05/22/2026
As we continue learning about our local Revolutionary soldiers, this May we’ll be learning about Francis Ditto/Franz Dido. Sadly, many of the records of his early life no longer exist, so we have pulled family lore, histories, and sibling records to piece together the rest.
Born in 1758 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, (perhaps September in popular belief), Francis and his 7 siblings were orphaned from a young age. Their father is believed to be Joseph DeToe, an immigrant from Strassbourg, and his mother was named Barbara. While we don’t know about Joseph, Barbara’s will from 1772 left the children to be raised by guardians.
Francis most likely enlisted in January of 1778 in McAllister’s Town, Pennsylvania, signing up for the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment with his twin brother Jacob. His brother, as well as others signing up at the time ended up deserting soon after realizing that recruitment officers misled them. They and the Ditto twins were promised the rank of Sergeant of Horse, but in reality, were made Privates. In his pension, Francis remarked that when men began deserting, “ …[Jacob] earnestly suggested me to do the same but I concluded my services were so much needed at that time that I would serve my time…”
Francis stayed on as a Private for three years in the Pennsylvania 2nd, under the command of Col. Stewart and Captains Roby and Storey. Soon after enlisting, he was sent for the winter to Valley Forge, where he endured the supply shortages and cold. In June of that year, he participated in the Battle of Monmouth, and the day after helped bury the dead.
In his second winter with the army, Francis was taken prisoner at Newark and imprisoned at one of New York City’s infamous Sugar Houses for three months. While there, and suffering from the poor conditions, he spent nine weeks attempting to escape from a gutted church that he and others were kept in at night, digging with a hog’s jaw bone. He never made his escape, as a young Hessian turned him into the British, but was exchanged out of the prison soon after.
During the rest of the war, he was stationed at West Point mounting cannons, spent winter at White Plains and Fredericksburg, and witnessed the hanging of British spies. At one point, he became crippled after an accident working a baggage wagon, with his hip joint becoming “completely destroyed”, though he continued on with his service.
In his last few weeks in the service, he was witness to the Pennsylvania Line Mutiny, as soldiers were not receiving their promised discharge orders on time. He noted that he himself did not participate, but as a result of the revolt, received his discharge two weeks early.
After his service, Francis moved to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, living there for about 30 years and marrying his wife Eleanor Gift. Together the couple had potentially five children before moving out west to Ohio in the 1810s. There, they settled in Washington Township of Pickaway County for 15-17 years, farming on 165 acres of land before selling it and moving to Clinton Township of Seneca County, where several of the couple’s children lived. Francis applied for his pension here, receiving it on March 4, 1831, and eventually dying on June 25, 1841. Where he is buried is disputed, with evidence from land records and familial claims, he may be buried in Eden Township just south of Tiffin, overlooking OH 231. Eleanor applied and received a widow’s pension after Francis’ death, and died on March 1, 1855. She was buried on the farm of George Markley, her son-in-law, and the stone was removed to Wauseon Union Cemetery later on as the family moved away from the county.
Many details and quotes from Francis Ditto had to be left out of this post. For the full version of Francis’ life both on and off the battlefield, check out our blog! You can also learn more about the details of other Revolutionary veterans’ lives and service to our country, so click to follow the link below. https://www.tiffinsenecalibrary.org/america250revolutionarywarveterans
