Leeds Point, NJ

Birthplace of the Jersey Devil
Leeds Point, New Jersey is considered by many to be ground zero for those interested in the Jersey Devil - the famous legend believed to live in the Pine Barrens near the area.  It has that reputation for a very good reason.  While other cities make the same claim, the majority of people seem to believe that Leeds Point is the birthplace of the Jersey Devil.
Tracing the Legend
One of the most interesting aspects of the legend of the Jersey Devil is that, unlike similar "monsters" spotted throughout the United States, there are no records or accounts of the creature existing in the stories and myths of the Native American tribes in the area.  Instead, tales of the Jersey Devil did not appear until the arrival of European settlers in the area.  Even more intriguing is the fact that most of these tales say that the creature was even born to one of these settlers.
Giving Birth to a Devil
There are several different legends as to the birth of the Jersey Devil.  Even the mother who was alleged to have given birth to the creature is cause for confusion.  Some stories list the family's name as Shourds, while others say Leeds.  In fact, the being is also known as the Leeds Devil, either after the family or the place it was born (here in Leeds Point).  A local historian further caused confusion when they found that families by both names lived directly across from one another in the area around Leeds Point.  Ruins of both houses are still in the general area and have attracted various would-be "Devil hunters," with the most popular destination being the Shourds House.  Rather than cause more confusion, this article will stick with the more commonly used name of Leeds.
The birth of the Jersey Devil was said to have happened in the 18th Century, with some sources even specifically naming 1735 as the year of its birth.  The most common version has a woman by the name of Deborah Leeds migrating to the area from England and marrying into the Leeds family.  After already giving birth to 12 children, she was very unhappy to find herself pregnant with a 13th child.  So when the delivery turned difficult and painful, and in a very emotional moment, she cried out, "May the devil take this one."  Much to her horror, when the baby emerged, it appeared she had been granted her wish.  The newborn baby was said to have the head of a horse, wings of a bat, torso of a man, legs of a goat (complete with cloven hoofs), and the tail of a serpent.