The New Jersey Devil — The True Story Behind a Blood-Curdling Story

The Jersey Devil has a long history. But not all is good.

A bone-chilling silence blankets the woods as the sun sets behind the dense forest of Pine Barrens in South Jersey. The only sounds that can be heard are the rustling of leaves and twigs and the occasional hoot of an owl. But the silence is soon broken by a terrifying screech that echoes through the trees, sending shivers down the spines of those who hear it.

The locals know all too well what that sound means – the Jersey Devil has been awakened again. With its leathery wings and goat-like head, the Devil is a feared creature that lurks in the darkness of the Pine Barrens and New Jersey, ready to strike at any moment.

What is the Jersey Devil?

In the eerie and chilling folklore of South Jersey and Philadelphia, a terrifying creature known as the Jersey Devil (also called the Leeds Devil) is said to haunt the dark and foreboding Pine Barrens of South Jersey.

According to legend, this creature is a flying beast with hooves, but its appearance varies depending on the accounts. The most common description depicts the creature as a bipedal creature resembling a kangaroo or wyvern, with a head corresponding to a horse or goat, leathery bat-like wings, horns protruding from its skull, small-clawed hands, and cloven hooves for legs.

Its tail is said to be forked, and it moves at lightning-fast speeds. The terrifying aspect of this monster, however, is its blood-curdling scream that echoes through the forest, sending chills down the spine of anyone who hears it.

An original drawing of the New Jersey Devil

The Pine Barrens of South Jersey hold another dark secret known exclusively to the Lenape people who once called it home. According to their folklore, the area is inhabited by a spirit known as M’Sing, who often takes the form of a deer-like creature with leathery wings.

Some believe this spirit may have inspired the legend of the Jersey Devil; a creature said to roam the forest with a blood-curdling scream and terrifying appearance. Whether it’s a creature of myth or an actual entity lurking in the shadows, the legend of the Jersey Devil continues to captivate and terrify those who dare to venture into the Pine Barrens.

New Jersey Devil: The Origin of a Legend

The Jersey Devil has been known by many names throughout history, with “Leeds Devil” or “Devil of Leeds” being the most common before the early 1900s. This name is believed to have originated from either the Leeds family or the town of Leeds Point, located in southern New Jersey.

According to legend, the infamous “Mother Leeds” was Deborah Leeds, wife of Japhet Leeds, who was said to have named twelve children in his 1736 will. This detail has led some to believe that the Leeds family may have inspired the Jersey Devil myth.

The Leeds family resided in the Leeds Point area of Atlantic County, New Jersey, a common location associated with the Jersey Devil legend.

The origins of the Jersey Devil legend have been debated among historians and folklorists for many years. Brian Regal, a historian of science at Kean University, suggests that the story of Mother Leeds is not based on a single historical person but rather emerged from colonial southern New Jersey religiopolitical disputes that became the subject of folklore and gossip among the local population.

Regal believes that folk legends surrounding these historical disputes evolved, eventually resulting in the modern popular myth of the Jersey Devil in the early 20th century.

An elaborate painting of the New Jersey Devil

According to Regal, “colonial-era political intrigue” involving early New Jersey politicians Benjamin Franklin and Franklin’s rival almanac publisher Daniel Leeds (1651-1720) led to the Leeds family being depicted as “monsters.” Daniel Leeds’ negative characterization as the “Leeds Devil,” rather than any actual creature, is believed to have created the later legend of the Jersey Devil.

The life of Daniel Leeds, a man of considerable prominence in pre-Revolution colonial southern New Jersey, was not without its tragedies. His second wife and daughter perished in childbirth, leaving him with grief and sorrow.

Yet, his third wife bore him nine children, a staggering number even by the standards of the time. Leeds, a royal surveyor with steadfast loyalty to the British crown, surveyed and acquired vast tracts of land in the Egg Harbor area, nestled within the Pine Barrens.

The land he received would eventually be inherited by his family and become known as Leeds Point, one of the locations in the Pine Barrens most closely associated with the Jersey Devil myth and alleged sightings of the creature.

The Jersey Devil legend, like the curse of Mother Leeds, is steeped in the region’s history and culture, rooted in the English Quaker settlements that took hold in southern New Jersey during the 17th century.

Leeds, a Quaker, fell out of favor with his congregation after publishing almanacs containing astrological symbols and writings. His fellow Quakers condemned the astrology in his almanacs as blasphemous, labeling them as too “pagan” and destroying them with zeal.

Regarded as a heretic and outcast by his people, Leeds’ legacy was forever tarnished, giving rise to a story that has haunted the Pine Barrens for centuries.

Despite facing censorship and condemnation from the Quaker community, Daniel Leeds pursued esoteric knowledge, delving deeper into Christian occultism, demonology, and natural magic. His fascination with these subjects led him to convert to Anglicanism and to publish anti-Quaker tracts that accused the Quakers of being anti-monarchists and criticized their theology.

Leeds’ actions during this time earned him the endorsement of Lord Cornbury, the unpopular British royal governor of New Jersey who was despised by the Quaker communities. Leeds even worked as a councilor to Lord Cornbury, further cementing his association with the Crown.

The Jersey Devil is said to originate from the Leeds Family

In response, the Quaker Burlington Meeting of southern New Jersey dismissed Leeds as “evil,” branding him a traitor for rejecting their beliefs and aiding the Crown. This deepening rift between Leeds and the Quaker community would ultimately become the stuff of legend, as his name would be forever linked to the Jersey Devil, a creature born of fear, ostracism, and occultism.

It is a tale of jealousy, betrayal, and revenge that gave birth to the legend of the Jersey Devil. Daniel Leeds, a man ostracized by his Quaker congregation for his astrological and esoteric writings, passed on his almanac business to his son Titan Leeds.

This business, which continued to use astrological content, soon became a competitor to Benjamin Franklin’s famous Poor Richard’s Almanack.

As the rivalry between the two men intensified, Franklin satirically used astrology in his almanac to predict Titan Leeds’ death on a specific date. Though it was intended as a joke, Titan Leeds was offended and responded by publicly admonishing Franklin.

Franklin, in turn, ridiculed Titan Leeds by jokingly suggesting that he was writing his almanacs as a ghost, resurrected from the grave to haunt and torment him.

This feud, coupled with Daniel Leeds’ reputation as a blasphemous occultist and pro-monarchy stance in the anti-monarchist colonial south of New Jersey, may have played a role in developing the local legend of the “Leeds Devil.”

The legend of the Jersey Devil may have emerged from the scorn and contempt that the Leeds family faced at the hands of their Quaker neighbors and their competition with Benjamin Franklin. And now, the legend lives on, haunting the Pine Barrens and striking fear into the hearts of those who dare to enter its domain.

More Mysteries Revealed of the Jersey Devil

The wyvern on the Leeds family crest, with its menacing appearance and association with the Leeds family’s controversial history, was the final ingredient necessary for the birth of the Jersey Devil legend.

The legend grew and evolved over the centuries, with tales of a monstrous winged creature terrorizing the Pine Barrens spreading through southern New Jersey and beyond. Sightings of the beast were reported with increasing frequency, with some witnesses claiming to have seen the Jersey Devil perched on rooftops or flying through the air.

The legend of the Jersey Devil has since become a staple of New Jersey folklore, with numerous books, films, and television shows devoted to the topic.

Despite its status as a popular myth, the Jersey Devil remains a symbol of the dark and mysterious side of the Pine Barrens. The creature’s origins in the religious and political conflicts of colonial southern New Jersey and the Leeds family’s association with the occult and the supernatural make it a haunting reminder of the region’s troubled past.

The next time you find yourself wandering through the Pine Barrens on a moonless night, keep an eye out for the Jersey Devil, lurking in the shadows and waiting to strike.

The Story of The Leeds Devil (Not Jersey Devil)

By the late 1700s and early 1800s, the “Leeds Devil” had already cemented its place as a ubiquitous legendary monster and ghost story in the southern New Jersey area, whispered about in hushed tones among locals.

The tales of this horrifying creature roaming the dark and foreboding Pine Barrens continued to spread and terrify even into the early to the mid-19th century. And as the years passed, a grim oral tradition of “Leeds Devil” monster and ghost stories took hold in the Pine Barrens, perpetuating the legend for generations to come.

The Leeds Devil had been lurking in the shadows of southern New Jersey since the 18th century, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the creature would take on its modern form and infamous moniker, the Jersey Devil.

With their unsettling family crest depicting winged dragons, the Leeds family had long been viewed as political and religious outcasts by the Quaker majority. Their family tragedies and accusations of ghostly apparitions only fueled the fire. As thoughts of independence were brewing, the legend of the Leeds Devil was born.

Although references to the Jersey Devil only appeared in the 20th century, sightings in 1909 sparked a frenzy. They established the creature’s familiar traits: batlike wings, a horse head, razor-sharp claws, and a dragon-like presence.

Indeed, the “Leeds Devil” legend was well-established in the 18th and 19th centuries, as evidenced by references to the creature in various printed materials. It was not until the early 20th century that the name “Jersey Devil” became widely used, and the modern depiction of the creature took shape.

The Leeds family, who lived in the Pine Barrens area, had a troubled history and were considered political and religious outcasts by the Quaker majority. Their family crest featured winged dragons, which likely contributed to the creation of the Leeds Devil legend.

In the mid-19th century, an article in the Atlantic Monthly described the folk tales of the Leeds Devil, while a newspaper from 1887 detailed sightings of a winged creature known as “the Devil of Leeds.” The legend of the Leeds Devil was well known among the locals and often used to frighten children.

Sightings of The New Jersey Devil

The legend of the Jersey Devil is rife with alleged sightings and incidents. According to the lore, Commodore Stephen Decatur fired a cannonball at a flying creature he saw while inspecting his cannonballs being forged at Hanover Mill Works, but it did not affect the creature.

One of the few pictures rumored to be of the New Jersey Devil

Joseph Bonaparte, elder brother of Napoleon, is also said to have encountered the Jersey Devil while hunting on his Bordentown estate around 1820. The animal was blamed for multiple livestock killings in 1840, and the following year, tracks and screams were reportedly found alongside similar attacks.

Some Explanations of the New Jersey Devil

Some skeptics suggest that the Jersey Devil is nothing more than a product of the vivid imaginations of early English settlers. They propose several plausible natural explanations, including the possibility that the legend originated from bogeyman stories from bored Pine Barren residents for children’s entertainment.

Others suggest that the code may have been fueled by local historical disdain for the Leeds family, misidentification of known animals, and rumors based on common negative perceptions of the local rural population of the Pine Barren, who were often called “pineys.”

It is also worth noting that the Pine Barrens is a unique and eerie environment, with its dense forests, winding streams, and eerie silence broken only by nocturnal animals’ calls. This isolated and dark landscape may have helped to foster the belief in supernatural creatures such as the Jersey Devil.

Additionally, the area has a history of strange and unexplained events, including reports of mysterious lights and disappearing people, which may have contributed to the belief in the Jersey Devil and other supernatural phenomena.

More Unexplained Phenomenon from the Pine Barrens

The Pine Barrens, an isolated and undeveloped land, is shrouded in a dark and eerie aura. Legends and myths surrounding supernatural creatures and ghosts that haunt the pine forests add to the already ominous atmosphere.

These stories speak of spectral beings wandering the land, leaving an air of dread and despair behind.

Captain Kidd, a notorious pirate, is said to have buried his treasure in the Pine Barrens. He is often seen in the company of the Jersey Devil, a creature feared by many.

The ghostly Black Doctor, a benevolent spirit, still roams the land after being forbidden from practicing medicine due to his race. He is said to come to the aid of lost and injured travelers who wander the Barrens.

The Black Dog, an eerie apparition usually portrayed as harmless, is another ghost that haunts the Pine Barrens. Its presence is unsettling, and its intentions unknown.

The New Jersey Devil lurks in the woods of Pine Barrens. Be careful, Paulie and Christopher!

The Golden-Haired Girl, dressed in white, mourns the loss of her lover at sea and can be seen staring out into the endless ocean, her grief palpable in the surrounding air.

The White Stag, a ghostly white deer, is believed to rescue travelers from danger in the Barrens. Its appearance is often seen as a sign of hope and protection, but the mere thought of needing protection in the first place is enough to send chills down the spine.

And then there’s the Blue Hole, a clear blue and rounded body of water often associated with the Jersey Devil. It’s a place where the veil between the living and the dead is thin, and it’s said that those who stare into the depths long enough will see things they wish they hadn’t.

The Pine Barrens may be isolated and undeveloped, but its legends and myths make it a place that is both fascinating and terrifying. The supernatural beings and ghosts that wander the land leave an air of foreboding, making one wonder what lurks in the shadows.

Conclusion

As the night settles in over the Pine Barrens, the winds whisper tales of the Jersey Devil and the other dark creatures that haunt the shadowy woods.

The legends of the Barrens are steeped in darkness and foreboding, and those who dare to venture into the forest’s heart do so at their peril. For those who believe in the Jersey Devil, the fear of its existence lingers like a shadow, ready to strike at any moment.

And for those who do not think so, the legends still echo through the trees, their mysteries and secrets shrouded in the darkness of the Barrens. As the moon rises above the pine trees, the howling winds echo through the woods, and the Jersey Devil lurks in the shadows, waiting for its next victim.

Are you brave enough to explore?

Next, read about The Disturbing Story of the Bell Witch. Or, if you’re into dark history, about The Time the US Nearly Nuked the Mainland USA!