The Legend of the Jersey Devil

     The Story of the Jersey Devil begins in the year 1735 with a Quaker woman named Mother Leeds, whom at the time bore 12 children. It is said that her upcoming 13th child was unwanted. While in labor Mother Leeds cares it and said," The Devil take him!" As the newborn emerged it immediately began to change into a hairy, vile looking creature with horns, wings, and hooves. Mother Leeds tried to keep him a secret and locked him up in her house, but the demon escaped one day and took off into the forests of the Pinelands. A respected clergyman came forth once it was known throughout the area of the cursed Leeds child. He came forth with bible in hand and successfully exorcised the demon for 100 years. It was next sited in 1890, and since then thousands of witnesses have come forth with shocking stories of what they have seen. Today it is said that the beast has been spotted in small towns near the deep forests in southern New Jersey. Experts believe it resides in the huge preserved forest of the Pine Barrens.