for several seasons williams was a popular blackface comedian touring in minstrel shows [kentucky minstrels] before embarking in 1846 on a long career as an irish comedian. on november 24, 1849, williams married actress maria pray (1828–1911), the widow of actor charles mestayer who died the previous year. she was the daughter of william pray, an actor who perished in a new york theatre fire, and a sister of malvina florence, actress wife of the well-known actor william j. florence.