Part of a
letter (written in 1984) from Wendy Mason of Culford, who has supplied a lot of
information on the West Stow Dorlings and had been in touch with, and visited,
some of the West Stow Australian descendants
"Jim (Dorling of Nightcliffe, Australia) said it is thought all three
brothers (Samuel 1814, George 1819, William 1821) played in a quite well
know dance band in Adelaide. He wanted to know if the brothers were
musical - I can confirm this with the help of Aunt Evelyn, she told me that
Thomas their father was musical and he taught them to play a kind of
pipe. Each day they were given a few bars to learn while they kept watch
over the Lord of the Manor's sheep. It was a job given to the boys of the
village on leaving school. There is a man living only a few yards from my
home who did this job on leaving school at age 10 years in 1914.
Getting back to the brothers they were educated first by their mother Ann and
then their father (Thomas 1787) paid for them to go to school which was
a privilege in those days, they went to school in Culford.
When they could
play their musical instruments well they were allowed to play the hymns for the
services in West Stow church (no organ in those days). Their musical
instruments are at this present time in the hands of the rector of West
Stow. They were until a few years ago in Aunt Evelyns's possession.
She passed them to her brother Edward who since has died. His wife gave
them to the rector. I have seen them and they are in good condition.
After Sam, Geo and Wm went to Australia some of James's children when old
enough played them, my Grandfather Herbert didn't, he was not musical.
One thing that all their generations of Dorlings have done is learn to ring the
church bells even I had a go when a teenager.
Jim says his family is athletic and wondered what physical types his ancestors
were. All I can find out is that they were a very strong healthy family
with plenty of go and still have a very strong will."
