Complex sentence: Joshua Perkins, the eldest son of Matthew Perkins, was born in 1740 and was a farmer, but also served as a selectman in 1786 and 1787 before going to serving in the legislature in 1789 and again in 1801.
Split into simpler sentences: Joshua Perkins, the eldest son of Matthew Perkins, was born in 1740. A farmer and a selectman, he served in 1786 and 1787 before going to serve in the legislature in 1789 and again in 1801.