So who was this wandering vagabond? In 1952 Mr. Leroy Foote wrote an article revealing the leatherman's identity as follows:

"Early in the nineteenth century a young couple, named Bourglay, lived in Lyons France and a son, Jules, met and fell in love with Margaret Laron, the daughter of a leather merchant. Bourglay was a wood carver and because of a difference in the social levels of the two families Laron objected to the match. A conference between Laron and young Jules produced a seemingly workable solution whereby Jules was to be taken into the leather firm and, on the condition he made good, would be given the hand of the fair maiden.

The arrangement worked well, as the young man proved to be worthy and a good addition to the firm. His capabilities earned him promotion and greater responsibilities to the extent that he was a purchaser of leather. His future seemed assured and the wedding date was not far off when one day in 1855 the price of leather dropped about forty per cent overnight. Perhaps a background of years of experience was lacking as Jules wrestled with the new problem. He overbought in stock with the result the firm of Laron, the leather merchant, was wrecked. Poor Jules had brought ruin on himself and those he loved and in despair he was found wandering about the streets of the city. He was placed under the care of a physician and after two years disappeared and was never seen in France again.

A chapter is missing and we are allowed onloy to conjecture what took place. About this time a man was seen walking through the town of Harwinton wearing an outfit of leather patches. This may have brought a comment from bystanders but it produced a sensation when a month later he returned. Who was he? A bold resident inquired of him but no response was forthcoming and for want of a name the stranger was called, very appropriately, "The Leather Man." Some years later it was learned that the Leather Man was none other than Jules Bourglay, the unfortunate young man of Lyons."

This was the belief for over 40 years. When the Leatherman was found dead in a cave on March 24, 1889 in Ossining New York he was buried in nearby Sparta Cemetery. His grave was marked by a simple pipe in the ground. In the 1930's the Westchester County Historical Soceity placed a permanent marker on the site.

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

The most comprehensive research on the Leatherman is work-in-progress by Dan W. DeLuca. Recently he has found that the rumors of Jules Bourglay being the true identity of the Leatherman are false. He states that this appeared in an 1884 newspaper article, now retracted by that same newspaper. Mr. Deluca should be considered the leading expert on the life and travels of The Leatherman.

Sources:
Legendary Connecticut article by Mr. Leroy Foote
Mr. Dan W. DeLuca
Article by Bill Domonell