Bean Association

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16 Responses to Faces of the BEAN Family of Brentwood, Deerfield and Derry New Hampshire

  1. Virginia penrod says:

    Any connection to Bean family of Merrimack?

    • Janice Brown says:

      Ginny, yes. They would have been distant cousins. The Bean family of Merrimack descended from JAMES BEAN, son of the first John from Scotland, while the Bean family in this story, descended from James’ brother, JEREMIAH BEAN, son of the first John from Scotland.

    • Ken says:

      Hi Virginia penrod. Do you have information on the Bean family of Merrimack?

      • Amanda says:

        Hello Ken. Do you have any? I am their great granddaughter and doing some research myself. Thanks

      • Amanda says:

        Hello Ken. So you have any information? I am the great granddaughter and am researching myself. Thanks

        • Ken says:

          Hi Amanda,

          My g-g-grandmother was Sarah Jane Bean. Her death certificate says she comes from Merrimack, NH, but I have not been able to confirm that she is indeed related to this line of Beans.
          I have a working theory that she is the daughter of Joseph Bean Jr and Elizabeth Eastman, but no proof. Other than that I have gotten the rest from the internet. If you had any information on this Bean family that would be helpful.

          Thanks,
          Ken

          • Janice Brown says:

            Ken, you will have to provide more details on Sarah Jane Bean of Merrimack NH for anyone to help you. If you saw her death certificate then you should be able to provide her date of death and her name at that time.

  2. Amy says:

    I am always amazed at how many children people used to have. I could barely handle the two I had!

  3. Aditya says:

    Very well written article. People in earlier times could manage like 8 children easily. Thats awesome.

  4. Carolyn eane says:

    this is great information…John Bean is my 8th generation great grandfather. Do I need permission to copy photos

    • Janice Brown says:

      Carolyn, photographs for personal use do not need my permission (as stated in my Contact and Info section). That is why I buy them and research them, so someone who is related hopefully will find them! Happy Holidays.

  5. Lynn A Fortin says:

    My Fathers name was Eugene C Bean and had family in Merrimack and Nashua NH. There was quite a bit of Huntington Disease in his siblings and their children. Very curious if I could be related to any of these people that many of you are talking about.

    • Janice Brown says:

      Lynn. It is always possible that there is a connection between your Eugene C. Bean and this family. Something for you to explore! Thanks for reading and commenting.

  6. Suzie says:

    Hello Janice,
    I just wanted to congratulate you on an amazing account of the Faces of the Bean Family of Brentwood, NH., as to put faces to names who share my surname is just surreal.
    May I ask how would I be able to confirm that my GEORGE J BEAN of Deerfield, NH., born in 1813 is connected to the above Family please, as after very many years of research I still cannot locate the names of his parents nor that of any siblings?
    Your advice and/or support in my American Ancestral Family quest would be extremely appreciated.
    Thank you for your time. Suzie

    • Janice Brown says:

      Hello Suzie,

      All I know about that Bean family is posted in the article you quote. I understand how difficult it can be for someone to hit a so-called “brick wall” in your family tree. I am not a Bean descendant, but I could suggest a few things. There used to be a John Bean Family Association (google that) that produced a book that might help you. Also if you feel 100% he was born in Deerfield, contact the historical society there, and also attempt to find any Bean family there and search for wills and deed transfers. Don’t rule out DNA as a method also of tracking Bean-descendant cousins. My best to you with your research.

      • Suzie says:

        Good Morning Janice

        I just wanted to ‘Thank you’ most sincerely for taking the time to reply to the message that I had recently left on your Forum regarding my American 3x Great Grandfather, George J Bean (Been) of Deerfield, New Hampshire who was bon in 1812/13.
        I very much appreciate your advice and very much hope that I can one day make a connection to my American Bean descendants.

        Kind regards, Suzie

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