Random House Distionary of American Slang Vol II, 1997, J.E. Lighter p. 715.

>Old Scratch n. the devil.

*1740 (cited in Partiridge DSUuserdefined>. *1762 in F& H V 101: He must have sold himself to Old Scratch; and being a servant of the devil, how coulde he be a good jubject to his Majesty. 1824 W. Irving, in DARE: If I mistake not, ... you are he commonly called old Scratch.    1838 [Halifurton] Clockmaker (Ser. 2) 24: Looking so like old Scratch. 1849 W. Irving, in Botkin Treas. Amer. Folk. 736: Old Scratch nust have had tough time of it. 1862 in C. Brewster Cruel War 84: I believe the men would volunteer to go to the "old scratch" himself if they could only have a change. 1862 in Dannett Civil War Humor 145: Raisin' the old scratch generally for ten years.   1865 J.H. Browne Seccesia 34: If ye were not all in Tophet, no one could deny we had gone to the oold Scratch. 1941 in Botkin Treas. Amer. Folk. 123: He had sold his soul to old Scratch. 1949 (quot at OLD NED) <1949 Gresham Limbo Tower 68: The Old Scratch won it!   (b>1965-70 in DARE.

Sincerely, Gargoyle