Another singular source of revenue was the renting of the pall. This was used to cover the coffin, and was owned by the consistory, and rented out as required on funeral occasions. The first pall was procured in 1678, and was used on the occasion of the burial of Engelbert Stuynhuysen, the cost of which is specified in the deacons' accounts, as follows:

10 El. of Black Cloth, at 24 g. per El.,	240 guilders.
A linen cover to protect the pall,	14 guilders
Total,	254 guilders

In the early days, as was usual in many rural communities, family burial plots were located in some convenient part of the farm, and the territory was dotted with the little enclosures, made sacred to the memory of the dead.

But soon after the custom was established of burying church members, especially, in close proximity to the church, which doubtless accounts for the existence of the old cemeteries at Tuers and Bergen Avenues and Vroom Street, as the old churches were located on these two plots; and it became the recognized custom to perform most of the burials there.

On the occasion of a death, the aanspreker was notified, and immediately appeared at the house of mourning. He there received his instructions, and thenceforth assumed complete charge of the whole affair, donning his official dress, which consisted of low shoes, black stockings, black knickerbockers, a black cutaway coat covered by a long, flowing black mantle, a white cravat or bands, and a queer-looking three-cornered hat or steek, from one corner of which, to the right, floated a long black crepe, like a streamer, while on the left corner a rosette had been pinned, showing the sex, and condition (married or single) of the deceased.

If the latter was very rich or prominent, sometimes ten or twenty aansprekers were employed in announcing his death, and one, usually an old servant of the family, went in the middle of the street, clothed in similar dress, walking along with head bowed, his face buried in a large mourning handkerchief, and led by two aansprekers, one on each side, while the others were making the announcement at the homes. At the time appointed for the funeral, the nearest relations first appeared and partook of some refreshments, generally consisting of a glass of beer or spirits, and smoking a long clay pipe.

After the arrival of all who were invited, the chief aanspreker spoke a few words of consolation, or offered up a prayer, after which the body was carried out on the bier, and was followed in accordance with these directions: 'The relations will please follow, according to rank, the younger members of the family coming first.' All the mourners and bearers were dressed in the same garb as the aansprekers, or else had rosettes pinned to their sleeves, or the lapels of their coats, the aansprekers wearing black or white gloves, according to the sex of the deceased, two of them heading the procession, while the others immediately followed the bearers.

As the procession wended its way to the cemetery, every one meeting the train stood still uncovered, and stood with bowed head until it had passed. At the grave, the chief aanspreker again spoke a few words, or offered a prayer, and after the burial, led the procession in the same order as before, back to the sterfhuis, or house of the deceased. Here beer or spirits, and food, had been prepared for them by the women, who as a rule, did not go to the cemetery. The long clay pipes with tobacco, were on the table, and the mourners ate, drank and smoked, in honor of the deceased. After a short interval, all except the immediate relations departed, and left the bereaved ones alone with their grief.