New Jersey: The Jersey Devil & Bigfoot
About this episode
The episode explores the legend of the Jersey Devil and its historical context, along with lesser-known Bigfoot encounters in New Jersey.
The Backwoods Cryptid Road Trip crosses the Delaware River into the most densely populated state in America, then disappears into nearly a million acres of Pine Barrens. This stop digs into the full story of the Jersey Devil, beginning with the real Leeds family of colonial Burlington County. We trace the strange history of Daniel Leeds, a printer condemned by members of his own religious community, and his son Titan Leeds, who became the target of one of Benjamin Franklin’s most famous public feuds. From there, the story evolves into the legend of Mother Leeds and the birth of her infamous thirteenth child in 1735.Then comes January 1909, when Jersey Devil hysteria exploded across the region. Mysterious hoofprints appeared on rooftops and through snow from Bristol to Camden, witnesses reported a winged creature moving through the night, police allegedly opened fire in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, schools and businesses temporarily closed, and the Philadelphia Zoo offered a $10,000 reward for the capture of the creature. But the legend didn’t end there. The episode follows later encounters deep inside the Pine Barrens, including a chicken farmer in 1960, a frightened couple…
Topics covered
- Jersey Devil
- Bigfoot
- cryptids
- Pine Barrens
- historical legends
Keywords
- Jersey Devil
- Bigfoot
- Pine Barrens
- cryptid history
- Daniel Leeds
Mentioned in this episode
Places: New Jersey, Pine Barrens, Burlington County, Camden, Philadelphia Zoo, Mullica River
More episodes of Backwoods Bigfoot Stories
- New Mexico: La Mala Hora & Bigfoot
- Born Wild: Koda's Odyssey Vol II Part VII
- New Hampshire: The Wood Devils
- Born Wild Koda's Odyssey Vol II Part VI
- Nevada: Tahoe Tessie & Bigfoot
- Bigfoot Holding A Hog
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