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FAMOUS NEW JERSEY FOLKLORE CHARACTER.SINCE THE EARLY 1800'S, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE "JERSEY" OR "LEEDS DEVIL".DESCRIPTIONS VARY FROM "HORSEFACED" TO "COLLIE FACED"- FROM A LARGE FURRY CREATURE OF A REDDISH BROWN "COLOR", WITH BAT-LIKE WINGS, CLOVEN HOOFS, HORNS AND FORKED TAIL - TO AN IMPISH, NATTILY DRESSED CHARACTER WHO DELIGHTS IN SCARING PEOPLE HALF OUT OF THEIR WITS. IN DAY GONE BAY, HE HAS BEEN SIGHTED IN THE PINE BARRENS, PORT REPUBLIC, NEW GRETNA AND MANY OTHER "NEARBY" TOWNS. SOME SAY HIS BRITHPLACE WAS IN THE LEEDS POINTS AREA, NEAR SMITHVILLE, AND THAT HE ROAMED THE SWAMPS ALONG THE MULLICA RIVER. MOST AGREE, HOWEVER, THAT A WOMAN NAMED LEEDS, (THOUGHT TO BE A WHICH) HAVING TWELVE CHILDREN ALREADY, AND FINDING HERSELF WITH CHILD AGAIN - CURSED IT AND WISHED THAT THE OFFSPRING BE BRON A DEVIL. SHE GOT HER WISH APPARENTLY, AND FROM THAT DAY ON THE LEGEND OF THE LEEDS DEVIL BECAME A PART OF NEW JERSEY FOLKLORE. |
