Jersey Devil

The Origin Story: Mother Leeds’ Cursed 13th Child

The most widely accepted tale of the Jersey Devil’s origins dates back to 1735, when a woman known as Mother Leeds found herself pregnant with her 13th child. Overwhelmed by the burden of raising so many children, she allegedly cursed the unborn baby, exclaiming:

“Let this child be the devil!”

On a stormy night, Mother Leeds gave birth, and at first, the baby appeared normal. But within moments, the infant transformed before the horrified eyes of the midwives. It grew leathery wings, a forked tail, and cloven hooves. The child then let out an unearthly screech, attacked its mother, and flew up the chimney, disappearing into the Pine Barrens.

Since that fateful night, the Leeds Devil has been blamed for mysterious livestock deaths, eerie cries in the woods, and unexplained sightings of a winged beast lurking in the shadows.

A Political and Religious Origin?

Historian Brian Regal suggests that the Jersey Devil legend may have originated as political propaganda rather than a supernatural event. He argues that Daniel Leeds, a prominent figure in colonial New Jersey, was seen as a traitor due to his loyalist ties to the British Crown. His religious writings on astrology and occultism led the local Quaker community to brand him as evil, further fueling rumors that his family was cursed.

His son, Titan Leeds, later became the rival of Benjamin Franklin in a heated almanac war. Franklin satirically predicted Titan Leeds’ death, and when Titan continued publishing, Franklin mockingly claimed he was a ghost haunting New Jersey. Combined with the Leeds family’s crest featuring a wyvern-like creature, this may have contributed to the monster’s lore.

The Sightings: Terror in the Pine Barrens

While the Jersey Devil legend has persisted for nearly three centuries, it was January 1909 that solidified its status as a true terror.

The 1909 Jersey Devil Panic

For one week in January 1909, hundreds of reported sightings flooded newspapers across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

• Mysterious hoofprints appeared in the snow across towns and even on rooftops.
• Residents of Bristol, Pennsylvania, reported a large winged creature with glowing eyes flying over the Delaware River.
• Police fired on the beast in Camden and Burlington, but it shrugged off bullets and flew away.
• A trolley car in Haddon Heights was attacked by a winged creature.
• Livestock were found slaughtered, with strange claw marks and puncture wounds.
• Schools and businesses shut down out of fear of the monster.

Even the Philadelphia Zoo offered a $10,000 reward for the Jersey Devil’s capture, but no one ever collected the prize.

Since then, sightings have continued sporadically, with reports emerging every few years. 

Here are some of the most notorious encounters:

Other Reported Sightings:

• 1820: Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s elder brother, claimed to have seen the creature while hunting in Bordentown, NJ.
• 1840s: A rash of livestock killings in South Jersey was blamed on the Devil.
• 1925: A farmer in Greenwich shot an unknown animal attempting to steal his chickens but was unable to identify it.
• 1951: A group of Gibbstown, NJ, boys claimed to see a “monster” in the woods.
• 1960: Mysterious tracks and eerie noises near Mays Landing led to another wave of panic.
• 1972: A woman driving down Greentree Road in Glassboro saw a tall, haunched, hairy creature cross the street behind her.
• 1980: Rangers in the Wharton State Forest found four pigs with their heads eaten out and strange claw marks.
• 2009: A hunter captured a bizarre, hairless, dog-like creature on camera, which some speculated could be the Jersey Devil.

Many of these sightings share common themes—a flying, shrieking, cloven-hoofed creature, often appearing during periods of crisis, winter storms, or heightened local tension.

Rational Explanations: What Could the Jersey Devil Really Be?

While many continue to believe in the legend, skeptics argue that the Jersey Devil could be a misidentified animal or a case of mass hysteria.

Possible Explanations:

1. Sandhill Cranes – These large birds stand nearly 4 feet tall, have red markings near their eyes, and emit piercing, trumpeting cries that could be mistaken for the Devil’s screams.
2. Owls or Coyotes – Their eerie calls and glowing eyes at night might account for some sightings.
3. Deformed Livestock or Mutations – Some reports suggest escaped exotic animals or genetic anomalies could be responsible.
4. Hoaxes and Mass Hysteria – The 1909 wave of sightings could have been fueled by newspaper exaggeration, hoaxes, and widespread paranoia.
5. Historical Smear Campaign – As Brian Regal theorized, the Leeds family’s bad reputation may have evolved into the Jersey Devil legend over time.

Yet, despite these rational explanations, strange sightings persist to this day.

The Jersey Devil in Pop Culture

The Jersey Devil has transcended folklore and become a staple in American pop culture:

• The New Jersey Devils (NHL) – The state’s professional hockey team is named after the creature.
• The X-Files (1993) – An episode was dedicated to hunting the Jersey Devil.
• Video Games – The creature appears in Fallout 76, Inscryption, and a 1998 game titled Jersey Devil.
• Movies & TV – Featured in The Barrens (2012), Carny (2009), and Gravity Falls.
• Theme Parks – Six Flags Great Adventure even created the Jersey Devil Coaster.

This state demon has left its mark, and its legend continues to grow.

Conclusion: Fact, Fiction, or Something More?

Is the Jersey Devil just a product of superstition and fear, or is there something truly lurking in the Pine Barrens?

For over 250 years, eyewitnesses, hunters, and researchers have sought the truth behind New Jersey’s most infamous cryptid. Whether a folkloric scapegoat, a misunderstood animal, or a supernatural entity, one thing is certain—the legend of the Jersey Devil endures.

So, if you find yourself driving through the dark, misty roads of the Pine Barrens, and you hear an unnatural, bone-chilling scream, you might want to check your rearview mirror.

You might not be alone.