Reading it aloud, and with a bit of accent, it sounds like "shirk or sham," and I believe someone's already addressed "sham." (I was raised in the military environment, so I had no idea it wasn't in everday usenymore!) Also recognizing that spellin was somewhat phonetic at the time, "Aranoko" sounds a lot like "Oronoco," a different gradeof tobacco. I won't elaborate further, since the community of Oronoco is in Amherst County. Holly Hodges Amherst County, VA ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html