5 minute read
A Look at Local History
from 08037 Hammonton | Fall 2022
by nmg
The
BY CHLOE YANUSH
Jane Leeds and her husband Daniel lived in a cabin along the Mullica river, deeply embedded in the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. Many described the Leeds as a strange family, and when she became pregnant with what would be her 13th child she was distraught, crying out, “let it be the devil”. On a cold February night in 1735, she gave birth to a healthylooking baby, but it quickly began to change. Growing a tail and wings, it flew out of the chimney and has haunted the area ever since.
This is the general version of the Jersey Devil’s origin story, however, in the last 250 years, the details vary depending on who you ask. Since colonial times, the Jersey Devil is said to have haunted the Pine Barrens, and surrounding areas in New Jersey. In just the last 20 years, there have been over 200 reported sightings of the monster.
Joel Mott, who works in the education department of the Pinelands Commission says they often get calls from historical documentaries and other media about the Jersey Devil.
“I grew up in the area and have heard about it my whole life,” said Mott. “And now I work to educate people about what makes the pine barrens so special.” For him and many New Jersey residents, it is hard to escape the legend of the Jersey Devil.
The Pine Barrens are 1 million acres of forest in southern New Jersey, which is 22 percent of the state’s land area. Many enjoy its wildlife, flowing river and natural beauty, but for some residents, fear of a lurking monster is often on their minds, especially at night.
Descriptions of the Jersey Devil vary, most commonly it is described as having the body of a horse, a long reptilian tail, the feet of a pig, the wings of a bat, a snout and, of course, devil horns. Many say the devil is grotesque, ugly and terrifying. Some are intrigued by the creature, but many are terrified of seeing it in the dark woods at night.cvMott says the Jersey Devil is a large part of what attracts people to the Pine Barrens.
“It is part of the mystery of the area, there are lots of remote areas of the Pine Barrens, and the Jersey Devil goes hand and hand with this element of the unknown,” said Mott.
Sightings of the creature have come from all kinds of people within the community including priests, police officers, sheriffs, government officials, men, women and children. These sightings often came from multiple people who all had the same experience, corroborating each other’s stories and adding to their validity.
One of the earliest sightings was made by Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother, who was hunting in the Pine Barrens in the early 1800s. Following his sighting, a large please see DEVIL, page 17
DEVIL continued from page 16 number of livestock was killed with no explanation, so a large posse was formed to hunt for the Jersey Devil. After days of searching, they came up empty-handed. Over the years groups were constantly brought together to hunt the mysterious creature. At times large sums of money, up to $100,000 dollars were promised from the Government and even the Philadelphia Zoo as a reward for capturing the infamous creature. Many believed the Jersey Devil was terrorizing their communities, and putting their children in serious danger.
For some individuals, the Jersey Devil seems like nothing but folklore, a boogie man that those living in the Pine
Barrens blamed unexplainable mishaps on during the 19th and early 20th centuries. However for these people, and some today, the Jersey Devil’s existence is backed up by thousands of sightings for over 200 years. Even today, people claim to have seen the Jersey Devil while they were out at night and woke up the next morning to mysteriously large and unidentifiable tracks on their roof. Joel Mott says he believes the Leeds were a real family, and that he has heard different names for the Jersey Devil based on various members of the community.
“It seems like sometimes whoever was on the outs with a town or community, they would have the devil named after them, such as the ‘Leeds Devil’,” said
Mott. Although he is not sure about the existence of the Jersey Devil itself, he will use the legend during education programs to deter kids from not picking up trash,
“I’ll say something like ‘you never know who’s watching’,” said Mott.
Whether you believe in the Jersey
Devil’s existence or not, it has become something of an icon in the Pine Barrens and New Jersey as a whole. Today there is a professional ice hockey team named
The Jersey Devils, as well as a terrifying roller coaster at Six Flags Amusement Park.
Local wines, salsas and hot sauces have advertised their products with caricatures of what we believe the Jersey Devil looks like.
“There are so many animals like frogs, owls, and birds in the Pine Barrens, and when you hear sounds out in the middle of nowhere you have never heard before it can seem unexplainable,” said Mott, who believes some of the Jersey Devil evidence could be chalked up to spooky animal sounds.
Whether you believe in the existence of the Jersey Devil or not, it is one of the
United States’ oldest monster stories, and a large part of the history of New Jersey.
PHOTOS BY JAMIE GIAMBRONE
Top: Pine Barrens - Stone furnaces in the area - were primarily used to refine the region’s bog iron deposits
A to Z Medicare Education Medicare Open Enrollment
SENIORBENEFITS
C E N T E R Let us assist you with your personzalized health care plan.
Andrea Hering
Managing Partner 609.230.0772 Nancy Hering Managing Partner 609.685.6440 Safe • Accessible • Covid Compliant
136 S. White Horse Pike, Suite B, Berlin, NJ 08009
NM-00005151
BOOK NOW FOR FALL!
When Quality Counts™
856-988-3243
PROTECT YOUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT!
We Are Your Local Experts! Family owned and operated.
STORM DAMAGE SPECIALISTS
NM-00005545
ROOFING SIDING • GUTTERS
• FREE RIDGE VENT • FREE ICE & WATER SHIELD • ALGAE RESISTANT
SHINGLES
STRONG PROTECTION FOR YOUR ROOF
SILVER PLEDGE $5495
• Tear Off up to 1000 sq. ft. • Lifetime Non-Pro Rated Labor & Material • 10 Year Factory Certified Workmanship Warranty On All Components Of The Roof • 25 year Algae Resistant Shingles
NJ Lic. #13VH01078900 GAFME Cert # ME11905
FINANCING AVAILABLE
Up to 12 Months No Interest • (restrictions apply) Emergency Services Available! Call for a FREE ESTIMATE!*
