On 22 April 1938 in Rappahannock District, Essex County, Virginia, James Thomas Harper died. He was male; white; widower; spouse was Mary Aster[?] Harper, deceased; born 8 August 1858; age 80 years, 8 months, 14 days; occupation farmer; born in Essex County, Virginia; father was Watkins Harper, who was born in Essex County, Virginia; mother was Martha Jane Tucker, who was born in Essex County, Virginia; informant Miss M. E. Harper of Upright, Virginia; burial in Essex County [one or two words illegible] on 25 April 1938; attended by physician from 1937 to 21 April 1938; death occurred at 5 a.m.; cause of death heart enlargement and anaemia[?]. [Commonwealth of Virginia, Certificate of Death 9184.]