The Jersey Devil + a Bonaparte = The Weirdest Story Out Of N. Jersey I've Ever Heard.
Seekers! This week we're heading deep into the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. A million acres of twisted pitch pines, bogs and legends that refuse to die. For over 250 years, locals have whispered about a winged, hoofed creature living within the wilderness: The Jersey Devil. But here's the plot twist: one of the most famous supposed eyewitnesses wasn't a farmer or a trapper. It was Joseph Bonaparte, Napolean Bonaparte's older brother and a king in exile in his own right and living on a palatial estate in Jersey after fleeing Europe. In this episode I trace how a colonial family feud, Benjamin Franklin's b*tchiness, a cursed thirteenth child and a monarch in exxile all collided to give America one of its most enduring monster legends of all time. Get ad-free and early episiodes by becoming a member of our Patreon at Patreon.com/OccultureShockPodcast - Enjoy the show! Thank you for getting weird with us :) -Jessica