Note 7 — Chapter I · • Samuel Sewall • Yankee

The following is part of an obituary notice by his son:

In 1684, He was chosen a Magistrate of the Massachusetts Colony.... In 1692, He was appointed by King William and Queen Mary in their Royal Charter, one of the first Council for their Majesties in this Province, into which He was annually chosen and sat till 1725, when He resign’d his Election, having outlived all the others nominated in that Fundamental Constitution. In 1692 He was made one of the Judges, and in 1718, Chief Justice of our Superior Courts of Judicature thro’ the Province, in which He sat till 1728, when his Infirmities growing on Him, He resign’d that Place also. In 1715, He was made Judge of Probates for this County of Suffolk, and continued in that Office till 1728, when He laid it down; it being the last Publick Post wherein He served and honoured his Country. Diary, Vol. III, pp. 409–410. In addition to the above, he was at times an overseer of Harvard College, censor of the press, and captain of the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company; a frequent moderator of Boston town meeting, member of innumerable committees on church, parish and commonwealth matters, and adviser at large to whoever was in difficulties.