1771 SCOTCH-IRISH VERNACULAR. Early American Confesses the Sin of Repeated Drunkenness.

A very rare and interesting likely Scotch-Irish vernacular confession of repeated drunkenness by Benjamin Payn. The phonetics are evident throughout the document, i.e. sparouts for spirits, repating for repeting, sparit for spirit, etc. 

A note to the rear indicates the location as Mount Carmel, likely Mount Carmel, South Carolina in McCormick County, right near the Georgia Border. Mount Carmel was settled by Scotch-Irish immigrants in the 1750's. The Confession would likely have been addressed to an informal gathering of Scotch-Irish [Presbyterian] Christians meeting without the benefit of a minister. There was no formal church at Mount Carmel until the mid-1770's, when a church for the Scotch-Irish [even available in Gaelic] was founded by  Rev. John Bethune.

Complete as follows:

Mount C****l. November the 13th, 1771. The Confession of Benjamin Payn of *******

Where as I in lying feast have Drunk sow freely of sparouts likor namely I have Dishonord God and Ronged my one sole and in Repating this so haneos a sin of Drunkness I have Randerd my self unfit **** God on man and have giveeen just ofence to this Church and people & down I hop heartily repent of this my sin and humbly beg for giveness of God and of this Church and people for this my sin and desire you would receve me into your Charity Care and watchfulness in the sparit of mekness and Brotherly Love and I ask your praing to God for me that By his grace a sisting me I may flee from this and all sin and live more to his honor and glory than ever I have done. Benjamin Payn.

A good, complete example, though torn at nearly all folds. In need of careful handling.