shayer lived a long life, during which he had two wives and ten children. his eldest son, william joseph shayer, junior (1811-1892), was also a painter, and painted in a style very similar to his father. their paintings are easily confused, which is made all the more difficult by the fact that they probably collaborated on several paintings in the elder shayer's later years. three of shayer senior's younger sons – edward dasherwood shayer (1821-1864), henry thring shayer (1825-1894) and charles walker shayer (1826-1914) – became painters at well, and all assisted him at times in his studio. william shayer, senior died at the age of 92 on 21 december 1879 at his home at bladon lodge near southampton.