John and Sarah Tayler’s second born was John Mason Tayler (born 1820), however he died in infancy. Then followed a sister, Maria, born 23 January 1822, possibly at Elmstead.

Her death at Ardleigh, on 9 June 1845 aged twenty-three, was clearly an event of great distress to the family, her sister Sarah writing the date in her personal bible along with a quote paraphrasing the poet William Cowper:

‘The path of sadness and that path alone,

Leads to the place where sadness is unknown’.

She also noted down the psalms read and sung at Maria’s funeral (see image).

Maria’s gravestone still stands by the entrance to Ardleigh church.