Sands Family Cemetery
Why it's listed
Set on a wooded knoll off Sands Point Road, this roughly one-acre family burial ground began in 1704, when Captain John Sands buried his ten-year-old son George there. About 1711 Sands set the land aside as a family cemetery. Records indicate 112 people were buried there, and 86 sandstone, marble and slate markers survive, dating from 1704 to 1867. They include winged death's heads, a skull and crossbones, winged soul effigies, plain three-lobed tablets and white marble slabs, and several are attributed to carvers such as Henry Emmes and John Stevens II. Among those interred are early settlers, Revolutionary War militia officers and members of the Sons of Liberty, along with a West Point graduate and a soldier who built the Sands Point Lighthouse. The progression of carved designs and epitaphs reflects shifting religious beliefs and customs over two centuries. Its secluded setting has helped the cemetery keep a high level of integrity. The Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society now holds it in custody.
Significance in brief: The cemetery is tied to the early settlement of the Cow Neck area and holds the graves of early settlers, Revolutionary War patriots and community leaders. Its 86 surviving headstones form a well-preserved collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century funerary art, several attributed to known master carvers. The stones' motifs and epitaphs show changing religious beliefs and funeral customs on western Long Island.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92000092, listed March 12, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off Sands Point Rd. just S of jct. with Middle Neck Rd., Sands Point |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | March 12, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000092 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1704-1867 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a cemetery; in the custody of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society, which acts as agent for the Sands family. The last burial took place in 1867, and the site has high integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.85804, -73.72296 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92000092.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7416897
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.