A large rolling hill with multiple sections, encompassing Old St Peters Church Yard, abutting Old Van Cortlandtvill Cemetery on the South and Assumption Cemetery on the north

Hillside Cemetery is located in what was referred to as Peekskill, but actually Town of Cortlandt and now known as Cortlandt Manor, NY on Oregon Road (in the past called Hillside Ave.) right next to the Old Van Cortlandtville Cemetery (St. Peter's).

History:

... "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)

("...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

In 1898 the Sons of the American Revolution erected a monument to Seth Pomeroy in the Hillside Cemetery.

added by Gene Baumwoll CSW