Son of Adam Frederic Claus and Anna Dorothea Fritzen.
Christian Daniel Claus was born into a prominent family of southwestern Germany. In 1748 or 1749 a German emigrant visiting from America involved him in a plan to export raw silk and tobacco from America for processing in Germany. When Claus arrived in Philadelphia in the autumn of 1749, he discovered that the scheme was more imaginary than real. With few contacts and apparently unable to afford the voyage home, he resolved to find employment during the winter and return to Germany in the spring. He made the acquaintance of Johann Conrad Weiser, Pennsylvania's Indian agent, and was probably hired at that time as a tutor for Weiser's son. In 1750 Claus accompanied Weiser on a journey to the Hudson-Mohawk valley of New York, and during their stay with the Onondagas he began to compile a vocabulary of Indian words. On his return to Philadelphia he met the governor who, recognizing his interest in languages, arranged for him and Weiser's son to be sent to live among the Mohawks. He stayed for a while with King Hendrick [Theyanoguin], who instructed him in the language, history, and customs of the Six Nations.
In 1755, when the management of Indian affairs in the northern colonies was centralized under the direction of William Johnson, Claus was made a lieutenant in the Indian department and a deputy secretary of Indian affairs. With the outbreak of the Seven Years' War at this time, the department was strained to its utmost for some years. Johnson's connection with the Six Nations became a vital part of the British effort to wrest control of eastern North America from France. Claus played an important role as an interpreter and diplomat in the frequent conferences and negotiations with the Indians. The collapse of New France added new pressures to the department; Johnson found that his traditional role with the Six Nations and his new concerns with the Indians of the Ohio country left him no time to look after Canada. Claus was accordingly made the deputy agent to the Canadian Indians on 20 Sept. 1760. He was based at Montreal and reported both to Johnson and to the local military government.
The world of the Indian department was a quasi-military one. In 1756 Claus had been made a lieutenant in the Royal Americans (62nd, later 60th Foot). With Johnson's financial assistance he purchased a captaincy in 1761, but he sold it the following year. He became colonel of the Albany County militia on 18 Feb. 1768 and acquired the colonely of another militia regiment on 7 July 1772.
These middle years of Claus's career were busy but pleasant. He married Ann Nancy, the daughter of Johnson and Catherine Weissenberg, on 13 April 1762. He occupied an important government post, and he owned considerable land in the vicinity of Albany. His success was deserved: he was charming, honest, and hardworking. The American revolution and administrative change in the Indian department, however, ended this comfort.
Sir William Johnson died suddenly on 11 July 1774 and was succeeded in the department by his
son-in-law, Guy Johnson.
Christian Daniel Claus was born into a prominent family of southwestern Germany. In 1748 or 1749 a German emigrant visiting from America involved him in a plan to export raw silk and tobacco from America for processing in Germany. When Claus arrived in Philadelphia in the autumn of 1749, he discovered that the scheme was more imaginary than real. With few contacts and apparently unable to afford the voyage home, he resolved to find employment during the winter and return to Germany in the spring. He made the acquaintance of Johann Conrad Weiser, Pennsylvania's Indian agent, and was probably hired at that time as a tutor for Weiser's son. In 1750 Claus accompanied Weiser on a journey to the Hudson-Mohawk valley of New York, and during their stay with the Onondagas he began to compile a vocabulary of Indian words. On his return to Philadelphia he met the governor who, recognizing his interest in languages, arranged for him and Weiser's son to be sent to live among the Mohawks. He stayed for a while with King Hendrick [Theyanoguin], who instructed him in the language, history, and customs of the Six Nations.
In 1755, when the management of Indian affairs in the northern colonies was centralized under the direction of William Johnson, Claus was made a lieutenant in the Indian department and a deputy secretary of Indian affairs. With the outbreak of the Seven Years' War at this time, the department was strained to its utmost for some years. Johnson's connection with the Six Nations became a vital part of the British effort to wrest control of eastern North America from France. Claus played an important role as an interpreter and diplomat in the frequent conferences and negotiations with the Indians. The collapse of New France added new pressures to the department; Johnson found that his traditional role with the Six Nations and his new concerns with the Indians of the Ohio country left him no time to look after Canada. Claus was accordingly made the deputy agent to the Canadian Indians on 20 Sept. 1760. He was based at Montreal and reported both to Johnson and to the local military government.
The world of the Indian department was a quasi-military one. In 1756 Claus had been made a lieutenant in the Royal Americans (62nd, later 60th Foot). With Johnson's financial assistance he purchased a captaincy in 1761, but he sold it the following year. He became colonel of the Albany County militia on 18 Feb. 1768 and acquired the colonely of another militia regiment on 7 July 1772.
These middle years of Claus's career were busy but pleasant. He married Ann Nancy, the daughter of Johnson and Catherine Weissenberg, on 13 April 1762. He occupied an important government post, and he owned considerable land in the vicinity of Albany. His success was deserved: he was charming, honest, and hardworking. The American revolution and administrative change in the Indian department, however, ended this comfort.
Sir William Johnson died suddenly on 11 July 1774 and was succeeded in the department by his
son-in-law, Guy Johnson.
Son of Adam Frederic Claus and Anna Dorothea Fritzen.
Christian Daniel Claus was born into a prominent family of southwestern Germany. In 1748 or 1749 a German emigrant visiting from America involved him in a plan to export raw silk and tobacco from America for processing in Germany. When Claus arrived in Philadelphia in the autumn of 1749, he discovered that the scheme was more imaginary than real. With few contacts and apparently unable to afford the voyage home, he resolved to find employment during the winter and return to Germany in the spring. He made the acquaintance of Johann Conrad Weiser, Pennsylvania's Indian agent, and was probably hired at that time as a tutor for Weiser's son. In 1750 Claus accompanied Weiser on a journey to the Hudson-Mohawk valley of New York, and during their stay with the Onondagas he began to compile a vocabulary of Indian words. On his return to Philadelphia he met the governor who, recognizing his interest in languages, arranged for him and Weiser's son to be sent to live among the Mohawks. He stayed for a while with King Hendrick [Theyanoguin], who instructed him in the language, history, and customs of the Six Nations.
In 1755, when the management of Indian affairs in the northern colonies was centralized under the direction of William Johnson, Claus was made a lieutenant in the Indian department and a deputy secretary of Indian affairs. With the outbreak of the Seven Years' War at this time, the department was strained to its utmost for some years. Johnson's connection with the Six Nations became a vital part of the British effort to wrest control of eastern North America from France. Claus played an important role as an interpreter and diplomat in the frequent conferences and negotiations with the Indians. The collapse of New France added new pressures to the department; Johnson found that his traditional role with the Six Nations and his new concerns with the Indians of the Ohio country left him no time to look after Canada. Claus was accordingly made the deputy agent to the Canadian Indians on 20 Sept. 1760. He was based at Montreal and reported both to Johnson and to the local military government.
The world of the Indian department was a quasi-military one. In 1756 Claus had been made a lieutenant in the Royal Americans (62nd, later 60th Foot). With Johnson's financial assistance he purchased a captaincy in 1761, but he sold it the following year. He became colonel of the Albany County militia on 18 Feb. 1768 and acquired the colonely of another militia regiment on 7 July 1772.
These middle years of Claus's career were busy but pleasant. He married Ann Nancy, the daughter of Johnson and Catherine Weissenberg, on 13 April 1762. He occupied an important government post, and he owned considerable land in the vicinity of Albany. His success was deserved: he was charming, honest, and hardworking. The American revolution and administrative change in the Indian department, however, ended this comfort.
Sir William Johnson died suddenly on 11 July 1774 and was succeeded in the department by his
son-in-law, Guy Johnson.
Christian Daniel Claus was born into a prominent family of southwestern Germany. In 1748 or 1749 a German emigrant visiting from America involved him in a plan to export raw silk and tobacco from America for processing in Germany. When Claus arrived in Philadelphia in the autumn of 1749, he discovered that the scheme was more imaginary than real. With few contacts and apparently unable to afford the voyage home, he resolved to find employment during the winter and return to Germany in the spring. He made the acquaintance of Johann Conrad Weiser, Pennsylvania's Indian agent, and was probably hired at that time as a tutor for Weiser's son. In 1750 Claus accompanied Weiser on a journey to the Hudson-Mohawk valley of New York, and during their stay with the Onondagas he began to compile a vocabulary of Indian words. On his return to Philadelphia he met the governor who, recognizing his interest in languages, arranged for him and Weiser's son to be sent to live among the Mohawks. He stayed for a while with King Hendrick [Theyanoguin], who instructed him in the language, history, and customs of the Six Nations.
In 1755, when the management of Indian affairs in the northern colonies was centralized under the direction of William Johnson, Claus was made a lieutenant in the Indian department and a deputy secretary of Indian affairs. With the outbreak of the Seven Years' War at this time, the department was strained to its utmost for some years. Johnson's connection with the Six Nations became a vital part of the British effort to wrest control of eastern North America from France. Claus played an important role as an interpreter and diplomat in the frequent conferences and negotiations with the Indians. The collapse of New France added new pressures to the department; Johnson found that his traditional role with the Six Nations and his new concerns with the Indians of the Ohio country left him no time to look after Canada. Claus was accordingly made the deputy agent to the Canadian Indians on 20 Sept. 1760. He was based at Montreal and reported both to Johnson and to the local military government.
The world of the Indian department was a quasi-military one. In 1756 Claus had been made a lieutenant in the Royal Americans (62nd, later 60th Foot). With Johnson's financial assistance he purchased a captaincy in 1761, but he sold it the following year. He became colonel of the Albany County militia on 18 Feb. 1768 and acquired the colonely of another militia regiment on 7 July 1772.
These middle years of Claus's career were busy but pleasant. He married Ann Nancy, the daughter of Johnson and Catherine Weissenberg, on 13 April 1762. He occupied an important government post, and he owned considerable land in the vicinity of Albany. His success was deserved: he was charming, honest, and hardworking. The American revolution and administrative change in the Indian department, however, ended this comfort.
Sir William Johnson died suddenly on 11 July 1774 and was succeeded in the department by his
son-in-law, Guy Johnson.
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