About 1843 Born at Smardale, Westmorland
1851 Census Living with parents and family at Smardale, Westmorland. Scholar.
1861 Census Visiting sister Sarah at Carperby, Yorkshire.
1867 Married Ann Dargue at Smardale, Westmorland
1871 Census Living with wife Ann and family at Penrith, Cumberland. Farmer of 195 acres. Rebecca Moffat is the daughter of sister Elizabeth.
1881 Census Living with wife Ann and family at Old Hutton, Kendal. Farmer of 365 acres.
1887 Moved to Carperby, Aysgarth, Yorkshire. Farmer and also a Veterinary ‘Quack’ of considerable local renown who practised homeopathy on animals.
1891 Census Living with wife Ann and family at Carperby, Aysgarth. Farmer.
1901 Census Living with wife Ann and family at Carperby, Aysgarth. Farmer.
23 May 1926 Wife Ann died at Died at Carperby, Yorkshire.
10 May 1929 Died at Carnforth, Lancashire.

Although Carperby was his place of residence, he was actually being nursed by his daughter Emma Elizabeth at the farm in Carnforth during his last days. His grandson, John Alan Harker, kept a small diary during the year 1929.
1929 Buried at St Andrews, Aysgarth, Yorkshire.
19 June 1929 Probate Index: James Close of Carperby, Yorkshire died 10 May 1929 at Hagg, Carnforth, Lancs. Probate at London 19 June to James Henry Close & Anthony Harker, farmers, Effects £1167.
1886 From ‘The shorthorn herds of England 1886-7’

“On leaving the station at Oxenholme and proceeding steadily ‘upwards’ for a couple of miles we are, as it were, on a table-land, and after a third mile, we reach Holmscales where Mr. James Close has a choicely bred herd of Booth cattle. Founded in 1867 at Smardale Hall ….the herd is again to be removed northwards and Wensleydale is the next destination, a large farm having been taken by Mr. Close in Carperby”.

James Close had been ‘hand in glove’ with Thomas Willis, the famous cattle breeder of Carperby, who’s heifer ‘Rose of Lucknow’ was the original Wensleydale Heifer”