"The office of Elder, which ranks above that of Deacon, was held by the following persons: Joseph Sayward before 1721 and until his death in 1742, is the first one whose name has come down to us as holding that position; Samuel Sewall, Joseph Holt and John Bradbury, 1753; Abiel Gooding, 1754; Richard Milberry, 1776; Jonathan Sayward and Joseph Simpson, 1781." 16