Transcription of the Nicanor Townsley Family History section from Walpole As It Was and As It Is by George Aldrich, The Claremont Manufacturing Co., Claremont, N.H., 1880, page 370.
TOWNSLEY, NICANOR, was a resident of Walpole as early as 1785, and lived in the old house now standing opposite the residence of Clement S. Dickey. His occupation was that of a “Jack at all trades.” He had a small shop which stood just east of his house, where he used to employ a portion of his time in repairing various articles of furniture for the townspeople, which he did very neatly, he being a man of uncommon ingenuity. From 1795 to 1817 he was town clerk, with the exception of one year, 1807, when Daniel W. Bisco was chosen. Mr. Townsley wrote a good hand and discharged the duties of his office very acceptably to the town. It wall his duty to cry the banns of matrimony before church service, from year to year, and his voice was so peculiar that once heard it was not easily forgotten. He held some town office every [page 371] year for more than twenty-five years, and was often chosen one of the selectmen, on account of his good ability and sound discretion. He died, Oct. 26, 1830, aged 75; his wife died Dec. 13, 1847, aged 83. Ch: I. William, son of Nicanor and Orrel Townsley, b. Aug. 31, 1786. II. Orrel, b. July 31, 1788, and died July 19, 1867, aged 79. She never married, but lived and died alone in the old house where her father had lived before, with no living human being in the house to close her eyes. Her cares and affections in her last days were centered on a bevy of cats, although she was social and pleasant with her neighbors when they called. For many years she cared for the wants of an insane mother with true womanly devotion. III. Sally, b. July 20, 1791; m. a man by the name of Reed, and resided in Newfane, Vt. IV. Luther, b. Nov 3, 1796. V. Calvin, b. Nov. 3, 1796. Calvin was for many years a merchant in Brattleboro, Vt. VI. Frances, b. Mar. 20, 1803; m. Chester Pomeroy, of Brattleboro, Vt. She was one of the victims of the terrible catastrophe in St. Louis, several years since, where a public building was insufficient to sustain the hundreds that had gathered within its walls, on the occasion of a floral celebration on the first day of May. VII. Caroline, b. July 10, 1807; m. Prescott White and went to Littleton, N.H. She now resides in St. Paul, Minn., with her children.