John was born in Cork County, Ireland in 1660 and was just 17 years old when he sailed to America as an indentured servant. His ship was the Crown Maligo piloted by Capt. Thomas Taylor. John appears as John Crimine in the ship's importation list. The Maligo arrived at Taylor's Island in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland in October of 1677.

John was an indentured servant for seven years and gained his freedom in about 1684. On March 1, 1689, he is listed as the renter of 100 acres known as Westminster in Dorchester County, Maryland. In 1701 he is also listed as owning a 100 acre tract called Hereford.