To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 21 September 1804 (Abstract)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne
21 September 1804, New Orleans. “From the great havock which the diseases of this Climate, have recently made among Strangers, and the frequent embezzlement of the property of deceased Persons by unprincipled Men, I have been induced to make special provision for the care of the Estates of certain Intestates. A Copy of my Ordinance in this subject is enclosed,1 and I hope it will meet the approbation of the President.
“The young Gentlemen attached to my Office continue indisposed.”
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, TP, Orleans, vol. 5); letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosure (Ms-Ar: Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 13). RC 1 p.; docketed by Wagner. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure is a newspaper clipping of Claiborne’s 7 Sept. 1804 ordinance (1 p.; ordinance printed in , 2:332–35), which provided “for the appointment of a person to take charge of estates belonging to certain persons, dying intestate in the city of New Orleans.” The ordinance covered the estates of persons who died intestate having resided in the city less than two years and leaving no immediate family member of age resident in New Orleans. Merchant John P. Sanderson was appointed special administrator for such estates (Louisiana Gazette, 28 Sept. 1804).