Lydia Taft

Lydia Taft (née Chapin; February 2, 1712 – November 9, 1778) was the first woman known to legally vote in colonial America.

[1] She was the daughter of Bethia (née Thurston) and Seth Chapin, who was a respected member of the community and a captain in the militia.

[9] Josiah became a prominent citizen in early Uxbridge as a wealthy farmer, local official, member of the militia, and Massachusetts legislator.

After traveling to Cambridge to bury Caleb, Josiah himself became ill and died on September 30, at age 47—leaving behind a significant estate.

[11] On October 30, 1756, an important open town meeting was held to decide whether to support the French and Indian War effort.

Judge Henry Chapin proclaimed in an 1864 address to the Unitarian church, that, "Uxbridge may yet become famous as the pioneer in the cause of women's suffrage".