William Sherring was born circa 1823 and he was first convicted on 10th August 1843 on a charge of Larceny ie stealing a waistcoat and a smock and sentenced to six weeks imprisonment

William was next convicted of stealing a fat cow from Mr Charles Marsh Trent, at the Wells Quarter Sessions on 18th January 1844 and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. William is shown as being a native of Asherton, Somerset; however there is no village of this name in Somerset. He was transported on 22nd April 1844 aboard the 'Maria Somes (1)' from London and arrived in Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) on 30th July 1844. The ship's Master was Jn Baker and the ship's Surgeon Jas Osborne. There were 264 male convicts on board and two died on the voyage.
William is described by the Surgeon as having a good character, with a calculated age of 21 years (ie born circa 1823). William is described as being 5 feet 6 and a half inches tall (1.662m), being single, able to read and write, his trade was as a Farm Labourer and his religion was Protestant. His father is named as John Sherring and he is stated to have three sisters, Sarah, Eliza and Mary.
William is listed on the Tasmanian database under 'SHARRING'
William was assigned to Mr D E GRAVES of Hobart - Convict reference No 52/1/3pt400.

On 5th September 1848 William made an application (Reg No 1445) to marry Mary Ann LEWIS born circa 1831, a free woman, of Brighton, Tasmania. Mary's father was Thomas J LEWIS. At some time William's surname name is misheard or mistranscribed as 'SHEARING' and that appears to be the name used in all future records when referring to William, he may have even used this to separate himself from his convict past.
On 15th January 1850, Williams was granted a Ticket of Leave.

There is only one birth recorded for an entry under 'Sh', with father William, mother Mary and that is for a Henry in 1870.
William SHEARING died in Hobart, Tasmania on 28th February 1926. Mary Ann SHEARING died after William, as she is mentioned in his will.