James P. Aykroyd was an early American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 composer, arranger, and music educator of piano, organ, and voice in New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...

, Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...

, and Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

. He also owned a general store — first in New Bern

New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...

, then in Nashville — selling dry goods

Dry goods

Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...

, groceries, sheet music, and musical instruments – including pianos. In New Bern, Aykroyd was the organist and choir director at the 1824 dedication of the then newly constructed Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal Church and Parish House (New Bern, North Carolina)

Christ Episcopal Church and Parish House is a historic church at 320 Pollock Street in New Bern, North Carolina.It was built in 1824 and added to the National Register in 1973.- External links :* -References:...

.

Music in North Carolina

In nearly every North Carolina village where there was an academy there was also a music teacher, an art teacher, and sometimes a dancing teacher. In some of these towns, such as New Bern, Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...

, Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...

, and Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

, there were music teachers independent of academy patronage. Aykroyd's general store was "One door North of the Bank of Newbern."

Aykroyd, as early as August 11, 1821, advertised in the Newbern Sentinel:

The inhabitants of Newbern are respectfully informed that JAMES AYKROYD, Professor of Instrumental and Vocal Music, contemplates establishing himself in Newbern, the ensuing November, as a Teacher of those Sciences, and respectfully solicits a portion of publick patronage. His terms will be moderate.

Piano Fortes and other musical instruments, warranted to be of the best quality, together with every description of Music, can be had by leaving orders with John W. Guion, Esq. N.B. Piano Fortes, &c. tuned and repaired by J.A.

July 28—eow t1st Nov.—175

In 1823, Aykroyd, then of New Bern, "respectfully informed the citizens of Hillsboro and its vicinity that he intended giving lessons in music there during the summer months." His terms were "for the Piano, twelve dollars a quarter, for lessons every other week; and three dollars for vocal music, two lessons every other week."

In 1826, Aykroyd posted an announcement in the Raleigh Register:

J. AYKROYD,

PROFESSOR OF MUSIC,

From Newbern

RESPECTFULLY informs the inhabitants of Raleigh, that, agreeably to the purpose which he made known in a former advertisement, he has arrived here and will commence the duties of his profession as soon as a sufficient number of pupils shall be obtained.

A subscription paper is left in the hands of Gen. B. Daniel.

June 7, 1826

— Raleigh Register, June 13, 1826

In Nashville, until his death in 1835, Aykroyd had a large music store on Union Street, near the Union Bank.

Selected compositions

• The Siren: A Collection of Sacred Music, edited and arranged by James Aykroyd, published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia (1822)
• How Dear to the Heart: sung by Mrs. French, published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia

Poetry by Stephen M. Chester, Esq., composed for and dedicated to Miss Mary Taylor

• Yet Stay Awhile, with variations for the Piano Forte of Harp, published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia

Composed for and dedicated to Miss Henrietta B. Smith, by J. Aykroyd; the poetry is original

• The American and New Orleans Favorite Waltzes for the Piano Forte, published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia

Composed & respectfully dedicated to Miss Caroline Chapman

Caroline Chapman

Caroline Chapman was an early-American actress , who spent a large part of her adult life acting in the theatres of San Francisco.- Career overview :...

, by J. Aykroyd

From the Thomas Alva Edison Collection of American Sheet Music

• The broken vow, or, Theodosius to Constantia: sung by Mrs. French published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia (1824)
• The Pirate Lover, sung by Mrs. French, published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia (1824)

Poetry by James Gates Percival

James Gates Percival

James Gates Percival was an American poet and geologist, born in Berlin, Connecticut and died in Hazel Green, Wisconsin.-Biography:...

, music composed and respectfully inscribed to Mrs. J. A. Brown by J. Aykroyd

• The Tell Tale Eye, sung by Mrs. French, published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia (1824)

Sample sheet music that Aykroyd sold

Aykroyd used an ink stamp to identify himself as a music dealer on the sheet music he sold. It read:

Sold by JAMES AYKROYD, Teacher of Music, New Bern. Where are sold, Music and Instruments of every description.

A sample of the sheet music sold and stamp he used is at the Music Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...

; viz:

• The Blue Bell of Scotland, with Variations for the Piano Forte or Harp, by Latour (A New Edition), published by G.E. Blake, Philadelphia

Musical family

James married Elizabeth Bettner (d. Mar. 12, 1869). James and Elizabeth were married on July 12, 1824, in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina

Craven County, North Carolina

Craven County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The estimated population in 2006 was 94,875. Its county seat is New Bern.Craven County is part of the New Bern, North Carolina, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...

. Elizabeth was a music teacher in both New Bern and Nashville. Elizabeth's will was filed July 10, 1869, in Will Book 21, Page 345, Davidson County, Tennessee

Davidson County, Tennessee

Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...

.

James and Elizabeth Aykroyd had four children, all born in New Bern

New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...

:

1. Julia Blake Aykroyd, (b. 21 July 1825; d. 28 July 1825 New Bern
   New Bern, North Carolina
   New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
   
   )
2. William James Aykroyd (b. 28 July 1827; d. 5 Nov. 1832, Nashville) photo of grave marker
3. Eliza Jones Aykroyd (b. 11 December 1828)
4. Maria Caroline Aykroyd (b. 20 June 1831)

Eliza Jane McKissack

Eliza Jane McKissack

Eliza Jane McKissack was a music teacher who, in 1890, became the founding head of music at the University of North Texas College of Music, then called Normal Conservatory of Music, part of Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute, which was...

 and Maria Caroline Cauthorn (b. June 20, 1831, New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern, North Carolina

New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...

; d. Sep. 17, 1894) taught music.

Maria had married Benjamin F. Cauthorn (b. July 20, 1836, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

; d. June 1, 1902); both were buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery

Mount Olivet Cemetery (Nashville)

Mount Olivet Cemetery is a 250-acre cemetery located in Nashville, Tennessee.Mount Olivet has been continuously operated since its establishment in 1856. It serves as the final resting place for many of Middle Tennessee's political and business leaders, including several former governors of...

, Nashville, Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...

 (tombstone image for Maria); (tombstone image for Benjamin). Maria was a music teacher in Nashville. Maria's will was filed September 1894 in Will Book 32, Page 438, Davidson County, Tennessee

Davidson County, Tennessee

Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...

.

Eliza Jane McKissack

Eliza Jane McKissack

Eliza Jane McKissack was a music teacher who, in 1890, became the founding head of music at the University of North Texas College of Music, then called Normal Conservatory of Music, part of Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute, which was...

 was the founding head of music (1890) at what now is the University of North Texas College of Music

University of North Texas College of Music

The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies...

.

Miscellany

Aykroyd is listed as an 1823 member of the Dialectic Society.

Death

Aykroyd died in early July 1935 in Nashville "from the effects of laudanum

Laudanum

Laudanum , also known as Tincture of Opium, is an alcoholic herbal preparation containing approximately 10% powdered opium by weight ....

" and was buried July 5, 1935. The community held a benefit for his children, for which the following announcement was posted in the Nashville Banner and Nashville Whig, Oct. 12, 1835:

ORATORIO
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
Orphan Children of the Late J. Aykroyd

MR. MAREK, with the aid of professional gentlemen and amateurs, proposes to give a Concert of Sacred Music, or Oratorio, for the benefit of the orphan children of the late JAMES AYKROYD, under patronage of the gentlemen named below, who have kindly volunteered to act as managers, on Wednesday evening next, the 13th inst, at 7 o'clock, in the EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Tickets to be had at the several Bookstores.

MANAGERS