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We tell the history of the Jersey Devil, New Jersey’s most infamous — and perhaps, most terrifying — folklore myth.

The History of the Jersey Devil - Montclair Girl TheMontclair Girl Events + News All Events News Non-Profit Events Food + Drink All Bars Brunch Coffee Gluten-Free Happy Hours Restaurants Recipes Vegetarian/Vegan Lifestyle All Celebrities North Jersey Health + Wellness Real Estate Fashion + Beauty Travel Volunteering Holidays Entertainment Pets Home Decor + DIY Jobs Deals Weddings Real Estate Search Home Essex County The History of the Jersey Devil The History of the Jersey Devil by Morgan Rupinski October 3, 2022 Morgan Rupinski October 3, 2022 AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterTwitterShare to EmailEmailEmailShare to Copy LinkCopy LinkCopy LinkShare to RedditRedditRedditShare to MoreAddThisMore 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Every state has some type of folklore, mystery, or creature whose stories have been told for generations. Here in New Jersey, we have quite a few, but none are as infamous as the Jersey Devil. As we gear up and head into the “spooky season,” we thought this would be a great time to retell this story. Read on to learn more about the history of the New Jersey Devil. (Photo credits: Weird NJ) The Legend The legend begins with Jane Leeds, or Mother Leeds, a Pine Barrens resident who was a mother to twelve children. In 1735, Mother Leeds discovered she was pregnant with her thirteenth child. She cursed the child and cried out that the child will be the “devil.”  Read More: A List of Historical Places to Visit in North Jersey  Later that year, Mother Leeds went into labor. It was a dark, stormy night with her friends surrounding her in support. The thirteenth child entered the world appearing as a seemingly normal baby, but soon transformed into a monstrous creature with bat wings, hooves, a goat’s head, and a forked tail. The thirteenth child proceeded to growl and scream and beat everyone with its tail before flying up the chimney and into the night to inhabit the Pines.  Sightings There have been a number of reports and claims regarding sights of the Jersey Devil — most notably during a week-long period in January of 1909. The newspapers had published hundreds of claims from residents of Southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia area who said they encountered the Jersey Devil.  During this time, one person claimed that they witnessed the Jersey Devil attacking a trolley car in Haddon Heights while other residents reported unidentified footprints in the snow. The Jersey Devil was even reported to have allegedly attacked a social club in Camden. These widespread reported sightings ultimately caused mass fear and panic resulting in schools closing and enforcing workers to stay home.  It has been said during this wave of sightings that the Philadelphia Zoo offered a $10,000 reward for the capture of the New Jersey Devil. Many groups of hunters took to the pines and countryside to search for the creature with no success.  We're more than just big hair. Become a North Jersey expert in no time — and get our top stories to your inbox weekly. ENTER YOUR EMAIL ENTER YOUR EMAIL ENTER YOUR EMAIL ENTER YOUR EMAIL JOIN US Thank you for subscribing! Outside of this period of hysteria in 1909, there are a number of notable sightings. In 1820, Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon’s older brother, claimed to see the Jersey Devil while out hunting on his estate in Bordentown. During the 1840s, the creature was claimed to have killed many residents’ livestock and left footprints and screams in its tracks. In Greenwich in December of 1925, a farmer shot a creature that had attempted to attack his chickens. Afterwards, he photographed the creature and claimed that he showed it to 100 people and no one could identify it. Cultural Significance The legend of the Jersey Devil lives on into the present day. The New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League obtained its name from this legend and the name was chosen by poll in 1982. In June 2021, Six Flags Great Adventure opened its newest coaster, Jersey Devil Coaster. The ride is themed around the Jersey Devil and is located in the section of the park, The Pine Barrens. Jersey Devil Coaster was added to a list of the 10 most anticipated roller coasters according to USA Today.  The Jersey Devil has also made it to the big screen. Its lore is explored in notable titles such as 13th Child, The X-Files, TMNT, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, The Barrens, and more.  See More: Dogs in Hoboken: A Historical Timeline A Night with the Jersey Devil by Bruce Springsteen was released on Halloween in 2008. The king of New Jersey himself added a note alongside the songs release: “Dear Friends and Fans, if you grew up in central or south Jersey, you grew up with the ‘Jersey Devil.’ Here’s a little musical Halloween treat. Have fun! – Bruce Springsteen.” Become a local expert in no time. Enter your email address to stay in-the-know. No spam, promise. Email address Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! also appears in Essex CountyFallNorth JerseyPeopleSeasons 0 comment Morgan Rupinski View all my stories Morgan is a born and raised Montclair girl and is passionate about this slice of heaven she calls home. Morgan has a background in media production and currently works in marketing full-time. She has an immense enthusiasm for her hometown and loves to share that through her writing. When she’s not busy producing content or developing strategies, you can find her listening to true crime podcasts, checking out local restaurants, spending time down the shore, or catching a flight! More Stories events 41 Things to Do in the Montclair + North Jersey Area | January 5- 8 January 4, 2023 news Owner of Fresco Da Franco is Opening a High-End Cocktail Lounge Next Door January 4, 2023 Entertainment The West Orange Classic Film Festival is Back for 2023 January 4, 2023 About Partners Advertise The Montclair Girl Team Submit An Event Privacy Email [email protected] with any story updates, edits, or fixes. A Part of The Local Girl Media ©The Montclair Girl LLC. 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