Jump to content

Leatherman (vagabond)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rjc3000 (talk | contribs) at 18:07, 29 April 2010. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Leatherman, June 9, 1885
Entrance to the Leatherman Cave in Watertown, Connecticut
Inside the Leatherman Cave in Watertown, Connecticut

The Leatherman (ca. 1839 – 1889) was a vagabond, country of origin unknown but possibly France or more likely Canada due to the French language prayer book found on his person after his death. Famous for his handmade leather suit of clothes who traveled a circuit between the Connecticut and Hudson Rivers from about 1856–1889. Although sometimes identified as Jules Bourglay, his identity remains unknown.

Life

Residing in rock shelters and "leatherman caves" as they are locally now known, [1] he stopped at towns along his 365 mile loop once every 34 days for food and supplies.[2] He was dubbed the "Leatherman" as his entire adornment, from hat, scarf, clothes to shoes were handmade of leather.[3]

Fluent in French, he communicated mostly with grunts and gestures, rarely using his broken English. When asked of his background, he would abruptly end the conversation.[4][5] Upon his death, among his possessions was found a French prayerbook.[3][5] He declined meat as food on Fridays, giving rise to speculation that he might be Roman Catholic. [6]

It is unknown how he earned money, although one store kept a record of his order: "one loaf of bread, a can of sardines, one-pound of fancy crackers, a pie, two quarts of coffee, one gill of brandy and a bottle of beer".[3][7]

Leatherman was quite popular in Connecticut. Reliable in his rounds, people would have extra food ready for him, which he often ate on their doorsteps.[5][8] Ten towns along the Leatherman's route passed ordinances exempting him from the state "tramp law" passed in 1879.[1]

Health

The Leatherman survived blizzards and other foul weather by heating his rock shelters with fire. The Connecticut Humane Society had him arrested and hospitalized in 1888, which resulted in a diagnosis of "sane except for an emotional affliction" and release, as he had money and desired freedom. His ultimate demise was from cancer of the mouth due to tobacco use.[3][7] His body was found in March of 1889 in his Saw Mill Woods cave near Ossining, New York.[4]

Grave

His grave is located at the Sparta Cemetery, Route 9, Scarborough, New York.

Tombstone

FINAL RESTING PLACE OF
Jules Bourglay
OF LYONS, FRANCE
"THE LEATHER MAN"
who regularly walked a 365 mile route
through Westchester and Connecticut from
the Connecticut River to the Hudson
living in caves in the years
1858–1889

Identity controversy

The Leatherman's tombstone reads, "Final resting place of Jules Bourglay of Lyons, France, 'The Leather Man'…", and he is identified with that name in many accounts.[1][9] However, according to researchers, including Dan W. DeLuca, his identity remains unknown. This name first appeared in a story published in the Waterbury Daily American, August 16, 1884, but was later retracted March 25, 26 and 27, 1889 and also in The Meriden Daily Journal, March 29, 1889.[2][8]

Towns visited[4]

Template:MultiCol

| class="col-break " |

| class="col-break " |

Template:EndMultiCol

Geocaching and letterboxing

Many of the locations on Leatherman's route in Connecticut and New York have geocaches [10] as well as letterboxes[1] near them.

  • Leatherman was the subject of a 1984 video documentary which was shown on Connecticut Public Television. It can be found on Youtube [1]
  • See Ed McKeon's blog, which includes Leatherman material [2]. McKeon produced the 1984 video documentary.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Connecticut State Forests – Seedling Letterbox Series Clues for Mattatuck State Forest (retrieved September 23, 2007)
  2. ^ a b c Hudson Valley Ruins (retrieved July 21, 2006)
  3. ^ a b c d Samantha Hunt, Jules Bourglay, Notable Walker. McSweeney's Internet Tendency, 11/2002 (retrieved July 21, 2006)
  4. ^ a b c History of Redding (retrieved July 21, 2006)
  5. ^ a b c NY Hudson Valley (retrieved July 21, 2006)
  6. ^ Piece broadcast on (US) Natiional Public Radio, in Connecticut, 19 Dec 2008
  7. ^ a b Canning, Jeff and Wally Buxton, History of the Tarrytowns, Harbor Hill Books 1975
  8. ^ a b Research by Dan W. DeLuca (retrieved July 21, 2006)
  9. ^ Leatherman's Cave, Watertown, CT[dead link‍] (retrieved September 23, 2007)
  10. ^ Leatherman's Circuit (retrieved September 23, 2007)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Leatherman_(vagabond)&oldid=359101872"