Devon Record Office, 874 D/M 122
Dear Friends,
being fully sensable of my former transgressions and sins Against God and the Reproach that may and hath com upon truth for such grose Inormities I do tharefore after so long A time mak my humble confssion been compelled thareunto for wont of that true peace which my soul stands in need of, it hath being long laid upon me so to do and I can not pas it by with peace, for which cause to my shame and confusion of face I am constraind to make mention of this my transgression not without grief but with trouble and sorrow of heart for this my wickedness -- which was keeping of evill company and drinking by which som times I became gulty of drunkenness to the dishonour of truth and shame to my self, yet to the honour of the Lord, I have thus to say for him he was all wayes with me cheecking and reprouing me for the same ['but' erased] he all wayes followed me with his repruf and his judgment were ['were' erased] in my soul so that trimbling hath taken hold of me many times, so that I haue been ready many times to say lord forgiue me and I hope I will do so no more, yet for wont of true wotchfulness and keeping close to my guide I have fallen into it again, and broken as it were couenant with the lord which was redy to pas it by and forgiue me. so not liuing in obedience to the lord I fell into Another grosse euill ['wh' erased] which I also confess to my great shame and sorow that I did so little regard the loue and tender mercies of the lord. but went on in Another gross sin, by which the honour due unto marage was lost, for the marage bed was defiled, Oh what shall I say lord wash me and clense me I beseech thee from these my great sins, for against thee haue I sinned and against the truth for thou art truth.
This dear friends after so many years hauing born the indignation of the lord, and haue been as it were shut out of the camp by reson ot the great leprosie [cf. Leviticus 13,46] which did appear upon me I am drawn to make this my humble confession publikly unto you hoping I shall find some comfort and refreshment hear by, for blessed be the name of the lord hee hath not yet forsaken me;
Bradninch 29th of the 12th Month 1716 1717
[signed] George Boone
Source:
Christopher Holdsworth, "A Confession of his Drunkeness by George Boone of Bradninch, 1717."
In Devon Documents (ed. T. Gray). Tiverton: Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries, Special Issue (1996) [ISBN 0925836203] pp.102-107. (Comments in the text in square brackets by Mr. Holdsworth.)
Note: Permission was requested from the Friends representative in Devon to use this transcription on this page.
The authorities substantially agree that the Boones were English Friends from near Exeter, Devonshire, and settled in that part of Philadelphia county, now included in Montgomery. They landed at Philadelphia. George Boone, Jr., the first to come 1713, settled within the bounds of Abington Meeting, producing a certificate from Bradninch Meeting, 8th mo. 26 (October) 1713. ... He was followed, 1717, by George Boone, Sr., his father, accompanied by his wife and several children. They united themselves with the Gwynedd Meeting. The records of this Meeting have the following entry, under date of 10th mo. 31st (December) 1717: "George Boone, Sr., produced a certificate of his good life and conversation from the Monthly Meeting at Callumpton, in Great Britain, which was read and well received."
Source:
William W. H. Davis, History of Bucks County Pennsylvania. (1905) pp. 366-367
This file was last updated on 7/11/2019.
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