CREATE TABLE table_203_321 (id DECIMAL, "sheriff" TEXT, "start of term" DECIMAL)

did robert petty serve before josiah reeve ?
SELECT (SELECT "start of term" FROM table_203_321 WHERE "sheriff" = 'robert petty') < (SELECT "start of term" FROM table_203_321 WHERE "sheriff" = 'josiah reeve')
SELECT (SELECT "start of term" FROM "table_203_321" WHERE "sheriff" = 'josiah reeve') > (SELECT "start of term" FROM "table_203_321" WHERE "sheriff" = 'robert petty')