John Kelday Smith was born[3] c1834 in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland, the second son of three of Thomas Smith (b 1804) a sailor, and Sibella Kelday (1802 - 1872), a laundress, but moved to Newcastle as an infant.
Bellhangers were employed in ship construction as well as bell-hanging and mechanical wiring for bells.
John Kelday Smith died on 12 June 1889 at his home Temperance Row, Shieldfield, Newcastle, age 54.
He wrote many local songs and articles that appeared in "Charter's comic publication", "Ward's Almanack" and the "Weekly Chronicle".
A few details of Smith appeared in "The Monthly Chronicle of North Country Lore and Legend"—printed and published for proprietors of the "Newcastle Weekly Chronicle" by Walter Scott, Newcastle upon Tyne—at about the time of his death.