Hi Laura: We definitely have a connection on the Robert Bean line. My husband's 3rd great-grandfather was your Robert Bean who moved to Hardy County and died in 1790. Our line is Robert's son James. I have surmised that our line goes back to John Bean of St. Mary's County, MD also but I don't have very much information on John or any earlier lines. Do you belong to the Bean Mailing list? Looking forward to hearing from you. Sue Wilson