Klaus

Two sets of Klaus (Claus) siblings from Düdelsheim became Russian colonists in 1766. Both sets of siblings share the same grandfather, Hartmann Claus, making them all first cousins. 

Johann Caspar Claus (son of Hartmann Claus) was baptized 11 February 1694 in Düdelsheim.  He married Anna Barbara Gerlach (daughter of Echard Gerlach) on 4 March 1717.  Among their children were Johann Stephan Claus and Johann Peter Claus. Johann Stephan settled in the colony of Balzer and Johann Peter settled in the colony of Norka.

Johann Peter Claus (son of Hartmann Claus) was baptized 12 January 1691 in Düdelsheim.  He married Anna Catharina Jacobi (daughter of Peter Jacobi) on 28 October 1728.  Among their children were Johann Peter Claus and Charlotta Claus. Both settled in the colony of Moor. 

Johann Stephan Klaus

Johann Stephan Klaus was born in Düdelsheim on 15 December 1717 and was baptized there on the 19th. He married Susanna Klink, daughter of Johann Caspar Klink and Anna Cunigunde Veltin, on 26 November 1744. She was born in Düdelsheim on 24 March 1717. They had at least four children: 1. Johannes (baptized 8 September 1748); 2. Susanna Catharina (baptized 29 August 1751); Johann Peter (baptized 1 March 1754); and Johann Adam (baptized 1 August 1756).

The entire family arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia (now Lomonosov) on 11 June 1766 aboard the ship "Saratov". In the ship arrival list, Johann Stephan is listed as a farmer and the "Vorsteher" (group leader).

Susanna, the matriarch of the family, died during transport to the Volga settlement area. A widower, Johann Stephan and all four of his children arrived in the colony of Balzer on 1 July 1767. They are listed on the 1767 Census in Household 4.

Johann Peter Klaus (son of Johann Caspar Klaus)

Johann Peter Klaus was born in Düdelsheim on 14 December 1727 and baptized there on the 18th of the same month. Johann Peter married on 30 January 1750 in Düdelsheim to Elisabeth Scheid (Scheidt), daughter of Johannes Scheid and Catharina Hart. She was baptized in Düdelsheim on 15 February 1728.  

Johann Peter and Elisabeth are recorded on the 1767 Census of Norka in Household 216, along with their two surviving children: Johann Heinrich (baptized in Düdelsheim on 14 June 1750) and Katharina (baptized on 11 November 1753).

Johann Peter died in 1787 in the colony of Norka.

Johann Peter Claus (son of Johann Peter Claus)

Johann Peter Claus was baptized in Düdelsheim on 1 July 1744.  In 1766, he was unmarried and joined his sister, Charlotta, and her family as colonists to Russia. Johann Peter arrived with the Scheid family in Russia on 10 June 1766. Aboard the same ship were several other Moor settlers including Anna Magdalena Lein, daughter of Johann Conrad Lein and Anna Barbara Pfister. Johann Peter Claus and Anna Magdalena Lein married during transport to the Volga settlement area and are reported on the 1767 census of Moor as Household 21.

Charlotta Claus

Charlotta Claus was born about 1733. Her baptism has not been located in the Düdelsheim parish. Charlotta married Adam Scheid (Scheidt) on 2 May 1757 in Düdelsheim. They arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia (now Lomonsov) on 10 June 1766, aboard the ship "Holy Catharina". Listed with them are their two daughters: Anna Barbara (baptized in Düdelsheim on 9 December 1760); and Katharina (baptized in Düdelsheim on 27 September 1762). Charlotta's brother, Johann Peter Claus, was aboard the same ship. 

Johann Adam and Charlotta settled in the colony of Moor and are listed in the 1767 Census as Household 6. A third daughter, Magdalena, had joined the family by this time.