Sherpt

[Natalie Maynor]

Any guess out there of what "sherpt" is in "her flesh is sherpt away"?
This was written in Alabama in 1849 in a letter to a brother and
sister, describing their mother's condition.  The letter is full of
non-standard spelling, usually somewhat phonetic although sometimes
in the opposite direction (like "scents" for "sense").  Here's the
whole sentence:

"Mother is in a bad situation -- she has got no scents at toll worth
any thing for she perfectly childish in her ways and her flesh is
sherpt away tel she is a mear skelitan and she keeps her bed constant
and can not get about at toll."
   --Natalie Maynor (maynor at ra.msstate.edu)