Lydia Maria Child was a remarkable women who was the first to earn income for her writings. She was born in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1802. Lydia Maria Francis, her maiden name, and was the youngest of six children. She disliked her name Lydia and referred to herself as Maria. She was born into American’s new middle class. Her father, David Convers Francis, was a baker famous for his "Medford Crackers." Her mother, Susanna Rand Francis, died when Maria was twelve. She was educated at home, at a local "dame school”, which was ran by women at the teacher’s home. She also attended a nearby women's "seminary", which was a form of college that prepared you to become priests, rabbis, or ministers. Maria was especially close
