Maria Dyer (1837 to 1870)
Longing to Marry, Maria Died Young
Birth of Maria Dyer, who became an assistant to Miss Mary Ann Aldersey, a 60-year-old Englishwoman reputed to be the first woman missionary to China. When Maria fcll in love, Miss Aldersey, her guardian of sorts, refused to let the couple become engaged. But, four days after her 21 st birthday, Maria married the young English missionary, 27-year-old Hudson Taylor. A happier couple could not be found--they had waited over two years. Together they formed the China Inland Mission. Maria died at just 33 years of age.