Episode · Stuff They Don't Want You To Know · 2026-10-20
Books mentioned on CLASSIC: What is the Jersey Devil?
According to the legend, the Jersey Devil was born to a Quaker named Mother Leeds in 1735 -- a hideous, deformed thing with wings, hooves and horns, it let out a blood-curdling scream after being born, and flew out the chimney and into the woods.
Mentioned: Leeds, 1710 the American Almanack for the Year of Christian Account 1710. ... Fitted to the Latitude of 40 Degrees, and a Meridian of Five Hours West from London But May, Without Sensible Error by Daniel Leeds, Poor Richard's Almanac by Benjamin Franklin, South Jersey Towns, History and Legend by William McMahon, and Legend by Marie Lu.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Leeds, 1710 the American Almanack for the Year of Christian Account 1710. ... Fitted to the Latitude of 40 Degrees, and a Meridian of Five Hours West from London But May, Without Sensible Error
Discussed“Daniel Leeds was an Englishman who immigrated to the U.S. in 1678. Spent most of his adult life publishing The American Almanac. He created this publication as well, and it continued to print new issues until his retirement in 1716.”
Where to get it
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Poor Richard's Almanac
Poor Richard's Almanac by Benjamin Franklin is a well-known historical publication featuring weather forecasts, practical advice, and aphorisms.
Discussed“You're thinking perhaps, oh, an almanac. I've heard of that. Those were very popular in early colonial history that later becomes American history. But I thought Benjamin Franklin wrote the almanac. Who's this Daniel Leeds guy?”
Where to get it
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South Jersey Towns, History and Legend
Discussed“His name is Professor Fred McFadden of Coppin State University over in Baltimore. He did the work. He dug deep into everything you could find about the life of Daniel Leeds, and then also into the earliest mentions of the devil in some form in print.”
Where to get it
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Legend
Discussed“His name is Professor Fred McFadden of Coppin State University over in Baltimore. He did the work. He dug deep into everything you could find about the life of Daniel Leeds, and then also into the earliest mentions of the devil in some form in print.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“So, now it's almost like a circus sideshow or something you see in Ripley's Believe It or Not. You know, the curtain. Yes. Pay your nickel or whatever.”