An Independent Investigation of a private residence in Gloucester City, NJ

by Chris Chaos

DATE: 6.22.11
TIME: 9.50pm till 10.13 pm
LOCATION: Kitchen

In June 2011 we conducted an investigation at a private residence in a location that was reported to have some subtle activity occurring for a few months. The activity was reported to take place primarily under the kitchen table. The residents stated that the young child (2 years old) in the house sometimes acted uneasy while near the table and spoke of a little ghost boy named Jimmy that she would talk to from time to time. It was also reported that doors would often open or close on their own and sometimes it felt as if someone or something was watching you.

The table with the activity

Before we set up for the investigation we took precautions and all windows were closed to minimize outside noise/air and temperature. The central air was also turned off to prevent any air currents. All TVs and electronics were turned off and the house was thoroughly inspected to make sure no one else was in the house and no animals were present.

DEBORAH SMITH LEEDS: Did she give birth to the Jersey Devil?

by Chris Chaos

The facts:

Deborah Smith was born in 1685 in Burlington County, New Jersey and died as Deborah Leeds in 1748 in Atlantic County New Jersey. She was a Quaker and married Japhet Leeds giving birth to 12 of his children. Deborah was the daughter of Daniel Smith and Mary Murfin. There is much speculation and much of the details may have been lost to time. In those times it was an old practice to name the first son after the parents, which in her situation was not true. Deborah named her first son Robert, and her sixth son, Daniel, bore the name of her father. Japheth's father was also named Daniel. Her first child Mary was born 1704, and her last known child by Japheth, Hannah, was

born 1726.

Some information provided supports the idea that Deborah was not the daughter of Daniel Smith and Mary Murfin:

"Mary's (Murfin) Granddaughter Hannah Callender wrote a diary & listed her Grandparents' children & Deborah is not listed. Extracts from the diary of Hannah Callendar--Daniel & Mary Murfin Smith were her Grandparents.All info on dates (birth & death) taken from Daniel Smith's family Bible June 20, 1759 by Hannah Callender--

'The Diary of Hannah Callender Sansom--Sense & sensibility in the age of the American Revolution,' Edited by Susan E. Klepp & Karin Wulf."

Much research would need to be conducted to find a birth record , perhaps in old Quaker meeting records of Burlington County, New Jersey, we can't be sure. We do know that there were several Smiths who attended Quaker Meetings along with her husband's family.Checking census records for the area, Deborah and Japhet did have a confirmed 12 children. In the Leed's Point area she is the only person that fit the profile of Mother Leeds without embellishment. The time frame was right on also since most legends place the Jersey Devil's birth in 1735. Since her last (confirmed) born child was born in 1726, in 1735 Deborah would have been 50 years old. Back in the 1700's it would have been highly unlikely that a woman in her 50's would have had a successful birth due to the primitive medical care. This might lead us to speculate and explore the possibilities that the 13th child was born handicapped, mentally retarded or disfigured over a real life devil or beast.

There are also political/religious reasons for the legend of the Jersey Devil to appear. Deborah was a Quaker and possibly converted to Episcopalian after she married Japhet. He was also a Quaker but in 1688 had a falling out with his church and then converted to Episcopalian and was christened at St. Mary's of Burlington in 1703. This rift may explain why Deborah was accused of being a witch and how the word "devil" made it into the Leed's/Jersey Devil's name.

Originally the Jersey Devil was called the Leed's Devil, it was not until the 1900's the Jersey Devil name came around. Other names he was called were Hoodle-Doodle Bird, Wozzle Bug, flying hoof and winged dog.

Abstract of Japhet's will from 30 NJA1st 295-296:

1736, Feb. 5. Leeds, Japhet, of Great Egg Harbor, Gloucester Co., yeoman; will of. Wife, Deborah. Sons-Robert, land bought of Benjamin Jennings near a brook, formerly called Wigwam Creek, southeast to Holly Swamp brook; John, land, 200 acres, bought of his uncle Felix Leeds, by the south branch of Landing Creek; Japhet, the plantation I live on by the Bay northwest to Maple Swamp; Nehemiah, land adjoining Jeremiah Addams; James (youngest son), land bought of Benjamin Jennings, adjoining his brother Robert's; and Daniel, not 14. Daughters-Mary, eldest (alias Somers), Sarah, Deborah, Dorothy, Ann and Hannah. Cedar swamps on Bever Run and

Proprietary Rights to the sons. Executors-sons John and Japhet. Witnesses - Jeremiah Adams, Abel Scull, Isaac Addams. Affirmed 15

Dec., 1748.

Lib. 6, p. 10.

1748, Nov. 4. Inventory, L213.17.3; made by Abel Scull, Joseph Johnson.

Here are the names and information concerning the children of Deborah and Japhet Leeds:

1. Mary, born 1704; married Samuel Somers.

2. Robert, born 1706; married Abigail Higbee.

3. John, born 1708; married (first) Rebecca Cordery; (second) Sarah (Mathis) Coate.

4. Japheth, born 1710, died 1781; married Rebecca Woodward.

5. Nehemiah, born 1712; married Elizabeth Woodward.

6. James, born 1714.

7. Daniel, 1716; in 1757 surveyor general of New Jersey; married (first) Susannah Steelman; (second) Rebecca Steelman; his children

were: Susanna, married James Scull (q. v.) ; Dorcas, and Rachael.

8. Sarah, born 1718; probably married Thomas Wilson.

9. Deborah, born 1720; married Hugh Neale.

10. Dorothy, born 1722; married Jonathan Husted.

11. Ann, born 1724; married Nathaniel Thomas.

12. Hannah, born February 18, 1726, died November 24, 1762; married Peter Steelman.

13. The Jersey Devil also known as the 13th Child.

To follow along with the documentary, go here:

https://www.facebook.com/TheSearchForTheJerseyDevil

(Chris Chaos is a long time resident of South Jersey who once again resides in and writes from Gloucester City, New Jersey. He is a filmmaker, a business owner, writer, urban explorer and investigator of the odd and weird, a proud parent, happily taken and a connoisseur of hot wings. Chris can be reached at AxisVideo@aol.com)

The Origin and Background of CURSED: An Explanation of the Unknown

by Chris Chaos

Over the last few years I have been working on some various projects (video, written, books, etc) concerning supposedly haunted, lore, abandoned and locations of a historical note. The research has been recorded into a series entitled CURSED: An Explanation of the Unknown, which currently has three books released and various accompanying videos. In the coming years we will also convert the information and content contained in the various Cursed books into a movie and encyclopedia form.

The Purgatory House (Burned down in 2011)

A few years ago it was decided to produce a documentary and an accompanying book entitled “CURSED: An Explanation of the Unknown”, it is to be an exploration and documentation concerning abandoned buildings, the investigation of supposed haunted locations, preservation of history, lore and documenting architectural wonders.

The first inspiration for this series was an exploration into the "cursed" section of Haddon Heights, New Jersey. This location served jumping point for a few unsolved murders from many years ago near Haddon Lake. Such as, an attempted suicide where a man drove his car 100 mph into a McDonald's killing several of the workers, a tree that a number of people hung themselves from and home to where a transsexual accused of molesting neighborhood children had a shoot-out with the police when they came to serve a warrant.

Cursed Haddon Lake

After much research, the CURSED project branched off into other locations that were in danger of being torn down and lost to modern memory that were shrouded in some sort of dark past. While researching and documenting, we visited hundreds of locations in the NJ and PA area examining the history and documenting through video, photo and drafting reports. Looking back, many of the buildings/structures have been torn down or vandalized beyond recognition since then and something else was built in its place. We hope their legends can live on and preserved through CURSED: An Explanation of the Unknown.

Essex County

Some of the locations that we investigated were abandoned mental facilities, prisons, schools and hospitals or just simply an area that something "bad" happened there. One thing that was noticed about many of the popular ghost hunting shows were that the cast were lacking credibility, experience and knowledge on the backgrounds of the “ghosts” they were talking to...most of these supposed ghosts were former mental patients or criminals..the celebrity ghost hunters also had no real world experience in dealing with these “former people” (or people in general for that matter). A few years ago, I wished to expand my talents into the psychological field so I took a position with V.O.A. and Bancroft which deals with the criminally insane, people with brain/mental disorders, T.B.I., victims of crimes, atrocities and the like. With the training they provided and more exposure to the living people contrasted to and bled over into these abandoned buildings where I might encounter their ghostly counter parts. Learning how to talk, counsel and associate with these people in a real life experience gave the edge to interact with any specters that may be encountered in our expeditions. Knowing how to talk to these possible ghosts may put them at ease and make a bridge for an open dialogue.

The project has evolved tremendously since we first set out and has grown in scope exponential. We hope these stories will inspire others to document locations in their area and may help people preserve the history associated with them.

Please be respectful of the locations. Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but photographs.

Chris Chaos in front of Lambertville School

To purchase the Cursed books:
Cursed: An Explanation of the Unknown

Cursed: Revisited

Cursed III
(Chris Chaos is a long time resident of South Jersey who once again resides in and writes from Gloucester City, New Jersey.  He is a filmmaker, a business owner, writer, urban explorer and investigator of the odd and weird, has a black cat named Jynx, two rats: Hopping Heather and Climbing Carol, a proud parent, happily taken and a connoisseur of hot wings.)