JOHN BEAUMONT was born about 1612 in Yorkshire County, England, the third of six children of Thomas and Jennet (Stafford) Beaumont. Thomas was born about 1586, married Jennet Stafford in 1605, and died 9 Dec 1646 in England. It is believed, but not verified, that Thomas was the son of William and Rosamond Beaumont. It is not known if John's oldest brother, or his three sisters, ever came to America.

John and his older brother William (b. about 1608) sailed from the London Customs House on the ship, Elizabeth, on 15 Apr 1635, under William Stagg, Master, bound for New England with eighty or more souls. The records of the London Customs House afford information as to the eighty passengers and show that the ship left England legally; all passengers having been examined touching their conformity to the discipline of the English State Church; all had taken oath of allegiance and supremacy, and there were no subsidy men. Among their fellow passengers were ancestors of Levi Parsons Morton of New York, Senator Isaac Chapman Bates of Massachusetts, and Senator Henry Alden Richardson of Delaware.

He settled first with his brother William at Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts and was granted five acres of land there, 30 Mar 1640. In August 1643, his name appears on the list of men able to bear arms in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. The following year he was of Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts purchasing there, 14 June 1644, of Jonathan Brewster, certain books which had formed part of Elder William Brewster's library. (Editors Note, 2003: William Brewster and his family, including his son Jonathan, came to America on the Mayflower). Shortly after this he died, leaving a widow and one son. The records of the Salem Quarterly Court show that the widow married one John Tucker, and the son, John, had been placed under the guardianship of Daniel Rea (see note below) of Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts before July 1647. His only son, John, probably shortened the name to Bement and therefore originated it in America.