La-Cemeteries^©
Copyright © 2007-2009.
All Rights Reserved.

Page 1 of 3

1812 - 1816

William Charles Cole Claiborne, the first Governor of Louisiana, died November 23, 1817.  He was not a native, did not speak French and was not Catholic.  He was buried in the Protestant side of St. Louis Cemetery #1 in New Orleans where he may still lie.  An 1892 newspaper article states that his remains lie with the monument in St. Louis Cemetery #1.  A Claiborne tomb in Metairie Cemetery has many descendants and an engraved stone that appears as the original for Gov. Claiborne.

Gov. Claiborne's first wife, Elizabeth Lewis of Nashville and his daughter, died Oct. 26, 1804.

They died from yellow fever and are buried in St, Louis Cemetery #1.  Clarissa Duralde, consort, who gave him a son, died on November 29, 1809 in New Orleans.  The Metairie Cemetery tomb has the descendant Martin Duralde Claiborne, Jr., born 1920, and his wife's name engraved on the door of the tomb. The father, Martin Duralde Claiborne born 1895, is on a plaque on the left side of the tomb.

Claiborne married Suzette Bosque, in 1812.  Suzette Bosque, who died in 1881, had two children C. W. W. Claiborne and Sophronie.  Sophronie became Mrs. Mandeville de Marigny, residing in Mandeville. 

Suzette Bosque was the daughter of General Don Bartolomo Bosque, born 1704 in Catalonia Spain.  Five years after the death of Gov. Claiborne, Suzette married New Orleans attorney John R. Grymes.  At her death in 1881 she was residing in Paris.

On June 8, 1807, Gov. Claiborne fought a duel with Daniel Clark.  "At first fire the Governor received Mr. Clark's ball through his right thigh".

The Metairie Cemetery tomb appears to be for the family of the descendants of Gov. Claiborne's marriage with Clarissa Duralde.

The Metairie Cemetery Claiborne tomb.

The original tomb along with two wives and one child, remain in St. Louis Cemetery #1.

This stone near the steps may be all that was moved from St. Louis Cemetery #1. 

In memory of
WILLIAM CHARLES COLE CLAIBORNE
Born in Virginia
Member of the Convention that framed the first Constitution of Tennessee,
Judge of the Supreme Court of that State at 21,
And Representative in Congress at 23.
Governor of the Mississippi Territory, 1801.
Governor of the Territory of Louisiana for eight years.
First Governor of the State, 1812,
United States Senator, 1817,
Died November 23, 1817, at the age of 42.

War of 1812 Plaque

Louisiana Heritage Trail marker in front of the Claiborne tomb.

Several plaques are on the left side of the tomb.
Other engravings are on the front of the tomb.  Click here to view them.

All photos herein are DIGIMARC ENABLED, are the property of  La-Cemeteries^© and may
not be copied or distributed without the express written permission of

La-Cemeteries^©
Copyright © 2007.
All Rights Reserved.

Digimarc and the Digimarc logo are registered trademarks of Digimarc Corporation.
The "Digimarc-Enabled" Web Button is a trademark of Digimarc Corporation, used with permission.