6. 1756 saw American colonist, Lydia Taft, becoming the first woman to achieve which remarkable decision making act in an area hitherto only allowed to men?
From Quiz Famous Firsts By American Women
Answer:
Legally voting at a local area meeting
Lydia Chapin Taft (1712-1788) was the first woman known to have placed a legal vote during the days of colonial America. This happened because Lydia's husband Josiah, a wealthy landowner, taxpayer and legislator, and father of her eight children, died in 1756, leaving her as a well-to-do widow, but without any say in local area taxpaying concerns. The voting issue was raised during a time in history when the landowners and taxpayers in that area were asked to decide whether or not they should financially support the French and Indian War (1754-1763) effort. Four of Lydia's children had died before this time, leaving her with children aged sixteen, six and three. Her eldest son, aged 26, had already left home. Because of the wealth producing, tax-paying properties which became hers as the widow of Josiah Snr, the townspeople voted to give Lydia her husband's proxy vote. She accordingly voted then, and several times afterwards, on matters related to local area landowners and taxpayers concerns, seeing her go down in history as America's first recorded legal female voter.
Of the other choices used for this question:
Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643), who had migrated from England to colonial America in 1634 with her husband and their many children, caused such a rumpus in 1635 with her alternative religious views and meetings on same that she was eventually put on trial, convicted, excommunicated and banished from the colony. The family moved to the area we know today as the Bronx, where all but one were eventually massacred by Indians.
Margaret Brent (c.1601 - c.1671), another migrant from England, is considered by many historians today to be an early American feminist because of her campaigning and demands for equality for women in the new colony. By 1647 she was demanding voting rights for women as well. Not that it got her very far. She too was eventually forced to leave the area in which she lived.
In 1630, Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672), also moved from England to live in the early colony of America. She became the first female poet to have her works published in the New World. That took place in 1650. Anne's life makes very interesting reading should you be so inclined.
Early American history is filled with people revered and controversial. How many of these well-known (and not so well-known) names do you know? 
I was inspired to write this quiz after listening to the Ozark Mountains Daredevils' song, "Mr. Powell", which was recorded on their "Car Over the Lake Album". 
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