| The New Jersey Devil, sometimes known as the | | | | himself. One night in 1735, the unthinkable happened |
| Leeds Devil, is a strange creature that is believed by | | | | and Leeds went into labor. It is said that friends were |
| many to inhabit the southern parts of New Jersey. | | | | gathered around for the birth, but were unprepared for |
| Stories of the Jersey Devil date back many years. | | | | what would happen. The 13th child was born and the |
| The oldest of which appear in legends from the native | | | | women were horrified at what they saw. It is said that |
| american tribes within the area. The tribes called the | | | | the creature before them had wings, a tail and hooves. |
| Pine Barrens area of southern New Jersey | | | | Legend states that the creature killed the midwife and |
| "Popuessing," which means "place of the dragon". | | | | let out a deafening shriek before flying up the chimney |
| The descriptions of the famous NJ devil have all been | | | | and out above the village, flying towards Pine Barrens. |
| generally the same, describing the New Jersey Devil | | | | Deborah Leeds is believed by some to be the actual |
| as a hooved creature that stands around 3-4 feet | | | | Mother Leeds. She was the wife of Japhet Leeds and |
| high. It has also been described as having a long neck, | | | | had given birth to 13 children, but her husband Japhet |
| red eyes and is often described as having wings and | | | | only named 12 in his will from 1736. |
| a tail. Many people have compared the Jersey Devil to | | | | Many believe that the New Jersey Devil is nothing |
| a sometimes similarly described creature known as | | | | more than a creative fairy tale, but with so many |
| Chupacabra. Whatever the creature may look like, the | | | | eyewitness accounts of the creature, there are some |
| most popular story of it's origins remains that of | | | | cryptozoologists who firmly believe that the NJ Devil is |
| Mother Leeds. | | | | simply a creature yet to be documented by science |
| The story of the New Jersey Devil begins long ago | | | | and has mastered the art of avoiding human |
| with a woman known as Mother Leeds, who was | | | | interaction. Either way, the scary story of the New |
| widely believed to be a witch. Leeds had given birth to | | | | Jersey Devil will most definitely remain passed down |
| 12 children in her life and had proclaimed that if she | | | | through generations for years to come. |
| were to give birth to another, it would be the devil | | | | |