A table knife manufacturer, John Kay’s name first appeared in the Assay Office register in 1795.  He registered a silver mark as a plate worker, alongside Richard Woofindale and George Marshall.  Presumably, this partnership did not last, as in 1797 John Kay & Co was listed in the local directory as a maker of silver-hafted table knives at 12 Meadow Street.  In 1804, he registered another silver mark.  John Kay worked at Meadow Street until ‘a short but severe illness’ ended his life on 10 October 1819.  A newspaper obituary paid tribute to his ‘urbanity of manners and suavity of disposition added to an undeviating punctuality in all his relations’ (Nottingham Review & General Advertiser for Midland Counties, 22 October 1819).  He was buried at St James’ churchyard, though neither the burial register nor the press obituary stated his age.  

In the early 1820s, his widow Elizabeth was listed as a table knife manufacturer at 23 Meadow Street.   By 1828, the premises were occupied by her son, John Robert Kay (bapt.1803-1877), who was a gilder and gilt spoon manufacturer.  John Robert traded at Meadow Street until the early 1850s, when his name disappeared from directories.  In the Census (1861), he was living at Wadsley and continued to describe himself as a gilder.  He lived with his mother, Elizabeth, who died at her son’s residence on 31 July 1855, aged 83.  She was buried at Wadsley.  In the Census 1861, John Robert and his wife, Ann, resided at Broad Oak Cottage, Far Lane, Wadsley.  By 1871, John Robert had retired and the couple were living on the Ecclesall Road.  He died at Springvale Road on 20 August 1877, aged 74.  He was buried at Wadsley (so, too, was his widow, Ann, who died in 1899, aged 89).