The Leatherman, a mysterious vagabond who roamed the American Northeast from approximately 1857 to 1889, is one of the most enduring legends of 19th-century New England. Known for his distinctive handmade leather suit and his clockwork-like 365-mile circuit between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers, he captivated the communities of western Connecticut and eastern New York with his punctuality, solitude, and enigmatic persona. Despite his prominence in local lore, his true identity, origins, and motivations remain unknown, fueling speculation, myths, and cultural fascination.
Origins and Identity:
The Leatherman, born around 1839, was a
transient whose real name and background remain elusive. Early accounts
speculated he was Jules Bourglay from Lyons, France, based on an 1884
article in the Waterbury Daily American. This story claimed he was a
wool merchant’s son who bankrupted a leather business, lost his fiancée,
and wandered in penance, clad in leather. However, the newspaper
retracted the story in March 1889, and historian Dan W. DeLuca, author
of The Old Leather Man (2008), confirmed through archival research,
including the Leatherman’s New York death certificate, that the Bourglay
narrative was fabricated. Other theories suggested names like Rudoph
Mossey, a French shoemaker searching for a lost wife, but these too lack
evidence.
DeLuca and other researchers propose he was likely
French-Canadian, citing his fluency in French, a French-language prayer
book found on his body after death, and his travels as far north as
Montreal and Vermont in the 1860s–1870s. His refusal to eat meat on
Fridays suggests he was Roman Catholic, and some speculate Native
American ancestry due to his knowledge of herbal gardening and survival
skills. However, a 2011 exhumation of his grave in Sparta Cemetery,
Ossining, New York, intended to test for Native American roots, found
only coffin nails, deepening the mystery.
Appearance and Attire:
The Leatherman earned his nickname from his 60-pound suit of handmade
leather, comprising a hat, scarf, jacket, pants, and wooden-soled boots
fashioned from old boot tops and leather scraps, stitched with crude
lacing. Described as creaking when he walked and emitting a distinct
odor, the suit was both practical—durable for harsh weather—and
symbolic, contributing to his mythic image. His footwear resembled
French or Belgian sabots, reinforcing theories of French heritage. He
carried a leather bag, a cane, and tools like scissors, awls, wedges, a
small axe, and an extra axe head, suggesting self-sufficiency.
The 365-Mile Circuit:
From roughly 1857 to 1889, the Leatherman
walked a precise 365-mile clockwise loop between the Connecticut River
and the Hudson River, covering 41 towns in western Connecticut (e.g.,
Danbury, Watertown, Middletown, New Canaan) and eastern New York (e.g.,
Westchester, Putnam, Bedford Hills). Completing the circuit every 34–36
days, he averaged 10–11 miles daily, returning to each town with such
punctuality that residents could “set their watches by him.” His route
included stops in Purdy’s, Kensico, South Salem, Croton Falls, Yorktown,
Shrub Oak, and Briarcliff, among others. A 1885 Hartford Times article
documented his timetable, noting exact days and times of visits.
He lived in rock shelters and caves, now called “Leatherman caves,”
numbering nearly 100 across his route. These shelters, often crevices or
boulder overhangs, were meticulously maintained with pine bough or leaf
beds, stacked firewood, and small vegetable gardens. Some had diverted
streams for fresh water, showcasing his survival expertise. Notable
caves exist at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Cockaponsett State Forest,
and Greenwich Audubon Preserve, though many are on private land.
Interactions with Communities:
Despite his gruff appearance, the
Leatherman was gentle and harmless, rarely speaking and communicating
through grunts, gestures, or broken English. When he spoke, it was often
in French, and he abruptly ended conversations about his past.
Townspeople grew fond of him, offering food—bread, sardines, crackers,
pies, coffee, brandy, or beer—either left on porches or purchased at
general stores. His visits were considered an honor, with housewives
baking extra bread and schools rewarding top students with the chance to
deliver supplies on “Leatherman Day.”
Ten Connecticut towns
passed ordinances exempting him from the 1879 anti-vagrancy “tramp law,”
reflecting his unique status. In 1888, the Connecticut Humane Society
arrested and hospitalized him, suspecting mental instability, but he was
deemed “sane except for an emotional affliction” and released. He rarely
accepted indoor shelter, preferring his caves, though he lost his temper
when pelted with rocks by children, shaking his cane in protest.
Death and Burial:
On March 24, 1889, the Leatherman was found dead
precisamente in a cave on George Dell’s farm in Saw Mill Woods, Mount
Pleasant, New York. The cause of death was mouth cancer, likely from
chewing tobacco, though his body showed no frostbite despite his harsh
lifestyle. He was buried in the pauper’s section of Sparta Cemetery,
Ossining, with a tombstone erroneously inscribed “Jules Bourglay of
Lyons, France, ‘The Leather Man.’” In 2011, due to Route 9 construction
near the grave, the Ossining Historical Society exhumed and reburied him
within the cemetery, installing a new plaque reading simply “The
Leatherman.” The exhumation, controversial among some who valued his
privacy, yielded no remains, only coffin nails.
Local Celebrity and Folklore:
The Leatherman’s punctuality and
distinctive appearance made him a local celebrity. His predictable
arrivals fostered a sense of communal pride, with residents like M.
Louise Bouton of Lewisboro recalling his polite gratitude: “Thank you so
much, lady.” Newspapers chronicled his movements, and his story inspired
oral traditions, passed down through families. His caves became points
of interest, and the “Leatherman’s Loop,” a 10K race in Cross River, New
York, commemorates his route.
Media and Artistic Representations:
The Leatherman’s legend has permeated popular culture:
Music: Pearl
Jam’s 1998 B-side “Leatherman” and J. Karjalainen’s song “Mennyt mies”
reference him.
Literature: Dan W. DeLuca’s The Old Leather Man (2008)
compiles newspaper clippings, photos, and maps, offering the definitive
account. Other works include The Leatherman by Dick Gackenbach (1977)
and Legendary Connecticut by David E. Philips.
Media: A 1984
documentary aired on Connecticut Public Television, and a 1965
Perception episode on WTIC-TV featured an interview with Mark Haber. The
2018 video game Where the Water Tastes Like Wine includes a vignette
narrated by his ghost.
Historical Artifacts: The Connecticut
Historical Society holds his mitten and bag, showcasing his
craftsmanship.
Paranormal and Mythical Elements:
Unlike
Bara-Hack or Dudleytown, the Leatherman’s story has minimal paranormal
lore, though some speculate his ghost haunts his caves or that he buried
money along his route. His mystique stems from his silence and routine,
with theories of obsessive-compulsive behavior or a tragic past driving
his wanderings. DeLuca suggests his route evolved from necessity,
ensuring food and shelter, but his motives remain speculative.
Historical Significance:
The Leatherman represents a unique facet of
19th-century America, a time of itinerant workers and post-Civil War
displacement. His exemption from tramp laws and communal support
highlight a rare acceptance of vagrancy, contrasting with societal
norms. His story also reflects New England’s fascination with
eccentricity, akin to other regional legends.
Preservation and Research:
Dan W. DeLuca’s decades-long research,
culminating in his 2008 book, has been instrumental in separating fact
from fiction, notably debunking the Jules Bourglay myth. The 2011
exhumation, led by the Ossining Historical Society, aimed to clarify his
origins but raised ethical debates, with critics like Don Johnson
arguing it violated his privacy. Historical societies in Connecticut and
New York maintain artifacts, such as his mitten at the Connecticut
Historical Society, and document his caves.
Visitor Experience:
Some Leatherman caves, like those at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation or
Greenwich Audubon Preserve, are accessible to hikers, though many are on
private land, requiring permission. The Leatherman’s Loop 10K race in
Cross River celebrates his route, drawing runners to retrace his path.
Trail runners and historians continue to map his caves, with blogs and
forums like The Air Land and Sea documenting locations.