Pine Barrens, New Jersey

Wharton State Forest, the highest point in the Pine Barrens

The Pine Barrens is a heavily forested area of coastal plain stretching across more than seven counties of New Jersey. Pictured is Wharton State Forest, the highest point in the Pine Barrens courtesy of Famartin. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The New Jersey Devil

The Jersey Devil is a legendary creature in New Jersey folklore. It is said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, and is generally described as a flying biped with hooves. However, there are many variations. The most common description is that of a being with the head of a horse, bat-like wings, horns, small arms with clawed hands, cloven hooves and a leathery forked tail. It also had a terrifying scream.

There are a number of variations as to the genesis of this legend, but the most well-known is that it was the thirteenth child born to Jane Leeds in 1735.

Since that time, there has been a catalogue of stories stretching down the ages, where the Jersey Devil was responsible for all sorts of ills and terrorising acts. For a full detail of these instances, we recommend you read Haunted America (below).

Pictured left is the Japhet Leeds House, Moss Mill Road, Leeds Point, Atlantic County, NJ (c.1937).

Multiple locations across the state

For further information, please read Haunted America by Michael Norman and Beth Scott.