Claus (family), fl. 1727-1886 : Christian Daniel Claus (1727-1787), scion of a prominent family of southwestern Germany, emigrated to Philadelphia in the autumn of 1749. Becoming tutor to the son of Johann Conrad Weiser, Indian Agent for Pennsylvania, introduced Claus to the Six Nations and stimulated his interest in their languages and association with the management of relations with native peoples. Nominated a Lieutenant and deputy Secretary when Sir William Johnson became Colonel and Superintendent of the Six Nations in 1755, Claus participated in numerous conferences as interpreter and diplomat. In 1760 he took up the duties of Deputy Superintendent for the St Lawrence Valley and environs, residing at Montreal. In 1762 he married Ann (Nancy), daughter of Sir William Johnson. With the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in 1775, he suffered confiscation of his properties in New York, and replacement in office by John Campbell, who held the governor's favor. Out of office for scarcely two years, he soon received appointment as Deputy Agent for the Six Nations under Col. Guy Johnson (son-in-law and successor to Sir William), Claus took responsibility for the region soon to be renamed Upper Canada, fostering the Six Nations settlements at the Bay of Quinte and on the Grand River. He died in Great Britain while pursing claims for compensation for his lossess as a Loyalist.
William Claus (1763-1826), eldest son of Christian Daniel Claus and Ann Johnson, was born at Williamsburg, New York. His formal education curtailed by the outbreak of war, young William enlisted in the King's Royal Regiment of New York, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1787 he obtained a lieutenancy in the 60th Regiment and was promoted captain in 1795. He married Catherine Jordan, daughter of Jacob Jordan, in 1791.
After several attempts to obtain an appointment under his uncle Sir John Johnson, in 1796 he was named Deputy Superintendent of the Six Nations, headquartered at Niagara while responsible for the Grand River and other communities. Four years later, in 1800 he succeeded Alexander McKee as Deputy Superintendent General for Upper Canada, serving in this post until his death. His work was frustrated by acrimonious relationships with the chiefs Joseph Brant and John Norton. Following the War of 1812 (during which Claus had served actively with the militia), his responsibilities as Superintendent altered as policy toward the native peoples shifted toward the extinguishment of land titles, the reservation of specific lands for Indians and the encouragement of acculturation. At the same time, William Claus took up other civic offices, being named a Justice of the Peace in 1803, a member of the Legislative Council in 1812, of the Executive Council in 1816; serving as commissioner of customs at Niagara and on the commission for the division of customs revenues between Upper and Lower Canada.
Three sons and two daughters of William Claus survived to adulthood. Daniel Claus died in 1813. John Claus (d. 1812) served briefly with the 84th Regiment. William Claus junior (d. 1824) served with the 54th Regiment in Europe, Jamaica, South Aftrica and India. .
