Leatherman, Connecticut

Leatherman

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.

 

Historical Context and Life of the Leatherman

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.

 

Cultural Impact and Legacy

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.

 

Modern Context and Legacy

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.