In 1854 he married Lydney-born Margaret Brown in Gloucester, and a few years later he was co-owner of the small Oaken and Churchway Level Colliery near Parkend in the Forest of Dean.

[4] He specialised in comic songs such as "The Nice Old Maids", "Sister Mary Walked Like That", "I Couldn't Help Laughing", "The Convivial Man", and his version of "Little Brown Jug".

Music historian Peter Gammond said of Nash: "A large man who shook with mirth as he sang, he pioneered the laughing song which was copied by many later exponents; he was also an early practitioner of the funny walk".

He toured widely and regularly with Arthur Lloyd, and in February 1868 the two performers became the first to be invited to sing before the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.

He appeared in numerous shows to benefit his fellow performers, and became president of the Music Hall Sick Fund Provident Society.

Fundraising events were also held for his own benefit, featuring such performers as George Robey, Herbert Campbell, Harry Randall, Dan Leno, Florrie Forde, and G. H.