Been to Jersey so many times. I had family members, friends and former girlfriends who once lived in the Garden State. New Jersey, the place where the New Yorkers and Philadelphians go to live when the city life gets too expensive. I have a lot great memories here. However, I always wondered about the origins of the New Jersey Devil. Well, this post is to spread some information about this mythological creature.
Now the origins of this creature is not something out of a fairy tale. This story is pretty dark and disturbing. So if you get scared easily, you might not want to continue reading.
So, it was all started with a family named Leeds. The Leeds family lived in South Jersey. In a place called the Pine Barrens, a wooded area outside of the Philadelphia metropolitan. A woman of the leeds family had twelve children. In time, she was pregnant with her 13th child. In an angered state, she put a curse on the child before it was born. When the child was born, it came out normal. However, it soon changed into a monster. It’s appearance changed into a creature with a horse like head and a lower half of a goat. The devil stood up straight like a human and it had two wings like a bat. It killed the midwife, then ran off into the wilderness.
According to the locals folklure, the origin story has few differentiating details. Some say, the mother of the Devil was a witch. Others say, it was born during a stormy night and during a demonic ritual. It’s even stated that the father of the child might had been the devil himself. All these things are very interesting. The most creepy thing about this that it could be true.
In state records, there was a family that lived in the Pine Barrens. In the state census, it does shows a family with the name Leeds that had twelve children.
Safe travels everyone and much love!
This is really an awesome post. I have done research over the New Jersey devil myself! Love this folktale. Check out my blog! I think you’ll be interested in my posts as well. All are centered around folklore!
Interesting!!
Thank you!
You’re welcome 😇
Great story🙂
Thank you so much!
Interesting stories to share.
Thank you no problem! 🙂
Wow, the Cucuy but less intimidating, lol. 🤣
😂😂😂😂😂 this is probably my favorite i ever had 😂😂
*comment
Interesting one
Charlee: “That’s one ugly bird.”
Chaplin: “I don’t think it’s a bird, Charlee.”
Charlee: “Well it has wings and it’s too big to be a bug, so …”
Lol nice
The Jersey Devil has been a piece of NJ folk lore that I always loved reading about. I remember finding a few books from Cape May quite a few years ago. I’m pretty sure I still have them somewhere.
That’s awesome! Are you from NJ? That would be cool to read them.
Born and raised in NJ
Nice!!
As a NJ native I always enjoy reading stuff like this. I too have always had a fascination with the Jersey Devil and just in time for Halloween.
Yeah! I love learning about folklure. Glad i was able to share this. Are you from central Jersey?
Yeah, I live in Howell(Monmouth County) pretty much grew up here my whole life
That’s cool! Been thinking about moving out there. Love the outspace and the people tend to be a lot more friendly in most places
More people from Staten Island and Brooklyn live in this area than Jersey natives but it is only 15 minutes from the shore.