NYGenWeb Westchester County, NY

Sandstones of Van Cortlandtville Cemetery
Cortlandt Manor, NY

Compiled by Jean Ann Orser Lupinetti

Following is a list of the sandstones (also called redstones or brownstones) and slate (two only) in the Old Van Cortlandtville Cemetery on the corner of Oregon Road and Locust Avenue in Cortlandt Manor (formerly called Peekskill), Westchester County, NY. This cemetery is next to the Little Red School House, adjoins Hillside Cemetery and surrounds Old St. Peter's Church. The Cemetery is often referred to as Old St. Peter's Church Yard.

According to Scharf, "In 1750, Andrew Johnson ..., a son-in-law of Stephanus Van Cortlandt, for the sum of five pounds, conveyed to Caleb Hall, Joseph Travis, and Pelatiah Hawes, six acres of land lying at a place called Peekskill, on the north side of the Crompond road, to be used as a site for a schoolhouse, burying ground, and meeting-house or houses for the religious (under the protection of his Majesty) such as adherents of the Church of England, the Presbyterian, Independents, Baptists, or Congregationalists, etc., but for no other purpose." (page 385, Vol. 2, History of Westchester, NY)

According to Historic Van Cortlandtville (page 23), "Messrs. Travis and Haws gave their four acres to the Episcopalians, Hall turned over his two acres to the Baptists who built a church on the south section of the plot in 1772."

Former Peekskill historian, Carlton B. Scofield, tells us "Caleb Hall was a Baptist and a pioneer ... at the end he was laid to rest in 1791 in a place close beside the Van Cortlandtville Baptist Church built in 1772. The church was built on land given to the Baptists by Caleb Hall." (page 10, History Of The First Baptist Church)

The Jacobs and Voct stones are in the same area as the other sandstones, but are not considered part of the Van Cortlandtville Cemetery (they are said to be in Hillside Cemetery). According to Scharf, (page 388, Vol. 2), "...when the grounds surrounding the old Episcopal Church (St. Peter's) became filled, lots were bought and interments made in the private property adjoining ...." In 1864 what is now Hillside Cemetery was purchased, including those graves that were made on private ground. I have included these three stones in this listing as they are in the same area as the other sandstones.

The Hall gravestones are not near any of the other sandstones in the Van Cortlandtville Cemetery, but they are directly in back of the Little Red School House, once the site of the early Baptist Church.

The first recorded gravestone on the six acre plot seems to have been Stephen Travis who died in 1751. St. Peter's Episcopal Church was started in 1766 and dedicated in 1767, and the Baptist Church was built on the plot about 1772.

Many of these old sandstones are damaged and down. Sandstones deteriorate from internal stresses. Stones that are 200 years old can appear perfect one day and the next day the entire face of the stone can "let go" and the face of the stone falls away and is lost forever. Please try to visit this historic cemetery and view these stones yourself before it is too late.

For more information on sandstones see the book "The Old Dutch Burying Ground of Sleepy Hollow" which is available in most Westchester County Genealogical and Historical Societies, as well as through some used booksellers.

© 1999  Jean Ann Orser Lupinetti for the above information.
The above text and table have been generously provided to this site by Jean Ann Orser Lupinetti.

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