Who are famous American colonial women?

One of the first to make a difference was Anne Hutchinson. She lived under the Puritans, and in a time when women were not expected to express opinions in public, she continued to take a stand against the dominant Puritan culture: she believed that God spoke to individuals and not just through the clergy of the established church. Her views (including encouraging women to have greater participation in civic life) were considered controversial to the Puritan elite, and she was ultimately banished from the Massachusetts colony. She and her followers went to what later became Rhode Island, where she was welcomed by Roger Williams. I enclose a link to her Wikipedia biography.

Another important woman, of the later colonial period, was Abigail Adams, who is best known as the wife of President John Adams after American gained its independence. But Abigail was more than just the wife of a statesman. She left us many letters, and they show a woman who often gave her husband useful advice on current issues. She also had surprisingly modern opinions: for example, while she embraced traditional gender roles, as most women in her day did, she also spoke up for expanding women's rights-- she believed the male leaders should treat women fairly and give them a say. This was not a common view: under the law back then, a married woman ceased to be a legal person, and all decisions were made by her husband. I enclose a link to more information about her.