Old Velsor Burying Ground - Woodbury
copied  by Miss May Van Cott of Wheatley Hills, L.I., and Mr Renville Silleck Smith CA. 1930
Location and condition comments are taken from their notes of that time.
Note by Walt Whitman concerning this Cemetery
In 1930 they reported having difficulty in locating the cemetery as it was overgrown with underbrush in a woodland a short distance from a roadbed graded for the proposed extension of the railroad, from Syosset to Cold Spring Harbor., (note: was never built)  The cemetery is also near Velsor-Stillman lane which is a shortcut from Syosset-Cold Spring road to the Cold Spring-Woodbury road.  As the cemetery marks the resting place of members of Walt Whitman's relatives, they copied the inscriptions identically, both as to spelling and lines. It should be noted that the wife of John Velsor appears as Maron which perhaps should have been Marion.

Thomas Velsor, died Jan. 16, 1864, aged 74 yrs., 9 mos. and 4 das. My weeping friends rememrer me; And you my children dear Live near to God, that when you die You may with Christ appear.

Sarah, Wife of Thomas Velsor, died March 1, 1867, age 77 yrs. 9 mo. & 11 das. Fair dear children to you adieu. I can with you no loneer stay. My Heavenly Father invites me home, And why should I His call delay.

In Memory of Sarah E., Daughter of Thomas and Sarah Velsor, born Sept. 21; 1835, died Mav 29. 1836.

Charles Velsor Died March 6, 1896, aged 82 yrs. 10 mo. and 16 das.

Susan L. wife of Charles Velsor, Died Aug. 23, 1879, AE 62 yrs, 7 mo, and 12 da.

Charles E., Son of Charles and Susan L. Velsor, Died Nov. 16, 1860, age 17 yrs, 3 mos. & 27 da. He called his father to his side. Farewell, dear father, I am going home. I am going home to Heaven above to join the Heavenly Choir.

Thomas Wesley, son of Charle & Susan L. Velsor, Died Dec. 4, 1847, age 8 yrs, 8 da.

In memory of Mary, wife of George Velsor, Died Nov. 17, 1870, age 27 yrs, 7 mo. 15 day.

In memory of Georgie W., son of George and Mary Velsor, died Nov. 18, 1869, aged 1 yr, 2 mo.

In Loving Memory of W. Sherman Velsor, Born Sept. 10, 1868, died June 9, 1894. Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep. From which none ever wake to weep.

In memory of Steven W. Velsor who departed this life Jan. 15, 1826, age 32 yrs, 5 mo, & 25 das. Treasure that heart whose warmest thrill Was all for me, tis cold and still. Yet tis sweet to think that mine Will mingle fond again with thine. Again thy wife will on thy bosom rest And in Reunion rise Reunion blest.

Maron, wife of John Velsor, died April 7, 1824 in the 35th year of her age.

John, son of John & Maron Perkins, died May 21, 1828, age 1 yr, 1 mo, 8 da.

(Plain gray stone, no inscription.)

A. S. R., J. M. R. (no other inscription on this stone.)

John Mott, Born May 27, 1809, died Aug. 26, 1886. At Rest.

Mary E. Mott. Born Oct. 6, 1814, Died Jan. 2, 1878. At Rest. (Field Stone. No inscription.) 

Naomy, Wife of Cornelius Velsor, Died Feb. 15, 1826, aged 63 yrs. 1 mo. 23 das. When this you see, Remember me.

Sarah E., wife of Thomas D. Carpenter and daughter of Charles & Susan L. Velsor, Died Sept. 21, 1866, AE 28 yrs. 3 mos. & 20 das.

Ada H., daughter of Thomas D. & Sarah E. Carpenter. Died June 22, 1865, age 8 mo. & 12 da.

In Memory of Sarah E., wife of John D. Velsor and daughter of Edgar & Harriet A. Hewlett, who died A ug. 13, 1857, age 17 yrs, 1 mc, 16 da.

An Infant Son of John D. and Sarah E. Velsor.

(Nine Graves marked by stakes only).

(Several graves unmarked by either stones or stakes.)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Like the Whitman family cemetery in West Hills, the burying grounds of Walt's mother's side of the family, the Van Velsors, exists although few graves can be identified. In 1881, Walt visited this spot and described it as: "...the most significant depository of the dead that could be imagin'd without the slightest help from art, soil sterile, a mostly bare ploteau-flat of an acre, the top of a hill, brush and well grown trees and dense woods bordering all around, very primitive, secluded, no visitors, no road...The scene as I stood or sat, the delicate and wild odor of the woods, a slight drizzling rain, the emotional atmosphere of the place, and the inferr'd reminiscences, were such as I never realized before."