My 6th great Uncle, Hezekiah "Ki" Mosher was born in Beekman, Dutchess Co., NY on October 18 1756 and died in Augusta, Ontario, Canada in 1821. The folks in Augusta believed he was in league with the devil, as he seemed to acquire money with no apparent visible means of employment. Uncle Ki lived on a homestead near old Merwin Lane road and one of his favorite places was the rocky ridge about 600 yards south of his homestead. Ki had the habit of tapping the rock while sitting on it, presumably to while away the time and enjoy the lovely surroundings. Most folks shied away from the place, which they firmly believed was haunted and called "Spook Hill", while others could not resist the temptation of their own curiosity.

It seems that some local fellow, no doubt intoxicated at the time and thus prone to visions, saw Ki on the rock one night tapping away, and a horridly fiendish hand appeared to come up out of the ground directly behind the rock. This awful hand appeared to give Ki some money after which, amidst a sulphuric mist, it silently disappeared; and Ki, after apparently musing for some time in the dull moonlight, slowly arose from his seat on the rock and addressing a few words of parting to the scene, went through the motion of putting something in his pocket, and then made his way slowly home.

Written by Lieut. Col. Sterling LeRoy Spicer

Have you heard the tale of old Spook Hill Just north of Prescott Town Where at night the spooks enjoy the chill And the devil walks up and down. Yes the devil walks up and down. Have you heard how Ki would tap the stones And money his act would crown, As it came from fingers like dead men's bones, As the devil walked up and down? Yes, the devil walked up and down. Would you test the thrill of old Spook Hill Just north of Prescott Town Go out some night in the gala moonlight When the sky is a murky brown As the devil walks up and down.

There are hump backed rocks on old Spook Hill Where serpents crawl around And the shades of night shroud spirits chill And one ghost acts the clown As the devil walks up and down. Have you heard how demons loiter there Not far from Prescott Town Where Ki would tap and the spooks would rap As the devil walked up and down? Yes, the devil walked up and down. Have you never visited old Spook Hill Where every bush is a lair For a fiendish ghost as a listening post And the sounds would raise your hair As the devil keeps lurking there.

Would you lose your cheer and sense the fear Of old Spook Hill's reknown You must see the sneer and feel the leer Of the ghost who acts the clown As the devil tramps up and down. The air is chill on old Spook Hill When clouds like demons frown Though you hear the trill of the whip-poor-will Low ghostly moans still sound As the devil walks up and down. There are creepy tales of old Spook Hill Just north of Prescott Town They would raise goose skin on a porpoise fin For the devil walks up and down, Yes the devil walks up and down.

Those are eerie spots on old Spook Hill Of Pioneer days reknown Where the cold dank air stands deadly still And the rocks turn upside down As the devil lurks around. If you visit the shades of old Spook Hill Just north of Prescott Town You may meet with Ki and wonder why As you see this haunted mount The devil walks up and down Why the devil walks up and down.

I'd be happy to exchange family information.
Please send e-mail to Sam Behling.

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