There are many different origins of the Jersey Devil; however, the most famous version tells the tale of Mrs. Leeds, who lived in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. According to this legend, Mrs. Leeds had given birth to twelve children and was about to give birth to her thirteenth child. When she found out that she was pregnant with this child, she allegedly said, “May it be a devil.” Other versions claim that she had invoked the Devil during childbirth, or that her family was cursed. Either way, the thirteenth child was born. Some say the child was born as a Devil, while others say it eventually turned into one. Both versions end with the child, the Jersey Devil, escaping the home and flying off into the swamp ("Legend of the New Jersey Devil").
There are several other versions of the story that don’t include Mrs. Leeds. Rather, other versions include a young girl from Leeds Point falling in love with a British soldiers in the later 1700’s. The townsfolk took issue with this relationship and cursed the girl, which led to her giving birth to a monster. Another version tells the story of a young girl who was cursed by a gypsy after she refused to share her food, also leading to her giving birth to the Jersey Devil. Regardless of the origins, the creature tends to be described the same way: “an elongated body, winged shoulders, a large horse-like head, cloven feet and a thick tail,” (“Jersey Devil - Fact or Fiction?”).
There are several other versions of the story that don’t include Mrs. Leeds. Rather, other versions include a young girl from Leeds Point falling in love with a British soldiers in the later 1700’s. The townsfolk took issue with this relationship and cursed the girl, which led to her giving birth to a monster. Another version tells the story of a young girl who was cursed by a gypsy after she refused to share her food, also leading to her giving birth to the Jersey Devil. Regardless of the origins, the creature tends to be described the same way: “an elongated body, winged shoulders, a large horse-like head, cloven feet and a thick tail,” (“Jersey Devil - Fact or Fiction?”).
The majority of online forums and discussions don't discuss this legendary cryptid; rather, they discuss the sport's team that was named after it. However, that does not mean that there people are not talking at the Jersey Devil. There is at least one public Facebook group dedicated to discussing and sharing evidence pertaining to the Jersey Devil. There are also several threads and discussions on Neoseeker.
There have also been some groups who have gone out and actively searched for the Jersey Devil, including the Devil Hunters, who formed in 1999. The website explains that the group had multiple teams of people who ventured into the woods to search for the Jersey Devil, and the organization was featured in several documentaries. People could join the Devil Hunters by completing an application or emailing the group for further information. There also appears to be a hierarchy in the group, as the Devil Hunters had a Director, two assistant directors, a membership liaison, and a public relations manager. The other members of the group did not have any titles (Laura K. Leuter). Unfortunately, this website could only be found on the Wayback Machine, and the links provided by other sources don't seem to go anywhere. It is unlikely this group is still around. If they are, they do not have a way to contact them or join their group. |
There have been alleged sightings of this creature as recent as 2015, when ABC News reported on a man from New Jersey who took a picture of this legendary cryptid (Nicole Pelletiere). However, sightings of this creature date back hundreds of years. There was a sharp spike in sightings in 1909, which newspapers at the time reported on (Joseph A. Gambardello).
The creature has since become somewhat of a symbol of New Jersey. It was designated as the state's only demon in 1938 (The Jersey Devil and Folklore - Pinelands Preservation Alliance). Information about the Jersey Devil can be found on multiple official websites, including the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and The Official Web Site for the State of New Jersey.
The creature has since become somewhat of a symbol of New Jersey. It was designated as the state's only demon in 1938 (The Jersey Devil and Folklore - Pinelands Preservation Alliance). Information about the Jersey Devil can be found on multiple official websites, including the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and The Official Web Site for the State of New Jersey.