What is the Jersey Devil All About Anyway?

 

Crypto Blast New Jersey fan, Janine Healy says:  

"In 1736 Mrs Leeds was pregnant w/ her 13th child. She raised her hands to the heavens and proclaimed "Let this one be a devil"-- a mythical beast was born that stalks the Pine barrens."

But is Janine a living, breathing Jersey Devil herself?


Let's look into the history of the Jersey Devil first.


From prairieghosts.com: The historic states along America’s Atlantic Seaboard have given birth to hundreds of ghostly tales and unusual stories over the years. One of the strangest is undoubtedly that of the Jersey Devil, a creature that is believed by some to be a mythical creature and by others, a real-life monster of flesh and blood. Its origins date back to when New Jersey was still a British colony.

According to the legend, Mrs. Jane Leeds came from a poor family who eked out an existence in the Pine Barrens of Jersey, a rugged place with vast forests, sandy soil and patches of swamp. In 1735, Mrs. Leeds discovered that she was pregnant with her 13th child. She complained to her friends and relatives that the “Devil can take the next one”, and he did. When the baby was born, he was monster! He immediately took on a grotesque appearance and grew to more than 20 feet long, with a reptilian body, a horse’s head, bat wings and a long, forked tail. He thrashed about the Leeds home for a bit and then vanished up the chimney. The creature, or the “Jersey Devil” as he was dubbed, began haunting the Pine Barrens.

The New Jersey Pine Barrens

As the story spread, even grown men declined to venture out at night. It was said that the beast carried off large dogs, geese, cats, small livestock and even occasional children. The children were never seen again, but the animal remains were often found. The Devil was also said to dry up the milk of cows by breathing on them and to kill off the fish in the streams, threatening the livelihood of the entire region.

More at the link.

And for the record, Janine is a Jersey Devil anyway!