I'm not clear about when I should leave Link to Previous in place, and when I should un-click it. My manuscript has chapters. I have a Different Heading for First Page (i.e., no heading at all, including no page #), then for the rest of the chapter have Different Headings for Odd and Even Pages. which includes page numbers. I do a section break after the first page, then at the end of the chapter, in preparation for the next First Page. What is proving problematic are the page numbers, which do not automatically appear in order. I suspect this may have something to do with my failing to Link to Previous, *or* failing to un-link.

Use the StyleRef Field.

Sequence of page numbers has nothing to do with Link to Previous.
Page Numbers in Word 2007-2019 (365)

You should not have a section break after the first page unless you have front matter.
Numbering Front Matter by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP

Continuous Page Numbering Add-In may be needed.
When you tell numbering to restart at the beginning of a section and then add section breaks you will get the numbering restarting any time after that when you add a new section until you change it.