Notes for WILLIAM VAN VELSEN, SR:

Son of Matthys Gerritszen and Unknown Wife Van Velsen.
Born: About March 27, 1696 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island, New York.
Christening: March 27, 1696 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island, New York.
Died: Unknown in Oyster Bay, Nassau County, Long Island, New York.
Married: Jannetje Losee About 1719 at Dutch Reformed Church, Oyster Bay Township, Nassau County, Long Island, New York.

NOTES:
The family ends up in Oyster Bay Town. Before that they seem to be connected with the Dutch Reformed Church in Jamaica, L. I. Did they live in Jamaica ? or just go to church there ? Who knows ? Some of Willem's sons moved to Westchester County in the 1740's/1750's and from them we get the Van Valzah, Velzy, and Velsey lines in Saratoga County, New York, in central Pennsylvania, & other areas.

William Velsor of Oyster Bay, yeoman, to Yost Derye of the same place, for L16/14/4: a tract lying northwards of said Derye's house, bounded on the E by said William Velsor's land and N by the road from the Plains to Cold Spring (Irelands Path), S by a road from said William Velsor's and said Derye's houses to said Irelands Path; 10 acres Witnessed by Jacob Townsend and Peter VanVelsor witnessed the baptism of grandson Willem at Oyster Bay.

In the Oyster Bay Town Records, the William was mentioned as early as December 27, 1723 when a "William Van Velse" witnessed the signing of the "freedom papers" of an indentured person. One of the family characteristics seems to have been a love of horses, dogs, and hunting. Foxhunting was a favorite. One Velsor hunt began in Syosset and ended up the next day in Deer Park. As it was mid-winter, some of the participants went along in a sled.