“It was a dark and stormy night in 1735 when I was called to the Leeds’ home to attend to the birth of the 13th Leeds child. Mother Leeds had not wanted this child. Upon learning of the pregnancy, she cursed the child and said he would be the devil. When the child was born, he was a beautiful baby boy. As he lay in his mother's arms he began to change form. His head was of a goat with horns upon it. Hooves grew where his feet had been. Wings like that of a bat sprouted from his back. A forked tail grew from his backside. He growled, screamed, and began to fly around the room, beating everyone with his tail, then flew up the chimney and headed to the Pine Barrens. And thus was born the Devil of Leeds.”
This seems to be the account of the evening the Devil was born in Jersey.
The Jersey Devil resides in the Pine Barren, South Jersey
Described as a flying biped with hooves (biped - moves on back legs like an ostrich or kangaroo) or wyvern (dragon) with a horse head or goat head, leathery bat-like wings, horns, small arms with clawed hands (I’m picturing the t-rex from Meet the Robinsons “I have a big head and little arms”), legs with cloven hooves, and a forked tail. He moves quickly and makes high-pitched, blood-curdling screams.
Born to Mother Leeds (Jane or Deborah), her 13th child. Mother Leeds is possibly the wife of Japhet Leeds. The claim is that the Leeds Devil was born in 1735. There is a Living Will for a Japhet Leeds with 12 children from 1736, who lived in Leeds Point. Upon finding out she was pregnant, Mother Leeds cursed the child in frustration. She said the child would be the devil. I’ve heard it said we have to be careful of the words you speak over your child or it might come true. Maybe that is how this baby turned into a Devil.
1735 on a stormy night she gave birth to a normal child, but it turned into a creature with hooves, a goat's head, bat wings, and a forked tail. Growling and screaming, it beat everyone with its tail before flying up the chimney and heading into the Pine.
17th century, Pine Barren English Quaker Daniel Leeds became ostracized by his congregation after his 1687 publication of Almanacs contained astrological symbols and writings. The congregation deemed the astrology too “pagan” and blasphemous; they were destroyed. He continued to publish Astrological Christian writings. Was fascinated by Christian Occultism, Demonology, and Natural Magic. He was dismissed as evil. He was described as a monster. They called him the Leeds Devil. Daniel was Japhet’s father. This would make Daniel the Jersey Devil’s Grandfather.
The Leeds crest was printed on the almanac. The crest was a bat-winged dragon that stands upright on two clawed feet. This is likely where the image of the Jersey Devil came from.
Another Theory: Mother Leeds was a witch and the devil was the father. I’m thinking, like, a Rosemary’s baby situation. “What have you done to it? What have you done to its eyes?” “He has his grandfather’s eyes.” Is it possible that this theory comes from her Father in Law reputation as the Leeds Devil and his interest in Astrology and Occultism? That seems like a plausible theory since this was back when they would burn you as a witch if you were a woman that could do math.
In 1716 Titan Leeds inherited his father’s (Daniel) business. It competed with Benjamin Franklin's almanac. This resulted in a big feud. Ben was also a Quaker. Titan said Ben was a fool and a lair. Franklin used the first edition of his Almanac to promote a hoax prediction of Leeds' death on Oct 17, 1773, at 3:29 pm, as a way to mock astrology. This date and time was the very instance of the conjecture of the sun and mercury. Then, Ben encouraged his readers to buy the next year's edition to see if his predictions came true. Even though Titan was very much alive, Ben published an obituary for Titan anyways. Ben announced that Titan had died as predicted and his ghost was writing and publishing his almanac.
Before 1909 the Jersey Devil was known as the Leeds Devil. Either coming from the family name or the town of Leeds Point in Southern Jersey
1700-1800 the Leeds devil became a legendary ghost/monster story. Is it possible this legend created a Poltergeist, Tulpa (spirit created through spiritual or mental powers), or possibly invited a Demon to mimic a made-up creature? They say the mind is a powerful thing, and when combined with fear it can have a supernatural effect. The more this entity is fed the stronger it would get.
Early to mid 19thcenturyr,y there were rumors of a “monster” wandering the Pine Barrens.
Commodore Stephen Decatur at Hanover Mill Work sighted a flying creature in the early 1800s and fired a cannonball directly upon it, to no effect.
1840-1841 the Jersey Devil was blamed for several livestock killings. There were tracks left behind and the sound of screams.
Joseph Bonaparte (Napoleon's brother) claimed to have seen the Jersey Devil while hunting on his Bordentown estate.
1859 First known story was published about the Jersey Devil.
1887 A newspaper reported on a sighting near the barren pines
“Whenever he went near it, it would give a most unearthly yell that frightened the dogs. It whipped at every dog in the place. “That thing,” said the Colonel “is not a bird nor an animal, but it is the Leeds devil, according to the description and it was born over in Evasham, Burlington county, a hundred years ago. There is no mistake about it, I never saw the horrible creature myself, but I can remember well when it was roaming around Evasham woods fifty years ago, and when it was hunted by men and dogs and shot at by the best marksmen there were in all Southern Jersey, but could not be killed. There isn’t a family in Burlington or any of the adjoining counties that do not know of the Leeds devil, and it was the bugaboo to frighten children with when I was a boy.
There is no printed material before the 20th century using the name “ Jersey Devil”.
1909 sightings were reported and cemented the image of the creature.
Jan 16-23 1909, newspapers published claimed encounters with the Jersey Devil all over the state. They said he attacked a trolley car in Haddon Heights, a social club in Camden. Police in Camden and Bristol, PA, fired on the creature with no effect. Footprints were found in the snow. Sightings were in South Jersey, Delaware, and Western Maryland. Widespread newspaper coverage created fear throughout the Delaware valley prompting several school closures and workers to stay home. Vigilante groups roamed the pines and countrysides in search of the devil. The Philadelphia Zoo was rumored to have posted a $10,000 reward for the creature.
In 1909 a man admitted to making tracks in the snow.
Also, in 1909 there was a Hoax involving a kangaroo equipped with artificial claws and bat wings put on display as the Jersey Devil. Norman Jeffries carried out this hoax in an attempt to save Philly's Arch Street Museum to boost attendance. Norman admitted 20 years later that it was a hoax.
Some people believe what is being seen is simply a sand crane.
Greenwich, December 1925, a local farmer shot an unidentified animal as it attempted to steal his chickens and then photographed the corpse. He said none of the 100 people he showed the photo to could identify it. I searched and could not find a copy of this photo.
July 27, 1937, an unknown animal ''with red eyes'' was seen by residents of Downingtown PA (possibly the Mothman? It fits his description) compared to the Jersey Devil by a reporter for the Pennsylvania bulletin.
1951 Gibbstown, New Jersey. A group of boys claimed to see a “monster” matching the devil’s description.
1957 Claims of a corpse matching the Jersey Devil’s description.
1960 tracks and noises near Mays landing.
In 1960 Camden merchants offered a $10000 reward for the capture of the Jersey Devil. They said they would build a private zoo to house it.
Author Tom Brown was mistaken for the Jersey Devil when he spent time in the pines after he covered his body in mud to repel mosquitoes.
The Jersey Devil isn’t alone in the barrens. Also haunting the pines: Pirate Captain Kidd who is said to have buried treasure in the pines. The Black Doctor, who was forbidden to practice due to race. The Doc went to the pine barren to practice in isolated communities and still comes to the aid of lost and injured travelers. A black dog, who is harmless, haunts the area. A Golden-haired girl, dressed in white, mourning her lover lost at sea. The White stag, a ghost deer, is said to rescue travelers from danger.
There have been sightings and rumors of the Jersey Devil for hundreds of years. Is the Jersey Devil a true monster or a tall tale passed from generation to generation? Something seems to be haunting the Pine Barrens. If you go to South Jersey be sure to keep an eye out for the Jersey Devil.
Comments