Home, sweet home; 1796 edition

According to Google Books this was the first mention of the phrase in English:

Sing a sweet melodious measure,
Waft enchanting lays around ;
Home, a theme replete with pleasure,
Home, a grateful theme, resound !

Chorus:

Home, sweet home ! an ample treasure !
Home ! with ev'ry blessing crown'd !
Home ! perpetual source of pleasure !
Home ! a noble strain resound !

--From The Beauties of England and Wales; Volume VI--

This was an English translation of a Latin song, Dolce Domum, sung by students at Winchester College just before they went home for summer. At the time of its translation it was considered to be about 100 years old.

Here is the song being performed.