The Jersey Devil  Without a doubt, New Jersey’s oldest, most
enduring, and important pieces of folklore is the tale of the
infamous Jersey Devil. For close to three hundred years now,
Jerseyans have told tales of this mythical beast that stalks the
Pine Barrens and terrorizes local residents. The recurring
nature of this story begs a few questions: Why have New
Jerseyans embraced this legend so steadfastly, and above all
others? Is there actually some sort of creature roaming the Pine
Barrens of Southern NJ, and if so, what in God’s name is it?
Illustration by Ryan Doan.  Legend has it that in 1735, a Pines
resident known as Mother Leeds found herself pregnant for the
thirteenth time. (Leeds is the name of one of New Jersey’s
earliest settlers, and many descendants of the Leeds family can
still be found throughout NJ to this day.) Mother Leeds was not
living a wealthy lifestyle by any means. Her husband was a
drunkard who made few efforts to provide for his wife and twelve
children. Reaching the point of abs