Hezikiah Mosher
Uncle Ki & Spook HillAnimated Skeleton

© 1997, Sam Behling

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.

Devil Rising

"Devil Rising" Visual by www.PDImages.com

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.

Dancing Spook

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.

Dancing Spook

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.

Dancing Spook

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.

Dancing Spook

Email icon

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

See lineage of Mosher Family

Return to Story Page

Return to Home PageHome icon

Borders by Silverhair