 Coddington then became Governor of the island towns in 1651, and in June of that year Sanford was chosen as the head magistrate of Portsmouth.In 1653 Sanford succeeded Coddington as the governor of the island towns after the repeal of Coddington's commission.Negotiations for the reunion of the four towns of the colony took place during Sanford's administration, and the statute books and town records from the period of separation were demanded from Coddington.