Antedating "Virginia ham" to 1795 & 1803

[Joel S. Berson]

The OED's earliest quotation for "Virginia ham" is 1833, as
"Virginny".       But we knew how to spell it in 1795.

(1)  An advertisement.

1795 May18:  Daily Advertiser [New York]; Volume: XI; Issue: 32[0]0;
Page: [2], col. 1.  [Courtesy EAN]

FOR SALE, 20 hhds best Richmond Tobacco [etc.] to be landed on board
the sloop Fanny from Richmond. 13000 lb prime Virginia HAMS.

[This is presumably the first appearance of this ad, as it contains
the date "may18".]

(2)  In a sentence.

1803.  John Davis. _Travels of four years and a half in the United
States of America, during 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, and 1802_.  London:
Sold ... for R. Edwards.  Page 230.  [Courtesy Google Books]

An exquisite Virginia ham smoked on the board, and two damsels
supplied the guests with boiled Indian corn, which they had gathered
with their own hands.

Joel

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