Complex sentence: The Island Militia may have existed for centuries, as did the Militias of Guernsey and Jersey, however the first commander, Captain Nicholas Ling, noted in the records was in 1657.
Split into simpler sentences: The Island Militia may have existed for centuries, as did the Militias of Guernsey and Jersey. The first mention of a militia commander, Captain Nicholas Ling, was noted in the records was in 1657.