in 1843 barney played the role of jerry murphy in "bumpology" at the chatham theatre in new york. in these days williams played in several roles in the tyrone powers repertory, including paddy o’rafferty in "born to good luck", and terry o’rourke in "the irish tutor". in 1844, barney was a member of a company owned by p.t. barnum called a "moral lecture room". by 1845, at age twenty-two, williams was manager of vauxhall garden, ny, located at lafayette street in new york. this area later became known as the bowery.