The Jersey Devil

Deep in the Pine Barrens of South Jersey lives a creature that has brought fear and mystery to the region since the 1700s.  This creature is known simply as the Jersey Devil.

It is described in most accounts as having a horse's head, a long tail, bat-like wings and long hind legs with cloven hooves. Some people have also claimed to witness it breathing fire.  Nearly all reported encounters with the Jersey Devil mention its bloodcurdling scream.

There are many versions of how and where the Jersey Devil was born.

The most predominant and widely accepted involve a Mrs. Leeds (aka Mother Leeds) who was pregnant with her 13th child around 1735. Depending on which version of the tale you follow, Mother Leeds either cursed the child before it was born because she didn't want another; or she cursed it after birth because it was deformed.

It's not clear what happened next. One variation is that the creature escaped right away (after possibly eating some of its siblings). Another is that Mother Leeds locked it in the cellar for a time before it eventually escaped into the wild.

Other versions of the story claim it was a Mrs. Shrouds who gave birth to the child or that Mother Leeds was possibly involved in witchcraft.

In addition to various local bars, drinks, shops, sandwiches and organizations, the Jersey Devil has lent his name to some nationally known things.

Several authors and movie producers have incorporated the Jersey Devil and other Pine Barrens folklore into their fictional works. I've even seen an episode of the Jonny Quest cartoon series that included the Jersey Devil in the plot.

The Pine Barrens is a vast track of woodlands covering large parts of southern and central New Jersey. The area is rich in history and environmental diversity. It's also home to the "Pineys", a proud and independent group of people who have inhabited the Pines for generations.

Unlike Vegas, what happens in the Pines doesn't always stay in the Pines. The Jersey Devil has also been sighted in the Philadelphia area.

Much of the above information on the Jersey Devil legend and the area is from my own personal experience growing up in South Jersey. I also used the references below to research variations of the legend, dates and information on specific sightings.

• McCloy, James F. & Ray Miller, Jr. - The Jersey Devil (1976)
• "Jersey Devil". Wikipedia. July 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Devil.
• Taylor, Troy. "The Jersey Devil - Legend or Truth?". Ghosts of the Prairie. 2002. July 2007. http://www.prairieghosts.com/jerseydevil.html.

What do you think of the Jersey Devil? Have you or someone you know had a run in with J.D.?