[1] He was born in Lenovac, near Zaječar,[1] in the Crna Reka nahija, into the family of Petar (hence he took Petrović as his surname) and Petrinja.

[4] The local Turks often visited their house, eating their food, drinking and taking cheese, butter oil, and milk.

[4] For this, his master chased to beat him, thus Veljko fled, ending up in the hajduk (Serbian brigands) bands of Stanoje Glavaš.

[4] In the winter time of 1803, Glavaš had arranged for Veljko to stay at the house of a jatak ("concealer", civil hajduk supporter) in Dubona, in the Smederevo nahija, where he would work as a shepherd.

[4] Not long after the wedding, the Slaughter of the Knezes took place (January 1804), in which prominent Serb leaders were executed by the Janissary military junta of the Sanjak of Smederevo[4] (these janissaries, under the leadership of Kučuk Alija, had murdered sanjak-bey Hadži Mustafa Pasha on 15 December 1801 and taken the rule of the sanjak).

As a response to the executions, the Serbian population, without a central figure, took measures of self-defence, and spontaneously attacked the janissaries.

[5] Hearing of Karađorđe's activities, Veljko immediately asked his wife for hajduk wear and weapons and joined Glavaš' bands.

[4] When Karađorđe arrived at Orašac on the Meeting of the Lord, February 2, 1804, and was chosen by the people, Glavaš, Janko Katić, Vasa Čarapić, Jakovljević,[who?]

[4] As the uprising grew and spread, cautious Glavaš opted to withdrow, and Veljko then served the Smederevo Vojvoda Đuša Vulićević fighting the Ottomans.

(I'll give my head, but not Krajina) Just before the Battle of Negotin, his friend, Vuk Karadžić suggested to him that he send his gold, jewels and other valuables to his family, so they wouldn't fall into Turkish hands.

But Veljko refused, believing it wouldn't be proper for a great hajduk and war hero to be slain and found penniless.

Хајдук Вељко, без сумње, један је од највећих јунака Првог српског устанка.