Josiah Taft

Josiah Taft (April 2, 1709 – September 29, 1756) was a wealthy landowner and legislator in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. He performed several roles within the community and served with the Uxbridge Militia. Attaining the rank of captain, he fought during the French and Indian Wars. Upon Taft's death, his wife Lydia Taft became the wealthiest person in Uxbridge and under the premise of "no taxation without representation" was the first woman to vote in America.

Early life Josiah was born on April 2, 1709, at Mendon, Province of Massachusetts Bay, the son of Daniel and Lydia (née Chapin) Taft, who were married on December 5, 1706. Lydia was the daughter of Captain Josiah Chapin. Josiah's father Daniel, had been a local "squire", town treasurer, moderator, justice of the peace, and legal advisor to his family. His siblings were Daniel, Japhet, David, Caleb, and Abigail. Josiah grew up in the Mendon, and became a resident of Uxbridge in 1732.

Taft descended from Robert Taft Sr. (1640 or before – February 8, 1725) of Braintree, Massachusetts, his grandfather of the Taft family. Robert Taft Sr. established his family in Mendon, in what later became the town of Uxbridge, where he built a fort. Robert was a carpenter and a farmer. Lydia and Josiah then settled in Uxbridge, about southwest of Mendon. It is possible that when they settled in Uxbridge that they then joined the only Uxbridge church, a Congregational church, gathered in 1727, and mentioned first in a list of new Congregational parishes in the Great Awakening of 1731. Josiah and Lydia went on to have a family of 8 children between 1732 and 1753, including Bazaleel Taft Sr., born November 3, 1750, Caleb, Joel, and Eunice, who married Mr. Stowell, and after he died, Samuel Curtis Jr.

Adult life Josiah was a farmer and soldier, and Lydia was a colonial mother and homemaker. Josiah became a prominent citizen in early Uxbridge. He was a farmer, local official, and Massachusetts legislator. Josiah went on to serve a number of terms as a member of the Board of Selectmen, as town clerk, and as town moderator.

Josiah himself became ill after returning home, and died on September 29, 1756, at Uxbridge, Massachusetts at age 47. (There are sources that state that Josiah Taft died on September 30, 1756, but Vital Records for Massachusetts showed that he died on September 29, 1756.) On October 30, 1756, an important open town meeting was held to decide whether to support the French and Indian War effort. Her vote settled what would otherwise have been a tie. The town would provide financial support for the war. Lydia died November 9, 1778.