On 29 March 1837 John Ling aged 33 years (along with his half brother, William Ling) was committed to Woodbridge Gaol. He was charged with receiving stolen goods. William Ling stole a pig belonging to Crisp Plant from a barn yard at Farnham.

At the General Quarter Sessions held in Woodbridge on Wednesday 5th April 1837 he was convicted and sentenced to be transported to Australia for fourteen years.
(Ref. Woodbridge Gaol Books 106/3/8.4 page 99.)

11 May 1837 was received on to the prison hulk York at Gosport, no 7279, age 33, convicted of receiving at Woodbridge 5 April 1837, convicted to 14 years, married, can read and write, labourer, bad character and connexions, convicted before. disposed of on P.Susan 24 July 1837255

His family went into the Plomesgate Union Workhouse in Wickham Market where his daughter Maria was born six months later and two of his sons (Robert & Francis) died the following year.

John Ling and his brother William left England on board the vessel "Susan" on 5 August 1837. The ship arrived in Tasmania on 21 November, however, William did not survive the voyage. He died in October and was buried at sea.
John Ling remained in Tasmania for almost 30 years, living in the small towns of Richmond and Bagdad. He had a liason with a woman known as "Miss Sheady" and she gave birth to a son whom they named John in 1845.
John Ling died from dysentery on 22 July 1865 and is buried in the Tasmanian village of Bagdad. His headstone reads as follows:
"Sacred to the memory of John Ling who died on the 22nd day of July 1865, aged 67 years.
How still and peaceful is the place where life's vain tumults past. The appointed house by Heaven's door receives us all at last."
notes from Ted Ling, Canberra, Australia.239